1773856 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - Amending the optometry licensure requirements regulations in chapter 64 (Optometry) of title 17 DCMR
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING
The Acting Director of the Department Health, pursuant to the authority set forth under § 302 (14) of the District of Columbia Health Occupations Revision Act of 1985 (Act), effective March 15, 1986 (D. C. Law 6-99; D.C. Official Code § 3-1203.02 (14)) (2007 Repl.), and Mayor’s Order 98-140, dated August 20, 1998, hereby gives notice of the intent to take final rulemaking action to adopt the following amendments to chapter 64 (Optometry) of title 17 (Business, Occupations and Professions) of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (DCMR) in not less than thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this notice in the D.C. Register.
The purpose of the amendments is to inform an applicant that the national examination tests an applicant’s initial competency in the practice of optometry; to increase the number of continuing education hours needed for renewal of a license from twenty- four (24) to thirty- six (36); to inform a licensee that he or she must submit proof of completion of continuing education within thirty (30) days after it is requested; to require that six (6) of the thirty- six (36) hours for optometrists certified for the administration of therapeutic pharmaceutical agents be completed pursuant to 17 DCMR § 6408; to add a new section entitled “Continuing Competency;” and to define the term “continuing competency.”
Chapter 64 (Optometry) of Title 17 DCMR (Business, Occupations and Professions) is amended to read as follows:
Section 6404 (National Examination), subsection 6404.5 is amended to read as follows:
6404.5 Effective June 1, 1994, an applicant for licensure by examination shall receive a passing score on the practical examination portion of the national examination, which the National Board of Examiners in Optometry administers (the national examination), and is designed to test an applicant’s initial competency in the practice of optometry.
Section 6406 (Continuing Education Requirements), subsection 6406.4 is amended to read as follows:
6406.4 An applicant for renewal of a license shall submit proof of having completed thirty- six (36) hours of approved continuing education credit during the two (2) year period preceding the date the license expires. Such proof shall be submitted within thirty (30) days after the Board’s request.
Section 6413 (Administration of Therapeutic Pharmaceutical Agents), subsection 6413.7 is amended to read as follows:
6413.7 An optometrist certified for the administration of therapeutic pharmaceutical agents shall prove to the Board’s satisfaction that he or she has completed six (6) hours of approved continuing education credits pursuant to §6408.
Add a new section 6418 is added to read as follows:
6418 CONTINUING COMPETENCY
6418.1 An optometrist who meets the requirements for licensure and satisfies the thirty-six (36) hour approved continuing education requirement pursuant to § 6406.4 is deemed competent to practice the profession of optometry.
Section 6499 (Definitions), subsection 6499.1 is amended by adding “continuing competency” in alphabetical order to read as follows:
Continuing competency:
(a) The ability to provide comprehensive eye and vision care by meeting the patient’s needs with the objectives of
achieving appropriate outcomes and maintaining or improving the patient’s quality of life;
(b) The ability to support an integrated healthcare system by collaborating with other healthcare professionals and service providers to facilitate the management of the overall health needs and to encourage the well-being of patients;
(c) The ability to apply management skills to optimize the care of
patients and make efficient use of health resources; and
(d) The ability to educate patients with the goal of encouraging
appropriate, effective, and comprehensive eye and vision
care.
All persons desiring to comment on the subject matter of this proposed rulemaking should file comments in writing not less than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice in the D.C. Register. Comments should be sent to the Department of Health, Office of the General Counsel, 899 North Capitol Street, N.E., 5th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20002. Copies of the proposed rulemaking may be obtained from the Department at the same address during the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday excluding holidays.
