May 28, 2020
The Senate Health Care Committee met to hear HB 471: Reduce Admin. Duplication MH/DD/SAS Providers, and HB 678: Amend Counselor/SA/Soc. Worker Prof. Acts. Both bills were changed in their titles and content through Proposed Committee Substitutes (PCS).
The PCS for HB 471 changed the short title of the bill to “Exempt Direct Primary Care from DOI Regs”. As stated in the title, the intent of this bill is to exempt Direct Primary Care from regulation by the Department of Insurance. Direct Primary Care is an agreement between a primary care provider and an individual, where the primary care provider is considered an individual legal entity to provide care. Typically, there is an agreement in writing that is signed by both the patient and provider, and either party is allowed to terminate the agreement. The patient then pays a set monthly or periodic fee for services. The Department of Insurance agrees that since this is not health insurance, it should not be regulated by the department. The PCS received a favorable report, and will be heard next in the Senate Rules Committee.
The PCS for HB 678 changed the title of the bill to “Meet HHS Needs During COVID-19 Pandemic”. This bill would extend certain health care waivers and temporarily modify the state’s Certificate of Need laws that were expanded in Governor Cooper’s Executive Order 130. The bill would extend this authority a year beyond when the Governor’s Executive Order expires. Senator Chuck Edwards said that this legislation was allowing for our healthcare system to be proactive instead of reactive as we prepare for a potential second wave of the coronavirus. Part I of the bill allows for licensed healthcare facilities to expand bed capacity and relocate beds as needed, allows for facilities to to acquire medical imaging equipment, and allows for ambulatory surgery centers (ASC) to act as temporary hospitals. If healthcare facilities make changes to expand capacity or shift resources, they must explain how those changes are related to COVID-19. Part II delegates authority to healthcare licensing boards to permit out of state providers to practice in North Carolina during the emergency declaration period. Part III of the bill seeks to protect vulnerable patients in congregate healthcare settings. Today the bill was presented for discussion only, and the Senate Health Care Committee plans to vote on the final bill next week.