AN ACT to promote greater access to clubhouse model psychosocial rehabilitation day programs for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness in north carolina.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a)  The Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services (DMH/DD/SUS), shall develop and implement a plan for a statewide reimbursement methodology for State funded behavioral health services provided to adults with a severe and persistent mental illness diagnosis who are served by a Clubhouse model psychosocial rehabilitation day program. The plan shall include all of the following:

(1)        Incentives for clubhouses to become accredited by Clubhouse International.

(2)        Consistent application of rates throughout regions served by local management entities/managed care organizations (LME/MCOs).

(3)        Education and training for LME/MCO staff and relevant staff within the Department of Health and Human Services on the Clubhouse model and its use in serving individuals with severe and persistent mental illness in this State.

(4)        A new service definition.

SECTION 1.(b)  No later than June 1, 2026, DMH/DD/SUS shall submit a report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services that contains all of the following information related to the plan required by subsection (a) of this section:

(1)        The proposed reimbursement methodology.

(2)        A proposed time line for implementation for the reimbursement methodology.

(3)        Any costs associated with implementation of the reimbursement methodology.

(4)        Details on the education and training developed for LME/MCOs and staff of the Department of Health and Human Services.

(5)        Details pertaining to lifting barriers to accessing services and lifting burdensome service requirements.

(6)        Any new service definitions created pursuant to this section.

SECTION 2.  Effective July 1, 2026, there is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services, the sum of two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000) in recurring funds for the 2026‑2027 fiscal year to be used to implement the plan under Section 1 of this act and provide funding for Clubhouse International (CI) accredited member Clubhouses for current programs, expansion of services or locations served, accreditation costs of a Clubhouse, or staff and Clubhouse member training and professional development.

SECTION 3.  The Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Benefits, shall, to the extent allowable under G.S. 108A‑54.1A, provide Medicaid coverage for services included in the plan developed by DMH/DD/SUS pursuant to Section 1 of this act.

SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.