House File 179 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE 179
BY BOSSMAN
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to the administration of injections by licensed
2 optometrists.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
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 H.F. 179
1 Section 1. Section 154.1, subsection 3, paragraph a, Code
2 2023, is amended to read as follows:
3 a. An optometrist licensed under this chapter may employ
4 all diagnostic and therapeutic pharmaceutical agents for the
5 purpose of diagnosis and treatment of conditions of the human
6 eye and adnexa pursuant to this subsection, and notwithstanding
7 section 147.107, may without charge supply any diagnostic and
8 therapeutic pharmaceutical agents to commence a course of
9 therapy. A licensed optometrist may perform minor surgical
10 procedures and use medications for the diagnosis and treatment
11 of diseases, disorders, and conditions of the eye and adnexa.
12 A license to practice optometry under this chapter does
13 not authorize the performance of surgical procedures which
14 require the use of injectable or general anesthesia, moderate
15 sedation, penetration of the globe, or the use of ophthalmic
16 lasers for the purpose of ophthalmic surgery within or upon
17 the globe. The removal of pterygia and Salzmann’s nodules,
18 incisional corneal refractive surgery, and strabismus surgery
19 are prohibited.
20 Sec. 2. Section 154.1, subsection 3, paragraph b,
21 subparagraph (1), Code 2023, is amended by adding the following
22 new subparagraph division:
23 NEW SUBPARAGRAPH DIVISION. (e) Local injectable
24 anesthetics prior to the administration of injections
25 authorized in subparagraph divisions (a) through (d).
26 EXPLANATION
27 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
28 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
29 This bill allows a licensed optometrist to administer a
30 local injectable anesthetic prior to the administration of
31 other injections authorized by law. Current law requires a
32 licensed optometrist to receive approval from the board of
33 optometry prior to administering an injection.
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Statutes affected:
Introduced: 154.1, 147.107