1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to health occupations; modifying limitations on optometrists prescribing
1.3 and administering drugs; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 148.56,
1.4 subdivision 1.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 148.56, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.7 Subdivision 1.Optometry defined.(a) Any person shall be deemed to be practicing
1.8optometry within the meaning of sections 148.52 to 148.62 who shall in any way:
1.9 (1) advertise as an optometrist;
1.10 (2) employ any means, including the use of autorefractors or other automated testing
1.11devices, for the measurement of the powers of vision or the adaptation of lenses or prisms
1.12for the aid thereof;
1.13 (3) possess testing appliances for the purpose of the measurement of the powers of vision;
1.14 (4) diagnose any disease, optical deficiency or deformity, or visual or muscular anomaly
1.15of the visual system consisting of the human eye and its accessory or subordinate anatomical
1.16parts;
1.17 (5) prescribe lenses, including plano or cosmetic contact lenses, or prisms for the
1.18correction or the relief of same;
1.19 (6) employ or prescribe ocular exercises, orthoptics, or habilitative and rehabilitative
1.20therapeutic vision care; or
1Section 1.
25-03046 as introduced01/30/25 REVISOR AGW/HL
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 1144NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: MAYE QUADE, Kupec, Gruenhagen, Gustafson and Utke)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading02/10/2025
Referred to Health and Human Services 2.1 (7) prescribe or administer legend drugs to aid in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation,
2.2prevention, treatment, or management of disease, deficiency, deformity, or abnormality of
2.3the human eye and adnexa included in the curricula of accredited schools or colleges of
2.4optometry, and as limited by Minnesota statute and adopted rules by the Board of Optometry,
2.5or who holds oneself out as being able to do so.
2.6 (b) In the course of treatment, nothing in this section shall allow:
2.7 (1) legend drugs to be administered intravenously, intramuscularly, or by injection,
2.8except for treatment of anaphylaxis or by sub-Tenon, retrobulbar, or intravitreal injection;
2.9 (2) invasive surgery including, but not limited to, surgery using lasers;
2.10 (3) Schedule II and III oral legend drugs and oral steroids to be administered or
2.11prescribed; or
2.12 (4) oral antivirals to be prescribed or administered for more than ten days; or steroids
2.13to be administered or prescribed for more than 14 days without consultation with a physician.
2.14 (5) oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors to be prescribed or administered for more than
2.15seven days.
2Section 1.
25-03046 as introduced01/30/25 REVISOR AGW/HL