Good News and Cost Savings at the NC General Assembly

Between the legislative sessions, Oversight Committees and Blue Ribbon Commissions meet for budget updates and to investigate policy initiatives.  Last week, during the Health and Human Services Oversight Committee, representatives from the Division of Medical Assistance (DMA) and Community Care North Carolina (CCNC) stated that they are working to increase enrollment in CCNC medical homes. This push for enrollment is due in part to the fact that 46% of projected CCNC savings is anticipated from a minimum 75% enrollment of the frail elderly and people living with disabilities. To reach the desired savings level approximately 19,000 additional  recipients will need to enroll.

Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) provision in the budget was also discussed during the Oversight Committee. NC is assessing whether transit brokerage services would save the state money.  This is all in an effort to address and improve the current NEMT system, which has a 10.8% administrative error rate on top of a little over $9,000 in billing errors in the first 25 counties that have undergone audits.

We also learned that NC anticipates to save $5.3 million through revised dispensing fees for generics and brand drugs.

The Housing Subcommittee of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Transitions to Community Living also met last week to begin discussion on achieving the goals established by the DOJ settlement. The Commission must create a feasible plan to obtain the appropriate number of “housing slots” for people living with disabilities and to provide a corresponding package of tenancy, transition, and rental support for each "slot." Though it seems this will be a daunting task, the end result should allow those living with disabilities to attain and maintain integrated, affordable housing.

Are you living with a disability and having trouble finding housing? Let us know! The Greater Carolinas Chapter may have resources that could help.