Representative Mike Stone is North Carolina State Optometric Society’s Legislator of the Year

RALEIGH, N.C. - Oct. 28, 2014 - PRLog -- Representative Mike Stone is the 2014 Legislator of the Year for the North Carolina State Optometric Society. Senator Wesley Meredith is also receiving this award for his efforts in the Senate. The award is given to the Legislator who best supports the profession of optometry in North Carolina. The award will be presented to Representative Stone at the North Carolina State Optometric Society’s Fall Congress in Asheville in November.

“Representative Stone is my representative, so I know that he understands the difficulties that Optometrists face every day as small business owners.  He appreciates fairness and the appropriateness of allowing small businesses to compete freely in their local market,” said Dr. Charles V. Sikes, Jr, President of the North Carolina State Optometric Society. “

As the lead House sponsor of S. 477, Representative Stone led the charge to prohibit insurers from forcing optometrists to provide discounts on services and materials which they did not cover.   Dr. Sikes added that “Representative Stone saw an injustice and was willing to take on substantial opposition to correct it.  By allowing optometrists in North Carolina the freedom to set their prices based on the free market, we are better able to run our businesses and focus on serving our patients and our communities.  This makes our business stronger and better able to create more quality jobs across the state.”

The North Carolina State Optometric Society represents North Carolina optometrists who provide primary eye care services.  The vision of NCSOS is protecting and improving eye health and vision in North Carolina.  The mission is advocating for optometrists so they can best serve eye health and vision needs in North Carolina.