NC H998

Department of Health and Human Services must conduct a study by October 1, 2018 on modifying Medicaid graduate medical education payments and reimbursements to incentivize rural healthcare providers and medical education programs in rural areas.

Department must study rural hospitals seeking designation as new teaching hospitals by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, including required technical assistance and costs, with interim report due October 1, 2018 and final report due October 1, 2019.

Office of Rural Health must restructure the North Carolina State Loan Repayment Program to target rural healthcare providers, identify rural dentist shortages, and recommend targeted loan repayment funds for dentists in underserved rural areas with interim report due October 1, 2018 and final report due October 1, 2019.

North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners must expedite license by credentials for dentists licensed in North Carolina's four bordering states (Tennessee, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia) if those states offer reciprocal licensing, effective October 1, 2018.

Department must propose two coordinated Medicaid quality outcomes programs for acute care hospitals and Prepaid Health Plans designed to reduce unnecessary admissions and readmissions, generate quantifiable savings within three years, and establish financial incentives for reducing potentially avoidable events, with report due October 1, 2018.