NC S350

Appropriates $11,301,000 in state funds for fiscal year 2021-2022 and $26,243,000 for 2022-2023 to increase North Carolina Innovations Waiver slots, with matching federal funds of $27,334,000 and $54,880,000 respectively.

Increases Innovations Waiver slots by 1,000 total, with 800 slots distributed January 1, 2022 using current allocation formula and 200 slots distributed per capita by population to local management entities and counties, filled on a first-come, first-served basis by waiting list length.

Authorizes Department of Health and Human Services to pursue amendments to current waiver or additional 1115(c) waivers to serve individuals on the registry of unmet needs, including exploring a tiered waiver system with lower spending caps for lower acuity cases.

Appropriates additional $13,122,000 in state funds for 2022-2023 with $27,440,000 in matching federal funds to support expanded waiver services, with fallback provision to add at least 1,000 more slots if Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approval not received by January 1, 2023.

Requires Department of Health and Human Services to convene stakeholder workgroup to develop a 10-year plan addressing the registry of unmet needs, including cost analysis of alternative waiver programs and distribution methods, with report due to Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid by February 1, 2022.