North Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

North Carolina Senate Bill S379 Compare Versions

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Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
2	2		SESSION 2025
3		-	S 1
4		-	SENATE BILL 379
	3	+	S D
	4	+	SENATE BILL DRS45188-MGa-71
	5	+
5	6
6	7
7	8		Short Title: Senior Care Assurance Act. (Public)
8	9		Sponsors: Senators Theodros and Smith (Primary Sponsors).
9		-	Referred to: ~~Rules and Operations of the Senate~~
10		-	~~March 24, 2025~~
11		-	~~S379 -v-1~~
	10	+	Referred to:
	11	+
	12	+	DRS45188 -MGa-71
12	13		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
13	14		AN ACT ENHANCING AND EXPANDING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, HIGH -QUALITY 2
14	15		HEALTHCARE FOR SENIOR CITIZENS THROUGH IMPROVED CHRONIC CARE 3
15	16		MANAGEMENT, PREVENTIVE SERVICES, AND HOME -BASED CARE; AND 4
16	17		APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THESE PURPOSES. 5
17	18		Whereas, North Carolina's senior population is increasing, necessitating enhanced 6
18	19		healthcare services and infrastructure to support their well-being and independence; and 7
19	20		Whereas, the North Carolina Constitution empowers the General Assembly to 8
20	21		promote public health and welfare, including the care of senior citizens; and 9
21	22		Whereas, expanded preventive healthcare, telehealth services, and home-based care 10
22	23		can improve seniors' quality of life, reduce long-term medical costs, and support independent 11
23	24		aging; Now, therefore, 12
24	25		The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 13
25	26		14
26	27		PART I. TITLE 15
27	28		SECTION 1.1. This act shall be known as "The Senior Care Assurance Act." 16
28	29		17
29	30		PART II. DEFINITIONS 18
30	31		SECTION 2.1. The following definitions apply in this act: 19
31	32		(1) Division of Aging. – The Department of Health and Human Services, Division 20
32	33		of Aging. 21
33	34		(2) Senior citizen. – An individual 65 years of age or older who resides in North 22
34	35		Carolina. 23
35	36		24
36	37		PART III. EXPANDED PREVEN TIVE AND CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT 25
37	38		COVERAGE 26
38	39		27
39	40		EXPANSION OF MEDICAID COVERAGE 28
40	41		SECTION 3.1. The Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health 29
41	42		Benefits, shall ensure the Medicaid program covers preventive screenings and chronic disease 30
42	43		management services, including osteoporosis screenings, medication management, 31
43	44		cardiovascular assessments, and specialized geriatric care, for Medicaid recipients who are 65 32
44	45		years of age or older. 33
45	46		34
46		-	ESTABLISHMENT OF SENIOR PREVENTIVE HEALTH GRANT PROGRAM 35 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
47		-	Page 2 Senate Bill 379-First Edition
	47	+	ESTABLISHMENT OF SENIOR PREVENTIVE HEALTH GRANT PROGRAM 35
	48	+	FILED SENATE
	49	+	Mar 20, 2025
	50	+	S.B. 379
	51	+	PRINCIPAL CLERK General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	52	+	Page 2 DRS45188-MGa-71
48	53		SECTION 3.2.(a) Effective July 1, 2025, there is appropriated from the General 1
49	54		Fund to the Division of Aging the sum of two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000) 2
50	55		in recurring funds for each year of the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to develop and administer a 3
51	56		Senior Preventive Health Grant Program (Program). The purpose of the Program is to award 4
52	57		grants to healthcare providers that provide regular health screenings, medication management, 5
53	58		and geriatric healthcare consultations free of charge to senior citizens with a household income 6
54	59		at or below the federal poverty level. 7
55	60		SECTION 3.2.(b) The Division of Aging shall develop application materials and 8
56	61		selection criteria for the Program. The selection criteria shall take into consideration the 9
57	62		availability of other funds available to the applicant and the incidence of poverty in the area 10
58	63		served by the applicant. The Division of Aging shall make the final decision about awarding 11
59	64		grants under this Program, subject to the following requirements and limitations: 12
60	65		(1) The Division of Aging shall give priority to healthcare providers located in 13
61	66		rural or underserved areas of the State. 14
62	67		(2) The maximum amount of a grant award under the Program is twenty-five 15
63	68		thousand dollars ($25,000) per grantee. 16
64	69		SECTION 3.2.(c) For each fiscal year, the Division of Aging may use up to five 17
65	70		percent (5%) of the funds appropriated for the Program for administrative purposes associated 18
66	71		with administering the Program. 19
67	72		SECTION 3.2.(d) Annually by April 1, beginning April 1, 2027, the Division of 20
68	73		Aging shall report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services 21
69	74		and the Fiscal Research Division on the Program authorized by this section. The report shall 22
70	75		include at least all of the following information: 23
71	76		(1) An itemized list of Program expenditures. 24
72	77		(2) The identity and a brief description of each grantee and the services offered 25
73	78		by the grantee. 26
74	79		(3) The amount of funding awarded to each grantee. 27
75	80		(4) The number of individuals served by each grantee and, for the individuals 28
76	81		served, the types of services provided to each. 29
77	82		(5) Any other information requested by the Division of Aging as necessary for 30
78	83		evaluating the success of the Program. 31
79	84		32
80	85		PART IV. TELEHEALTH AND REMOTE CARE SERVICES 33
81	86		34
82	87		EXPANSION OF TELEHEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT PROGRAM 35
83	88		SECTION 4.1. Section 9B.7A of S.L. 2023-134 reads as rewritten: 36
84	89		"SECTION 9B.7A.(a) Of the funds appropriated in this act from the ARPA Temporary 37
85	90		Savings Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Central Management 38
86	91		and Support, Office of Rural Health (ORH), the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) in 39
87	92		nonrecurring funds for the 2023-2024 fiscal year and the sum of fifteen million dollars 40
88	93		($15,000,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2024-2025 fiscal year shall be allocated for the 41
89	94		telehealth infrastructure grant program authorized by subsection (b) of this section. 42
90	95		"SECTION 9B.7A.(b) The ORH shall establish a telehealth infrastructure grant program to 43
91	96		award grants on a competitive basis to rural healthcare providers to be used to purchase 44
92	97		equipment, high-speed internet access, and any other infrastructure necessary to establish 45
93	98		telehealth services, defined as the use of two-way, real-time interactive audio and video where 46
94	99		the healthcare provider and the patient can hear and see each other. In awarding grants under this 47
95	100		program, the ORH is subject to the following requirements and limitations: 48
96	101		(1) Priority shall be given to independent practices that specialize in the health 49
97	102		and well-being of elderly persons 65 years of age or older, independent 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
98		-	~~Senate Bill 379-First Edition~~ Page 3
	103	+	DRS45188-MGa-71 Page 3
99	104		primary care practices practices, and independent obstetrics and gynecology 1
100	105		practices. 2
101	106		(2) The maximum amount of a grant award is two hundred fifty thousand dollars 3
102	107		($250,000) per grantee. 4
103	108		"SECTION 9B.7A.(c) By April 1, 2024, and by April 1, 2025, Annually by April 1, 5
104	109		beginning April 1, 2024, and ending on April 1 of the fiscal year following the year in which all 6
105	110		funds appropriated for the program authorized by subsection (a) of this section are expended, the 7
106	111		ORH shall report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services 8
107	112		and the Fiscal Research Division on the grants awarded under this section. The report shall 9
108	113		include at least all of the following information: 10
109	114		(1) A list of grant recipients. 11
110	115		(2) The total amount of grant funds awarded to each recipient." 12
111	116		13
112	117		SENIOR TELEHEALTH ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 14
113	118		SECTION 4.2.(a) Effective July 1, 2025, there is appropriated from the General 15
114	119		Fund to the Division of Aging the sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) in recurring funds for 16
115	120		each year of the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to be used to establish and administer a Senior 17
116	121		Telehealth Assistance Program (Program). The purpose of the Program is to provide State-funded 18
117	122		financial assistance to senior citizens to help them purchase equipment, high–speed internet 19
118	123		access, and any other infrastructure necessary to participate in telehealth services, defined as the 20
119	124		use of two–way, real–time interactive audio and video where the healthcare provider and the 21
120	125		patient can hear and see each other. The Division of Aging shall establish the Program and 22
121	126		develop application materials and selection criteria for the Program in consultation with 23
122	127		community-based healthcare providers and senior advocacy groups. The Division of Aging shall 24
123	128		make the final decision about awarding financial assistance under the Program, subject to the 25
124	129		following requirements and limitations: 26
125	130		(1) Priority shall be given to senior citizens residing in rural or underserved areas 27
126	131		of the State. 28
127	132		(2) No household may receive more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) in 29
128	133		State-funded financial assistance under the Program. 30
129	134		SECTION 4.2.(b) For each fiscal year, the Division of Aging may use up to five 31
130	135		percent (5%) of the funds appropriated for the Program for administrative purposes associated 32
131	136		with administering the Program. 33
132	137		SECTION 4.2.(c) Annually by April 1, beginning April 1, 2027, the Division of 34
133	138		Aging shall report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services 35
134	139		and the Fiscal Research Division on the grants awarded under this section. The report shall 36
135	140		include at least all of the following information: 37
136	141		(1) An itemized list of Program expenditures. 38
137	142		(2) The total number of recipients who received financial assistance under the 39
138	143		Program. 40
139	144		(3) The total amount of financial assistance provided to each recipient. 41
140	145		(4) Any other information requested by the Division of Aging as necessary for 42
141	146		evaluating the success of the Program. 43
142	147		44
143	148		PART V. INTEGRATED CARE COORDINATION 45
144	149		46
145	150		MULTIDISCIPLINARY CARE TEAMS 47
146	151		SECTION 5.1. By February 1, 2026, the Division of Aging shall develop and submit 48
147	152		to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services and the Fiscal 49
148	153		Research Division a plan for a statewide initiative to form multidisciplinary care teams to 50
149	154		coordinate care provided to senior citizens by primary care providers, specialists, social workers, 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
150		-	Page 4 ~~Senate Bill 379-First Edition~~
	155	+	Page 4 DRS45188-MGa-71
151	156		and home health agencies as defined in G.S. 131E-136. The purpose of these multidisciplinary 1
152	157		care teams is to promote holistic, patient-centered care and ensure continuity of medical treatment 2
153	158		for senior citizens with multiple health conditions. The Division of Aging shall not implement 3
154	159		the plan without an act by the General Assembly. 4
155	160		5
156	161		SENIOR CARE NAVIGATION SERVICES 6
157	162		SECTION 5.2. Effective July 1, 2025, there is appropriated from the General Fund 7
158	163		to the Division of Aging the sum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) in recurring funds 8
159	164		for each year of the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium and the sum of one million five hundred thousand 9
160	165		dollars ($1,500,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to implement a Senior 10
161	166		Care Navigation Hotline by May 1, 2026, to provide guidance to seniors on how to access 11
162	167		home-based healthcare services, social programs, caregiver support programs, and programs that 12
163	168		provide State financial assistance to seniors to assist with home modifications. The Division of 13
164	169		Aging shall operate the hotline in partnership with local agencies and local healthcare providers. 14
165	170		15
166	171		PART VI. HOME-BASED CARE AND AGING IN PLACE 16
167	172		17
168	173		EXPANSION OF HOME -BASED HEALTHCARE SERVICES 18
169	174		SECTION 6.1. The Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health 19
170	175		Benefits, shall ensure the Medicaid program covers home-based healthcare services, including 20
171	176		nursing visits, physical therapy, and remote monitoring for Medicaid recipients who are 65 years 21
172	177		of age or older. 22
173	178		SECTION 6.2.(a) Effective July 1, 2025, there is appropriated from the General 23
174	179		Fund to the Division of Aging the sum of thirty-three million dollars ($33,000,000) in recurring 24
175	180		funds for each year of the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to support an initiative to increase access 25
176	181		to non-Medicaid home-based healthcare services and caregiver support for senior citizens and 26
177	182		their families. A portion of these funds shall be used to establish a Caregiver Assistance Program 27
178	183		that provides a monthly stipend of up to five hundred dollars ($500.00) to a family member who 28
179	184		provides in-home care to an eligible senior. The Division of Aging shall establish an application 29
180	185		process and eligibility criteria for participation in the Caregiver Assistance Program. In addition, 30
181	186		the Division of Aging shall determine the amount of the monthly stipend for each applicant. In 31
182	187		determining the amount of the monthly stipend, the Division of Aging shall consider an 32
183	188		assessment of care needs performed by a licensed physician. Each recipient of financial 33
184	189		assistance under the Caregiver Assistance Program shall meet at least all of the following criteria: 34
185	190		(1) Is 65 years of age or older. 35
186	191		(2) Has a household income at or below two hundred fifty percent (250%) of the 36
187	192		federal poverty level. 37
188	193		SECTION 6.2.(b) Annually by April 1, beginning April 1, 2027, the Division of 38
189	194		Aging shall report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services 39
190	195		and the Fiscal Research Division on the Caregiver Assistance Program and any other programs, 40
191	196		services, or initiatives funded by subsection (a) of this section. The report shall include at least 41
192	197		all of the following information: 42
193	198		(1) An itemized list of expenditures. 43
194	199		(2) The types of non-Medicaid home-based healthcare services and caregiver 44
195	200		support programs funded, broken down by geographic location and the 45
196	201		number of people served at each location. 46
197	202		(3) Any other information requested by the Division of Aging as necessary for 47
198	203		evaluating the success of any funded programs, services, or initiatives. 48
199	204		49
200	205		SENIOR HOME SAFETY PROGRAM 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
201		-	~~Senate Bill 379-First Edition~~ Page 5
	206	+	DRS45188-MGa-71 Page 5
202	207		SECTION 6.3.(a) Effective July 1, 2025, there is appropriated from the General 1
203	208		Fund to the Division of Aging the sum of seven million dollars ($7,000,000) in recurring funds 2
204	209		for each year of the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to establish a Senior Home Safety Program 3
205	210		(Program). The purpose of the Program is to provide grants and loans at below-market interest 4
206	211		rates to senior citizens to assist with home modifications for a primary residence to improve 5
207	212		accessibility and safety, including, but not limited to, all of the following: 6
208	213		(1) Installation of wheelchair ramps. 7
209	214		(2) Bathroom safety improvements such as grab bars and walk-in showers. 8
210	215		(3) Widening of doorways for mobility assistance. 9
211	216		(4) Stairlifts and handrail installations. 10
212	217		SECTION 6.3.(b) The Division of Aging shall establish an application process and 11
213	218		eligibility criteria for participation in the Program, giving priority to senior citizens who are 12
214	219		disabled or have a household income at or below two hundred fifty percent (250%) of the federal 13
215	220		poverty level. The Division of Aging shall make the final decision about whether to award 14
216	221		eligible senior citizens a loan or a grant under the Program and the amount of the loan or grant. 15
217	222		SECTION 6.3.(c) The Senior Home Safety Fund (Fund) is created as a nonreverting 16
218	223		special fund in the Division of Aging. The Fund shall operate as a revolving fund consisting of 17
219	224		funds appropriated to, or otherwise received by, the Senior Home Safety Program and all funds 18
220	225		received as repayment of the principal of or interest on a loan made from the Fund. The State 19
221	226		Treasurer is the custodian of the Fund and shall invest its assets in accordance with G.S. 147-69.2 20
222	227		and G.S. 147-69.3. Moneys in the Fund shall only be used for loans and grants made pursuant to 21
223	228		this section. 22
224	229		SECTION 6.3.(d) Annually by April 1, beginning April 1, 2027, the Division of 23
225	230		Aging shall report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services 24
226	231		and the Fiscal Research Division on the Program authorized by this section. The report shall 25
227	232		include at least all of the following information: 26
228	233		(1) A detailed list of how the funds were expended. 27
229	234		(2) The number of loans and grants awarded under the Program and the amount 28
230	235		of each. 29
231	236		(3) The number of persons served. 30
232	237		(4) Any other information requested by the Division of Aging as necessary for 31
233	238		evaluating the success of this initiative. 32
234	239		33
235	240		PART VII. QUALITY ASSURANCE AND DATA MONITORING 34
236	241		35
237	242		PERFORMANCE METRICS AND REPORTING 36
238	243		SECTION 7.1. The Division of Aging shall establish annual reporting requirements 37
239	244		for healthcare providers participating in State-funded programs that provide care to senior 38
240	245		citizens that allow the Division of Aging to evaluate health outcomes, program effectiveness, and 39
241	246		service accessibility. 40
242	247		41
243	248		STATEWIDE SENIOR HEALTH DATABASE 42
244	249		SECTION 7.2. Effective July 1, 2025, there is appropriated from the General Fund 43
245	250		to the Division of Aging the sum of one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) in recurring 44
246	251		funds for each year of the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to develop and implement a Senior Health 45
247	252		Data Initiative to collect data regarding the health of senior citizens and to monitor and assess 46
248	253		trends in senior healthcare needs and outcomes. Data collected as part of the Senior Health Data 47
249	254		Initiative shall be used to inform the Division of Aging's future policy decisions and funding 48
250	255		allocations. 49
251	256		50
252	257		PART VIII. INTEGRATION WITH EXISTING PROGRAMS 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
253		-	Page 6 ~~Senate Bill 379-First Edition~~
	258	+	Page 6 DRS45188-MGa-71
254	259		SECTION 8.1. It is the intent of the General Assembly to build upon and expand 1
255	260		existing Medicaid waiver programs. The Department of Health and Human Services, Division of 2
256	261		Health Benefits, shall work with all applicable federal agencies to ensure maximum funding for 3
257	262		the NC Medicaid Program. 4
258	263		SECTION 8.2. It is the intent of the General Assembly to build upon and expand 5
259	264		existing programs that benefit senior citizens to support their well-being and independence. To 6
260	265		this end, the Division of Aging shall work with Area Agencies on Aging and other appropriate 7
261	266		State and federal agencies and stakeholders to ensure maximum funding for programs benefiting 8
262	267		senior citizens. 9
263	268		10
264	269		PART IX. EFFECTIVE DATE 11
265	270		SECTION 9.1. Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes 12
266	271		law. 13