Date: 04/13/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB09-251

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved to refer Senate Bill 09-251 to the CommitteePASS



01:55 PM -- Senate Bill 09-251

Representative Riesberg presented Senate Bill 09-251 which permits optometrists and physicians to prescribe and sell drug dispensing contact lenses. Representative Riesberg explained that under current law, optometrists and physicians may prescribe drugs, however, only pharmacies may legally sell drugs. He explained that a new type of contact lenses corrects vision and distributes controlled drug therapy, such as allergy medicine, for example. Representative Riesberg stated that optometrists can dispense eye drops, but cannot send those eye drops home with the patient. He stated that patients who are prescribed drug releasing contact lenses must obtain the product from a pharmacist prior to having the product adjusted by a physician or optometrist. He stated that the bill allows optometrists to dispense these types of contacts.

01:59 PM -- Richard Brown, Colorado Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Brown explained that optometrists can dispense a device for a fee, but the federal government has classified these new contact lenses as a drug. He stated that optometrists cannot dispense a drug under current law. He stated that the bill would allow optometrists to dispense the contacts. Mr. Brown responded to committee questions.

02:07 PM -- Dr. Donna Ellinger, Colorado Optometric Association, spoke in favor of the bill. She stated that the definition of "dispense for a fee" means that the patient can buy a supply of contact lenses from their optometrist. She stated that the bill allows optometrists to dispense the contacts for a fee and that patients will be able to buy a supply of contacts. She concurred with Mr. Brown's testimony. She explained that contact lenses are considered a device by the federal government and that the time release contacts have been defined as a drug. She stated that the bill does not expand the scope of practice for optometrists.


02:12 PM

Representative Riesberg provided concluding remarks to the bill.
BILL:SB09-251
TIME: 02:13:05 PM
MOVED:Riesberg
MOTION:Moved to refer Senate Bill 09-251 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 11-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Kefalas
VOTE
Acree
Yes
Gerou
Yes
Green
Yes
Kagan
Yes
Kefalas
Yes
Kerr J.
Yes
Nikkel
Yes
Primavera
Yes
Swalm
Yes
Gagliardi
Yes
Riesberg
Yes
Not Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



02:14 PM

The committee adjourned.