A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to direct the department of health and human services, division of medical assistance, to provide evidence‑based home visits for pregnant women and families with young children as part of the north carolina medicaid and nc health choice programs.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  It is the intent of the General Assembly to provide Medicaid and NC Health Choice coverage for evidence‑based home visits for pregnant women and families with young children designed to improve maternal and child health, prevent child abuse and neglect, encourage positive parenting, and promote child development and school readiness that are consistent with the model used by Nurse‑Family Partnership. No later than July 1, 2018, the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Medical Assistance (Department) shall begin providing Medicaid and NC Health Choice coverage for home visits statewide or through a pilot program.
The Department shall develop a plan to implement changes necessary to provide Medicaid and NC Health Choice coverage for home visits statewide or through a pilot program; however, consistent with G.S. 108A‑54(e)(4), the Department is not authorized to make any changes to eligibility for the Medicaid or NC Health Choice programs. The plan shall detail the design and scope of coverage for the home visits for pregnant women and families with young children and include the identification of any State Plan Amendments or waivers that may be necessary to submit to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
SECTION 1.(b)  No later than November 1, 2017, the Department shall submit to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and NC Health Choice and the Fiscal Research Division a report containing the following information:
(1)	As required by Section 1(a) of this act, a copy of the plan to provide, no later than July 1, 2018, Medicaid and NC Health Choice coverage for home visits statewide or through a pilot program.
(2)	A detailed description of the coverage to be provided, including the proposed service definition, the home visit schedule, the scope of the covered service, and the anticipated reimbursement rate to be paid.
(3)	An analysis of the total fiscal impact of adding Medicaid and NC Health Choice coverage for the home visits for pregnant women and families with young children. This shall include an outline of both costs and savings to the Medicaid and NC Health Choice programs, as well as any savings to other programs provided by the State.
(4)	An anticipated time line for the implementation of the Department's plan and the submission of any necessary State Plan Amendments or waivers to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
(5)	A description of how the Department intends to leverage any private funding that may be currently utilized to provide coverage for evidence‑based home visits for pregnant women and families with young children.
(6)	Any plans to include pay‑for‑success initiatives as part of the Medicaid and NC Health Choice funding for the covered service.
SECTION 2.  If the plan for Medicaid and NC Health Choice coverage for home visits developed pursuant to Section 1(a) of this act cannot be implemented under the authority granted to the Department of Health and Human Services under G.S. 108A‑54(e), then it is the intent of the General Assembly to appropriate funds for the cost of implementation during the 2018‑2019 fiscal year.
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.