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www.optometry.alabama.gov

www.optometry.alabama.gov. THE BEGINNINGS. Board created by Gov Thomas Kilby – 1919 First License – January 29, 1920 issued to Dr. Herbert P McDonald . Primary Responsibility and Obligation of the Alabama Board of Optometry.

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www.optometry.alabama.gov

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  1. www.optometry.alabama.gov

  2. THE BEGINNINGS • Board created by Gov Thomas Kilby – 1919 • First License – January 29, 1920 • issued to Dr. Herbert P McDonald

  3. Primary Responsibility and Obligation of the Alabama Board of Optometry • To protect consumers of health care through proper licensing and regulation of optometrists

  4. Regulatory Boards in Alabama

  5. Professions, Scientific & Technical Services • Optometry • Alabama Board of Medical Examiners – Medicine or Osteopathy • Anesthesia Assistants • Control Substance Abuse Providers • Physicians Assistants

  6. Professions, Scientific & Technical Services • Pharmacy Board • Podiatry Board • Psychology Examiners Board • Chiropractic Examiners Board • Respiratory Therapy Board • Marriage and Family Therapy Board • Nursing Home Administrators Examiners Board • Speech Language Pathology and Audiology Examiners Board • Counseling Board • Nursing Board • Social Work Board • Veterinary Medicine Board • Respiratory Therapy Board

  7. Professions, Scientific, Technical Services • Public Accountancy Board • Cosmetology Board • Interpreters and Transliterators Board

  8. The Alabama Board of Optometry • Independent in Structure • The Board Exercises all Licensing and Disciplinary Powers for Optometrists in the State

  9. LAWS and REGULATIONS • Needed to protect the public from the unprofessional, improper and incompetent practice of optometry. • The Optometry Law outlines the practice of optometry and it is the responsibility of the optometry board to regulate that practice.

  10. Optometry Board Structure

  11. Board Composition Optometrist appointed by the Governor Administrative Staff – Executive Director, Attorney and Investigator.

  12. 7 Legislative Districts

  13. Current Board Members • Dr. Murray Glusman District 1 • Dr. Robert Crosby District 2 • Dr. Gary Murrell District 3 • Dr. Kenneth Moultrie District 4 • Dr. Martha Greenberg District 5 • Dr. Lynn Hammonds District 6 • Dr. Randy Coshatt District 7

  14. Administrative Office • Dr. Fred Wallace, Executive Director • 1431 Second Avenue, North • Bessemer, AL 35020 • 205 481 9993 • 205 481 9959 (fax) • fred.wallace@optometry.alabama.gov

  15. How Are Optometrist Appointed to the Board of Optometry

  16. Board Appointment Procedure • Election held annually • All licensed optometrists attending annual meeting are eligible to vote • Optometrist elected must live in the congressional district • Optometrist must have been in practice 5 or more years • 5 Optometrists meeting qualifications are elected from each district

  17. Board Appointment Procedure • Names of the 5 doctors are submitted to the Governor • The Governor picks 1 optometrist to serve a 5 year term • A board member can serve 2 consecutive 5 year terms

  18. Board Officers • Elected each year in October • President, Dr. Lynn S. Hammonds • Vice-President, Dr. Murray Glusman • Secretary/Treasurer, Dr. Gary Murrell

  19. THE ALABAMA OPTOMETRY LAW

  20. THE LAW • Voted on and Passed by the State of Alabama Legislature • Defines the Practice of Optometry • Change In Law – Legislated Process

  21. The Alabama Optometry Law • Article 1. General Provisions • Article 2. Licenses • Article 3. Board of Optometry • Article 4. Board of Optometric Scholarship Awards • Article 5. License to Practice Across State Lines • Article 6. Impaired Doctor of Optometry Treatment Program

  22. The Administrative Code • Interprets and refines the details of the Law • Written by the Alabama Board of Optometry

  23. THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE • Rule Making Procedures • General Administration • Complaints and Disciplinary Action Resulting from Violations of Optometry Act • Nominating and Electing Nominees for Board Appointment • Application and Examination for Licensure • Accreditation of Schools and Colleges of Optometry • Continuing Education • Temporary Licenses • Reciprocity • Teaching Permits • Rules of Conduct • Practice of Optometry Across State Lines • Impaired Doctor of Optometry Treatment Program

  24. Current Regulation Regarding Application Process 630-X-5-.01 Application for Examination and Licensing. All applications for examinations and licensing shall be filed with the secretary-treasurer on forms provided by the Board.

  25. Proposed Change 630-X-5-.01 Application for Examination and Licensing. All applications for examinations and licensing shall be filed with the secretary-treasurer on forms provided by the Board.  The application shall include all information required by statute and such other information as the Board may require by resolution, including, without limitation and in the Board's discretion, a history of arrests and convictions, a background check report, information about civil judgments and other information.

  26. Current Definition of Invasion Surgery 630-X-12-.07 Definition of Invasive Surgery. For the purpose of this act, invasive surgery is defined as any procedure in which human tissue is cut, altered, or otherwise infiltrated by mechanical or other means except as specifically allowed by this act.

  27. Proposed Change to Invasive Surgery Definition 630-X-12-.07 Definition of Invasive Surgery. For the purpose of this act, invasive surgery is defined as injections into the eyeball, cataract surgery, muscle surgery, retinal surgery, radial keratotomy, laser surgery, cryosurgery, and any procedure in which human tissue is cut or altered in a manner that normally requires closure by suturing, except as specifically allowed by this act.

  28. LICENSURE

  29. Licensure • License Quality Optometrists to Meet the Needs of the Public

  30. Licensure • Types of Licenses • “S” License (practicing optometrist) • “T” License (teaching) • “R” License (temporary)

  31. Temporary licenses are issued to optometry school graduates • You may apply to the Board after graduation in May for an “R” license • Licenses are valid until August 31 or notice is received you did not pass the examination • As a temporary licensee, you can examine patients, write prescriptions for eyewear, fit contact lenses, use diagnostic agents, but you cannot write prescriptions for drugs. • You do not need a regular licensee on the premises where you practice

  32. RECIPROCITY • A mutual or cooperative interchange of privileges between states. • To practice optometry in Alabama you must have a license to practice optometry in Alabama. • Someone with a license from another state must go through the same process to get an Alabama license as you do. NO TRUE RECIPROCITY.

  33. Application Process Applications can be downloaded and printed from the Alabama Board of Optometry web site www.optometry.alabama.gov Or you may mail, fax or email a request for an application to the Executive Director. Applications must be notarized and returned no later than 30 days prior to the examination date.

  34. Additional Information Needed • Official Transcripts – high school, college and optometry school. • Submit proof that you have passed Parts I and II of the National Board of Optometry Examination. • Submit a recent photograph. • $500 Examination Fee

  35. The Written Optometry Licensing Examination • Usually given 1 time each year in July • Prior to 2010 - 5 Sections (7 Tests)- 1 Day of Testing • Each Section graded on a scale of 1-100. • Final score = average of 5 section scores. • Must make an average score of 75 or higher to pass. • Can only score less than 75 on one section or you fail. • 2010 – The Law and Its Clinical Applications • Must make 75 or higher to pass • July 17, 2010 at UAB

  36. Maintaining Your License

  37. Annual Re-Licensure • License renewed on October 1 each year. • Licenses not renewed by Nov 1 are considered delinquent. • Licenses not renewed by December 31 are automatically suspended. • Renewal Fee - $260 + $10 to fund Alabama’s Prescription Drug Database. • Renewal After Dec 31 - $200 Penalty Fee.

  38. Continuing Education – Required for Annual Re-Licensure • 20 hours of “Approved” CE • 3 hours can be in practice management • 3 hours can be distance based, i.e. non-classroom • 10 hours must be related to diagnosis, treatment and management of eye disease

  39. License Renewal • Can be done online or via US mail. • 20% of the optometrists who apply for re-licensure are randomly selected for CE audit. • If you are audited in one year there is no guarantee that you won’t be audit the next year

  40. REGULATION OF OPTOMETRY

  41. COMPLAINT PROCESS • Any person may file a complaint. • Complaint must be formally notarized and sent via certified mail to the board. • Board cannot act without a formal complaint. • Board must respond to a formal complaint. • Alabama Legislative Sunset Committee reviews all formal complaints every 4 years.

  42. Grounds for Revocation or Suspension of License • Fraud, deceit, dishonesty, or misrepresentation whether knowingly or unknowingly, in the practice of optometry or in obtaining any license, license certificate, annual registration certificate, or other thing of value.

  43. Incompetency. Conviction of a felony or a misdemeanor which involves moral turpitude. Gross immorality. Habitual drunkenness or addiction to the use of morphine, cocaine or other drugs having similar effect. Insanity, as adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction. REVOCATION or LICENSE SUSPENSION

  44. REVOCATION or LICENSE SUSPENSION • Directly or indirectly employing, hiring, procuring, or inducing a person, not licensed to practice optometry in this state, to so practice. • Directly or indirectly aiding or abetting in the practice of optometry any person not duly licensed to practice under this chapter.

  45. REVOCATION or LICENSE SUSPENSION • Directly or indirectly employing solicitors, canvassers, or agents for the purpose of obtaining patronage. • Willfully or repeatedly violating any of the provisions of the law. • Practicing or attempting to practice optometry under a name other than one’s own name as set forth on the license certificate.

  46. REVOCATION or LICENSE SUSPENSION • Lending, leasing, renting, or in any other manner placing his or her license or license certificate at the disposal or in the service of any person not licensed to practice optometry in this state. • Soliciting patients by fraudulent or misleading advertising of any kind, nature or description.

  47. REVOCATION or LICENSE SUSPENSION • Failing to comply with the continuing education requirements established by the board.

  48. REVOCATION or LICENSE SUSPENSION • Practicing in a Temporary Office • Fee Splitting

  49. FEE SPLITTING • The practice of sharing fees with professional colleagues, in return for being sent referrals. • The payment of a commission to the referrer with the express intention of ensuring that the referring doctor directs referrals of patients to the payee.

  50. Unprofessional Conduct

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