GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1989

S	1 

SENATE BILL 225*

Short Title:  Medicaid/Infants, Pregnant Women.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Senators Walker; Allran, Ballance, Barker, Block, Bryan, Carpenter, Cochrane, Conder, Daniel, Daughtry, Ezzell, Goldston, Guy, Hardin, Harris, Hunt of Durham, Hunt of Moore, Johnson of Cabarrus, Johnson of Wake, Kincaid, Martin of Pitt, Martin of Guilford, Marvin, Murphy, Odom, Parnell, Plyler, Rauch, Raynor, Richardson, Sands, Sherron, Simpson, Smith, Soles, Speed, Swain, Tally, Ward, and Winner.
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Referred to:  Appropriations.
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February 21, 1989

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO PROVIDE MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR PREGNANT WOMEN AND FOR CHILDREN, TO EXPAND THE RURAL OBSTETRICAL INCENTIVE PROGRAM, AND TO INCREASE PHYSICIAN REIMBURSEMENT FOR MATERNITY CARE.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  (a)	Effective January 1, 1990, the Department of Human Resources shall provide Medicaid coverage, to the extent permitted by federal law, for pregnant women and for children up to the age of one, whose family income is equal to or less than one hundred eighty-five percent (185%) of the federal poverty guidelines as revised annually by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.  Services to pregnant women eligible under this section continue through the pregnancy but include only services related to pregnancy and to those other conditions determined by the Department of Human Resources as conditions that complicate pregnancy.  In order to reduce county administrative costs and to expedite the provision of medical services to pregnant women and to children eligible under this section, no resource test shall be applied.
(b)	There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Human Resources, Division of Medical Assistance, the sum of seven million fifty-five thousand two hundred eighty-one dollars ($7,055,281) for the 1989-90 fiscal year and the sum of fourteen million one hundred ten thousand five hundred sixty-two dollars ($14,110,562) for the 1990-91 fiscal year, to provide the State share of the increased coverage authorized by this section.
(c)	There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Division of Medical Assistance, Department of Human Resources the sum of seven hundred ninety-four thousand two hundred fifty dollars ($794,250) for the 1989-90 fiscal year and the sum of one million fifty-nine thousand dollars ($1,059,000) for the 1990-91 fiscal year, to provide the additional eligibility staff needed to implement this section.  These funds shall be allocated among the county departments of social services for the non-federal costs of employing additional eligibility personnel needed to implement this section effective October 1, 1989.  Eligibility staff employed by these funds shall include staff at outpost locations such as local health departments and hospitals. 
Sec. 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Division of Medical Assistance, Department of Human Resources, the sum of six hundred fifty thousand dollars ($650,000) for the 1989-90 fiscal year and the sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000) for the 1990-91 fiscal year, to expand the Rural Obstetrical Care Incentive Program established by Section 39.3 of Chapter 1100, 1987 Session Laws, Regular Session, 1988.  
Sec. 3.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Division of Medical Assistance, Department of Human Resources, the sum of nine hundred fifty thousand eight hundred twenty dollars ($950,820) for the 1989-90 fiscal year and the sum of one million three hundred thirty-three thousand two hundred twelve dollars ($1,333,212) for the 1990-91 fiscal year, for the State share of increasing physician reimbursement for maternity care services effective October 1, 1989.
Sec. 4.  This act shall become effective July 1, 1989.