A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to provide support and training for Long‑Term Care Providers caring for residents with mental illnesses, as recommended by the North Carolina Study Commission on Aging.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  The Department of Health and Human Services shall study expanding the mission of the Geriatric Mental Health Specialty Teams to assist long‑term care facilities in serving all residents who are within the targeted populations, as identified in the State Plan developed pursuant to G.S. 122C‑102. As part of this study, the Department shall consider renaming the Geriatric Mental Health Specialty Teams to LTC Mental Health Specialty Teams to reflect the expanded mission.
SECTION 2.  While undertaking the study, the Department of Health and Human Services shall proceed immediately with implementation of the following:
(1)	Standardizing these criteria across all Geriatric Mental Health Specialty Teams:
a.	Team purpose,
b.	Eligibility for services,
c.	Screening processes,
d.	Referral processes, and
e.	Forms, Training Manuals, Service Orders, and Authorizations.
(2)	Tracking expenditure data for each Team and each Area Program/Local Management Entity.
(3)	Tracking the number of facilities served, the number of clients served, and the types of services provided by each Team. 
SECTION 3.  The Department of Health and Human Services shall submit an interim report to the North Carolina Study Commission on Aging by October 30, 2004, on its efforts to standardize criteria; track expenditure data; and track the number of facilities served, clients served, and services provided by each Team.  The Department shall submit a final report on its standardization and tracking efforts, and the results of its study, to the North Carolina Study Commission on Aging by October 30, 2005.
SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.