Maryland Health Occupations Section 11-401

      (a)      (1)      In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

            (2)      "Governmental unit" means any board, commission, authority, department, or other administrative agency of this State, a county, or a municipality.

            (3)      "Ocular practitioner" means any practitioner who is authorized to provide services within the scope of optometry.

      (b)      (1)      Except as provided in this subsection, a governmental unit may not interfere with the complete freedom of the public to choose any ocular practitioner.

            (2)      A governmental unit may make an agreement under which an ocular practitioner is to provide optometric services to the employees of a governmental unit.

      (c)      A governmental unit shall honor and accept any report, statement, or service made or provided by a licensed optometrist within the scope of optometry to the same extent as if the report, statement, or service was made or provided by a physician.