A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO INCREASE THE RATE PAID TO ADULT CARE HOMES under the state-county special assistance program.
Whereas, State law requires that adult care homes submit audited reports of actual cost to the Department of Health and Human Services; and
Whereas, State law requires the report documentation used to adjust the rate paid to adult care homes annually, and further requires the adjustment to be in addition to the annual standard adjustment for inflation; and
Whereas, the total cost for services under State-County Special Assistance calculated according to rules adopted by the Department have increased by $237.05 (25.63%) during the last five years; and
Whereas, rates for State-County Special Assistance have increased by only $135.00 (14.12%) during the same five-year period; and
Whereas, basic adult care home personal care services costs per client per month have increased to $627.19; and
Whereas, the intent of the General Assembly as expressed in State law is to assure quality of life for adult care home residents; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services the sum of twenty‑eight million five hundred thousand dollars ($28,500,000) for the 2003‑2004 fiscal year, and the sum of eighteen million three hundred fifty thousand dollars ($18,350,000) for the 2004‑2005 fiscal year.  These funds shall be used to increase the State-County Special Assistance rates for persons living in licensed adult care homes, and to match federal Medicaid dollars to increase basic and enhanced adult care home personal care services rates.
SECTION 2.(a)  Effective October 1, 2003, the maximum monthly rate for residents in adult care home facilities shall be one thousand one hundred sixty‑five dollars ($1,165) per month per resident.
SECTION 2.(b)  Effective October 1, 2004, the maximum monthly rate for residents in adult care home facilities shall be one thousand two hundred seven dollars ($1,207) per month per resident.
SECTION 2.(c)  Effective October 1, 2003, the Basic Adult Care Home Personal Care Services rate shall be twenty‑one dollars ($21.00) per resident per day.
SECTION 2.(d)  Effective October 1, 2004, the Basic Adult Care Home Personal Care Services rate shall be twenty‑three dollars ($23.00) per resident per day.
SECTION 3.  Section 1 of this act becomes effective July 1, 2003. The remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law.