449.13
449.13
Wisconsin Vision Services, Inc. The Wisconsin Vision Services, Incorporated, is continued with the general powers of a domestic nonstock corporation. It may take by purchase or gift and hold real and personal property. It may adopt, alter and enforce bylaws and rules for the admission and expulsion of members, the election of officers and the management of its affairs.
449.15
449.15
Service insurance corporations for optometric care. The Wisconsin vision services, incorporated, may establish a service insurance corporation for optometric care under
ch. 613.
449.15 History
History: 1975 c. 223.
449.17
449.17
Use of diagnostic pharmaceuticals. 449.17(2)
(2) Topical ocular diagnostic pharmaceutical agents may be used only by optometrists who have established a plan approved by the secretary after consultation with the examining board and the medical examining board for the referral of patients who experience adverse reactions from the application of such agents to appropriate medical services.
449.17(3)
(3) Topical ocular diagnostic pharmaceutical agents may be used only by optometrists who successfully complete an examination conducted by the examining board on the subject of general and ocular pharmacology as it relates to optometry with particular emphasis on the use of topical ocular diagnostic pharmaceutical agents, including the treatment of any adverse reactions that may occur. The examination shall be prepared or approved by the department in consultation with the examining board, the medical examining board and the pharmacy examining board. The department shall periodically review the validity, reliability and appropriateness of the examination. In regard to the examination, the department may:
449.17(3)(a)
(a) Prepare, administer and grade the examination;
449.17(3)(b)
(b) Approve in whole or in part an examination prepared, administered and graded by the national board of examiners in optometry or by the optometry examining board; or
449.17(3)(c)
(c) Approve and administer an examination prepared and graded by or under the direction of the national board of examiners in optometry.
449.17(4)
(4) In addition to the requirements of
sub. (3), optometrists who wish to use topical ocular diagnostic pharmaceutical agents shall successfully complete 60 classroom hours of study in general and ocular pharmacology as it relates to optometry with particular emphasis on the use of topical ocular diagnostic pharmaceutical agents. At least 30 of the 60 classroom hours of study shall be in ocular pharmacology and shall emphasize the systemic effects of and reactions to pharmaceutical agents, including the treatment of any adverse reactions that may occur. The course of study shall be offered by an institution approved by the secretary and accredited by a regional or professional accrediting organization which is recognized by the council on post-secondary accreditation and the U.S. office of education and shall be completed prior to entering the examination required by
sub. (3).
449.17(5)
(5) The secretary shall, after consultation with the examining board, the medical examining board and the pharmacy examining board, promulgate rules specifying the topical ocular diagnostic pharmaceutical agents which optometrists may utilize in this state.
449.17(6)
(6) The department shall certify optometrists who meet the requirements in this section.
449.17(7)
(7) No fee may be charged for a certificate issued under this section. A certificate issued under this section remains in effect while the optometrist's license to practice optometry remains in effect unless the certificate is suspended or revoked by the department.
449.17(8)
(8) No optometrist may be reimbursed under
s. 49.46 (2) (a) 3. for any increase in charges or separate charge which is attributable to the use of topical ocular diagnostic pharmaceutical agents.
449.17 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also ch.
RL 10, Wis. adm. code.
449.18
449.18
Removals from eyes; use of therapeutic pharmaceuticals. 449.18(1)(1) No optometrist may use therapeutic pharmaceutical agents or remove foreign bodies from an eye or from an appendage to the eye unless the optometrist is certified by the examining board under this section.
449.18(2)
(2) The examining board shall certify an optometrist to use therapeutic pharmaceutical agents and remove foreign bodies from an eye or from an appendage to the eye if the optometrist satisfies all of the following:
449.18(2)(a)
(a) The optometrist is certified under
s. 449.17 to use topical ocular diagnostic pharmaceutical agents.
449.18(2)(b)
(b) The optometrist has successfully completed 100 hours of approved study in the use of therapeutic pharmaceutical agents and the removal of superficial foreign bodies from an eye or from an appendage to the eye. The course of study shall be offered by an institution approved by the examining board and accredited by a regional or professional accrediting organization that is recognized by the council on postsecondary accreditation of the federal department of education.
449.18(3)
(3) The examining board shall conduct or approve an examination for optometrists seeking certification under this section. The department shall periodically review the validity, reliability and appropriateness of the examination.
449.18(4)
(4) Certificates issued under this section expire on January 1 of each even-numbered year. Renewal applications shall be submitted to the examining board biennially on a form provided by the examining board, along with proof of completion of continuing education requirements established in the rules promulgated under
sub. (7).
449.18(4m)
(4m) No fee may be charged for the issuance or renewal of a certificate under this section.
449.18(5)
(5) An optometrist who is certified under this section may not remove a foreign body from an eye or from an appendage to an eye if the foreign body is deeper than Bowman's layer of the cornea or deeper than the conjunctiva.
449.18(6)
(6) An optometrist who is certified under this section:
449.18(6)(a)
(a) May not prescribe or administer any therapeutic pharmaceutical agent that he or she is prohibited from prescribing or administering under the rules promulgated under
sub. (8).
449.18(6)(b)
(b) Shall include with each prescription order all of the following:
449.18(6)(b)1.
1. A statement that he or she is certified under this section.
449.18(6)(b)2.
2. The indicated use of the therapeutic pharmaceutical agent so prescribed.
449.18(6)(c)
(c) May not dispense, as defined in
s. 450.01 (7), other than by prescribing or administering. This paragraph does not prohibit the optometrist from providing a complimentary sample of a therapeutic pharmaceutical agent to a patient to whom the optometrist has rendered therapeutic care.
449.18(7)
(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).
449.18(8)
(8) The secretary shall, after consultation with the examining board, the medical examining board and the pharmacy examining board, promulgate rules specifying those therapeutic pharmaceutical agents that may or may not be prescribed or administered.
449.18 History
History: 1989 a. 31;
1991 a. 39.
449.18 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also chs.
Opt 6 and
RL 10, Wis. adm. code.
449.19
449.19
Referral to other specialists. If, during the course of examining a person, an optometrist determines the existence of a pathological condition requiring treatment outside the scope of the practice of optometry, the optometrist shall so advise the person and shall refer the person to an appropriate medical specialist for further evaluation.
449.19 History
History: 1977 c. 280;
1989 a. 31.
449.20
449.20
Civil immunity. No optometrist shall be liable for any civil damages for either of the following:
449.20(1)
(1) Reporting in good faith to the department of transportation under
s. 146.82 (3) a patient's name and other information relevant to the vision of the patient which in the optometrist's judgment impairs the patient's ability to exercise reasonable and ordinary control over a motor vehicle.
449.20(2)
(2) In good faith, not reporting to the department of transportation under
s. 146.82 (3) a patient's name and other information relevant to the vision of the patient which in the optometrist's judgment does not impair the patient's ability to exercise reasonable and ordinary control over a motor vehicle.
449.20 History
History: 1987 a. 215.
