H.B. 12 Enrolled

UTAH OPTOMETRY PRACTICE ACT
AMENDMENTS
2003 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Sponsor: Katherine M. Bryson

Brent H. Goodfellow This act modifies the Utah Optometry Practice Act by changing the definition of "contact
lens prescription." The act conforms state law to federal regulations on standards for
privacy of individually identifiable health information. The act requires a provider who
prescribes a private label contact lens for a patient to include on the prescription the
name of the manufacturer, the trade name of the private label brand, and, if applicable,
the trade name of the equivalent national brand.
This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
AMENDS:
58-16a-102, as last amended by Chapter 160, Laws of Utah 2000
58-16a-306, as last amended by Chapter 160, Laws of Utah 2000
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 58-16a-102 is amended to read:
58-16a-102. Definitions.
In addition to the definitions in Section 58-1-102 , as used in this chapter:
(1) "Board" means the Optometrist Licensing Board created in Section 58-16a-201 .
(2) "Contact lens" means any lens that:
(a) has a spherical, cylindrical, or prismatic power or curvature;
(b) is made pursuant to a current prescription; [and] or
(c) is intended to be worn on the surface of the eye.
(3) (a) "Contact lens prescription" means a written or verbal order for contact lenses
that includes:
(i) the commencement date of the prescription;
(ii) the base curve, power, diameter, material or brand name, and expiration date;

(iii) for a written order, the signature of the prescribing optometrist or physician; and
(iv) for a verbal order, a record maintained by the recipient of:
(A) the name of the prescribing optometrist or physician; and
(B) the date when the prescription was issued or ordered.
(b) A prescription may include:
(i) a limit on the quantity of lenses that may be ordered under the prescription if[:(A) the
prescription is for more than one contact per eye; or(B)] required for medical reasons
documented in the patient's files; and
(ii) the expiration date of the prescription, which [may not] shall be [less than one year]
two years from the commencement date, unless documented medical reasons require [continuous
monitoring, nor more than two years] otherwise.
(c) [A prescription shall be valid for two years if the] When a provider prescribes a
private label contact lens for a patient the prescription [does not] shall include [an expiration
date.]:
(i) the name of the manufacturer;
(ii) the trade name of the private label brand; and
(iii) if applicable, the trade name of the equivalent national brand.
(4) "Contact lens prescription verification" means a written request from a person who
sells contact lenses that:
(a) is sent to the prescribing optometrist or physician; and
(b) seeks the confirmation of the accuracy of a patient's prescription.
(5) "Eye and its adnexa" means the human eye and all structures situated within the orbit,
including the conjunctiva, lids, lashes, and lacrimal system.
(6) "Fitting of a contact lens" means:
(a) the using of a keratometer to measure the human eye;
(b) utilizing refractive data provided by a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist; and
(c) trial fitting of contact lenses, which includes a period of time for evaluation for fit and
performance, to determine a tentative contact lens prescription for a patient if the patient:

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(i) has not worn contact lenses before; or
(ii) has changed to a different type or base curve.
(7) "Laser surgery" means surgery in which human tissue is cut, burned, or vaporized by
means of laser or ionizing radiation.
(8) "Ophthalmic lens" means any lens used to treat the eye and that:
(a) has a spherical, cylindrical, or prismatic power;
(b) is made pursuant to an unexpired prescription; and
(c) is intended to be used in eyeglasses or spectacles.
(9) "Optometric assistant" means an unlicensed individual:
(a) working under the direct and immediate supervision of a licensed optometrist; and
(b) engaged in specific tasks assigned by the licensed optometrist in accordance with the
standards and ethics of the profession.
(10) "Optometrist" or "optometric physician" means an individual licensed under this
chapter.
(11) "Optometry" and "practice of optometry" mean any one or any combination of the
following practices:
(a) examination of the human eye and its adnexa to detect and diagnose defects or
abnormal conditions;
(b) determination or modification of the accommodative or refractive state of the human
eye or its range or power of vision by administration and prescription of pharmaceutical agents or
the use of diagnostic instruments;
(c) prescription, ordering, administration, or adaptation of ophthalmic lenses, contact
lenses, ophthalmic devices, pharmaceutical agents, laboratory tests, or ocular exercises to
diagnose and treat diseases, defects, or other abnormal conditions of the human eye and its
adnexa;
(d) display of any advertisement, circular, sign, or device offering to:
(i) examine the eyes;
(ii) fit glasses or contact lenses; or

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(iii) adjust frames;
(e) removal of a foreign body from the eye or its adnexa, that is not deeper than the
anterior 1/2 of the cornea;
(f) consultation regarding the eye and its adnexa with other appropriate health care
providers, including referral to other appropriate health care providers; and
(g) a person, not licensed as an optometrist, directing a licensee under this chapter to
withhold or alter the eye care services the licensee has ordered.
(12) "Pharmaceutical agent" means any diagnostic or therapeutic drug or combination of
drugs that has the property of assisting in the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, or mitigation of
abnormal conditions or symptoms of the eye and its adnexa.
(13) "Physician" has the same meaning as defined in Subsection 58-67-102 (7).
[(13)] (14) "Prescription drug" has the same definition as in Section 58-17a-102 .
[(14)] (15) "Unexpired" means a prescription that was issued:
(a) not more than two years prior to presentation of the prescription for an ophthalmic
lens; or
(b) in accordance with Subsection (3) for a contact lens.
Section 2. Section 58-16a-306 is amended to read:
58-16a-306. Contact lens prescription -- Qualifications.
(1) An optometrist or [ophthalmologist] physician issuing a contact lens prescription
shall:
(a) be licensed under this title to practice in Utah;
(b) ensure the final contact lens prescription is accurate;
(c) present a written copy of the prescription to the patient after fitting [unless:]; and
[(i) there are unpaid fees associated with the examination or treatment; or]
[(ii) providing a copy is not in the best medical interests of the patient in the professional
judgement of the prescribing optometrist or physician; and]
(d) provide a copy of the patient's contact lens prescription to a person who sells contact
lenses upon the request of the patient or the person selling the contact lenses.

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(2) An optometrist or physician may not be held liable as a result of providing a
prescription to a patient as required by Subsection (1).
(3) Application of the provisions of this section shall be consistent with 45 C.F.R. Parts
160 and 164, Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information.

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