House Bill 0251

    Florida House of Representatives - 1999                 HB 251

        By Representative K. Smith






  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to ophthalmology; amending ss.

  3         458.320 and 459.0085, F.S.; revising financial

  4         responsibility requirements for certain

  5         ophthalmologists; providing an effective date.

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  7  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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  9         Section 1.  Paragraph (h) is added to subsection (5) of

10  section 458.320, Florida Statutes, 1998 Supplement, to read:

11         458.320  Financial responsibility.--

12         (5)  The requirements of subsections (1), (2), and (3)

13  shall not apply to:

14         (h)  Any person licensed under this chapter as an

15  ophthalmologist who does not prescribe medication or perform

16  surgery and whose practice is limited solely to eye

17  examinations and prescription of lenses, spectacles,

18  eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other optical devices. A

19  person exempt under this paragraph shall be considered the

20  equivalent of an optometrist licensed under chapter 463 for

21  purposes of qualifying for professional liability insurance.

22         Section 2.  Paragraph (h) is added to subsection (5) of

23  section 459.0085, Florida Statutes, 1998 Supplement, to read:

24         459.0085  Financial responsibility.--

25         (5)  The requirements of subsections (1), (2), and (3)

26  shall not apply to:

27         (h)  Any person licensed under this chapter as an

28  ophthalmologist who does not prescribe medication or perform

29  surgery and whose practice is limited solely to eye

30  examinations and prescription of lenses, spectacles,

31  eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other optical devices. A

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida House of Representatives - 1999                 HB 251

    60-268-99






  1  person exempt under this paragraph shall be considered the

  2  equivalent of an optometrist licensed under chapter 463 for

  3  purposes of qualifying for professional liability insurance.

  4         Section 3.  This act shall take effect October 1, 1999.

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  7                          HOUSE SUMMARY

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      Provides that an ophthalmologist licensed under ch. 458
  9    or ch. 459, F.S., who does not perform surgery or
      prescribe medication and whose practice is limited solely
10    to eye examinations and the prescription of lenses,
      spectacles, eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other optical
11    devices is exempt from the financial responsibility
      requirements applicable to physicians and osteopathic
12    physicians and that such ophthalmologists shall be
      considered the equivalent of optometrists licensed under
13    ch. 463, F.S., for purposes of qualifying for
      professional liability insurance.
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