OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. T.J. Marti, R-Broken Arrow, on Tuesday received unanimous committee passage of a bill that would redefine the dispensing scope of practice for optometrists in Oklahoma.

House Bill 2680 reforms a bill from last session to narrow medications optometrists can dispense to better align with their scope of practice.

“This bill specifies the scope of practice for dispensing, while at the same time expanding accessibility for patients in need of ocular related services,” Marti said. “HB2680 has been agreed upon and supported by both the Oklahoma Pharmacists Association and Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians and will be a major win for rural Oklahoma in terms of expanding access to critical services, and helping both independent pharmacists and optometrists better serve their communities.”

Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City authored the Senate version of the 2020 bill and is the Senate author for HB2680 this year as well.