H998 - Improving NC Rural Health. (SL 2018-88)

Overview: S.L. 2018-88 directs the actions outlined below in order to improve access to health care in rural areas.

• Graduate Medical Education and New Teaching Hospitals – Directs the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to study incentives for medical education in rural areas and to assist rural hospitals in becoming designated as teaching hospitals and report to Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services (JLOC-HHS) and the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and NC Health Choice (JLOC-Medicaid & Health Choice) by October 1, 2018. Also directs DHHS to conduct a study to identify rural hospitals that desire to be designated as new teaching hospitals, determine the technical assistance required, and calculate the expected costs. DHHS must provide an interim report by October 1, 2018, and a final report by October 1, 2019, to the JLOC-HHS and the JLOC-Medicaid & Health Choice.
• Target Loan Repayment Program – Directs the Office of Rural Health, DHHS, to ensure the NC State Loan Repayment Program is targeted to increase the number of health care providers in rural areas of the State and encourage both recruitment and retention, and to identify the need for dentists in rural areas. DHHS must provide an interim report to JLOC-HHS by October 1, 2018, and a final report by October 1, 2019.
• Improve Access to Dental Care – Amends the law to improve access to dental care in rural areas by facilitating the license by credentials process for current license holders in one of the four states that border NC. This section becomes effective October 1, 2018.
• Medicaid Health Outcomes Programs – Directs DHHS to conduct a study to propose two new Medicaid coordinated quality outcomes programs designed to reduce unnecessary and inappropriate service utilization and generate sustainable savings to the Medicaid program. DHHS must report to JLOC-Medicaid & Health Choice by October 1, 2018.

This act became effective June 25, 2018, except as otherwise noted.