§ 11-402. Duty of referral

MD Health Occ Code § 11-402 (2019) (N/A)
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(a)    If, while providing optometric services to a patient, an optometrist or diagnostically certified optometrist detects or diagnoses an active eye pathology which the optometrist is not licensed or certified to treat under § 11-404 or § 11-404.2 of this subtitle, the optometrist shall refer the patient to:

(1)    An ophthalmologist or a therapeutically certified optometrist, as appropriate;

(2)    The patient’s physician;

(3)    A physician if required under a managed care contract; or

(4)    A hospital emergency room or ambulatory surgical center if necessary.

(b)    If, while providing optometric services to a patient, a therapeutically certified optometrist diagnoses an active eye pathology that the optometrist is not certified to treat under § 11-404.2 of this subtitle, the optometrist shall refer the patient to:

(1)    An ophthalmologist;

(2)    The patient’s physician;

(3)    A physician if required under a managed care contract; or

(4)    A hospital emergency room if necessary.