Indiana Administrative Code Title 857 - INDIANA OPTOMETRIC LEGEND DRUG PRESCRIPTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
📌 Title 857 – Indiana Optometric Legend Drug Prescription Advisory Committee
This Title contains the administrative rules adopted by the Indiana Optometric Legend Drug Prescription Advisory Committee, a specialized regulatory body.
The committee exists to advise, regulate, and oversee how optometrists in Indiana can prescribe and use legend drugs (prescription-only medications that are not available over the counter) in their practice.
🔑 Major Areas Covered in Title 857
1. Committee Structure & Authority
Defines the Advisory Committee’s membership (appointed members including optometrists, pharmacists, and physicians).
Lays out duties: advising the state on which legend drugs optometrists may prescribe.
Coordinates with the Medical Licensing Board and the Indiana Board of Pharmacy.
2. Optometrist Prescriptive Authority
Rules governing which categories of prescription medications optometrists are allowed to use.
Typically covers drugs for:
Eye infections (antibiotics, antivirals)
Eye inflammation (steroids, NSAIDs)
Glaucoma management (pressure-lowering drops)
Pain management related to ocular conditions
3. Education & Training Requirements
Sets additional training/continuing education standards for optometrists who wish to prescribe legend drugs.
May include pharmacology coursework, supervised practice, or certification.
4. Formulary Management
Establishes and updates the optometric formulary (the official list of legend drugs optometrists can prescribe).
Outlines procedures for reviewing, adding, or removing drugs from the list.
5. Limitations & Restrictions
Rules to protect patient safety, such as:
Limits on prescribing controlled substances (e.g., narcotics).
Prohibitions on systemic drugs unrelated to eye care.
Referral requirements if a condition goes beyond optometry scope.
6. Enforcement & Discipline
Provides enforcement mechanisms if an optometrist prescribes outside of their allowed scope.
Links to disciplinary actions through the Indiana Optometry Board.
🎯 Purpose of Title 857
The main purpose of these rules is to:
Give Indiana optometrists the ability to use modern medications to treat eye disease.
Ensure patient safety by regulating which drugs they can prescribe.
Keep the formulary updated with medical advancements.
Balance optometrists’ scope of practice with oversight from physicians and pharmacists.
✅ In short:
Indiana Administrative Code Title 857 governs the Advisory Committee that sets and regulates the rules for optometrists’ authority to prescribe legend drugs in Indiana — covering formulary management, training, scope of practice, and enforcement.
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