Rural North Carolinians Demand Better Eye Care
Special interests in Raleigh want to block access to eye care in rural areas. You can let them know that patients in rural areas deserve quality care. Contact your legislators today and let them know you support House Bill 36, the Enhanced Access to Eye Care Act.
House Bill 36: The Facts
Other states have brought better eye care to rural areas by authorizing Doctors of Optometry to perform routine laser procedures. This change has proven safe and effective for rural areas, with doctors of optometry performing more than 33,000 of these routine procedures.
Other states have seen decreased wait times and travel distances for patients, all while maintaining patient safety. Most importantly, House Bill 36 gives patients the choice of doctor. Unfortunately, special interests are blocking this vital legislation. They want eye care to remain tightly controlled by fewer doctors. This means more costs for rural patients.
We know North Carolina has a problem with access to health care in rural areas. House Bill 36 is one common sense solution. Doctors of Optometry practice throughout the state, and they are local providers that patients know and trust.