HRS §346-61
Choosing who provides your eye care in public programs
If a public program pays for or runs eye care services for people who qualify, you can pick whether a licensed eye doctor or a licensed optometrist does the work. This covers eye exams, vision corrections, and supplies like glasses or contact lenses.
The statute, as written — Optometric services, choice
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 the aid shall be entitled to choose whether the services are to be performed by a duly licensed physician or by a duly licensed optometrist. Visual or optometric services as used herein 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.
LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.