California Optometric Association
For Immediate Release
September 15, 2017
Contact: Mike Roth, , 916.444.7170
Crucial Health Care Access Bill Heads to Gov. Brown’s Desk
Sacramento, CA – The California Optometric Association (COA) today lauded the State Senate’s unanimous passage and the Assembly’s concurrence vote on AB 443 (Salas). The bill now heads to Governor Brown’s desk. The COA-supported bill is a significant step forward in addressing California’s critical shortage of health providers, enabling Doctors of Optometry to safely expand the number of procedures they may offer to patients.
COA President Dr. Sage Hider said:
“The Legislature’s passage of AB 443 is an important step forward for Californians’ vision care and overall health. The California Optometric Association is grateful for the leadership of Assemblymember Rudy Salas and proud to have worked in partnership with stakeholders to bring this bill to Governor Brown’s desk. Now, we strongly and respectfully urge Governor Brown’s support for this measure to bring crucial care closer to patients, alleviate patient waiting times for basic care, and reduce costs.
“Under AB 443, Doctors of Optometry can more fully utilize our extensive training and experience to help expand health care access to Californians with lower incomes and in geographically remote areas.
“AB 443 comes at a pivotal time, as California bears the deadly toll and hefty costs of a growing diabetes epidemic. Doctors of Optometry are already on the front lines of this crisis, often the first to detect the signs of diabetes in the form of vision loss. AB 443 will give optometrists more tools to connect patients to critically needed care that can save their sight, and their lives.”
A severe shortage of primary care providers compromises Californians’ health. Today, 46 counties have too few primary care doctors to meet the needs of their communities. AB 443 brings California in line with most states by allowing highly trained doctors of optometry to perform routine, but medically necessary procedures.
AB 443 would allow optometrists to safely provide care that is within their extensive training, alleviating pressure on the health care system and making eye care more accessible in rural California and for lower income patients. Under AB 443, optometrists could test patients for diabetes, administerflu, shingles and pneumoniavaccines after receiving additional training and certification, andbroadentreatment options for glaucoma. The bill will alsoexpandthe types of eye diseases doctors of optometry can treat.
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