SQ 793

[windriverrange]

The Optomitrist I use is one of the nicest and most professional person I’ve ever been around (save the guy who did both my full knee replacements) and earlier had asked about this state question. This person has a small but nice practice and aside from potentially making this harder on those types of folks, here is the response I got back.

Thank you so much for asking.... if you have any questions after this text, ask away...Our profession is asking for a no vote... it's a constitutional change to state law that allows a corporate entity (completely backed by Walmart) to be able supersede our medical board in how a hired optometrist practices. Right now Walmart could have an optometrist and optical like lenscrafters, eye mart, etc have with an independent practitioner but its not the business model they want so here we are...majority of the other 47 states that have Walmart with optometrists have our same policy...they are a little nervous if this passes here what happens elsewhere. So...not against competition or access to cheaper options, just wanting to protect optometry as a medical profession! Can hurt us in the long run...

Im a “no” based on that and was leaning that way anyway, but thought it was a concise answer.

 

[PDT816]

This is incorrect. This is the language of the current law.

Section 596. Certain Practices in Mercantile Establishments Prohibited.

It shall be unlawful for any optometrist to render Optometric care in any retail, mercantile establishment which sells merchandise to the general public; and it shall be unlawful for any person to display, dispense, sell, provide or otherwise purvey to the public, prescription eyeglasses, prescription lenses, frames or mountings for prescription lenses, within or on the premises of, in any manner, any retail or mercantile establishment in which the majority of the establishment's income is not derived from the sale of such prescription optical goods and materials.

 

[windriverrange]

PDT, that is what they are trying to change by this vote which if passed would amend the state constitution to what my Optomitrist wrote.

 

[Ponca Dan]

Competition in any industry is s good thing and should be encouraged. When an organization that purportedly represents an industry seeks “relief” from competition the rest of us should take notice. I obviously don’t know your optometrist. But I would bet if asked he would declare himself to be a conservative and an advocate of free markets. But in the case of his industry - Oh, no! the people need to be protected! What he means is his industry needs to be protected. His industry is a clear cut case of being rent seekers.

 

[windriverrange]

Competition in any industry is s good thing and should be encouraged. When an organization that purportedly represents an industry seeks “relief” from competition the rest of us should take notice. I obviously don’t know your optometrist. But I would bet if asked he would declare himself to be a conservative and an advocate of free markets. But in the case of his industry - Oh, no! the people need to be protected! What he means is his industry needs to be protected. His industry is a clear cut case of being rent seekers.

But if a Wal-Mart can circumvent the current state allowing them the following "law that allows a corporate entity (completely backed by Walmart) to be able supersede our medical board in how a hired optometrist practices," How does that not give Wal-Mart an unfair advantage. I'm all for competition but if one group doesn't have to follow state law while private practices do, that doesn't seem equitable. Guess we will see today.

 

[Ostatedchi]

I don't want to write into the state constitution something that should be handled by a licensing board.

 

[Rdcldad]

I don't want to write into the state constitution something that should be handled by a licensing board.

i would agree

then i witnessed the licensing board handle medical MJ

 

[jkosu]

All I really needed to know about this was answered the day I got five different slick mailers from the same group asking me to vote yes.

I got three the next day.

 

[PDT816]

They are state laws, not licensing board decisions. Since the states legislature doesn't have any intent on providing consumers access to cheaper eye care and products, you vote to change the state constitution - - that's how it works.

There are two bad players here, Walmart and the eye care industry who have been artificially inflating the cost of eye care for decades in OK. Worst case scenario here is you get to pick which devil you want to go to if it passes

 

[Ostatedchi]

PDT, just from your tone and posting I'm guessing you have more than a vested interest in this somehow.

 

[PDT816]

Nope, I just find all the lies the optometrist faction putting out there to be extremely offputting

 

[PDT816]

I should probably add that I don't like paying 3 times market value for contacts either

 

[osu_orangestreak]

Nope, I just find all the lies the optometrist faction putting out there to be extremely offputting

They have been needing to be taken down for years. They have also been followed to do certain surgeries. Oklahoma is or was the only state in America that allows them to do any surgery.

Think about it only state to allow surgeries and one of 47 that doesn't allow the retail space.

Oklahoma optometrist are on the wrong side both of those issues.

 

[Bitter Creek]

I ended up voting no, mostly based upon the way this would be written in to law. Hopefully it will come back in another form.

 

[Rdcldad]

i like walmart, the moo pies there are top notch, so i voted yes

 

[windriverrange]

I should probably add that I don't like paying 3 times market value for contacts either

PDT thanks for the input......is it common knowledge that the in-state optometrist have artificially high? Was there a study that showed they were hosing the consumer? Just curious really......I suspect it will pass regardless.

 

[PDT816]

PDT thanks for the input......is it common knowledge that the in-state optometrist have artificially high? Was there a study that showed they were hosing the consumer? Just curious really......I suspect it will pass regardless.

I don't know if it's common knowledge or not, but I can buy a box of my contacts that I pay $100/box here for under $40 if I stop in Sam's Club when I'm in Texas

 

[Marshal Jim Duncan]

I ended up voting no. Mostly due to the changing the state constitution aspect, and partly due to my general distaste for Wal Mart.

 

[aix_xpert]

Again, i live in Florida so have no horse in this race, but I find it strange that American's top complaint is health-care costs. We seem to have a clear opportunity to use the Big-Box store's leverage to drive down those health-care costs, and yet most aren't interested.

 

[CSCOTTOSUPOKES]

Again, i live in Florida so have no horse in this race, but I find it strange that American's top complaint is health-care costs. We seem to have a clear opportunity to use the Big-Box store's leverage to drive down those health-care costs, and yet most aren't interested.

Lower costs is fine...Walmart dictating levels of care is not

 

[SquinkY5786]

Again, i live in Florida so have no horse in this race, but I find it strange that American's top complaint is health-care costs. We seem to have a clear opportunity to use the Big-Box store's leverage to drive down those health-care costs, and yet most aren't interested.

Cheaper option are already available. The issue is Walmart having the power to offer lower standard of eye care. I’m on the fence.

 

[jkosu]

I voted no.

The lady ahead of me was voting no because Walmart is where people get mrsa.

 

[CSCOTTOSUPOKES]

I voted no.

The lady ahead of me was voting no because Walmart is where people get mrsa.

Don’t know about Walmart, but hospitals are MRSA cesspools. You might not have it going in, and then boom...you have it.

 

[windriverrange]

What is “mrsa”?

 

[CowboyJD]

What is “mrsa”?

Nasty staph infection. Antibiotic resistant.

 

[windriverrange]

Thanks JD....,

 

[JimmyBob]

Nasty staph infection. Antibiotic resistant.

Deer lowered, where's Medic when we need an expert?

 

[Ostatedchi]

So 793 looking to fail in an incredibly close vote....