BOARD NEWS

CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION:

• 1/14/21 Vaccine Administration Training
  Dear Licensee
  Some licensees have asked where one can get trained in order to become a vaccinator. This is the CDC link on training for health care providers: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/downloads/COVID-19-Clinical-Training-and-Resources-for-HCPs.pdf
  All that is required by MDH under the current order is that one take the CDC training.
  Maryland Responds Medical Reserve Corps will be hosting virtual COVID-19 vaccination training for those who are registered with the corps. For more information, you can visit their website at Maryland Responds



• NEW: 1/5/21: MDH Order Requiring Reporting of Covid-19 Vaccine Administration 
• NEW: 1/1/21: Amended Directive and Order Regarding Vaccination Matters 



• 1/7/21 Vaccine Distribution
  Dear Licensee
  I’m certain that you have seen, read or heard about Governor Hogan’s recent update yesterday. Attached are the links to the most recent Governor's and MDH Secretary's Orders. All licensed , certified and registered health care providers are in Phase 1A of the vaccination distribution, which is what the state of Maryland is in now. The Health Occupations Boards provided data to the Department's COVID - 19 Task Force reflecting the number of active licensees for each Board by jurisdiction, county/Baltimore City.
  The MDH Secretary is interested in this information for vaccination planning, distribution, and administration. The data will help the local health departments to prepare vaccination distribution for all licensed health care providers in Maryland.
  You are encouraged to contact your local health department for more information. Continue to get information from the Department at the COVID Link https://covidlink.maryland.gov/content/.



• COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution
  Dear Optometry Licensee:
  
  At this time, Maryland is concentrating on Phase 1A of the vaccination plan, which is focused on getting the initial Federal allocation of 273,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses out to hospitals, nursing homes (residents/staff), and first responders.
  
  The Department has been working on detailed operational plans, and expects to have more information for you over the next four to six weeks.
  The Department urges you to regularly check their vaccine dashboards for more information:
  https://covidlink.maryland.gov/content/vaccine/
  https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/#Vaccine.
  
  Also, please check with your local county/city health departments where you reside and/or practice for more information about the vaccine distribution plans they have in those areas.
  
  Please do not contact the Board for more information on the vaccine, as staff does not handle this operation.
  



• Draft Vaccination Plan
  Licensees should contact their local health departments. The LHDs will be coordinating with the vaccination sites and may have more information on how the training and supervision process is supposed to work for licensees who do not have vaccination in their scope of practice. Here is the link to the draft plan https://phpa.health.maryland.gov/Documents/10.19.2020_Maryland_COVID-19_Vaccination_Plan_CDCwm.pdf



• 12/8/20 COVID-19 Update
  MDH Order Regarding Vaccination Matters:
  1. Reiterates that health care providers who already have statutory authority to administer vaccines can administer the COVID-19 vaccines
  2. Expands the scope of practice of licensed health care providers to allow them to administer COVID-19 vaccines with appropriate training
  3. Authorizes all other individuals to administer COVID-19 vaccines after receiving appropriate training and under reasonable supervision
  4. Since some COVID-19 vaccines require dilution before being administered, the order also authorizes licensed health care providers to prepare (dilute) the vaccine after receiving training



• 11/10/20 COVID-19 Update
  MDH Amended Healthcare Matters Order
  Electives - each licensed healthcare provider shall exercise individual independent professional judgment in determining what procedures are urgent and nonelective.



• Gov. Hogan Press Release 10/20/20 Re: Draft Covid Vaccination Plan
  For your information, press release on the vaccination plan submitted by MDH to the CDC.



• 8/10/20 COVID-19 Update
  Renewal of Declaration of State of Emergency - Voting and Healthcare Provider Immunity



• 8/6/20 COVID-19 Update
  Amended Directive and Order - COVID-19 Testing & Reporting
  The revised health care matters order makes the following change that affects individuals licensed by Maryland health occupations boards. The Board, however, cannot provide any guidance to licensed optometrists relevant to this order. In addition to those individuals already authorized to collect COVID-19 specimens for testing, any individual licensed, registered, or certified by MDH or a MD health occupations board who has appropriate training may collect COVID-19 test specimens. (page 3)



• 7/1/20 COVID -19 Update - MDH Order - Amended Various Healthcare Matters - COVID Testing on Demand



• Extension of 6/30/20 Deadline for 10- Hour Mandatory Course

TPA certified optometrists who graduated prior to July 1, 2019 are required by law to take a mandatory 10-hour course prior to July 1, 2020 to maintain TPA certification. Please read this notice about the extension of the June 30, 2020 deadline.

CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION ARCHIVE

Notice of Public Meeting

---Open Session Agenda---
* A portion of the meeting may be closed to the public

Upcoming Events

Regular sessions of Board meetings are open to the public and begin at 9:30 a.m.
January 27, 2021
March 31, 2021
May 26, 2021
July 28, 2021
September 29, 2021
November 17, 2021

Announcements

• Board Member Vacancy - 5/31/21



• COPE Extends Rules Modification for Interactive Online CE Through June 30, 2021



• BHA/MedChi Behavioral Health Webinar Series: Helping the Helpers and Those They Serve



• Physician’s Written Certification of Necessity for Medical Exemption Form from Maryland Window Tint Limitations
  Licensed optometrists are now authorized to sign the medical exemption form



• Cultural and Linguistic Competency, Health Disparities and Health Literacy Training Modules

More News-->> ​​​​​

Renewal License Expiration Extended During State of Emergency

June 30, 2020 marked the license expiration date for some licensed optometrists. The Board continues to accept and process renewal applications during the Maryland state of emergency, which is still in effect. According to Governor Hogan’s Executive Order regarding Licenses-Permits-Registration, expiration dates may be extended. Therefore, an optometrist with a license that expired on June 30, 2020 and has not renewed to date, may continue to practice under the current license until 30 days after the state of emergency has terminated. After that period, the license will expire unless the optometrist has taken some action relative to the license. The licensee can either renew it, place it on inactive status or simply allow it to expire. You may read the full text of the Executive Order here: Amended Executive Order: License Expiration Extended.

The Board will keep its licensees informed about the status of the expiration date as updates from the Governor become available regarding the state of emergency. We understand that every individual is navigating through this unprecedented, challenging and difficult time. The Board wants licensees to be safe and stay well. Please feel free to reach out to staff via the Board’s general email address at mdh.optometry@maryland.gov if you have further questions. Phone messages may be delayed. Thank you for your patience.

BOARD OFFICE

Board of Examiners in Optometry
4201 Patterson Avenue, Room 307
Baltimore, MD 21215-2299
Office: 410-764-4710
Fax: 410-358-2906
Email: mdh.optometry@maryland.gov
Web: https://health.maryland.gov/optometry/Pages/index.aspx