Bill Summary for H 344 (2023-2024)

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Summary date: 

Jun 1 2023

Bill Information:

View NCGA Bill Details2023-2024 Session
House Bill 344 (Public) Filed Thursday, March 9, 2023
AN ACT TO MAKE REGULATORY CHANGES AND CREATE OVERSIGHT REQUIREMENTS TO THE DIVISION OF HEALTH SERVICE REGULATION'S MENTAL HEALTH LICENSURE AND CERTIFICATION SECTION.
Intro. by Willis, Clemmons, Lambeth, Jeffers.

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Bill summary

Senate committee substitute replaces the entire 1st edition with the following.

Includes whereas clauses.

Directs the Division of Health Service Regulation (DHSR) of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to establish a quality dashboard that addresses mental health, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and substance use services (MH/IDD/SUS) agency performance and identifies trends and outcomes of DHSR reviews. Lists dashboard requirements, beginning January 31, 2024, including monthly publishing and distribution of mandatory data points such as the number of licenses granted, number of citations by class of violation, and number of disciplinary actions by type. Requires DHSR publish the following data to its website on a quarterly basis beginning January 31, 2024: (1) a statement on how well it is complying with the statutory requirement of GS 122C-24.1 that reports of violations be sent to facilities within 15 working days of the investigation; (2) number of informal appeals and number of contested cases filed pursuant to the provisions of GS Chapter 150B; (3) number of contested cases dismissed, number of contested cases upholding agency action, number of contested cases overturning agency action, and number of contested cases where agency action was upheld in part and overturned in part.

Requires DHSR to make the following regulatory changes to promote transparency and enhanced communication with providers: (1) Establish a workgroup in collaboration with providers to address ongoing concerns identified by the agency and providers. Specifies that the discussions can include clarification of clear rules of engagement and standard operation procedures. (2) Make available annual training to providers and solicit feedback on topics and scheduling as identified by the workgroup. (3) Align its review process to reflect technology in electronic health records and accept documentation presented through the electronic health record. Also authorizes submission of hard copies of records to DSHR, but requires the agency to accept both forms of records.

Requires the Mental Health Commission to adopt or amend any rules necessary to implement the provisions of the act.

Appropriates $150,000 from the General Fund to DHSR in nonrecurring funds to implement the act.

Effective October 1, 2023.

Makes conforming changes to act's long and short titles.