HB 173 – Exempt Ocular Surgery from CON Laws

Primary Sponsors: Rep. Michael Speciale (R-Craven), Rep. Julia Howard (R-Davie)

Bill Summary

This bill would exempt ophthalmologists who perform certain ocular surgical procedures from certificate of need laws.

The bill states that no ophthalmologist licensed to practice who provides ocular surgical procedures in one or more ocular surgical procedure rooms shall be required to obtain a certificate of need to license that setting as an ambulatory surgical facility with the existing number of ocular surgical procedure if they meet the following criteria:

  • License application postmarked by December 31, 2019.
  • The applicant verifies that the facility was in operation as of the effective date of this act or that the completed application for a building permit for the facility was submitted by the effective date of this act.
  • The facility is accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, The Joint Commission, or the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities.
  • The license application includes a commitment to and a plan for serving indigent and medically underserved populations.

Bill Movement

This bill was filed on February 26, 2019.