H106 - Inmate Health Care & 340B Program. (SL 2019-135)

Overview: S.L. 2019-135 makes a number of changes in to improve medical care to inmates and contain costs.

• Part I of the act requires the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to develop a plan to increase the use of the Central Prison Healthcare Complex and to submit the plan to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety; requires a quarterly report on the reimbursement rate for contracted providers; adds a new statute pertaining to Medicaid services for inmates and requires progress reports; requires the issuance of two Requests for Proposals (RFP) to develop an electronic inventory system for medical supplies; requires DPS to study and develop initiatives pertaining to the salaries of all in-prison health services employees; and requires the establishment of a telemedicine pilot program to provide physical health services to inmates.
• Part II requires DPS to partner with the Department of Health and Human Services to access medication pricing under the federal 340B Program; requires DPS to issue a RFP for partnerships between entities covered under the federal 340B Program and four prison regions; requires DPS to develop a Memorandum of Agreement with the University of North Carolina Healthcare Services for the 340B Program; requires periodic reporting; and codifies reporting requirements.

The section of the act pertaining to Medicaid services for inmates and related reporting requirements became effective October 1, 2019, the remainder of the act became effective July 19, 2019.