Subcommittee adopts substitute to let certified optometrists dispense limited drugs to improve rural access

The subcommittee adopted a substitute and unanimously passed SB 212 to let therapeutic pharmaceutical agent (TPA) certified optometrists dispense certain Schedule 6 medications for ocular conditions, provided they obtain a Board of Pharmacy license and follow storage, labeling, packaging and recordkeeping rules.

Sponsor remarks and testimony from the Virginia Optometric Association said the change would help patients in counties that lack pharmacies and allow optometrists to give medications at the time of diagnosis. Testimony emphasized that compounding would not be permitted and that dispensed products must be manufacturer prepackaged.

Jesse Lynch, representing the Virginia Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons, said the substitute addressed his group's earlier concerns and that the bill now removes objections about off-label compounding or broad dispensing. The subcommittee adopted the substitute and recorded a unanimous vote to report the bill.