From the President

October 2009

New Goals: The TOA sets eyes on new legislative achievements in 2011.

With a enormous gratitude I would like to inform you that Dr. Marc Piccolo has resigned as chair of TOAs Legal and Legislative Committee due to family commitments. We all thank him for his hard work, dedication, and sacrifice over the years. If you use oral medications or treat patients who have glaucoma, always remember that Dr. Piccolo was a vital part of the team that made it happen.

With excitement and some trepidation Dr. Stan Woo, Dr. Kevin Katz and I have begun preparation for the next legislative session in 2011. We have two main goals: re-energize grassroots and in doing so, lay the groundwork to pass a bill that allows us to better care for the citizens of Texas.

The scope of practice we envision for Doctors of Optometry in Texas is one that allows us to provide the same level of care to the citizens of Texas as those in neighboring states. We want to lift the restrictions for the care of glaucoma, be able to prescribe any medications for eyecare and be able to treat some lid lesions. This expanded care will save our patients time, as well as saving money for both them and their insurance carriers. Our patients need access to advanced technologies that we can provide as they become available.

We will be contacting local society leaders so that we can present this agenda at your meetings. We want to talk to optometrists around the state to find out any other concerns that you may have. To move a bill forward , TOA needs work and support at the local level around the state. We will provide you all the information you need to contact your legislators and present the bill that we will be dropping in the next session. The legislators are much more accessible now than they will be once the busy session opens in February 2011.

We need every one of you to help move your profession forward so that Texans can have access to affordable eyecare using the newest technologies.