SCOPE Update
By Jennifer Levy - Executive Director
It's The Final Countdown!
For those who know me, my entire adult career has been spent (to some extent) in the arena of State politics. My resume includes Campaign Manager & Chief of Staff for a State Senator who is still in office and Independent Lobbyist for causes near and dear to my heart. With more than 2 decades of experience under my belt navigating Maryland politics, I am at best a pessimistic optimist when it comes to facilitating political change, especially when the issue at hand is controversial. I say this only to impress the validity of my wholehearted belief that 2018 is OUR year!
We have laid all the important groundwork to pass legislation to improve the Maryland scope of practice during the 2018 Session of the Maryland General Assembly. We have developed and fostered meaningful relationships with key legislators who will vote on our scope expansion bill. We have demonstrated our commitment to support our "friends" in the legislature and those policy makers who remain open minded and willing to adjudicate based on merit with respect to our cause. We have presented a strong case to the House & Senate committees supported by undeniable factual evidence and have shown a demonstrable willingness to compromise. We have postured ourselves as reasonable, requesting only that which is in the best interest of ophthalmic patients throughout the State. This may have taken us 5 years, but the strategy has worked and D-Day has come! The Maryland General Assembly will reconvene for 90 days on the second Monday of January and will adjourn on the second Monday of April. I am not exaggerating when I say that this seeming short time period (90 business days) could very possibly determine how Maryland optometry is practiced for the rest of your life!
2017 Progress Report
Since the end of the 2017 Session, lobbyists representing optometry, ophthalmology and medicine have met multiple times under a mandate by the legislature to attempt to find a compromise acceptable to all parties. These meetings have been more fruitful than expected and for the first time in years (perhaps ever) our opposition has shown a willingness to negotiate. Behind the scenes, we continue to make our presence know with the support of MOA PAC dollars and through meaningful one-on-one relationships between legislators and Key ODs. These continued efforts are critical to our success in the upcoming Session. Unfortunately, the 5 year battle has taken a toll on our resources and without additional support, our efforts are not sustainable. Please help us get to the finish line by donating to the MOA PAC today. No amount is too small and you can donate online or via check.
Our bill made it through the House Health Occupations Subcommittee with a 5 (for) - 1 (against) - 1 (abstain) vote and was well on its way to passage in the House Health Committee. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees in politics and while we were working the bill in the House, we received news that its counterpart in the Senate had been put on life support. With less momentum and support behind our bill in the Senate, we anticipated a quick, yet painful, death and were gravely concerned what that would mean for our chances next year. Once lawmakers vote against a bill, it's extremely difficult to change their vote the following year, if ever.