Amends GS 131E-­175 to add a new legislative finding concerning the demand for ocular surgical procedures.

Amends GS 131E­-176 to define ocular surgical procedure and ocular surgical procedure room.

Amends GS 131E-­178 to exempt licensed opthalmologists who provide ocular surgical procedures in one or more ocular surgical procedure rooms from obtaining certificates of need to license that setting as an ambulatory surgical facility with the existing number of ocular surgical procedure rooms, so long as (1) the license application is postmarked by December 31, 2019, (2) the applicant verifies within 60 days of the effective date of this act that the facility was in operation as of the effective date of this act or that the completed application for the building permit was submitted by the effective date of this act, (3) the facility has been accredited by specified organizations by the time the license application is postmarked, and (4) the license application includes a commitment to and a plan for serving indigent and medically underserved populations. Requires all other persons proposing to obtain a license to establish an ambulatory surgical facility for ocular surgical procedures to obtain a certificate of need. Also amends the statute's provisions exempting a person providing gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures in specified settings from needing a certificate of need license by modifying the allowable accrediting entities. Makes additional clarifying and technical changes.

Effective October 1, 2019.