Montana Passes Law Allowing ODs to Perform Laser, Surgical Procedures

Once the new law goes into effect on July 1, board-certified ODs in Montana will be able to perform in-office laser and minor surgical procedures. Click image to enlarge. Since January, more than a dozen states have introduced bills proposing to expand the scope of practice for their ODs, most of which are still in play. Just days after New Mexico’s governor vetoed a laser bill in that state earlier this month, Montana claimed the first legislative victory of the year. Governor Greg Gianforte signed HB 218 into law on April 16, which now authorizes board-certified ODs in the state to perform laser and minor surgical procedures. This win makes Montana the 13th state allowing ODs to practice under a fully expanded scope that aligns with optometrists’ modern training and education.The newly enacted law, which goes into effect on July 1, 2025, permits all in-office laser and surgical procedures “limited to the anterior segment of the eye.” The document also gives the Montana Board of Optometry the right “to adopt rules relative to and governing the qualifications of applicants for licensure as optometrists.”The number of optometrists practicing in Montana far exceeds that of ophthalmologists (190 vs. 60), and nearly one-fifth of the state’s population is over the age of 65. With the passage of this new law, ODs in the rural state are now in a prime position to help serve the aging population by improving access to care and decreasing wait times for essential procedures such as YAG capsulotomy and selective laser trabeculoplasty.In West Virginia, a similar laser bill awaits the governor’s signature—expected in the next few days—which could make this state the next to secure a scope win. Legislation continues to advance at various stages in a host of other states across the country. Keep an eye on our online news feed for continual updates on the progress of these bills.