With one victory and four losses charted in the last few months, it’s already been a busy year for scope expansion. Here’s the latest on where efforts stand.

The state’s ODs have earned the right to pursue lasers, injections and IPL.

The current law on the books does not require explicit enumeration of every privilege and procedure, giving optometrists there more autonomy to evolve their skillsets and offerings as the profession grows.

None secured this scope win in 2023, so this year, advocacy efforts are ramping up to ensure legislators understand the importance of these bills.

The legislation was moved to the ‘suspense file’ by the Assembly Appropriations Committee, meaning there was no vote or rationale provided.

LB 216 will soon be voted on by the state’s Health and Human Services Committee following last week’s hearing.

Just prior to a scheduled public hearing, Healthcare Committee members nixed the effort with no further explanation. Undaunted, the ALOA vows to reintroduce in 2024.

This includes those for influenza, COVID-19 and shingles. The law takes effect in 60 days.

The new law, enacted yesterday, will allow qualified ODs in the state to perform chalazion removal, certain injections and non-cosmetic eyelid surgery, as well as use topical and injectable anesthesia and prescribe oral steroids.

The state’s Office of Professional Regulation has come around to supporting the expansion of optometry’s practice scope after opposing it back in 2020.