A new bill filed by State Rep. Heather H. Rhyne in the North Carolina House seeks to require health benefit plans to allow early refills for prescription eye drops under specific circumstances, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 820 on April 8 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Prescription Eye Drop Early Refill Coverage.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill mandates that health benefit plans in North Carolina that offer coverage for prescription eye drops must also cover early refills under specific conditions. These conditions include a refill request for a 30-day supply after the patient has used 70% of the dosage, or 21 days after the prescription’s original distribution or the last refill. The requested refill must not exceed the prescription’s stated refill limit. The bill also applies this mandate to the State Health Plan. An appropriation of $100,000 in recurring funds from the General Fund is allocated for each year of the 2025-27 fiscal biennium to support this coverage. The bill’s provisions become effective on Oct. 1, 2025, for applicable contracts, with financial appropriations effective July 1, 2025.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Grant L. Campbell, MD proposed the most bills (55) during the 2025 regular session.
Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
Rhyne graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1998.
Rhyne, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2024 to represent the state’s 97th House district, replacing previous state representative Jason Saine.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heather H. Rhyne, Grant L. Campbell, MD, Sarah Crawford, and Timothy Reeder, MD | HB 820 | 04/08/2025 | Prescription Eye Drop Early Refill Coverage. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Brian Biggs, Hugh Blackwell, and Larry W. Potts | HB 803 | 04/07/2025 | 3-Year FDA Approval for New Childhood Vaxx. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Brian Biggs, and David Willis | HB 806 | 04/07/2025 | Public School Operational Relief. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Brian Biggs, David Willis, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 773 | 04/03/2025 | School Performance Grade Changes. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Blair Eddins, Jennifer Balkcom, and Sarah Stevens | HB 791 | 04/03/2025 | Women’s Safety and Protection Act. |
| Heather H. Rhyne and Timothy Reeder, MD | HB 592 | 03/31/2025 | Toxic-Free Medical Devices Act of 2025. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Erin Paré, Mike Schietzelt, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 611 | 03/31/2025 | Increase APs in Public Schools. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Jeff Zenger, Jonathan L. Almond, and Neal Jackson | HB 618 | 03/31/2025 | Ivermectin Access Act. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Allen Chesser, Cody Huneycutt, and Kyle Hall | HB 574 | 03/27/2025 | Workforce Development Pilot Project. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Allen Chesser, Donny Lambeth, and Grant L. Campbell, MD | HB 536 | 03/26/2025 | Physical Therapy Practice Act Mods. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Dean Arp, Donny Lambeth, and Erin Paré | HB 542 | 03/26/2025 | Child Care Mental & Behavioral Services/Funds. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Allen Chesser, Donna McDowell White, and Timothy Reeder, MD | HB 546 | 03/26/2025 | Inmate Medicaid Suspension/Team-Based Care. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Allen Chesser, Brandon Lofton, and Kyle Hall | HB 517 | 03/25/2025 | Modify Nonprofit Corp. Act/Charitable Org. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Dennis Riddell, Erin Paré, and Monika Johnson-Hostler | HB 488 | 03/24/2025 | Modify School Performance Grades. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Donna McDowell White, Donny Lambeth, and Jimmy Dixon | HB 491 | 03/24/2025 | Medicaid Work Requirements. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Allen Chesser, and Ray Pickett | HB 437 | 03/18/2025 | Establish Drug-Free Homeless Service Zones. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Dean Arp, Donny Lambeth, and Erin Paré | HB 412 | 03/17/2025 | Child Care Regulatory Reforms. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Brian Biggs, and David Willis | HB 415 | 03/17/2025 | Modify Math & Social Studies Grad. Req. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Allen Chesser, Jake Johnson, and Mike Schietzelt | HB 372 | 03/11/2025 | Home-Based Business Fairness Act. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Allen Chesser, Cody Huneycutt, and Kyle Hall | HB 351 | 03/10/2025 | Recovery-Friendly Workplace Program/Funds. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Charles W. Miller, and Cody Huneycutt | HB 330 | 03/06/2025 | Controlled Substances Act – Updates. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Dean Arp, Donny Lambeth, and Erin Paré | HB 309 | 03/05/2025 | Various Local Provisions VI. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Howard Penny, Jr., Jonathan L. Almond, and Paul Scott | HB 239 | 02/26/2025 | Change to EC Funding Formula. |
| Heather H. Rhyne and Jeffrey C. McNeely | HB 190 | 02/24/2025 | SchCal Mandatory Winter Break/Date Adjustment. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Cody Huneycutt, Hugh Blackwell, and Jarrod Lowery | HB 163 | 02/21/2025 | Pharmacy Benefits Manager Provisions. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Allen Buansi, Grant L. Campbell, MD, and Jarrod Lowery | HB 145 | 02/17/2025 | Funds for Diabetes Research Institute/UNC-CH. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Allen Chesser, Brenden H. Jones, and Jay Adams | HB 35 | 02/03/2025 | Establish Military Appreciation Month. |
| Heather H. Rhyne | HB 41 | 02/03/2025 | Lincoln/Catawba Common Boundary Line. |
