NC S191

Requires counties to provide mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse services through area authorities with minimum catchment area populations of 300,000 by July 1, 2012, and 500,000 by July 1, 2013, in accordance with 1915(b)/(c) Medicaid Waiver statewide restructuring.

Restructures area authority boards to have 11-21 voting members with specific composition requirements including county commissioners, consumer and family representatives, healthcare professionals, administrators, and legal experts, with implementation deadline of October 1, 2013.

Prohibits counties from withdrawing from multicounty area authorities for two years beginning July 1, 2012, and requires the Department to establish disengagement rules by January 1, 2014.

Allows area authorities to borrow money with Local Government Commission approval and permits area authority salaries to exceed state personnel commission ranges with prior approval from the Director of the Office of State Personnel.

Creates confidentiality protections for competitive health care information in area authority contracts while maintaining public record status for contracts themselves, subject to court review procedures.