Nikki Haley Veto Message on S.1016
By: Nikki Haley –
Today, I am vetoing and returning without my approval, R.178, S. l O 16, a bill that requires
prescriptions from a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist to receive glasses or contacts based
on an in-person comprehensive eye examination. I am vetoing this bill because it uses health
practice mandates to stifle competition for the benefit of a single industry, effectively
banning eye care kiosks statewide.
During my administration, South Carolina has expanded access to healthcare, including mental
health services, to rural and underserved regions of our state using telemedicine. Unfortunately,
a small group of eye care professionals are seeking to block new technologies that expand lowcost
access to vision correction services, using two basic arguments.