Home Residence Permit Program Information


Home Residence Permit on BreEZe

The Board is excited to announce that applications for the Home Residence Permit Program are now available on BreEZe!

The Home Residence Permit Program was established by Assembly Bill 458 (Nazarian, Chapter 425, Statutes of 2019), and authorizes TPA–certified optometrists to provide eyecare directly to homebound patients.

When approved, the permit is linked to the optometrist license, expires on the same cycle, and may be renewed at the same time as the optometrist license.

How to Apply: To add the Home Residence Permit to your optometrist license, please access your BreEZe account. After you login, select "Optometrist – Home Residence Permit" from the drop–down menu associated to your optometrist license.

Requirements to Obtain a Permit: Be a TPA–certified optometrist licensed to practice in California. Payment of $50 fee.

Requirements when Providing Care Under a Home Residence Permit: The licensed optometrist providing care to a homebound patient under a home residence permit must provide, either electronically or in–person, a consumer notice in at least 14–point font that is signed and acknowledged by each patient or the patient’s guardian and the optometrist must retain the notice in the patient’s file. The consumer notice must contain the following information in at least 14–point font:

The name, license number, email address, telephone number, primary business address and normal business hours of the optometrist.

At minimum, the following information:

Consumer Notice

The practice of optometry in California is regulated by the California State Board of Optometry. The Board of Optometry receives and investigates all consumer complaints involving the practice of optometry. Complaints or grievances involving a Californialicensed optometrist or optician should be directed in writing to:

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS
BOARD OF OPTOMETRY
2540 DEL PASO ROAD, SUITE 105
SACRAMENTO, CA 95834
PHONE: 1 (866) 585–2666 OR (916) 575–7170
EMAIL: OPTOMETRY@DCA.CA.GOV
WEBSITE: OPTOMETRY.CA.GOV
PRESCRIPTIONS

Optometrists are required to provide patients with a copy of their ophthalmic lens prescriptions as follows:

  • Spectacle prescriptions: Release upon completion of exam.
  • Contact lens prescriptions: Release upon completion of exam or upon completion of the fitting process.

VOLUNTARY RELEASE OF PATIENT'S MEDICAL INFORMATION

The patient may choose to release their medical information related to the optometrist's provision of optometry services to the Board of Optometry. This authorization is voluntary, and the medical information will only be used to investigate complaints and to conduct the Board of Optometry's enforcement duties under Optometry Practice Act.

** Home Residence Permit holders may CLICK HERE to access a template PDF consumer notice to use when providing care to a homebound patient. **