GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA H.B.SESSION 2021 H 1 HOUSE BILL 39 Short Title:
39 Feb 1, 2021 SESSION 2021 HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK H D HOUSE BILL DRH30030-MGf-50 Short Title:
RepresentativeRepresentatives White.White and Lambeth (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Health, if favorable, Finance, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House February 2, 2021 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT ESTABLISHING A LICENSURE PROCESS AND ANNUAL LICENSE FEES FOR BIRTH CENTERS.
*H39-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021 (a) The Department shall make, or cause to be made, inspections of birth centers as it deemsnecessarytoinvestigateunexpectedoccurrencesinvolvingdeathorseriousphysicalinjurydeemsnecessarytoinvestigate *DRH30030-MGf-50*unexpectedoccurrencesinvolvingdeathorseriousphysicalinjury General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021 and reportable adverse outcomes identified in the rules adopted by the Commission under G.S.
(d) Information received by the Commission and the Department through filed reports, license applications, or inspections that are required or authorized by the provisions of this Part may be disclosed publiclypubliclyexcept except where this disclosure would violate applicable laws concerning patient records and patient confidentiality.
Page 2 House Bill 39-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021 (3) The Governor shall appoint one public member.
The public member shall not be eligible for appointment under subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection Page 2 DRH30030-MGf-50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021 but shall have professional experience and familiarity with the administrative aspects of obstetrical care practices or facilities, including, but not limited to, birth centers.
If a pregnant person House Bill 39-First Edition Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021 declines this screening test, the birth center shall document the informed refusal in the medical record.
DRH30030-MGf-50 Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021 (4) Targeted ultrasound.
– A requirement that the birth center conduct a targeted ultrasound for further evaluation of maternal-fetal health consistent with those indications included in the recommendations of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists concerningconcerningultrasound ultrasound practice in pregnancy.
The Department shall investigate all unexpected occurrences involving death or serious physical injuryinjuryand and all reportable adverse outcomes identified by the Commission in the rules.
(c) Upon receipt of an application for a birth center license, the Department shall issue a license upon the recommendation of the Commission if the Department finds that the applicant is in compliance with the provisions of this Part and any rules adopted by the Commission under Page 4 House Bill 39-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021 this Part.Thelicenseis valid foraperiodofone yearfrom thedateofissuanceandthedateofissuanceandmust must designate thenumber and types of beds and thenumberof rooms on thelicensedpremises.
The Department Page 4 DRH30030-MGf-50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021 shall charge the applicant a nonrefundable annual license fee in the amount of four hundred dollars ($400.00) plus a nonrefundable annual per-birthing room fee of seventeen dollars and fifty cents ($17.50).
A person who owns, in whole or in part, or operates a birth center without a license is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor and upon conviction is subject only to a fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for the first offense and not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each House Bill 39-First Edition Page 5 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021 subsequent offense.
Each day of continuing violation after conviction is considered a separate offense." DRH30030-MGf-50 Page 5 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021 SECTION 1.(d) ByByOctober October 1, 2021, the Department of Health and Human Services shall review and, as necessary, revise its current Freestanding Birth Center Fee Schedule to ensure that (i) the fees are sufficient to cover the costs of providing intrapartum, birth, postpartum, and initial newborn care and (ii) the cost for any State-mandated newborn screening is reimbursed at no less than the cost of the screening.
131E-153.6(b),as enactedbyenactedbySection1(a) Section1(a) of this act, becomes effective December 1, 2021, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.
Section 1(c) of this act becomes effective one year after the rules promulgated by the North Carolina Birth Center CommissionCommissionare are adopted and applies to criminal offenses committed on or after that date.
Page 6 DRH30030-MGf-50House Bill 39-First Edition