NC S527

Defines "area authority senior management" for Local Management Entities/Managed Care Organizations (LME/MCOs) as the area director plus key personnel including CEO, CFO, COO, chief compliance officer, chief information security officer, and chief risk officer

Allows senior management employees to be paid salaries exceeding State Human Resources Commission salary ranges, provided the area board documents comparable regional salaries and obtains prior approval from the Director of the Office of State Human Resources

Removes existing salary plan caps that previously limited LME/MCO employee salaries to the highest-paying county's salary plan in multi-county areas or the county's salary plan in single-county areas

Exempts non-senior-management LME/MCO employees from certain state classification, compensation, and personnel rules while keeping senior management subject to Chapter 126 requirements

Changes LME/MCOs operating BH IDD tailored plans from being required to contract with PHP-licensed entities to having the option to do so; salary plan provisions take effect July 1, 2025