Bill Summary for H 998 (2017-2018)
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| View NCGA Bill Details | 2017-2018 Session |
AN ACT TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO STUDY AND REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS TO CREATE INCENTIVES FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION IN RURAL AREAS OF THE STATE AND TO ASSIST RURAL HOSPITALS IN BECOMING DESIGNATED AS TEACHING HOSPITALS BY THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES; TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF RURAL HEALTH, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, TO ENSURE ITS LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM IS TARGETED TO BENEFIT HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IN RURAL NORTH CAROLINA, INCLUDING IDENTIFYING AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS THE NEED FOR DENTISTS IN RURAL AREAS; AND TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO DENTAL CARE IN RURAL NORTH CAROLINA; AND TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO STUDY MEDICAID HEALTH OUTCOMES PROGRAMS.Intro. by Lewis, Murphy, White, Hunter.
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Bill summary
House committee substitute makes the following changes to the 1st edition.
Changes the act's long and short titles.
Places the previous provisions into Part I.
Adds Part II. Directs the Office of Rural Health to structure the NC State Loan Repayment Program to align with three specific goals: (1) increase the number of healthcare providers in rural areas; (2) coordinate with the National Health Service Corps and Federal Loan Repayment programs, and any other publicly or privately funded programs, to maximize funding to increase the number of healthcare providers in rural areas; and (3) encourage the recruitment and retention of healthcare providers in rural areas.
Further directs the Office of Rural Health to work with data from the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research as well as other sources to identify the need for dentists in rural areas, and develop a recommendation to target loan repayment funds for dentists in rural areas that have been identified as having the greatest need.
Requires the Office of Rural Health to submit an interim report on or before October 1, 2018, and a final report on or before October 1, 2019, to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services.
Adds Part III. Directs the Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee to include in the work plan of the Program Evaluation Division (Division) an evaluation of the State Health Plan, with the goal of determining whether there are changes that will increase preventative health services, improve health outcomes, and lover the overall cost of healthcare. Requires the Division to include an evaluation of the direct primary care model in its study. Specifically requires the Division to determine: (1) the contract options for improving primary care physician quality of life in a rural setting that include but are not limited to a direct primary care type payment model and (2) the total cost implications and legislation needed to implement recommendations. Directs the Division to submit a report to the Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee on or before March 1, 2019.
Similarly, directs the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to study whether there are changes to the State Medicaid Program that will increase preventative health services, improve health outcomes, and lower the overall cost of healthcare. Requires DHHS to include an evaluation of the direct primary care model in its study. Specifically requires DHHS to determine: (1) the relationship of options to outcome measures that will be included in the Prepaid Health Plan contracts under the transformed Medicaid program, (2) the contract options for improving primary care physician quality of life in a rural setting that include but are not limited to a direct primary care type payment model, and (3) the total cost implications and legislation needed to implement recommendations. Directs DHHS to submit a report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and NC Health Choice on or before October 1, 2019.