A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to direct the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Medical Assistance, to implement federal changes regarding payment rates for ambulatory surgical centers.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  The Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Medical Assistance, shall track the implementation of a new Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System, scheduled to become effective January 1, 2008, under the Ambulatory Surgical Center Medicare Payment Modernization Act. Upon implementation of the new Medicare ASC Payment System, the Division shall apply the Medicare payment changes to the State Medical Assistance Plan, such that the reimbursement rates under Medicaid for ambulatory surgical center services shall be not less than the rates for the same services reimbursable under Medicare.  The Department shall ensure that the new ambulatory surgical center rates are in effect under the State Medical Assistance Plan not later than 60 days from the date the Medicare ASC Payment System becomes effective.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2007.