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SENATE BILL 1406 - KEY MESSAGE POINTS * As enrolled, SB 1406 will allow California's 6,000 optometrists to provide better primary vision care to their patients, like their colleagues in 41 other states. If signed into law, California optometrist will be able to: * Treat almost all "garden variety" glaucoma cases that don't require referral to a sub-specialist - exfoliating and pigmentary, as well as primary open-angle glaucoma, and the ability to stabilize angle-closure cases in emergencies before referral for treatment. Optometrists graduating from accredited schools beginning this year can be certified to diagnose, treat, and manage glaucoma - the leading cause of blindness here - without delay. * Become glaucoma certified, if already in practice, if they're willing to meet appropriate standards established by the State Board of Optometry in cooperation with medicine, ophthalmology, and the Department of Consumer Affairs. The current glaucoma certification process needs to be replaced because it's been a failure. Over 75% of currently-licensed optometrists have fulfilled the didactic requirements but have been unable to find an ophthalmologist willing to co-manage cases. As a result, only 130 optometrists have been certified. * Treat ocular inflammation and pain in surgery cases we're co-managing with an ophthalmologist. * Prescribe more oral and topical drugs and other therapies in specified classes to treat eye disease, just like their peers in almost all other states, without having to return to the Legislature every time a newly-approved one comes to market. * Draw blood to test for suspected diabetes, to order a broader array of diagnostic tests, and to order X-rays and other images, in consultation with a physician. * Perform five more routine, nonsurgical procedures for our patients that will improve our ability to diagnose and to resolve patient problems without unnecessary re-referrals that are more expensive and can often involve long delays before being treated. * Use diagnostic laser and ultrasound technologies within their scopes of practice as they now exist and as they become available in the future. * Senate Bill 1406 has no fiscal impact on the state. According to the Senate Floor analysis, there are no significant costs associated with this legislation. * SB 1406 will bring more eye care to more Californians. California Doctors of Optometry provide quality primary healthcare in 54 of 58 counties and in hundreds of cities, towns, and unincorporated areas. * Senate Bill 1406 breaks no new statutory ground-it simply brings California up to speed with the majority of other states-the 41 states where Doctors of Optometry are able to practice consistent with their education and expertise, including the treatment of glaucoma and prescription authority, unlike California. * Our statewide survey of Californians in April found that more than two-thirds of Californians favor expanding the scope of practice for Doctors of Optometry. Nearly three-quarters surveyed said that this expanded scope of practice would help patients in rural and urban communities. * Seven out of ten vision care patients visit an optometrist first and for many, their optometric examination may be their first ever by a medical professional. As primary care specialists, California Doctors of Optometry don't only help with vision problems; they also can detect all eye-related and many other unrelated diseases through a comprehensive eye exam.
Sample Letter:
[YOUR LETTERHEAD] September [DATE], 2008 Hon. Arnold Schwarzenegger Governor, State of California ATTN: Jennifer Kent, Deputy Legislative Secretary State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 RE: SENATE BILL 1406 (CORREA & AANESTAD) Dear Governor Schwarzenegger: I am a licensed Doctor of Optometry in active practice in California and I'm writing to respectfully request that you sign Senate Bill 1406 into law. This bill, sponsored by the California Optometric Association (COA) and co-authored by Senators Lou Correa and Sam Aanestad, passed the Assembly, 74-0, and the Senate, 38-0. It represents an historic compromise among the California Medical Association, the California Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons, and COA that will bring more and better eye care to Californians, especially in rural and underserved areas. It deserves your support because it will allow us to: * Become full certified to diagnose, treat, and manage glaucoma - the leading cause of blindness here - without delay. Optometrists graduating from accredited schools beginning this year can be certified immediately. Optometrists already in practice can become glaucoma certified, if they're willing to meet appropriate standards established by the State Board of Optometry in cooperation with medicine, ophthalmology, and the Department of Consumer Affairs. The current glaucoma certification process needs to be replaced because it's been a failure. Over 75% of currently-licensed optometrists have fulfilled the didactic requirements but have been unable to find an ophthalmologist willing to co-manage patient cases. As a result, only 130 optometrists have been certified. [NOTE: Personalize this point to your own certification status and circumstances For example, f you're not currently certified, describe a case you could have treated without referral if you were.] * Treat almost all "garden variety" glaucoma cases that don't require referral to a sub-specialist. We can treat exfoliating and pigmentary, as well as primary open-angle glaucoma, and can stabilize angle-closure cases in emergencies before referral for treatment. [NOTE: Explain how this will benefit your patients.] * Treat ocular inflammation and pain in surgery cases we're comanaging with an ophthalmologist. [NOTE: If you're comanaging surgery cases, explain how this benefits patients.] * Prescribe more oral and topical drugs and other therapies in specified classes to treat eye disease, just like our peers in almost all other states, without having to return to the Legislature every time a newly-approved one comes to market. [NOTE: Provide a case example, such as antiallergens or antibiotics.] * Draw blood to test for suspected diabetes, to order a broader array of diagnostic tests, and to order X-rays and other images, in consultation with a physician. * Perform five more routine, nonsurgical procedures for our patients that will improve our ability to diagnose and to resolve patient problems without unnecessary re-referrals that are more expensive and can often involve long delays before being treated. [NOTE: Provide an appropriate example.] * Use diagnostic laser and ultrasound technologies within our scope of practice as they become available in the future. In short, I'll be able to provide better and broader primary eye care to more patients that I'm now required to refer out unnecessarily, costing them and the system time and resources neither can afford. For these reasons, please sign SB 1406 when it comes to your desk. Feel free to call me at the number given above if you have any questions. Sincerely, [FIRST NAME][LAST NAME], O.D.
