§ 56-199. Visual or optometric services - Free choice of practitioner and profession.

Whenever visual or optometric services within the lawful scope of practice of a duly licensed optometrist are included in any program financed with public funds or administered by any public agency, for aid to the indigent, the aged, the legally blind, or any other group or class, the recipient of such aid or his parent or guardian shall be entitled to choose whether such services are to be performed by a duly licensed optometrist or by a duly licensed physician who shall be equally compensated.  Visual or optometric services as used herein shall include eye and/or visual examination or a correction of any vision or muscular anomaly and the supplying of ophthalmic materials, including contact lenses and subnormal vision aids.  And in the expenditure of public funds for any purpose involving the care of human vision, or in the administration of any public program, the public agency and its employees including school districts and other state, county and municipal agencies or any subdivision of the State of Oklahoma and its employees and agents responsible for such expenditures or services shall not, under any circumstances, in informing a person requiring vision care, or for a correction of any vision or muscular anomaly, either directly or indirectly refer such person to any particular health discipline, but shall merely advise such person the need exists for professional services.

Added by Laws 1967, c. 17, § 2, emerg. eff. Feb. 21, 1967.