GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H D
HOUSE BILL DRH10309-NB-129
Short Title: Optometrists Telehealth Services. (Public)
Sponsors: Representative Campbell.
Referred to:
*DRH10309 -NB-129*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO ALLOW LICENSED OPTOMETRISTS FLEXIBILITY TO PROVIDE 2
TELEHEALTH SERVICES. 3
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
SECTION 1. Article 6 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes is amended by adding 5
a new section to read: 6
"ยง 90-118.5A. Telemedicine practice. 7
(a) A licensed optometrist may perform the practice of optometry, as defined by this 8
Article, to treat patients located in this State through the method of telemedicine, as long as the 9
licensed optometrist has a valid and active license in this State. The licensed optometrist shall 10
not be required to be located physically in this State or to have a license in the other state in which 11
the licensed optometrist is located physically while providing care to a patient in this State. 12
(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the jurisdiction of the Board to 13
pursue violations of this Article against any licensed optometrist that uses telemedicine to 14
practice optometry under this section. Further, the use of telemedicine does not alter the scope of 15
the practice of optometry, and the licensed optometrist is subject to all laws and Board rules while 16
treating patients in other states." 17
SECTION 2. The North Carolina Board of Examiners in Optometry shall adopt rules 18
to implement the provisions of this act, including rules on the licensee-patient relationship, 19
examination, evaluation, and diagnosis of a patient, patient record keeping, prescribing, 20
telemedicine standard of care, and display of licensure and credentials, to the extent that these 21
rules are not contrary to G.S. 90-118.5A, as enacted by Section 1 of this act, and in alignment 22
with the Board's Telemedicine Position Statement. 23
SECTION 3. This act becomes effective October 1, 2025. 24
H.B. 658
Apr 1, 2025
HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK