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Academy and New Jersey Ophthalmologists Help Derail New Jersey O.D. Surgical Scope Bill
May 7, 2003
(Washington, D.C.)?Thanks to the unified efforts of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the New Jersey Academy of Ophthalmology (NJAO), New Jersey State Assemblyman Van Drew (D), the sponsor of A-3364, the optometric surgical bill, officially withdrew his legislation from further consideration by the New Jersey State Assembly. ?Our objective was clear--the preservation of patient safety and quality care,? says Mike Brennan, MD, Academy secretary for state affairs. ?This message resonated strongly in the capital halls of Trenton and with the citizens of New Jersey.?
'In essence, A-3364 would have created a new health care provider--the ?optometric surgeon? but without medical school education, internship training and residency. Under provisions of this bill, optometrists could have performed a wide range of eye surgeries including refractive, retina, cataract, glaucoma, and lid surgeries. A-3364 also created an independent New Jersey Optometry Board that would have the authority to approve future O.D. surgical privileges. ?It is unbelievable that the O.D board, which is comprised of non-medical providers, would have had the authority to virtually grant a plenary license to optometrists practicing in New Jersey,? says Donald Cinotti, MD, Academy regional state affairs secretariat member.
The key to successfully derailing A-3364 was the strong partnership between the NJAO and Academy working to ensure that the patient risks associated with this legislation were well understood by the general public, media and state legislators. ?NJAO stubbornly opposed the bill and through accurate media representation showed the public dangers as well as conflict of interest issues that proved the misguided nature of this legislation,? says David Ringel, DO, president of the New Jersey Academy of Ophthalmology. ?As the public became aware of the special interests? support of the bill, legislators began to distance themselves from any association with A-3364, and it fell like a rock from the legislative agenda.?
Article from the AAO (www.aao.org)
Academy and New Jersey Ophthalmologists Help Derail New Jersey O.D. Surgical Scope Bill
May 7, 2003
(Washington, D.C.)?Thanks to the unified efforts of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the New Jersey Academy of Ophthalmology (NJAO), New Jersey State Assemblyman Van Drew (D), the sponsor of A-3364, the optometric surgical bill, officially withdrew his legislation from further consideration by the New Jersey State Assembly. ?Our objective was clear--the preservation of patient safety and quality care,? says Mike Brennan, MD, Academy secretary for state affairs. ?This message resonated strongly in the capital halls of Trenton and with the citizens of New Jersey.?
'In essence, A-3364 would have created a new health care provider--the ?optometric surgeon? but without medical school education, internship training and residency. Under provisions of this bill, optometrists could have performed a wide range of eye surgeries including refractive, retina, cataract, glaucoma, and lid surgeries. A-3364 also created an independent New Jersey Optometry Board that would have the authority to approve future O.D. surgical privileges. ?It is unbelievable that the O.D board, which is comprised of non-medical providers, would have had the authority to virtually grant a plenary license to optometrists practicing in New Jersey,? says Donald Cinotti, MD, Academy regional state affairs secretariat member.
The key to successfully derailing A-3364 was the strong partnership between the NJAO and Academy working to ensure that the patient risks associated with this legislation were well understood by the general public, media and state legislators. ?NJAO stubbornly opposed the bill and through accurate media representation showed the public dangers as well as conflict of interest issues that proved the misguided nature of this legislation,? says David Ringel, DO, president of the New Jersey Academy of Ophthalmology. ?As the public became aware of the special interests? support of the bill, legislators began to distance themselves from any association with A-3364, and it fell like a rock from the legislative agenda.?
Article from the AAO (www.aao.org)
