Legislative Search - Scope of Practice Policy

This searchable legislative database brings you up-to-date, real-time information about scope of practice legislation that has been introduced in the 50 states and D.C. You can search legislation by state, topic, keyword, year, status or primary sponsor.

Please note: this database has been expanded since 2017. Some provider types may not be searchable for all years.

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NJ A 5445

Title: Optometrists Scope of Practice (Public Text Link )

Summary: Updates scope of practice of optometrists.

Author: Benson (D)

Bill Number: 5445

Current Dispo: Pending

Intro Date: 5/11/2023

Location: Assembly Regulated Professions Committee

Session Year: 2022

State: NJ

Subject: Optometrist Injectable Authority, Optometrist Prescription of Controlled Substances, Optometrist Authority to Perform Ophthalmic Procedures

Topic	Explanation
Addiction Counselors	Addiction counselors work with people with substance use disorders. Legislation includes changes to certification or licensure processes, supervision requirements and scope of practice for addiction counselors.
Community Health Workers	Community health workers are frontline public health workers who are trusted members of and/or have a deep understanding of the community served. Legislation includes changes to certification or licensure processes, Medicaid and private insurance reimbursement, and scope of practice for community health workers.
Community Paramedics	Community paramedics provide care for patients at home or in other non-urgent settings outside of a hospital under the supervision of a physician or advanced practice provider. Legislation includes the creation or changes to community paramedicine programs, certification or licensure processes, Medicaid and private insurance reimbursement, and scope of practice for community paramedics.
Dental Hygienist – Direct Access	Direct access refers to the ability of a dental hygienist to initiate treatment based on their assessment of a patient’s needs without the specific authorization of a dentist, treat the patient without the presence of a dentist and maintain a provider-patient relationship.
Dental Hygienist – Prescriptive Authority	Prescriptive authority refers to a dental hygienist’s authority to prescribe medications such as fluoride, antimicrobial solutions and anesthetics, among others.
Dental Therapists	Dental therapists provide specified dental services, at dental offices or other approved practice sites, especially in rural and underserved areas. Legislation includes changes to licensure and certification requirements, Medicaid reimbursement, prescriptive authority and scope of practice for dental therapists.
Licensed Professional Counselors	Licensed professional counselors—also referred to as licensed mental health counselors—are mental health service providers who have a relevant master’s or doctoral degree. Legislation includes changes to authority or ability to diagnose to diagnose a patient’s mental illness without having to refer patients to other licensed professionals.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (NP) – Medication-Assisted Treatment	Legislation includes codifying nurse practitioner (NP) authority to prescribe medication-assisted treatment.
NP – Practice Authority	Practice authority can be defined as a nurse practitioner’s (NP) ability to practice with or without physician oversight.
NP – Prescriptive Authority	Prescriptive authority refers to a nurse practitioner’s (NP) authority to prescribe medications.
NP – Primary Care Provider	Some states explicitly identify a nurse practitioner (NP) as a primary care provider, such as allowing NPs to pursue certification in adult-gerontology or pediatric primary care as a defined population focus.
Optometrist – Authority to Perform Ophthalmic Procedures	Authority to perform ophthalmic procedures includes optometrists’ ability to perform common ophthalmic procedures within their scope of practice including contact lens fitting, annual eye exams and foreign body removal. Some states grant optometrists the authority to utilize surgical and laser privileges.
Optometrist – Injectable Authority	Injectable authority refers to optometrists’ ability to administer injections including for the treatment of anaphylaxis, other medications or vaccinations.
Optometrist – Prescription of Controlled Substances	Prescription of controlled substances refers to optometrists’ ability to prescribe certain classifications of controlled substances.
PA – Medication-Assisted Treatment	Legislation includes codifying physician assistant authority to prescribe medication-assisted treatment.
Physician Assistant (PA) – SOP Determination	Scope of practice determination refers to whether a physician assistant’s scope of practice is determined at the practice level, by a state medical board or state law.
PA – Prescriptive Authority	Prescriptive authority refers to a physician assistant’s authority to prescribe medications.
PA – Supervision Requirements	Supervision requirements refer to whether a physician assistant is required to practice under the supervision of or in collaboration with a physician either at the practice level, by the state medical board or in state law.
Peer Support Specialists	Peer support specialists use their lived experience of recovery from mental illness and/or addiction, plus skills learned in formal training, to provide behavioral health services, education, recovery support and connection to other services. Legislation includes changes to licensure and certification requirements, and Medicaid and private insurance reimbursement of peer support specialists.
Pharmacist – Administration of COVID-19 Vaccine	Pharmacists are authorized to administer vaccines in all 50 states, but the type of vaccine and the age of a patient varies by state. Some states authorized pharmacists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine after the public health emergency ends.
Pharmacist – Prescription Adaptation	Prescription adaptation refers to a pharmacist’s authority to modify medication regimens from the original prescriber to improve a patient’s health outcome, either independently or in collaboration with the original prescriber.
Pharmacist – Prescription of Hormonal Contraceptives	Prescription of hormonal contraceptives refers to a pharmacist’s authority to prescribe contraceptives without having a collaborative practice agreement in place.
Pharmacist – Prescription of Tobacco Cessation Aids	Prescription of tobacco cessation aids refers to a pharmacist’s authority to prescribe tobacco, smoking or nicotine cessation aids without having a collaborative practice agreement in place.
Teledentistry	Teledentistry uses technology to provide and support dental care services remotely, including face-to-face consultations via video conference, sharing images and records among providers, and monitoring patients. Some states reimburse for teledentistry services through Medicaid and/or commercial insurance providers.
Other Dental Bills	Legislation allowing dental therapists and dental hygienists to perform other tasks or procedures that are not captured in the specific categories above.
Other Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Bills	Legislation allowing nurse practitioners to perform other tasks or procedures that are not captured in the specific categories above.
Other Physician Assistant Bills	Legislation allowing physician assistants to perform other tasks or procedures that are not captured in the specific categories above.