Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 3, March 20, 2024
A. Scope of Rule.
This rule provides for the one-time continuing education (CE) requirement for
controlled dangerous substances prerequisite to license renewal of an
authorized prescriber, definitions and the procedures applicable to
approved/qualifying CE, credit for satisfaction, documentation, non-compliance,
an exception and conflict resolution with other CE rules of this
Part.
B. Definitions. As used in
this §303, the following terms and phrases shall have the meanings
specified.
Authorized Prescriber-an optometrist whose
scope of practice includes authority to prescribe, dispense, or administer
CDS.
Board-the Louisiana State Board of Optometry
Examiners, as constituted under
R.S.
37:1041 et seq.
Controlled Dangerous Substances or CDS-any
substance defined, enumerated or included in federal or state statute or
regulations 21 CFR. §1308 11-.15 or
R.S.
40:964, or any substance which may hereafter
be designated as a controlled substance by amendment or supplementation of such
regulations and statute.
C.
Continuing Education Requirements
1.
Notwithstanding any other provision, including, but not limited to,
§301.A.1 pertaining to
the requirement for obtaining a minimum of 10 hours of continuing education
credit in a classroom setting, every authorized prescriber seeking the renewal
of a license on and after January 1, 2019, shall, as part of the continuing
education requirement by this part, and as a condition prerequisite to
licensure renewal, successfully complete three credit hours of continuing
education approved by the board on CDS prescribing practices, all of which may
be taken through online courses approved by the board. Such continuing
education shall include instruction relating to drug diversion training, best
practices regarding prescribing of CDS, appropriate treatment for addiction and
any other matters regarding the prescribing of CDS that are deemed appropriate
by the board. The continuing education requirement may be satisfied by
completing a continuing education program consisting of at least three credit
hours approved by the board. Successful completion of this requirement once
shall satisfy the requirement in full.
2. An optometrist with prescription authority
in Louisiana for CDS shall be exempt from the continuing education requirement
for renewal of his/her license to practice optometry if he/she completes and
submits to the board a certification developed by the board attesting that he
has not prescribed, administered or dispensed a CDS during the previous
calendar year. The board shall verify the attestation of the prescriber through
the prescription monitoring program. The exemption from the continuing
education requirement of this subsection shall only be valid for the calendar
year to which the attestation applies. If an optometrist obtains an exemption
from continuing education requirements under this subsection, the optometrist
with a renewed optometry license may prescribe, administer or dispense a CDS
during a subsequent renewed optometry license term, but shall not be exempt
from continuing education requirements for renewal of a optometry license
during such period and, as such, shall obtain three hours of continuing
education approved by the board on CDS prescribing practices prior to the
expiration of such renewed optometry license term as provided in Paragraph 1
above.
3. Information on how to
access approved, qualifying continuing education courses will be maintained by
the board and made available on its website
www.laoptometryboard.com. No
license shall be renewed for an individual who fails to comply with the
provisions of this Section.
4. The
continuing education hours required by this section shall be considered among
the credit hours required of the prescriber by the board on and after August 1,
2017, and shall not be considered an additional requirement to be met by a
prescriber.
AUTHORITY NOTE:
Promulgated in accordance with
R.S.
37:1048.
