State Programs to Assist Physicians and Healthcare Providers

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Increasing Access to Health Care

With its potential to overcome workforce and access barriers, telehealth can reduce health disparities for aging and underserved populations, as well as reduce patients’ costs and burdens associated with lost work time, transportation and child care.

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Optometrist

Optometrist Scope of Practice

Optometrists are state-licensed primary health care professionals who specialize in eye health. The information on this site focuses on three areas of scope of practice for optometrists: practice authority, prescriptive authority and surgical authority.

PROVIDERS & FACILITIES

Providers and Facilities

All Documents

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standing committee

Health and Human Services

The Health and Human Services Committee is one of eight NCSL Standing Committees that educates Congress and federal agencies about state concerns and serves as a forum for state legislators and legislative staff to learn about and share information regarding programs and initiatives in other states.

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Certificate of Need State Laws

Certificate of Need (CON) programs are aimed at restraining health care facility costs and allowing coordinated planning of new services and construction. Laws authorizing such programs are one mechanism by which state governments seek to reduce overall health and medical costs.