Bill Summaries: S119 (2019-2020 Session)

Tracking:
  • Summary date: Feb 21 2019 - View summary

    Identical to H 106, 2/19/19.

    Directs the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to develop a plan to increase the use of Central Prison Healthcare Complex (CPHC) in order to contain medical costs for inmates as required by GS 143B-707.3(b) (concerning DPS reimbursement of providers and facilities providing medical services to inmates and juvenile offenders outside the facility). Specifies required components of the plan and requires DPS to submit the plan by December 1, 2019, to the specified NCGA Committee. Also requires DPS to submit progress reports regarding cost savings and increased usage of the health service facilities at CPHC and the NC Correctional Institution for Women (NCCIW).

    Additionally directs DPS to identify and eliminate lapsed salary positions used to fund inmate health care services for 2016-17, and transfer the salary funds to a DPS, Health Services Section (HSS) budget code. Further requires DPS to reflect all expenditures for inmate health care services in a DPS, HSS budget code, and develop accounting mechanisms for inmate health care expenditures at the prison facility level. Requires the above described information to be included in DPS’s plan to increase the use of the CPHC.

    Amends GS 143B-707.3. Requires DPS to reimburse the lesser amount of either a rate of 70% of the then-current prevailing charge or 100% of (was, two times) the then-current Medicaid rate for any given service, beginning July 1, 2019. Adds new requirement for DPS to reimburse providers identified as necessary to ensure continued access to care the lesser amount of either a rate of 70% of the provider’s then-current prevailing charge or 200% of the then-current Medicaid rate for any given service. Adds further requirement for any contract extensions for medical services provided to inmates by contracted providers and facilities to include the specified reimbursement rates. Requires DPS, HSS to develop an electronic supply inventory management system, meeting the minimum requirements described. Adds the reimbursement rate for contracted providers to the data included in the quarterly report. Makes the statute applicable to vendors that are not billed on a fee-for-service basis.

    Enacts GS 143B-707.5, directing DPS and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to work together to enable social workers in DPS, HSS to qualify and receive federal reimbursement for performing Medicaid eligibility activities for inmates. Requires DPS, HSS to develop policies and procedures to account for time social workers spend on Medicaid eligibility for inmates. Also requires all DPS, HSS staff who perform activities related to Medicaid eligibility to receive eligibility determination training provided by DHHS at least quarterly. Requires DPS, HSS to require social workers enter specified data when performing Medicaid eligibility activities for inmates. Adds monthly reporting requirements to the DPS, HSS Director for the social workers. Requires each DPS, HSS social worker to submit Medicaid applications and any supporting documents electronically, unless federal law requires paper copies, beginning October 1, 2019. Requires DPS and DHHS to jointly report to the specified NCGA Committee by October 1, 2019, and quarterly thereafter until full implementation, and requires DHHS to report to the specified NCGA Committee on the implementation of the documentation of criteria for Medicaid application submissions by October 1, 2019.

    Directs DPS, HSS and the Office of State Human Resources to study the salaries of all in-prison health services employees to determine necessary adjustments to increase new hire and existing salaries to market rates. Further directs DPS to establish a vacancy rate benchmark for each correctional facility and create a plan to reduce vacancy rates, including considering the seven identified initiatives. Requires DPS to establish methods to measure effectiveness of the initiatives to reduce vacancy rates and estimate budgetary impact and anticipated savings, and submit its findings by February 1, 2020, to the specified NCGA Committee.

    Directs DPS, HSS to establish performance measures for its current telemedicine pilot program to inform a business case for potential expansion of the pilot program and propose an implementation plan to expand the use of telemedicine with accompanying cost savings. Requires DPS, HSS to report by April 1, 2020, and annually thereafter, on its business case for telemedicine to the specified NCGA Committee. Prohibits DPS, HSS from expanding the pilot program until the results of the current pilot program can be demonstrated and reported to the General Assembly.

    Effective July 1, 2019.