A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to allow all years of full‑time mental health, developmental DISABILITY, and substance abuse services (MH/DD/SAS) experience to apply to the QUALIFICATIONS required for MH/DD/SAS qualified professionals.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) shall amend the qualifications for Qualified Professionals within the mental health, developmental disability, and substance abuse services (MH/DD/SAS) system of care, as defined in rule, clinical care policies for the Medicaid program, and the North Carolina Medicaid State Plan. Qualifications for Qualified Professionals shall allow for all years of full‑time MH/DD/SAS experience to qualify as years of experience, rather than limiting qualifying full‑time MH/DD/SAS experience to only that experience which is obtained post‑bachelor's degree or post‑graduate degree. No later than October 1, 2017, any State Plan amendment necessary to effect these changes shall be submitted by DHHS to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
SECTION 2.  Any changes to clinical coverage policies and any changes to rules adopted by the Department of Health and Human Services relating to the qualifications for Qualified Professionals required under Section 1 of this act shall not become effective until DHHS has received CMS approval of the State Plan amendment required by Section 1 of this act.
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.