Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that expands access to state Medicaid services.

Highlights:

• Amends current medicaid legislation by allowing those ineligible for medicaid due to current legislation to be granted access through an Alternative Benefit Plan established by the Department of Health and Human Services (Sec 1.1). 

• Requires the department to create health and wellness incentive programs for those eligible for medicare (Sec. 1.1). 

• Requires the department and all county departments of social services begin accepting applications from newly eligible individuals no later than December 1, 2023 (Sec. 1.1).

•  Establishes the ARPA Temporary Savings Fund as a special fund within the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Benefits (Sec. 1.3). 

• Requires the ARPA Temporary Savings Fund be made up of additional funds the government receives due to the additional percentage of individuals receiving federal medical assistance (Sec. 1.3). 

• Amends Article 7B of Chapter 108A of the General Statutes by adding a section about the healthcare access and stabilization program (Sec. 1.4).

• Specifies that the healthcare access and stabilization program will provide acute care hospitals with more reimbursements funded through hospital assessments (Sec. 1.4). 

• Requires all acute care hospitals, except for critical access hospitals, undergo an assessment of a percentage of their hospital cost and that the proceeds from this assessment the department must use a total of $4 million to provide funds to county departments of social services, so these counties can be prepared for those now eligible for medicaid (Sec. 1.5). 

• Requires the department to submit a report detailing the funds each county department of social services received and the dates those funds were received to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and NC Health Choice and the Fiscal Research Division (Sec. 1.5). 

Full Bill Text