State Board of Optometry Examiners public meetings in 2021
8 substantive meetings from 2021, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
State Board of Optometry Examiners
The Board will meet to review a state audit update and the status of telehealth rules promulgation. The agenda includes discussions on ethics training, sexual harassment policies, and a board vacancy.
- State Audit Update including fund sharing and past bonuses
- Telehealth Rules Promulgation Status
- ABC Complaint/Secret Shopper
- Barthelemy’s Optical
- Procedure manual update
The Board nominated Dr. David Heitmeier to a vacant position and approved conditional hardship CE waivers for 2021. Members discussed a state audit regarding fund use and training gaps, and proposed a new rule for the dispensing of pharmaceuticals.
- Nominated Dr. David Heitmeier to fill board vacancy (Unanimous)
- Approved license status change to Inactive for Dr. Gary Golden (Unanimous)
- Accepted license retirement of James D. Sandefur
- Approved conditional 2021 Hardship CE waivers (4-1)
- Adopted meeting agenda (Unanimous)
- Approved minutes from October 29, 2021 meeting (Unanimous)
State Board of Optometry Examiners
The Board voted to hold a formal hearing regarding the license status of Dr. James Sandefur. A resolution to remove Dr. Sandefur and conduct a forensic audit of board records failed to pass. The Board also approved two requests for inactive license status.
- Approved formal hearing on license status of Dr. James Sandefur (4-0)
- Denied resolution to remove Dr. James Sandefur and authorize forensic audit (2-3)
- Approved inactive license requests for Weil and Erneston (Unanimous)
- Tabled hardship cases for Fountain and Gilcrease
- Adopted September 10, 2021 meeting minutes (Unanimous)
State Board of Optometry Examiners
The Board decided to offer Dr. Arthur Franz a consent decree requiring the permanent surrender of his CDS and DEA licenses. The Board also voted to compel Dr. Franz to undergo a drug evaluation. Additionally, the Board approved two license status changes and hired a new CPA firm.
- Offered consent decree to Dr. Arthur Franz to permanently surrender CDS and DEA licenses
- Compelled Dr. Arthur Franz to submit to a drug evaluation (5-1)
- Approved license retirement of Dr. Lawrence Adererhold effective March 1, 2021
- Approved license inactivation of Dr. James Sandefur effective August 23, 2021
- Hired Wade & Perry as new CPA firm
- Decided to send a younger secret shopper to ABC store in Shreveport
- Dropped further consideration of Envolve comprehensive eye exam definition
State Board of Optometry Examiners
The Board elected Dr. Anastasio as President and Dr. Avallone as Secretary/Treasurer. It voted to suspend licenses for those who have not renewed and found no violation of law in the Gary McGrath complaint. The Board also decided there will be no fee for telehealth provider certification.
- Adopted June 3, 2021 meeting minutes (Unanimous)
- Required Dr. Franz to appear at a formal hearing (Unanimous)
- Decided no fee for certification as a telehealth provider (Unanimous)
- Approved suspension of licenses for those who have not renewed (Unanimous)
- Found no violation of Optometry law in Gary McGrath complaint
- Accepted new lower price from ARBO for C.E. auditing (Unanimous)
- Determined all candidates passed examination and are eligible for licensure
- Elected Dr. Anastasio as President and Dr. Avallone as Secretary/Treasurer (Unanimous)
State Board of Optometry Examiners
The Louisiana State Board of Optometry Examiners will discuss and possibly set telehealth licensing fees, hear updates on a doctor's hearing and a complaint against Cross Gates Eye Clinic, and consider suspending licenses. The board will also review proposed changes to CE verification, COVID-related updates, and possible statutory changes including removing the U.S. citizenship requirement for licensure.
- Telehealth rules promulgation update and telehealth licensing fee amount
- Dr. Arthur Franz hearing update
- Mr. Gary McGrath complaint vs. Cross Gates Eye Clinic
- 2022 proposal to streamline CE verification through COPE (cost and process)
- Possible statutory/regulatory updates: per diem language, authority to restrict practice, removal of U.S. citizenship requirement for licensure
State Board of Optometry Examiners
The Louisiana State Board of Optometry Examiners is meeting to discuss and possibly act on several items, including an investigation update, telehealth rules, and a proposal to streamline license renewal. The board will also review financial reports, COVID-19 updates, and potential regulatory changes.
- Dr. Arthur Franz Investigation Update
- Telehealth Rules Promulgation Update
- 2022 Proposal to Streamline License Renewal/CE Verification with cost and next steps
- Possible statutory/regulatory updates including per diem language, authority to restrict practice, and removal of U.S. citizenship requirement for licensure
- State Medicaid Plan redefining exam
State Board of Optometry Examiners
The Board is meeting to review telehealth rules, 2021 license renewals, and COVID-related business. Members will discuss streamlining insurance verifications and continuing education validation.
- Telehealth rules update
- 2021 license renewals and website updates
- COVID-19 vaccination and LDH directive communications
- Licensing exam update
- Medication dispensing and delivery
The Board authorized legal counsel to make non-substantive changes to a telehealth rule for promulgation. A formal investigational hearing regarding medication prescribing was scheduled for Dr. Arthur Franz. The Board also directed counsel to re-issue a fine to Barthelemy’s Optical.
- Adopted agenda (Unanimous)
- Adopted 01/29/21 meeting minutes (Unanimous)
- Authorized attorney Graves Theus to make non-substantive changes to telehealth rule (Unanimous)
- Directed attorney to re-issue fine to Barthelemy’s Optical for failure to disclose records
- Scheduled formal investigational hearing for Dr. Arthur Franz for May 7, 2021
State Board of Optometry Examiners
The Board will review proposed telehealth regulations and updates on 2021 license renewals. Discussion includes COVID-related business, insurance verifications, and medication dispensing.
- Proposed Telehealth Regulations
- 2021 License Renewals status and requests
- COVID-related business including LDH directives and vaccinations
- Licensing Exam update
- Approval of LSBOE Division of Duties
The Board approved new telehealth regulations and issued a blanket hardship exemption for all 2020 continuing education requirements due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Board also adopted a division of duties and approved previous meeting minutes.
- Approved new telehealth regulations (unanimous)
- Issued blanket hardship exemption for 2020 continuing education requirements (unanimous)
- Approved July and November meeting minutes (unanimous)
- Adopted division of duties (unanimous)
- Closed files for Krewe Optical, Dr. Diana Lebreton, Diana Bittola complaint, and Dana White complaint
- Dismissed Rebecca Moser hardship request
- Required Dr. Craig Quintal to pass Oklahoma surgery courses and re-take board exam for re-licensure
- Required Dr. Verle Judd to re-take the board exam in July 2021