NC S371

Requires Local Management Entities/Managed Care Organizations (LME/MCOs) to submit encounter data for Medicaid and State-funded mental health, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and substance abuse services using a single standardized electronic format to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Establishes that county disengagement from area authorities under the 1915(b)/(c) Medicaid Waiver requires Secretary approval and adoption of formal rules governing the disengagement process.

Modifies area board appointment procedures to require Secretary appointment of unrepresented categories if county commissioners fail to comply with membership requirements, and allows multicounty authorities with populations of at least 1,250,000 to use alternative appointment processes with two-thirds county approval.

Requires area director appointments be based on recommendations from a search committee including a consumer board member, county commissioner, and Secretary's appointee; mandates 30 days' prior written notice to the Secretary before termination; and requires Secretary approval for any salary above normal allowable ranges.

Extends the pilot program studying electronic supervision devices in facilities for children and adolescents with mental illness and removes the sunset provision; directs LME/MCOs to receive single-stream allocations monthly; and requires the Department to develop a plan by March 15, 2016, to extend Community Guide services to individuals on the Medicaid Innovations Waiver waiting list.