Help Us Stand Up For Patients Over Profits!
Special interests would have you believe that allowing optometrists to perform eye surgery, despite not having medical degrees or surgical residency training, is about expanding access to care – but behind closed doors, their motives may be the opposite.
The script of last month’s national training seminar for optometrists suggests access to patients’ wallets is a primary “focus.”
At a national optometrist meeting in New Orleans in February, optometrists are trained specifically in how to "grow their practice revenue.”
They’re told that “if patients say they’re there for a routine exam, and you find glaucoma, do the routine exam and have them come back a second time for a medical visit.” This forces the patient to pay for two visits when only one is needed – but most importantly, it delays critical glaucoma treatment.
Keep reading the article on further ways optometrists learn how to make sure you keep coming back.
Now, three bills – HB1798, HB3505, and SB1223 – have been filed at the Texas Capitol, which would allow optometrists the ability to perform 100 new delicate eye surgeries outside the oversight of the Texas Medical Board and remove the critical patient safeguard of referring patients who are suspected of glaucoma to a medically-trained ophthalmologist.
When co-managing patients with ophthalmologists, these "second visits" are frowned upon by optometrists — but when their profits can grow, patient care takes a back seat.
Why expand their practice way beyond their training? Clearly, these special interests are fine putting profits over patient care.
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Patients should come first – Texans deserve better.