| (a) The Texas Optometry Act was enacted in part to
safeguard the visual welfare of the public and the optometrist-patient
relationship and to fix professional responsibility with respect to
the patient.
(b) In order to comply with these objectives and to
assure patients will have adequate follow-up care, this rule applies
to licensed optometrists or therapeutic optometrists who practice
optometry or therapeutic optometry, including the examination and
prescribing or supplying of lenses to patients away from their place
of practice such as:
(1) a nursing home or other abode to patients confined
therein,
(2) an industrial site, when requested to do so, or
(3) a school site when requested to do so by the school
administration.
(c) The optometrist or therapeutic optometrist must
have an office location or place of practice within reasonable traveling
distance of such examination site, or, in the alternative must have
made arrangements, confirmed in writing prior to offering or providing
services, for continued care with a qualified eye health professional
with an office location or place of practice within reasonable traveling
distance of such examination site, or assured telehealth access for
continued care.
(d) Failure to comply with this rule shall be deemed
as practicing from house-to-house and the improper solicitation of
patients in violation of the Act, §351.455. In addition, the
optometrist must comply with the requirements of §351.351 to
maintain current information regarding practice locations with the
office.
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| Source Note: The provisions of this §279.13 adopted to be effective November 19, 1992, 17 TexReg 7895; amended to be effective September 10, 1993, 18 TexReg 5745; amended to be effective August 1, 1999, 24 TexReg 5871; amended to be effective February 12, 2023, 48 TexReg 681 |
