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HB 696

Recovery high schools; establishment, authorization in certain Superintendents' regions.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Elizabeth Bennett-Parker and 6 co-sponsors

Requires clear, truthful advertising by health care practitioners, including license type and prohibiting unlicensed titles, with board enforcement.

Left in Finance and Appropriations
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Bill Summary · HB 696

Summary — HB 696: Health Care Practitioner Transparency Act

Status: Conference Committee Appointed (introduced Nov 12, 2024)
Jurisdiction: North Carolina (House Bill 696)
Primary purpose: Require accurate, non‑misleading identification and advertising by health care practitioners and clarify definitions for advanced practice nursing.

What the bill would do — key provisions

  • Establishes the "Health Care Practitioner Transparency Act" (new Part 2 of Article 37, Chapter 90 — G.S. 90-641 et seq.).
  • Definitions: Clarifies terms such as "advertisement," "deceptive or misleading," "health care practitioner," and "licensee."
  • Advertisement & representation requirements (G.S. 90-643):
    • Any advertisement naming a practitioner must state the type of license, certification, or registration the practitioner holds.
    • Advertisements and practitioner representations may not be deceptive or misleading about training, licensure, board certification, skills or scope.
    • Prohibits unlicensed individuals from holding themselves out as physicians or using a long enumerated list of physician/specialist titles (e.g., "surgeon," "M.D.," "cardiologist," "pediatrician," etc.). Nothing prevents practitioners from using titles/abbreviations they are authorized to use by statute; doctorate‑level professionals may use "Dr." as allowed.
  • Enforcement & penalties (G.S. 90-644):
    • Violations (aiding unlicensed practice, delegating to unqualified persons, false representations, failing to comply) are treated as unprofessional conduct.
    • Boards may discipline licensees; each day of noncompliance is a separate violation.
    • Applies in each practice location where a practitioner provides services; excludes practitioners who have no direct patient interactions (non‑patient settings).
  • Rulemaking: Requires numerous state health licensing boards to adopt temporary rules to implement the Act (e.g., NC Medical Board, Board of Nursing, Board of Pharmacy, Dental Examiners, Physical Therapy, Psychology, Respiratory Care, Speech & Hearing, Occupational Therapy, Dietetics/Nutrition, etc.).
  • Effective date: Except as provided otherwise, becomes effective October 1, 2025.

Additional substantive change (committee substitute)

  • Amends G.S. 90‑171.20 to define "Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)" and list the four APRN roles: certified nurse midwife (CNM), certified nurse practitioner (CNP/NP), certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), and clinical nurse specialist (CNS). Also clarifies related definitional language (e.g., "health care provider," "license," "licensee").

Who would be affected

  • Licensed health care practitioners across many professions (medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, therapy professions, etc.).
  • Clinics, hospitals, practices and individual practitioners responsible for advertising materials (business cards, websites, brochures, email signatures, signage).
  • State licensing boards (must adopt temporary/permanent rules and enforce compliance).
  • Unlicensed individuals who might otherwise use regulated professional titles.

Likely impacts

  • Increased transparency for patients about the credentials of practitioners.
  • Administrative burden on providers and organizations to update advertising and signage to ensure accurate license descriptions.
  • Additional workload for licensing boards to adopt rules, investigate complaints, and pursue discipline for violations.
  • Clarifies APRN roles in statute, which may affect scope discussions and regulatory practice.

For full statutory text, refer to the versions of HB 696 (editions and committee substitutes) in the North Carolina General Assembly records (effective provisions and board rule lists are contained in the bill text).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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