North Carolina SB 663: Increase Home Care Rates, Quality & Retention.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA 
SESSION 2007 
S 1 
SENATE BILL 663 
 
 
 
 
Short Title:    Increase Home Care Rates, Quality & Retention. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Purcell;  Atwater and Snow. 
Referred to:   Appropriations/Base Budget. 
March 12, 2007 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1 
AN  ACT  TO  APPROPRIATE  ADDITIONAL  FUNDS  TO  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  2 
HEALTH  AND  HUMAN  SERVICES,  DIVISION  OF  MEDICAL  ASSISTANCE,  3 
TO  PROVIDE  A  RATE  INCREASE  FOR  HOME  CARE  SERVICES  IN  AN  4 
EFFORT  TO  CONTINUE  TO  MEET  THE  COST  OF  PROVIDING  QUALITY  5 
SERVICES   AND   TO   ALLOW   ADEQUATE   SALARY   INCREASES   FOR   6 
DIRECT     CARE     WORKERS     THEREBY     INCREASING     EMPLOYEE     7 
RETENTION AND QUALITY OF CARE. 8 
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 9 
SECTION   1.      There   is   appropriated   from   the   General   Fund   to   the   10 
Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Medical Assistance, the sum of 11 
twelve  million  dollars  ($12,000,000)  for  the  2007-2008  fiscal  year  and  the  sum  of  12 
twenty-four  million  dollars  ($24,000,000)  for  the  2008-2009  fiscal  year  to  be  used  for  13 
home care services.  These funds shall be used to provide for Medicaid rate increases to 14 
continue  to  meet  the  cost  of  providing  quality  services  and  to  provide  adequate  salary  15 
increases for direct care staff providing Home Health Services, Home Infusion therapy, 16 
In-home Personal Care Services, CAP-DA Services, CAP-C Services, and Private Duty 17 
Nursing. 18 
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2007. 19