Establishes standards for surgical smoke evacuation in hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities in North Carolina.

The bill establishes standards for surgical smoke evacuation in hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities in North Carolina. It mandates that ambulatory surgical facilities adopt and implement policies requiring the use of smoke evacuation/filtering systems during surgical procedures that generate surgical smoke. The equipment must effectively capture, filter, and eliminate surgical smoke at the site of origin. The Department of Health and Human Services may take adverse action against facilities for violations. The act becomes effective January 1, 2026.

Establishes standards for surgical smoke evacuation in hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities in North Carolina.

The bill establishes standards for surgical smoke evacuation in hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities in North Carolina. It mandates that ambulatory surgical facilities adopt and implement policies requiring the use of smoke evacuation/filtering systems during surgical procedures that generate surgical smoke. The equipment must effectively capture, filter, and eliminate surgical smoke at the site of origin. The Department of Health and Human Services may take adverse action against facilities for violations. The act becomes effective January 1, 2026.