New Hampshire Revised Statutes 327:6-c – Treatment of Glaucoma
Current as of: 2023 | Check for updates
|
Other versions
I. (a) Optometrists seeking authorization to treat glaucoma shall complete at least 40 hours of classroom education, approved by the board, incorporating: epidemiology of the glaucomas; genetics of the glaucomas; anatomy, physiology, and mechanics of aqueous inflow and aqueous outflow; optic nerve anatomy and pathophysiology; neurotoxicity and neuroprotectants; receptor biology; pharmacology, clinical use and toxic effects of alpha and beta adrenergic agents, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, prostanoids and cholinergic agents.
(b) Optometrists shall pass an examination approved by the board that covers the educational components listed in subparagraph (a). Upon passage of such exam, an optometrist shall have prescriptive authority during the clinical management period pursuant to N.H. Rev. Stat. § 327:6-a.
(c) The board shall waive the requirements of this paragraph and of paragraph II for optometrists who have either graduated after 2002 or who have proof of 12 months of credentialed privileges to treat glaucoma by the United States Department of Defense or Department of Veteran Affairs or the national Indian Health Service, or who are certified by the American Board of Optometry, verified by the board.
II. (a) To be authorized to initiate treatment of glaucoma for patients 18 years of age or older, a therapeutic pharmaceutical agent certified optometrist shall complete the educational requirements in paragraph I and provide evidence of written referrals and consultations with an ophthalmologist. For purposes of this section, “ophthalmologist”; means a physician licensed under N.H. Rev. Stat. Chapter 329 with a specialty in ophthalmology. The joint credentialing committee shall review evidence of glaucoma co-management submitted pursuant to subparagraph (b).
(b) Except as provided in subparagraph I(c) or paragraph III, therapeutic pharmaceutical agent certified optometrists are required to provide evidence of successful collaborative treatment and co-management of 25 glaucoma patients, up to 5 of which may be established patients, during a period of not less than 18 months for each patient, to ophthalmologists according to the following criteria:
(1) A new or existing glaucoma patient is examined and diagnosed by the optometrist;
(2) The optometrist develops a proposed treatment plan and forwards the plan with examination documentation to an ophthalmologist for consultation;
(3) The ophthalmologist reviews the optometrist’s examination documentation and proposed treatment plan;
(4) The ophthalmologist, optometrist, and patient mutually agree to and document a treatment plan;
(5) The optometrist shall consult with the co-managing ophthalmologist when any of the following occurs: the patient’s target pressure is not reached within 90 days; the patient is experiencing documented progression of optic nerve damage; the patient develops documented and repeated progression of visual field loss; or the patient develops angle-closure; and
(6) For each successfully co-managed glaucoma patient the optometrist and co-managing ophthalmologist shall complete a glaucoma credentialing reporting form and submit the form to the joint credentialing committee upon completion of the 18 months of treatment.
III. The joint credentialing committee may waive or reduce the requirements of N.H. Rev. Stat. § 327:6-c, I and II for the following categories of optometrists:
(a) Optometrists with a license and proof of practice for 12 months treating glaucoma patients in another state that currently authorizes the treatment of glaucoma by optometrists; or
(b) Optometrists who have proof of successful completion of a 12-month accredited optometric residency program or its equivalent.
IV. Upon certification to treat glaucoma patients an optometrist shall consult with an ophthalmologist within 30 days when any of the following occurs:
(a) The patient is experiencing documented progression of optic nerve damage or the patient develops documented and repeated progression of visual field loss on maximum tolerated topical medical therapy; or
(b) The patient develops angle-closure.
(b) Optometrists shall pass an examination approved by the board that covers the educational components listed in subparagraph (a). Upon passage of such exam, an optometrist shall have prescriptive authority during the clinical management period pursuant to N.H. Rev. Stat. § 327:6-a.
Terms Used In New Hampshire Revised Statutes 327:6-c
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- following: when used by way of reference to any section of these laws, shall mean the section next preceding or following that in which such reference is made, unless some other is expressly designated. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:13
- state: when applied to different parts of the United States, may extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories, so called; and the words "United States" shall include said district and territories. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:4
- United States: shall include said district and territories. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:4
- Veteran: means any person who:
(1) Served in the United States armed forces for more than 4 years and continues to serve; or
(2) Has been discharged or released from duty in the United States armed forces with:
(A) An honorable discharge; or
(B) An uncharacterized discharge based on a service-connected injury, illness, or disability. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:50
(c) The board shall waive the requirements of this paragraph and of paragraph II for optometrists who have either graduated after 2002 or who have proof of 12 months of credentialed privileges to treat glaucoma by the United States Department of Defense or Department of Veteran Affairs or the national Indian Health Service, or who are certified by the American Board of Optometry, verified by the board.
II. (a) To be authorized to initiate treatment of glaucoma for patients 18 years of age or older, a therapeutic pharmaceutical agent certified optometrist shall complete the educational requirements in paragraph I and provide evidence of written referrals and consultations with an ophthalmologist. For purposes of this section, “ophthalmologist”; means a physician licensed under N.H. Rev. Stat. Chapter 329 with a specialty in ophthalmology. The joint credentialing committee shall review evidence of glaucoma co-management submitted pursuant to subparagraph (b).
(b) Except as provided in subparagraph I(c) or paragraph III, therapeutic pharmaceutical agent certified optometrists are required to provide evidence of successful collaborative treatment and co-management of 25 glaucoma patients, up to 5 of which may be established patients, during a period of not less than 18 months for each patient, to ophthalmologists according to the following criteria:
(1) A new or existing glaucoma patient is examined and diagnosed by the optometrist;
(2) The optometrist develops a proposed treatment plan and forwards the plan with examination documentation to an ophthalmologist for consultation;
(3) The ophthalmologist reviews the optometrist’s examination documentation and proposed treatment plan;
(4) The ophthalmologist, optometrist, and patient mutually agree to and document a treatment plan;
(5) The optometrist shall consult with the co-managing ophthalmologist when any of the following occurs: the patient’s target pressure is not reached within 90 days; the patient is experiencing documented progression of optic nerve damage; the patient develops documented and repeated progression of visual field loss; or the patient develops angle-closure; and
(6) For each successfully co-managed glaucoma patient the optometrist and co-managing ophthalmologist shall complete a glaucoma credentialing reporting form and submit the form to the joint credentialing committee upon completion of the 18 months of treatment.
III. The joint credentialing committee may waive or reduce the requirements of N.H. Rev. Stat. § 327:6-c, I and II for the following categories of optometrists:
(a) Optometrists with a license and proof of practice for 12 months treating glaucoma patients in another state that currently authorizes the treatment of glaucoma by optometrists; or
(b) Optometrists who have proof of successful completion of a 12-month accredited optometric residency program or its equivalent.
IV. Upon certification to treat glaucoma patients an optometrist shall consult with an ophthalmologist within 30 days when any of the following occurs:
(a) The patient is experiencing documented progression of optic nerve damage or the patient develops documented and repeated progression of visual field loss on maximum tolerated topical medical therapy; or
(b) The patient develops angle-closure.