NC S1306

Requires the Department of Health and Human Services Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services to establish a pilot project in four local management entities (LMEs) to evaluate independent assessments for eligibility determination for IPRS enhanced services and Medicaid enhanced services.

Pilot includes two LMEs conducting independent assessments (one with and one without utilization management responsibilities) and two comparable LMEs conducting non-independent assessments as a control group.

Department must submit an interim implementation report by October 1, 2010, and a final report by October 1, 2011, to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services.

Final report must include number of clients assessed, service recommendations, independent assessment costs, comparative utilization data between independent and non-independent assessment sites, and comparative costs across all four sites.

Effective upon enactment into law.