BILL NUMBER: S8768A

SPONSOR: WEBB
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to including nasal sprays
in topical therapeutic pharmaceutical agents optometrists are authorized
to use

 
PURPOSE:

Includes nasal sprays in topical therapeutic pharmaceutical agents opto-
metrists are authorized to use

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section1: Amends subdivision 1 of Section 7101-a of the education law by
adding a new paragraph defining nasal sprays for the treatment of dry
eye disease as topical therapeutic pharmaceutical agents.

Section 2: Effective date.

              

 
JUSTIFICATION:

This bill would ensure that optometry patients in every area of the
state would have access to a new, potentially more effective treatment
for dry eye disease. Currently in New York, only ophthalmologists are
authorized to prescribe a nasal spray for the treatment of this disease.
There are a number of counties in New York that do not have ophthalmolo-
gists available and patients in those counties rely on optometrists as
their first line of defense against eye care and vision problems. The
statute related to optometric scope of practice currently limits pres-
criptive authority for dry eye disease to "direct to the eye" medica-
tions, such as eye drops or topical medications. This precludes patients
in New York with dry eye disease who see an optometrist for their eye
care from using newer FDA approved topical treatments, including one
that is administered through a nasal spray.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.