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House clears substitute for consumer contact-lens bill and HIPAA updates
Summary
The House approved a first substitute for House Bill 12 to extend contact-lens prescription expiration to two years in most cases, require private‑label manufacturers to be named on prescriptions, regulate cosmetic lenses, and add HIPAA‑related language; the substitute was referred to the Senate.
Representative Bryson introduced the first substitute to House Bill 12, describing four consumer-focused provisions: extend contact-lens prescription expiration from one year to two years unless medical reasons require otherwise; require prescriptions for private‑label lenses to include manufacturer and trade-name (and identify equivalent national brands when applicable); bring noncorrec tive cosmetic lenses under a prescription requirement to reduce infections and harm; and align certain provisions with upcoming HIPAA rules.
Colleagues expressed support for the changes as consumer-friendly; one member described the substitute as "a very friendly bill" that protected patient choice. Representative Sites and others thanked the sponsor and industry stakeholders for working through concerns. The House adopted the substitute and referred the measure to the Senate for further consideration.
