NASW-NC Legislative Session Update: Health Information Exchange and COVID-19 Relief

North Carolina legislators were slow to work this past week as they had a marathon two weeks prior to the Crossover deadline on May 13.

North Carolina Senators did take up House Bill 395 HIE Deadline Extension and Patient Protection. This legislation moves the deadline that most providers, including social workers, need to have an electronic health record and connect to the state’s Health Information Exchange (HIE). The new deadline to connect would be January 1, 2023 (originally the deadline was October 1, 2021). Senators added two amendments. The first prohibits in-network providers from providing health services under contract with the State Health Plan who are not connected to the HIE from billing the State Health Plan or billing a patient more to recoup funds lost due to the provider not connecting to the HIE by the deadline. The second deadline changes the date for the HIE Advisory Board to report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services. A report is now due by March 1, 2022 (originally this was due December 1, 2022). In the report, the HIE will work to identify and contact all providers required to connect and provide information about connecting. North Carolina Senators are growing concerned about the number of providers that are unaware of this connection mandate. By reporting earlier to the Legislative Oversight Committee, legislators can make changes to the law as needed in the 2022 short session. Due to changes made in the Senate, the bill goes back to the House for approval. If the House approves these changes, the bill will then go to the Governor to sign into law. For more information on NASW-NC’s advocacy with the HIE, check out our website.

Legislators passed and sent the Governor Senate Bill 172 Additional COVID-19 Response & Relief. The bill allocates funds for Emergency Rental Assistance, public schools to increase per pupil spending, and grant funds to YMCAs for providing programs that address learning loss supported by social emotional learning, enrichment, and physical activity.

Lastly, Governor Cooper held a press conference on Wednesday to discuss how he would like North Carolina to spend $5.7 billion coming from the Federal Government to address COVID Relief. His proposal includes $500 grants to families who make between $15,00 and $30,000 and $250 grants to families who make between $30,000 and $60,000. $1.2 billion would be allocated for broadband expansion, $575 million would go to affordable housing, and $160 million would support schools and childcare centers for lead and asbestos testing.