North Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

North Carolina House Bill H658 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
2	2		SESSION 2025
3		-	H 1
4		-	HOUSE BILL 658
	3	+	H D
	4	+	HOUSE BILL DRH10309-NB-129
	5	+
5	6
6	7
7	8		Short Title: Optometrists Telehealth Services. (Public)
8		-	Sponsors: Representatives Campbell, Huneycutt, Almond, and Lowery (Primary Sponsors).
9		-	For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
10		-	Referred to: Health, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
11		-	April 2, 2025
12		-	H658 -v-1
	9	+	Sponsors: Representative Campbell.
	10	+	Referred to:
	11	+
	12	+	DRH10309 -NB-129
13	13		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
14	14		AN ACT TO ALLOW LICENSED OPTOMETRISTS FLEXIBILITY TO PROVIDE 2
15	15		TELEHEALTH SERVICES. 3
16	16		The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
17	17		SECTION 1. Article 6 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes is amended by adding 5
18	18		a new section to read: 6
19	19		"§ 90-118.5A. Telemedicine practice. 7
20	20		(a) A licensed optometrist may perform the practice of optometry, as defined by this 8
21	21		Article, to treat patients located in this State through the method of telemedicine, as long as the 9
22	22		licensed optometrist has a valid and active license in this State. The licensed optometrist shall 10
23	23		not be required to be located physically in this State or to have a license in the other state in which 11
24	24		the licensed optometrist is located physically while providing care to a patient in this State. 12
25	25		(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the jurisdiction of the Board to 13
26	26		pursue violations of this Article against any licensed optometrist that uses telemedicine to 14
27	27		practice optometry under this section. Further, the use of telemedicine does not alter the scope of 15
28	28		the practice of optometry, and the licensed optometrist is subject to all laws and Board rules while 16
29	29		treating patients in other states." 17
30	30		SECTION 2. The North Carolina Board of Examiners in Optometry shall adopt rules 18
31	31		to implement the provisions of this act, including rules on the licensee-patient relationship, 19
32	32		examination, evaluation, and diagnosis of a patient, patient record keeping, prescribing, 20
33	33		telemedicine standard of care, and display of licensure and credentials, to the extent that these 21
34	34		rules are not contrary to G.S. 90-118.5A, as enacted by Section 1 of this act, and in alignment 22
35	35		with the Board's Telemedicine Position Statement. 23
36	36		SECTION 3. This act becomes effective October 1, 2025. 24
	37	+	H.B. 658
	38	+	Apr 1, 2025
	39	+	HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK