AN ACT to ensure INCREASED awareness of school‑based health services that are reimbursable under North Carolina's Medicaid State Plan and to require the department of health and human services, division of health benefits, to evaluate the success of the integrated care for kids medicaid pilot program, updated from the 2020 recommendations made by the north carolina Child Well‑Being Transformation Council, TO IMPLEMENT MEDICAID COVERAGE OF SCHOOL‑BASED TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, AND to require annual parental consent for student access to school health clinic services.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

part i. school‑based services reimbursable under north carolina's medicaid state plan

SECTION 1.1.  The Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Benefits (DHB), shall develop and implement a plan to work with the Department of Public Instruction, local education administrative units, and local management entities/managed care organizations (LME/MCOs) to ensure increased awareness of school‑based health services, beyond Individualized Education Program (IEP) services, that are reimbursable under North Carolina's Medicaid State Plan. The plan shall include an assessment of the feasibility of enhanced rates and other mechanisms that encourage private agencies to provide school‑based health services to students who are receiving or who are eligible to receive Medicaid benefits. DHB shall submit this plan and any recommended legislative changes to implement the plan to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid, the chairs of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, and the chairs of the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services no later than August 1, 2024.

SECTION 1.2.(a)  The Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Benefits, is directed to do all of the following to implement Medicaid coverage of school‑based transportation in adaptive vehicles for students with disabilities provided by local education agencies on the days they receive Medicaid covered health‑related services as described in Clinical Coverage Policy 10C:

(1)        Submit a State Plan amendment, develop a clinical coverage policy, or amend an existing clinical coverage policy, as applicable.

(2)        Assign a Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code, as needed.

(3)        Develop billing instructions.

SECTION 1.2.(b)  The Medicaid coverage described in subsection (a) of this section shall be effective the later of July 1, 2023, or any effective date required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

SECTION 1.3.(a)  To enhance parental and guardian participation in the health of the parent's or guardian's minor child, a parental or guardian consent form shall be signed annually in order for a child to access services provided at a school health clinic. The parental or guardian consent form shall include all of the following:

(1)        A list of the services provided at the school health clinic. If the school health clinic provides preventative services, the list shall include the specific preventative services provided.

(2)        A list of the services that may be provided off campus upon referral by the school health clinic.

(3)        A list of any other clinics to which the school health clinic may refer a student.

SECTION 1.3.(b)  This section is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning with the 2023‑2024 school year.

Part II. Integrated care for kids medicaid pilot program

SECTION 2.(a)  No later than March 1, 2025, the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Benefits (DHB), shall submit to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid an interim report evaluating the success of the Integrated Care for Kids (InCK) Medicaid pilot program. This evaluation shall include, at a minimum, the following components:

(1)        The empirical benefits achieved thus far in implementation of the InCK Medicaid pilot program, including any benefits related to the use of telehealth.

(2)        The feasibility of expanding the InCK Medicaid pilot program.

(3)        The anticipated cost‑savings and requirements for expanding the pilot program.

SECTION 2.(b)  No later than March 1, 2027, DHB shall submit to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid a final report on the InCK Medicaid pilot program that provides updated details on the information provided in the interim report submitted in accordance with subsection (a) of this section, as well as any legislative recommendations.

part iII. effective date

SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.