A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT FOR ANY STATE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL OR CORRECTIONAL FACILITY THAT PURCHASES HOSPITAL SERVICES, THE PAYMENTS FOR these SERVICES IS LIMITED TO THE MAXIMUM AMOUNTS PAID FOR HOSPITAL SERVICES UNDER THE TEACHERS' AND STATE EMPLOYEES' COMPREHENSIVE MAJOR MEDICAL PLAN.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 148‑19(a) reads as rewritten:
"§ 148‑19.  Health services.
(a)	The general policies, rules and regulations of the Department of Correction shall prescribe standards for health services to prisoners, which shall include preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic measures on both an outpatient and a hospital basis, for all types of patients. A prisoner may be taken, when necessary, to a medical facility outside the State prison system. The payment amount for hospital outpatient services purchased by the Department is limited to the maximum amounts paid for hospital outpatient services by the Teachers' and State Employees' Comprehensive Major Medical Plan ("Plan"). The payment amount for hospital inpatient services not related to the Plan's DRG reimbursement system is limited to the maximum amounts paid by the Plan for hospital inpatient services. The Department of Correction shall seek the cooperation of public and private agencies, institutions, officials and individuals in the development of adequate health services to prisoners."
SECTION 2.  Part 5 of Article 4 of Chapter 122C of the General Statutes is amended by adding the following new section to read:
"§ 122C‑187. Payment for purchase of inpatient and outpatient hospital services.
The payment amount for hospital outpatient services purchased by a State hospital is limited to the maximum amounts paid for hospital outpatient services by the Teachers' and State Employees' Comprehensive Major Medical Plan ("Plan"). The payment amount for hospital inpatient services not related to the Plan's DRG reimbursement system is limited to the maximum amounts paid by the Plan for hospital inpatient services."
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to hospital inpatient and outpatient services purchased by the Department of Correction or State hospitals on and after that date.