NC H747

Department of Health and Human Services must submit State Plan amendments to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to merge NC Health Choice into North Carolina Medicaid effective January 1, 2022, eliminating the separate NC Health Choice program.

All 114,000 children currently eligible for NC Health Choice become eligible for Medicaid on January 1, 2022, with particular benefit to children with special health care needs who gain access to Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) services.

Appropriates $134,000 in state funds and $266,000 in federal funds for the 2021-2022 fiscal year to make necessary IT changes to the NC FAST eligibility and enrollment system.

Expands Medicaid eligibility to children under age 18 with family incomes up to 210% of federal poverty guidelines (currently limited to under age 6) and maintains 133% threshold for children aged 6-18.

Repeals Part 8 of Article 2 of Chapter 108A (NC Health Choice statute) and makes conforming changes throughout North Carolina General Statutes to remove references to NC Health Choice program.