AN ACT to establish the primary care payment reform task force.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a)  There is established the North Carolina Primary Care Payment Reform Task Force (Task Force) within the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Benefits, for budgetary purposes only.

The Task Force shall be composed of the following members:

(1)        The Deputy Secretary for NC Medicaid, or the Deputy Secretary's designee.

(2)        The Commissioner of the Department of Insurance, or the Commissioner's designee.

(3)        The Executive Administrator of the North Carolina State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees (State Health Plan), or the Executive Administrator's designee.

(4)        The Director of the North Carolina Area Health Education Centers Program, or the Director's designee.

(5)        The Director of the North Carolina Health Information Exchange Authority, or the Director's designee.

(6)        A physician representative of the North Carolina primary care community, as selected by the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians.

(7)        An advanced practice registered nurse representative of the North Carolina primary care community, as selected by the North Carolina Nurses Association.

(8)        A representative of the North Carolina commercial health insurance community, as selected by the North Carolina Association of Health Plans.

All members of the Task Force are voting members. Any vacancies that occur for any membership positions that are not held as a function of office shall be filled by the selecting body upon vacancy. The Deputy Secretary for NC Medicaid, or the Deputy Secretary's designee, shall serve as the chair of the Task Force.

SECTION 1.(b)  The Task Force established under this section shall have the following duties:

(1)        Establish a definition of primary care to be utilized by the Task Force. This term should be applicable to services and care provided under the NC Medicaid program, the State Health Plan, and commercial insurance.

(2)        Conduct an actuarial evaluation of the current healthcare spend on primary care services, both as it relates to the NC Medicaid program and the commercial market, including Medicare Advantage plans.

(3)        Determine the adequacy of the primary care delivery system in North Carolina, including the impact this system has on the supply of the primary care providers in this State.

(4)        Study the primary care payment landscape in other states, specifically considering states that have implemented a minimum primary care spend.

(5)        Identify data collection and measurement systems to inform creation of a primary care investment target for the NC Medicaid program, the State Health Plan, and commercial insurance. This includes a method by which to measure improvements made toward that target.

(6)        Evaluate the need for a permanent Primary Care Payment Reform Task Force, or other similar entity, including which State agency or body is best suited to oversee the work of that group.

(7)        Perform any other studies, evaluations, or determinations the Task Force considers necessary.

SECTION 1.(c)  No later than April 1, 2024, the Task Force shall submit a report with its findings and recommendations to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services and the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid. These findings and recommendations shall include specific, concrete, and actionable steps to be undertaken by the State and upon which the General Assembly could act.

SECTION 1.(d)  This section shall expire on May 1, 2024.

SECTION 2.  Effective July 1, 2023, there is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Benefits, the sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2023‑2024 fiscal year to be used for any actuarial evaluation undertaken by the Primary Care Payment Reform Task Force established under Section 1 of this act.

SECTION 3.  Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes law.