NE Senators upset over report that ophthalmologist threatened to reject patients over bill

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20140409/LIVEWELL01/140419984/1685#senators-upset-over-report-that-ophthalmologist-threatened-to-reject-patients-over-bill

By Paul Hammel / World-Herald Bureau
April 9, 2014

LINCOLN — State senators expressed outrage Wednesday over an alleged incident of political strong-arming aimed at an Omaha lawmaker.

State Sen. Sara Howard of Omaha introduced a bill this year to expand the scope of practice of optometrists that she said drew the ire of at least one Omaha ophthalmologist.

Howard, who works in development for OneWorld Community Health Centers, said she was told Friday that a board member of the organization had been informed by an ophthalmologist that patients would not be accepted from the OneWorld health clinic in South Omaha or the Charles Drew Health Center in north Omaha. The ophthalmologist cited her legislation as the reason, Howard said.

Howard declined to identify the OneWorld board member or ophthalmologist involved, and a OneWorld executive said she was unaware of the comment.

FULL story at link.