S105 - 2021 Appropriations Act. (SL 2021-180)

Overview: Section 9E.6 of S.L. 2021-180, as amended by Section 3.1 of S.L. 2021-189, allows the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research (the Sheps Center) to oversee the administration of a two-year pilot program to be conducted by the Pilot Program Accrediting Body and the Sheps Center to evaluate the effectiveness of an accreditation process for adult care homes (ACHs). The Pilot Program Accrediting Body is defined as the Accreditation Commission for Healthcare, a nonprofit accreditation organization. In conducting the pilot, the Sheps Center must collaborate with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the Stakeholder Advisory Group, the NC Senior Living Association (NCSLA), the NC Assisted Living Association (NCALA), as well as the Pilot Program Accrediting Body. The Stakeholder Advisory Group must be appointed by DHHS, represent other interested parties not already involved in the pilot program, and be composed of at least one member representing Friends of Residents in Long Term Care, the North Carolina Ombudsman Association, AARP North Carolina, Disability Rights North Carolina, directors of county departments of social services, and DHHS. NCSLA and NCALA must develop a grant program that provides grant awards to up to 150 pilot adult care homes (ACHs) to cover the cost of 75 control group ACHs and 75 pilot ACHs. Criteria must be developed to select participants in the pilot and the criteria must ensure a diverse group of ACHs are selected.

Not later than 150 days after the section is effective, the Sheps Center, NCALA, and NCSLA must develop a standardized methodology for the collection of defined categories of information from program participants and control group members. Using quality outcome measures, the Sheps Center must provide an interim report on or before April 30, 2023, and a final report on or before July 31, 2024, to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services, DHHS, and the Stakeholder Advisory Group. The pilot program must terminate by August 1, 2024. No later than 90 days following submission of the final report, the Sheps Center must (i) conduct an evaluation of the effectiveness of the pilot program for a licensure accreditation process for adult care homes that could inform future changes to the licensure process and requirements and (ii) submit the evaluation to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services and DHHS.

Of the funds appropriated to DHHS, $1.5 million must be allocated to NCALA and NCSLA to jointly administer the grant program and $1.5 million must be transferred to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina System to be allocated to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for the Program on Aging, Disability, and Long-Term Care within the Sheps Center to operate the pilot program.

This section became effective July 1, 2021.