S99 - Appropriations Act of 2018. (SL 2018-5)

Overview: The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is required to conduct an evaluation of its staffing in the Division of Medical Assistance (DMA) and the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services (DMH/DD/SAS), as well as future staffing in the Division of Health Benefits (DHB), as those staffing levels relate to conducting operations in a managed care service delivery environment. The evaluation must consider all of the following:

• The changing functional needs and required staff experience based upon the introduction of capitated contracts.
• Whether any administrative or policy functions are duplicative between DMA and DMH/DD/SAS.
• Whether any administrative or policy functions performed by staff within DMA or DMH/DD/SAS are duplicative of functions either contractually required to be performed by LME/MCOs or through vendor contracts.
• Whether the administrative and policy staffing needs of DMA and DMH/DD/SAS correspond to similar administrative and policy staffing needs for DHB. This evaluation shall include how the administrative and policy staffing needs of DHB are predicted to change under the seven-year forecast prepared by DHHS.
• Whether the current positions within DMA, DMH/DD/SAS, and DHB ensure effective monitoring of, oversight of, and analysis of relevant data to assess the success of the Medicaid and State-funded behavioral health system.
• Divisional staffing changes and changes to contractual agreements to align more appropriately with a managed care delivery environment for the Medicaid and State-funded behavioral health system.

DHHS must report its findings to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and NC Health Choice, the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services, and the Fiscal Research Division no later than October 1, 2019.

This section became effective July 1, 2018.