February 26, 2001

Dear TOA Member,

As you probably know, there is a moratorium in place for optometric scope of practice bills through 2005. The moratorium was the result of a scope of practice agreement between the Texas Ophthalmological Association and the Texas Optometric Association in the last session.

The TOA wants to use the period of the moratorium building a strong defense for the future. To that end, we are placing a priority on fighting non-optometric scope bills during the moratorium period. We recognize that the scope of practice for limited-license health care providers in this state has long since reached the limit of the providers training. Continued passage of scope bills for such providers not only makes our patients vulnerable to "bad medicine," but also further erodes the slippery slope on which we, throughout the house of medicine, now stand.

Once again this year, limited license practitioners seek to lower the standard for medical care in the state. This year, several groups of these practitioners seek to practice medicine not through training, but rather through legislative fiat. The psychologists have filed a prescription medicine bill and other scope of practice bills are expected from other professions.

We want to bring in as many ophthalmologists as possible to the TMA and TEXPAC's "Capitol Salute." During the "Salute," we will to pair up TOA members with psychiatrists, family practitioners, pediatricians, etc., so that together they can explain that these are not "turf battles," but rather public health issues.

Capitol Salute takes place on Tuesday (afternoon) and Wednesday (7:30 am - 2:30 pm), March 27 and 28. The Tuesday portion, which consists of briefings on current medical issues, visit coordination, and a reception and dinner with political heavies, is full of extremely helpful information for both this session and the future. The Wednesday portion will consist of legislative visits.

You may remember that in the past we've had two days set aside as Ophthalmology Days at the Capitol. This year we are forgoing Ophthalmology Days so that we can join our colleagues of other specialties. I hope that you will find the time in your busy practices to come to Austin.

For more information on Capitol Salute, or to register for it, click here. If you're attending, please be sure to email Mike Duncan (mike [at] TxEyeNet [dot] org) to let him know to expect you.

Thank you for helping uphold the high standards of care for Texans.