Healthcare

passed both · North Carolina · Senate Jun 16, 2025

SB 171: Pract. Transparency/Reagan's Law/Sam's Law.

SB 171 allows licensed psychological associates in North Carolina to practice independently without direct supervision after completing 3,000 hours of supervised experience over 24-60 months. This directly affects psychological associates who meet the experience requirement, reducing regulatory barriers to their practice. The bill amends licensing rules to establish this pathway, requiring an application with proof of experience and granting certification as a "health services provider psychological associate." It also updates board composition rules to ensure balanced representation. The changes take effect October 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareReduces regulatory barriers for mental health professionals, improving access to services by allowing independent practice after experience requirements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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signed · North Carolina · House Jun 13, 2025

HB 231: Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact.

HB 231 establishes North Carolina's participation in the Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact, allowing licensed social workers from participating states to practice across state lines without obtaining separate licenses in each state. The bill directly affects licensed social workers seeking to provide services in multiple states, particularly those serving military families or addressing workforce shortages. Key provisions include mutual recognition of licenses among member states, accountability for social workers practicing where clients are located, and streamlined processes for disciplinary information sharing. This reduces duplicate licensing requirements while maintaining state authority to protect public health and safety through existing licensure systems.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill removes licensure barriers for social workers, directly improving access to mental health services and supporting workforce mobility in healthcare.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill facilitates social workers serving military families (including veterans' families), improving access to social services and addressing workforce shortages in veteran support.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

passed · North Carolina · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 357: Pharmacists/Collaborative Practice.

SB 357 expands and modernizes collaborative practice agreements between physicians and pharmacists. It allows licensed pharmacists, designated as "clinical pharmacist practitioners," to provide a broader range of "health care services" under a physician's supervision, including modifying drug dosages, ordering tests, and managing drug therapy for patients. These services must be conducted under specific, written collaborative practice agreements and adhere to rules set by the North Carolina Medical Board and Board of Pharmacy. The bill also permits therapeutic drug substitutions by pharmacists with physician authorization and allows for multi-provider collaborative agreements in institutional settings.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands pharmacists' clinical authority to manage drug therapy under physician supervision, improving medication access and patient care coordination.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · North Carolina · Senate Apr 28, 2025

SB 369: Medicaid Telehealth Services.

SB 369 aims to ensure that certain telehealth providers can enroll as Medicaid providers in North Carolina. The bill specifies that individual health care providers, licensed by the state and offering services exclusively through telemedicine, do not need a physical presence in the state to be eligible for Medicaid enrollment. Additionally, medical provider groups that exclusively offer telemedicine services will not be required to have an in-state service address to enroll as Medicaid provider groups. This measure directly affects telehealth providers and Medicaid recipients by clarifying requirements for remote healthcare services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves physical presence requirement for telehealth providers to enroll in Medicaid, expanding patient access to telemedicine services under public health program.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRemoves physical presence barriers for telehealth providers, enabling tech-based healthcare access under Medicaid, aligning with emerging technologies subject.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · North Carolina · Senate Apr 28, 2025

SB 190: Physician Assistant Licensure Compact.

This bill establishes the Physician Assistant (PA) Licensure Compact, a multi-state agreement designed to enhance the ability of PAs to practice in multiple participating states. It allows PAs who hold a qualifying license and meet national standards, including specific education and certification requirements, to obtain a "Compact Privilege" to practice in other member states. The Compact aims to improve access to medical services and ease licensing burdens for PAs, including military spouses. It also maintains patient safety through shared regulatory oversight and a central data system for tracking licenses and disciplinary actions across participating states.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates multi-state PA licensure to improve medical access, reduce licensing barriers, and enhance healthcare workforce mobility, directly advancing healthcare access per topic description.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · North Carolina · Senate Apr 15, 2025

SB 335: Pharmacists/Test and Treat/Influenza and Strep.

Senate Bill 335 allows pharmacists to order and perform CLIA-waived tests to treat influenza, provided they follow statewide protocols and do not use controlled substances. The bill mandates that health benefit plans cover healthcare services provided by pharmacists if the services are within their licensed scope of practice and would be covered if performed by another healthcare provider. It also ensures consistent application of prescription drug and pharmacy service coverage requirements across insurers, third-party administrators, and pharmacy benefits managers. These changes aim to expand access to certain healthcare services through pharmacists, affecting patients, pharmacists, and health insurance providers. Most provisions become effective October 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for pharmacist-administered flu/strep tests/treatment, expanding access to care and aligning coverage with other providers per bill's scope.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · North Carolina · Senate Feb 17, 2025

SB 24: Govt Mandates Increase Healthcare Costs.

SB 24 requires that any new state health insurance mandate must be paired with the repeal of an existing mandate and include funding to cover the new cost. It directly affects North Carolina employers (especially small businesses) and taxpayers by targeting mandates that increase insurance premiums and state health plan expenses. Key provisions mandate that new health benefit requirements (like coverage for specific treatments or drugs) must include both a repeal of an equivalent existing mandate and recurring state funding for the new cost. The bill applies to all health insurance plans, including the State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees, and takes effect 30 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires funding for new health mandates to prevent cost increases, promoting fiscal responsibility in budget management per BUDGETING subject.90% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill restricts new health insurance mandates by requiring repeal of existing mandates and funding, directly targeting cost increases for employers and taxpayers. Limits mandate expansion.90% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentRestricts new health benefit mandates without offset, limiting expansion of employment benefits (e.g., coverage for specific treatments) that would otherwise increase employer costs.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Healthcare

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