FMA Legislative Update

In the February 8th legislative update by Miguel Machado, Chair of the FMA Council on Legislation, he reports the following…

OPTOMETRISTS Can Now Prescribe…
The most notable event of last week’s Florida Legislature occurred in the Senate Health Regulation Committee. Despite ardent lobbying efforts by the Florida Medical Association (FMA) and the Florida Society of Ophthalmology (FSO), SB 330, which would allow optometrists to prescribe oral medications, passed by a 4-3 vote. The FMA and the FSO presented compelling testimony on why the bill presents a danger to public safety. FSO President Bradley Fouraker, MD, and Joshua Lenchus, DO, argued that optometrists do not have the education and training to safely prescribe oral medications, and they clearly articulated the dangers these medications present. Testifying for the optometrists was Alberto Aran, MD, an ophthalmologist from Miami, and William Soscia, MD, an ophthalmologist from Bradenton. Voting against the bill were Sens. Andy Gardiner, Don Gaetz and Eleanor Sobel. Please thank them for their support. Voting for the bill were Sens. Thad Altman, Mike Bennett, Dennis Jones and Al Lawson, Jr.

A better outcome occurred in the House Health Care Regulation Policy Committee, where HB 225, by Rep. John Legg, was temporarily postponed. Rep. Legg’s bill would prohibit a physician from dispensing more than a 72-hour supply of Schedule II, III or IV controlled substances. The FMA has been working to delete this provision and find more targeted ways of controlling South Florida pill mill abuses. The committee members appeared to agree that this bill would negatively affect honest physicians, and they asked Rep. Legg to bring the bill back to the committee after meeting with the FMA and other interested groups.