Bill Summaries: all (2017-2018 Session)

Tracking:
  • Summary date: May 31 2018 - View summary

    Directs the State Board of Education (Board) to study school-based nursing services provided in the state in consultation with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Department of Public Instruction (DPI). Requires the Board to submit a report containing a recommended staffing standard, and a plan for its implementation, of school nurses to student or student populations considered necessary to meet the health needs of students to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services no later than January 15, 2020. Details  seven components the report must contain, including: (1) the prevalence and effect of permitting unlicensed assistive personnel to provide student care in the absence of a nurse, (2) the school-based nursing staffing standard currently recommended by the National Association of School Nurses, and (3) an estimate amount of state funding needed to implement the recommend staffing standard.

    Directs DHHS and DPI to jointly develop a proposed plan to (1) consolidate the School Nurse Funding Initiative and funding for school-based nursing services through the Child and Family Support Team Initiative into a single program based on an acuity model and (2) allocated funds for school-based nursing services from the consolidated program beginning with the 2020-21 fiscal year. Requires DHHS and DPI to submit the proposed consolidation plan to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services no later than May 1, 2020. Prohibits DHHS and DPI from implementing the proposed consolidation plan except as directed by the General Assembly. Details six components that must be included in the consolidated plan, including a memorandum of understanding between DHHS and DPI regarding communication and oversight of the consolidated program and an estimate of the frequency with which the state should reevaluate the allocation of funding for school-based nursing services based on the statewide acuity model.

    Requires DHHS to report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and NC Health Choice and the Fiscal Research Division no later than December 1, 2018, regarding the results of an examination of the rates paid for school-based nursing services provided to Medicaid recipients. Requires DHHS to consult with the Division of Public Health School Health Consultant Team, DPI, and representatives from Local Education Agencies. Requires DHHS to consider an increase in Medicaid rates for school-based nursing services and the effect of such a rate increase. 

    Directs DHHS to submit any State Plan amendment or any waiver to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) no later than October 1, 2018, necessary to establish Medicaid reimbursement for school-based nursing services documented on a recipient's 504 Plan or Individual Health Plan. Directs DHHS to report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and NC Health Choice and the Fiscal Research Division no later than December 1, 2018, regarding the status of any State Plan amendment submitted to CMS under this provision.