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S 1592

Relates to appointments to the water board of the city of New York

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Andrew Lanza

Massachusetts updates optometry licensure, requiring retraining for older licensees to use diagnostic and therapeutic drugs, modernizing scope and board certification.

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Bill Summary · S 1592

Summary — S.1592 (Senate No. 1592) — “An Act relative to updating the licensure of optometrists”

Important note on metadata: The bill information provided contains inconsistent metadata (title referencing New York water board; sponsors and related bills from different jurisdictions). The full bill text attached is Massachusetts Senate No. 1592 and concerns optometrist licensure in Massachusetts. This summary focuses on the Massachusetts optometry bill text.

Purpose / Intent

To update and clarify the statutory definition and licensure requirements for the practice of optometry in Massachusetts, modernize scope-of-practice language, and set rubric and deadlines for licensing examinations (including use of diagnostic and therapeutic pharmaceutical agents) for existing licensees.

Key provisions (by section)

  • Section 1: Minor amendment to chapter 13, section 16 (removes phrase “a member of the faculty or on the board of trustees thereof”).

  • Section 2 (ch.112 §66): Revises the statutory definition of “practice of optometry” to explicitly include “examination, diagnosis, treatment and management of diseases, injuries, and disorders of the visual system, the eye and associated structures” and “diagnosis of related systemic conditions.”

  • Sections 3–5, 7–9, 11 (ch.112 §§66A, 66B, 66C, 68A, 68B, 68C): Establish testing/recertification requirements for cohorts of optometrists licensed before specific cutoff dates:

    • Optometrists licensed before Jan 1, 1984 must retake and pass board‑approved testing for use of diagnostic pharmaceutical agents (deadline stated: Jan 1, 2022).
    • Optometrists licensed before Jan 1, 1994 must retake and pass board‑approved testing for therapeutic pharmaceutical agents (including glaucoma and oral medications) (deadline stated: Jan 1, 2022).
    • Optometrists licensed before Jan 1, 2021 must take and pass board‑approved testing allowing use of therapeutic pharmaceutical agents, including glaucoma and oral medications (deadline stated: Jan 1, 2025).
    • Successful candidates receive certificates of qualification from the Board.

  • Section 6 (ch.112 §68): Rewrites licensure prerequisites:

    • Requires completion of a doctorate of optometry (OD) from an accredited program and passing applicable licensing exams.
    • Provides for reciprocity where out‑of‑state board requirements are equivalent.
    • Adds a condition that the Board may require optometrists seeking issuance or renewal of registration to apply to participate in the state medical assistance (Medicaid) program for limited purposes (ordering/referring services), with provider participation fulfilling the requirement if the optometrist enrolls as a provider.

  • Section 10 (ch.112 §69): Revises annual license fee process — license fees paid annually before Feb 1, to be determined by the Secretary of Administration and Finance in consultation with the Department of Public Health (revocation for nonpayment after hearing).

Who is affected

  • Licensed optometrists in Massachusetts, particularly those licensed before the statutory cutoff dates referenced (1984, 1994, 2021).
  • Applicants seeking initial Massachusetts optometry licensure (doctoral degree + exams).
  • Massachusetts Board of Registration in Optometry (administration of exams, certificates, enforcement).
  • Patients and payers (possible changes in scope-of-practice and provider participation in Medicaid).

Timelines & procedural notes

  • The text includes several deadlines (Jan 1, 2022 and Jan 1, 2025) for retesting and qualification. These dates are in the past or near‑past relative to bill filing, which may reflect statutory clean‑up or re‑establishment of enforcement timelines.
  • Legislative history provided (selected): introduced in Senate 05/05/2025; referred to committees; committee reported “ought to pass” 11/17/2025 and referred to Senate Ways & Means. (Multiple committee/hearing entries are listed in provided metadata.)

Potential impacts / considerations

  • Seeks to standardize and modernize scope-of-practice language for optometry and ensure licensees meet contemporary testing standards to use diagnostic and therapeutic pharmaceuticals.
  • Could impose testing/retraining burdens on older licensees who have not completed the specified board testing.
  • May increase administrative workload for the Board (testing, issuance of certificates, enforcement).
  • The Medicaid application requirement could increase optometrists’ administrative steps to maintain licensure or encourage greater participation in Medicaid as providers (if they choose to enroll).

If you want, I can:
- Produce a side‑by‑side comparison (current statute vs. proposed changes) for each affected section, or
- Flag the specific inconsistencies in the provided metadata for legislative clerks to resolve.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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