WSR 17-04-036

WITHDRAWAL OFPREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed January 25, 2017, 10:12 a.m.]

The board of optometry (board) is withdrawing the preproposal notice (CR-101) for WAC 246-851-370, which was filed May 15, 2015, and published in WSR 15-11-054.

The board filed the CR-101 based on a petition asking the board to consider removing the rule that states an optometrist's financial earnings may not be dependent on the number of patients seen or prescriptions filled. The board proposed amending the rule and filed a CR-102 on May 4, 2016 (WSR 16-10-118) to strike the sentence in WAC 246-851-370 that prohibits making an optometrist's earnings dependent on the number of patients seen or prescriptions filled.

However, at the public hearing, the board heard feedback from stakeholders who opposed the rule making, sharing concerns that amending the rule would increase risks to patient safety. After considering this feedback, the board decided that preserving the patient safeguards provided by the rule was the best option and the board voted to withdraw the proposed rule making and this CR-101.

Individuals requiring information on this rule should contact Loralei Walker, program manager, board of optometry, at (360) 236-4947.

Tami M. Thompson

Regulatory Affairs Manager