A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO PROVIDE GRANTS OR LOW‑INTEREST LOANS TO ELIGIBLE HOSPITALS TO ADDRESS CRITICAL NEEDS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Rural Health, the sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) for the 2005‑2006 fiscal year.  These funds shall be used to establish and implement the Patient Care Resource Fund ("Fund") in the Office of Rural Health.  The Department may allocate funds from the Fund to eligible hospitals that are approved by the Office of Rural Health for grants or low‑interest loans.  Funds may be used by grant or loan recipients to offset operational losses due to increases in uncompensated care or to address other critical needs as determined by the Department.  The Office of Rural Health shall adopt guidelines establishing eligibility and other requirements for grants and low‑interest loans and determining other critical needs for which funds may be allocated.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2005.