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Minutes for HB2223 - Committee on Public Health and Welfare
Short Title
Modifying certain provisions of the optometry law relating to scope of practice, definitions and credentialing requirements.
Minutes Content for Thu, Jan 29, 2026
Chairperson Gossage opened the hearing on HB2223.
Jenna Moyer, Assistant Revisor of Statutes, Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes, provided the committee a brief of the bill. (Attachment1) Ms. Moyer stood for questions from the committee.
William Wilk expressed support for the bill stating it allows optometrists to perform procedures they are trained to do in optometry school. (Attachment2) He stated medical technology advancements have enhanced and continue to improve patient care and most importantly patient outcomes.
Todd Fleishcher expressed support for the bill. (Attachment3) Mr. Fleishcher stated in his testimony that optometrists are an integral part of the health care team and an entry point into the health care system. He stressed that optometry is a legislated profession and scope of practice is determined by each state legislature. Mr. Freishcher stated HB2223 passed the House of Representatives on March 2025 on a vote of 97-24. The Kansas Optometric Association (KOA) met with a representative of the Kansas Medical Society (KMS) to discuss the bill. Both parties were able to agree on a potential amendment to the bill to reestablish an inter-professional advisory committee to provide guidance to the State Board of Examiners in Optometry about whether or not new treatment options resulting from new technology should be incorporated into an optometric scope of practice. The meeting also included a discussion about KMS' desire to include optometrists in the Health Care Stabilization Fund. KOA met with representatives of the Kansas Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons (KSEPS) who made specific suggestions regarding the bill. The KOA believes that scope modernization for optometrists in Kansas is long overdue.
Scott Henricks, Deputy Director Kansas State Board of Healing Arts (KSBHA) stood in opposition to this bill. (Attachment4) He stated the bill allows a non-physician to perform surgery. The bill would add additional procedures to the practice of optometry without either legislative authorization or oversight. Passage of the bill without amendment would require optometrists to submit evidence of professional liability insurance at an amount determined by the board. Mr. Henricks stated expanding the optometry scope of practice to include laser surgeries introduces a higher potential risk of liability. Finally, in accordance with the KSBHA mission, public safety must remain the primary consideration.
Rachelle Colombo, Kansas Medical Society (KMS), stood in opposition to the bill. (Attachment5) She stated the KMS believes that under this bill optometrists would be authorized to perform several surgical procedures and treatments currently reserved for those trained and licensed as medical doctors and doctors of osteopathy. The society believes this represents a significant and broad expansion to current law. Those who practice medicine and surgery must be trained, licensed, and regulated at the highest level.
Brad Smoot, representing the Kansas Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons (KSEPS), stood in opposition to the bill. (Attachment6) Mr. Smoot stated in his testimony that Kansas has no shortage of optometrists. In his testimony, Mr. Smoot attested to the fact that Kansas has the third highest ratio of optometrists to residents of any state in the country. Likewise nearly 97% of Kansans are within an hour of a licensed ophthalmologists.
WRITTEN ONLY TESTIMONY LAST NAMES A-Z (Attachment7)
Chairperson Gossage closed the hearing on bill HB2223.
The meeting was adjourned.
