85R11918 SLB-F
 
  By: Sheffield H.B. No. 3710
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the comanagement of glaucoma by ophthalmologists and
  therapeutic optometrists and the establishment of a comanagement
  registry.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 153, Occupations Code, is
  amended by adding Section 153.017 to read as follows:
         Sec. 153.017.  GLAUCOMA COMANAGEMENT REGISTRY AND
  DISCIPLINARY INFORMATION. (a)  The board and the Texas Optometry
  Board shall:
               (1)  jointly maintain a registry of ophthalmologists
  and therapeutic optometrists engaged in the comanagement of
  patients under Section 351.3581; and
               (2)  make the registry available to the public through
  a link on each board's Internet website.
         (b)  The registry must be searchable by:
               (1)  the name of the ophthalmologist;
               (2)  the name of the therapeutic optometrist;
               (3)  the county that an ophthalmologist in the registry
  lists as a primary practice location; and
               (4)  the county that a therapeutic optometrist in the
  registry lists as a primary practice location.
         (c)  The board and the Texas Optometry Board shall jointly
  develop a process to share information regarding license holders
  under the jurisdiction of either board who:
               (1)  become the subject of an investigation involving
  the comanagement or treatment of glaucoma, including information
  regarding the final disposition of the investigation; or
               (2)  have been subject to a final adverse disciplinary
  action for an act involving the comanagement or treatment of
  glaucoma.
         (d)  The board or the Texas Optometry Board, as applicable,
  may use information shared under Subsection (c) to initiate an
  investigation of a license holder.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 160, Occupations Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter D to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER D. PARTICIPATION IN GLAUCOMA COMANAGEMENT REGISTRY
         Sec. 160.151.  PROVISION OF INFORMATION TO GLAUCOMA
  COMANAGEMENT REGISTRY. (a)  An ophthalmologist engaged in the
  comanagement of patients under Section 351.3581 shall provide to
  the board the name, license number, and county of primary practice
  location of each therapeutic optometrist with whom the
  ophthalmologist is comanaging patients for inclusion in the
  comanagement registry maintained as required under Section
  153.017.
         (b)  The board shall establish procedures to allow an
  ophthalmologist who provides information under Subsection (a) to
  update the information through the registry's Internet website.  
  The board shall require the ophthalmologist to update the
  information at least annually.
         SECTION 3.  Section 351.3581, Occupations Code, is amended
  by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsections (c-1), (c-2),
  (k), and (l) to read as follows:
         (c)  A therapeutic optometrist required to engage in
  comanagement consultation with an ophthalmologist shall:
               (1)  inform the patient diagnosed with or undergoing or
  beginning treatment for glaucoma that the therapeutic optometrist
  is required to have the diagnosis confirmed and comanaged with an
  ophthalmologist with whom the therapeutic optometrist has a
  glaucoma comanagement agreement or by an ophthalmologist of the
  patient's choosing; and
               (2)  obtain signed, written consent from a patient
  described by Subdivision (1) that meets the requirements of
  Subsection (c-1) [or, if the patient does not choose an
  ophthalmologist, an ophthalmologist practicing in the geographic
  area in which the therapeutic optometrist practices].
         (c-1)  Consent obtained under Subsection (c) must
  acknowledge receipt by the patient of the following information:
               (1)  that the patient has been diagnosed with glaucoma
  by the therapeutic optometrist or is undergoing or beginning
  treatment for glaucoma;
               (2)  that the therapeutic optometrist obtaining the
  consent is not a physician licensed to practice medicine by the
  Texas Medical Board;
               (3)  that the patient should have the diagnosis of
  glaucoma confirmed by an ophthalmologist licensed to practice
  medicine by the Texas Medical Board not later than the 30th day
  after the date the diagnosis is determined by the therapeutic
  optometrist and that the diagnosis should be reconfirmed annually
  by an ophthalmologist;
               (4)  that the therapeutic optometrist obtaining the
  consent is required to comanage the treatment for glaucoma with an
  ophthalmologist licensed to practice medicine by the Texas Medical
  Board; and
               (5)  that the Texas Medical Board and the Texas
  Optometry Board maintain a searchable registry of ophthalmologists
  and therapeutic optometrists who comanage glaucoma patients.
         (c-2)  A therapeutic optometrist shall maintain a patient's
  consent obtained under Subsection (c) in the patient's medical
  record and forward a copy of the consent to the comanaging
  ophthalmologist with whom the therapeutic optometrist has a
  glaucoma comanagement agreement under Subsection (l) or to an
  ophthalmologist of the patient's choice on the written request of
  the patient.
         (k)  A therapeutic optometrist engaged in the comanagement
  of patients under this section shall provide to the board the name,
  physician license number, and county of primary practice location
  of each ophthalmologist with whom the therapeutic optometrist is
  comanaging patients for inclusion in the glaucoma comanagement
  registry maintained as required by Section 153.017.  The board
  shall establish procedures to allow a therapeutic optometrist who
  provides information under this subsection to update the
  information through the registry's Internet website.  The board
  shall require the therapeutic optometrist to update the information
  at least annually.
         (l)  A therapeutic optometrist who is required to engage in
  consultation with an ophthalmologist under this section shall enter
  into a written glaucoma comanagement agreement, signed and dated by
  the parties to the agreement, that:
               (1)  contains the following information:
                     (A)  the names, addresses, and applicable license
  numbers of the parties;
                     (B)  the practice locations and settings of the
  parties;
                     (C)  a general plan for addressing consultation
  and referral; and
                     (D)  a general process for communications between
  the parties;
               (2)  requires the agreement and any amendment to the
  agreement to be reviewed, dated, and signed by each party at least
  annually;
               (3)  requires a party to the agreement who is notified
  that the party is the subject of an investigation by the party's
  licensing board to immediately notify the other party of the
  investigation; and
               (4)  provides that the agreement may be terminated by
  any party not later than the 30th day after the date the party
  seeking termination notifies all other parties.
         SECTION 4.  (a)  Not later than March 1, 2018, the Texas
  Medical Board and the Texas Optometry Board shall establish the
  registry and adopt rules to implement the changes in law made by
  this Act.
         (b)  Notwithstanding Section 351.3581, Occupations Code, as
  amended by this Act, a therapeutic optometrist or ophthalmologist
  is not required to comply with that section until April 1, 2018.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.