Committee amends optometry scope bill after hours of debate over credentialing and insurance costs

A State Public Health and Welfare committee on Monday spent its allotted time reviewing competing amendments to a bill that would expand the scope of optometry to allow certain laser, lid and minor surgical procedures and would subject credentialed optometrists to the Healthcare Stabilization Fund.

Senator Thomas, the bill sponsor, and committee staff presented a sponsor amendment that would add optometrists to KSA 40-34-2's Health Care Stabilization Fund rules only if those optometrists are credentialed to perform specified procedures. The amendment delays full fund participation until Jan. 1, 2028, and caps the first‑year surcharge at 15% of the optometrist's primary layer premium. "This amendment does not satisfy everyone's opposition," Thomas said, but she described it as capturing concessions made by proponents and opponents.

The nut of the debate centered on two technical issues: who would be credentialed to perform the procedures and how including optometrists in the stabilization fund would affect per‑provider surcharges. Jenna, committee staff, explained the amendment would require those licensed…