AN ACT to provide coverage under the north carolina medicaid program for pregnant women for twelve months postpartum, AS ALLOWED UNDER THE FEDERAL AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN act of 2021, and to plan to provide those individuals with a waiver of tuition and registration fees at a North Carolina community college.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  The Department of Health and Human Services is directed to implement the continued Medicaid eligibility of pregnant women for 12 months postpartum to begin on April 1, 2022, as allowed under section 9812 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, P.L. 117‑2.

SECTION 2.(a)  G.S. 108A‑54.3A(10) reads as rewritten:

(10)    Pregnant women with incomes equal to or less than one hundred ninety‑six percent (196%) of the federal poverty guidelines. Coverage for pregnant women eligible under this subdivision include only services related to pregnancy and to other conditions determined by the Department as conditions that may complicate pregnancy.pregnancy, except that this limitation on services shall not apply as long as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services allows coverage of pregnant women for 12 months postpartum.

SECTION 2.(b)  This section becomes effective April 1, 2022.

SECTION 3.(a)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Benefits, the sum of twelve million three hundred forty‑four thousand dollars ($12,344,000) in recurring funds for the 2021‑2022 fiscal year and the sum of fifty million eight hundred sixteen thousand dollars ($50,816,000) in recurring funds for the 2022‑2023 fiscal year to be used to implement this act. These funds shall provide a State match for twenty‑five million eight hundred thirteen thousand dollars ($25,813,000) in recurring federal funds for the 2021‑2022 fiscal year and one hundred six million two hundred sixty‑four thousand dollars ($106,264,000) for the 2022‑2023 fiscal year, and those federal funds are appropriated to the Division of Health Benefits to be used to implement this act.

SECTION 3.(b)  This section becomes effective July 1, 2021.

SECTION 4.  It is the intent of the General Assembly to provide individuals eligible for Medicaid under G.S. 108A‑54.3A(10) with a waiver of tuition and registration fees for courses those individuals enroll in at a North Carolina community college under a program to be developed in the future.

SECTION 5.  Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes law.