AB759: Bill Text

AB759, s. 33 Section 33. 448.13 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB759,15,22 448.13 (1) Each physician shall, in each 2nd year at the time of application for a certificate of registration under s. 448.07, submit proof of attendance at and completion of continuing education programs or courses of study approved for at least 30 hours of credit by the board within the 2 calendar years immediately preceding the calendar year for which the registration is effective date of the physician's application for a certificate of registration. The board may waive this requirement if it finds that exceptional circumstances such as prolonged illness, disability or other similar circumstances have prevented a physician from meeting the requirement.

Note: This Section clarifies that a physician applying for renewal of his or her certificate of registration must submit proof that he or she has completed at least 30 hours of continuing education during the 2 years immediately preceding the date of the physician's application for renewal. Current law requires that the continuing education be completed within the 2 calendar years preceding the calendar year for which the certificate of registration is effective, which is confusing since a certificate of registration is not issued for a calendar year but for a 2-year period that begins on November 1 of each odd-numbered year.

AB759, s. 34 Section 34 . 449.01 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB759,16,2 449.01 (title) Definitions; discrimination prohibited.

AB759, s. 35 Section 35. 449.01 (intro.) of the statutes is created to read:

AB759,16,4 449.01 (intro.) In this chapter:

AB759, s. 36 Section 36. 449.01 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 449.01 (5m).

AB759, s. 37 Section 37. 449.01 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB759,16,8 449.01 (1m) Credential. "Credential" means a license, certification or certificate of registration that is issued under this chapter.

AB759, s. 38 Section 38. 449.01 (3) of the statutes is renumbered 449.015 and amended to read:

AB759,16,15 449.015 Discrimination prohibited. Any agency of the state, county, municipality or school district shall accept the optometric services , as defined listed in sub. (1), of s. 449.01 (5m) that are provided by optometrists licensed under this chapter, on the same basis as those of any other person authorized by law to render such services.

AB759, s. 39 Section 39. 449.01 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB759,16,18 449.01 (4) (title) Examining board. In this chapter, "examining "Examining board" means optometry examining board.

AB759, s. 40 Section 40 . 449.07 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB759,17,2 449.07 (1) (intro.) The examining board, by order, may reprimand a credential holder and may deny, limit, suspend or revoke any license or certificate of registration credential if the licensee or registrant credential holder or applicant for a credential:

Note: Sections 34 to 40 establish the authority of the optometry examining board to deny a credential (defined as a license, certification or certificate of registration) to an applicant for a credential on the same grounds on which the optometry examining board may deny, limit, suspend or revoke the credential of a person who already holds the credential.

AB759, s. 41 Section 41. 449.18 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB759,17,9 449.18 (7) The examining board shall promulgate rules requiring applicants for renewal under sub. (4) to attend continuing education courses approved by the examining board. The rules shall establish criteria for the approval of such courses and may not require an applicant for renewal to attend more than 30 hours of courses within the 2 calendar years immediately preceding the expiration date specified in sub. (4) of the applicant's application for renewal.

Note: This Section establishes that an optometrist who is certified to use therapeutic pharmaceuticals or to remove foreign bodies from an eye must complete at least 30 hours of continuing education during the 2-year period immediately preceding the date of his or her application for renewal of the certification. This eliminates the possibility that an optometrist applying for renewal of his or her certificate could take advantage of the 5-year credential renewal grace period created by 1991 Wisconsin Act 39 and satisfy the continuing education requirement using course work completed up to 7 years before the date of the renewal application.

AB759, s. 42 Section 42. 450.08 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB759,17,17 450.08 (2) (a) A pharmacist's license may be renewed by paying the applicable fee specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a) on or before the applicable renewal date specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a). Failure to obtain renewal If a pharmacist fails to renew his or her license within the time period specified under this paragraph terminates the right of the person to be licensed as a s. 440.08 (3) (b), the pharmacist, and such right can may restore his or her license only be acquired by passing an examination to the satisfaction of the board.

Note: This Section reconciles the provision in current law that does not allow for renewal of a pharmacist's license without an examination once the license renewal date has passed with the general 5-year credential renewal grace period, created by 1991 Wisconsin Act 39, that allows the department of regulation and licensing or an examining board to renew a credential within 5 years after the credential renewal date without requiring the credential holder to pass an examination.

AB759, s. 43 Section 43. 632.87 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB759,18,7 632.87 (2) No insurer may, under a contract or plan covering vision care services or procedures, refuse to provide coverage for vision care services or procedures provided by an optometrist licensed under ch. 449 within the scope of the practice of optometry, as defined in s. 449.01 (1) (5m), if the contract or plan includes coverage for the same services or procedures when provided by another health care provider.

AB759, s. 44 Section 44. 632.87 (2m) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB759,18,11 632.87 (2m) (a) (intro.) No health maintenance organization or preferred provider plan that provides vision care services or procedures within the scope of the practice of optometry, as defined in s. 449.01 (1) (5m), may do any of the following:

AB759, s. 45 Section 45. 632.87 (2m) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB759,18,18 632.87 (2m) (a) 2. Fail to provide to persons covered by the health maintenance organization or preferred provider plan, at the time vision care services or procedures are needed, the opportunity to choose optometrists from the listing under subd. 1. from whom the persons may obtain covered vision care services and procedures within the scope of the practice of optometry, as defined in s. 449.01 (1) (5m).

AB759, s. 46 Section 46. 632.87 (2m) (a) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB759,19,3 632.87 (2m) (a) 4. When vision care services or procedures are deemed appropriate by the health maintenance organization or preferred provider plan, restrict or discourage a person covered by the health maintenance organization or preferred provider plan from obtaining covered vision care services or procedures, within the scope of the practice of optometry as defined in s. 449.01 (1) (5m), from participating optometrists solely on the basis that the providers are optometrists.

AB759,19,4 (End)