AB591: Bill Text

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2009 - 2010 LEGISLATURE

2009 Assembly BILL 591

November 20, 2009 - Introduced by Representatives Seidel, Zigmunt, Ballweg, Benedict, Berceau, Bies, Brooks, Garthwaite, Hebl, Hintz, Hixson, Hubler, Kaufert, Kerkman, Kestell, Knodl, Molepske Jr., Montgomery, Nass, A. Ott, Pasch, Petrowski, Pridemore, Shilling, Suder, Townsend, Turner, Vruwink, Vukmir and Vos, cosponsored by Senators Vinehout, Cowles, Darling, Ellis, Jauch, Lehman, Schultz, Taylor and Decker. Referred to Committee on Health and Healthcare Reform.

AB591,1,4 An Act to renumber and amend 449.18 (6) (am) 2.; to amend 449.01 (1) (a) 2. c. and 961.39 (intro.), (1), (2) and (4); and to create 449.18 (6) (am) 2. b. of the statutes; relating to: authorizing certain optometrists to dispense contact lenses that deliver a therapeutic pharmaceutical agent.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, a person licensed to practice the profession of optometry by the Optometry Examining Board (board) in the Department of Regulation and Licensing may, among other practices, prescribe contact lenses. If the person was first licensed on or after August 1, 2006, or holds a certificate issued by the board, the person may also prescribe or administer drugs for ocular therapeutic purposes. However, the person may not dispense drugs.

This bill permits a person licensed to practice the profession of optometry who is authorized to prescribe or administer a therapeutic pharmaceutical agent to dispense contact lenses that deliver the therapeutic pharmaceutical agent.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB591, s. 1 Section 1. 449.01 (1) (a) 2. c. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB591,2,4 449.01 (1) (a) 2. c. Prescribing or administering drugs for ocular therapeutic purposes, dispensing contact lenses that deliver a therapeutic pharmaceutical agent under s. 449.18 (6) (am) 2. b., or removing superficial foreign bodies from the eye or an appendage to the eye under s. 449.18.

AB591, s. 2 Section 2. 449.18 (6) (am) 2. of the statutes is renumbered 449.18 (6) (am) 2. (intro.) and amended to read:

AB591,2,9 449.18 (6) (am) 2. (intro.) Dispense, as defined in s. 450.01 (7), other than by prescribing or administering. This subdivision does not prohibit the optometrist from providing doing any of the following:

AB591,2,11 a. Providing a complimentary sample of a therapeutic pharmaceutical agent to a patient to whom the optometrist has rendered therapeutic care.

AB591, s. 3 Section 3. 449.18 (6) (am) 2. b. of the statutes is created to read:

AB591,2,15 449.18 (6) (am) 2. b. Dispensing a contact lens that also delivers a therapeutic pharmaceutical agent, if the optometrist is authorized to prescribe or administer the therapeutic pharmaceutical agent under the rules promulgated under par. (cm).

AB591, s. 4 Section 4. 961.39 (intro.), (1), (2) and (4) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB591,2,20 961.39 Limitations on optometrists. (intro.) An optometrist who is allowed under s. 449.18 (1) to use therapeutic pharmaceutical agents and under s. 449.18 (6) (am) 2. b. to dispense a contact lens that delivers a therapeutic pharmaceutical agent:

AB591,2,22 (1) May not prescribe, dispense, or administer a controlled substance included in schedule I or II.

AB591,2,25 (2) May prescribe, dispense, or administer only those controlled substances included in schedules III, IV, and V that are permitted for prescription or administration under the rules promulgated under s. 449.18 (6) (cm).

AB591,3,2 (4) May not dispense other than by prescribing or administering as provided under s. 449.18 (6) (am) 2. b.

AB591,3,3 (End)