Directs the Department of Health and Human Services (Department) to examine strategies to increase the number of assisted living residences in the rural areas of North Carolina. This examination must include the advantages and disadvantages of exempting adult care homes from certificate of need review. Provides that for use in this section, the term assisted living residences is defined pursuant to GS 131D-2.1.

Directs the Department to report its findings and recommendations to the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services, and the Fiscal Research Division by February 1, 2014.