The ongoing political discussion concerning public health care resonates at the national level and echoes at the state level. North Carolina, like other states in the United States, is experimenting with reform efforts and reacting to the 2010 federal health care law. North Carolina has also experienced recent changes in public funding for child vaccines and reporting requirements placed on medical care providers.
Changes in Child Immunization Funding
North Carolina used to purchase child vaccines and provide them to health-care providers across the state for distribution. Insurers or parents only had to pay the cost of administering the vaccine. In 2010, North Carolina is eliminating public funding for these vaccines. The state will provide some funding to help transition into the 2011 school year, but it will no longer purchase vaccines after that. Parents can still ensure that their children receive these vaccines by contacting a health department, using private insurance, or enrolling their child in federal programs such as Vaccines for Children.
Home Care Services and License Fee
North Carolina law previously defined "home-care services" to include nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social services, pulmonary rehabilitation.
As of January 2010, the law expanded the definition of home-care services to include sitter and in-home companion services and respite care and homemaker services.
The legislation increases the annual license fee for all categories of home-care agencies. The fee increased from $350 to $400.
Public Health Incubator Program
Since 1997, local health departments in North Carolina have combined efforts to improve public health care services in their region. Particularly, the Northeastern North Carolina Partnership for Public Health has served as the model "public health incubator." Voluntary collaborations among regional health departments help formulate new ideas for better public health services in the state. The Public Health Incubator Program has received public funding for this purpose since 2004.
So far, these collaborations have resulted in reforms such as hiring a regional billing specialist that helps cut down on costs and helps patients receive the maximum reimbursement from their insurance companies. Other improvements include starting internship programs for college students that cut down on training costs and can save up to $30,000 of taxpayer money for each intern that is eventually hired as full-time employee.
North Carolina Protection for Health Care Act
Republican leader for the North Carolina House of Representatives, Paul Stam, has introduced a House bill to respond the changes on the state level made by the 2010 federal health-care law. If enacted, the bill would safeguard the choice of North Carolinians to choose private health care and insurance over government-based providers. The bill would also prevent the imposition of any penalty or tax for failing to enroll in a health care insurance program. It didn't advance during the 2010 session of the legislature. As of September 29, 2010, the bill remained in the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House.
North Carolina Health Insurance Pool Pilot Program
In 2010, the North Carolina General Assembly passed and the governor signed into law the Health Insurance Pool Pilot Program. This legislation authorizes health care insurance pool pilot programs for interested counties in North Carolina. These counties create a model health-care program for employer-provided health-care coverage that could be imitated throughout the state. The pooling arrangement of the program pulls together smaller employers and helps them provide employer-provided health insurance to their employees.
References
- North Carolina Local Government Blog: 2010 Public Health Legislation: Vaccines and Pimiento Cheese
- University of North Carolina School of Government, NC Legislation 2008: Chapter 12 Health
- Paul Stam, North Carolina Republican Leader
- North Carolina General Assembly, Protect Health Care Freedom Status
- Health Insurance Pool Pilot Program Text
- North Carolina Public Health Care Collaboratives Fiscal Year 2009 Overall Summary and Evaluations
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