North Carolina 2023-2024 Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 6 D · 4 R cosponsors

SB 488 — Direct Care Work Wage Increases/Innov. Waiver.

Last action — Passed 1st Reading

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2023-2024 Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

14 added · 15 removed

Plain-language change summary

In the updated version of Senate Bill 488, specific language has been clarified regarding the wage increase for direct care workers, specifying that it will be based on an industry average rate of $6.50 per hour. Additionally, the bill emphasizes the requirement for Local Management Entities/Managed Care Organizations (LME/MCOs) to ensure proper documentation and accountability for the use of this wage increase. These changes are significant because they promote transparency and ensure that the wage increase is both implemented correctly and monitored effectively, ultimately supporting better pay for those in essential direct care roles.

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FILED SENATE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA Apr 3, 2023 S.B.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2023 S 1 SENATE BILL 488 Short Title:
488 SESSION 2023 PRINCIPAL CLERK S D SENATE BILL DRS15216-MRa-96A Short Title:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO INCREASE CERTAIN MEDICAID RATES IN ORDER TO RAISE THE WAGES OF DIRECT CARE WORKERS WHO PROVIDE SERVICES TO MEDICAID BENEFICIARIES RECEIVING SERVICES THROUGH THE NORTH CAROLINA INNOVATIONS WAIVER PROGRAM.
Rules and Operations of the Senate April 4, 2023 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO INCREASE CERTAIN MEDICAID RATES IN ORDER TO RAISE THE WAGES OF DIRECT CARE WORKERS WHO PROVIDE SERVICES TO MEDICAID BENEFICIARIES RECEIVING SERVICES THROUGH THE NORTH CAROLINA INNOVATIONS WAIVER PROGRAM.
8 ESTABLISH A DIRECTED PAYMENT PROGRAM/INNOVATIONS WAIVER SECTION 1.(a) It is the intent of the General Assembly to assist in increasing the hourly wages of direct care workers who provide services to Medicaid beneficiaries receiving services through the North Carolina Innovations waiver program, to be termed "Innovations direct care workers" for the purpose of this act, by an industry average rate of six dollars and fifty cents ($6.50) per hour above the North Carolina industry average hourly wage rate cited in the most recent report submitted to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and NC Health Choice in accordance with Section 9D.15C of S.L.
8 ESTABLISH A DIRECTED PAYMENT PROGRAM/INNOVATIONS WAIVER SECTION 1.(a) It is the intent of the General Assembly to assist in increasing the hourly wages of direct care workers who provide services to Medicaid beneficiaries receiving services through the North Carolina Innovations waiver program, to be termed "Innovations direct care workers" for the purpose of this act, byan industryaverage rate of six dollars and fifty cents ($6.50) per hour above the North Carolina industry average hourly wage rate cited in the most recent report submitted to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and NC Health Choice in accordance with Section 9D.15C of S.L.
This shall continue to apply when the BH IDD tailored plans become fully operational and are implemented.
This shall continue to applywhen the BH IDD tailored plans become fully operational and are implemented.
SECTION 1.(c) Prior to receiving any funding passed through the directed payment under this section, providers who employ Innovations direct care workers shall attest and provide *DRS15216-MRa-96A* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2023 verification to the relevant LME/MCO that at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the funding that results is being used to increase the rate of pay paid to its Innovations direct care workers.
SECTION 1.(c) Prior to receiving any funding passed through the directed payment under this section, providers who employInnovations direct care workers shall attest and provide *S488-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2023 verification to the relevant LME/MCO that at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the funding that results is being used to increase the rate of pay paid to its Innovations direct care workers.
DHB shall set the standards for documentation that shall be required for verification that the provider used the rate increase in the manner required by this section, and LME/MCOs shall use thesesamestandards.
DHB shall set the standards for documentation that shall be required for verification that the provider used the rate increase in the manner required by this section, and LME/MCOs shall use thesesamestandards.DHBand LME/MCOsshall requireverifiablemethods ofaccounting,such as payroll-based journals.
DHB and LME/MCOs shall requireverifiablemethods ofaccounting,such as payroll-based journals.
Providers receiving a rate increase under this section shall keep documentationoftheuseofthatrateincreaseandmakethedocumentationavailableuponrequest by DHB or by the relevant LME/MCO.
Providers receiving a rate increase under this section shall keep documentationoftheuseofthatrateincreaseandmakethedocumentation availableuponrequest by DHB or by the relevant LME/MCO.
DHB shall make the corresponding adjustments to the capitation amounts paid to local management entities/managed careorganizations (LME/MCOs), prepaid healthplansoperating aBHIDDtailoredplan,orboth, as appropriate.
DHB shall make the corresponding adjustments to the capitation amounts paid to local management entities/managed careorganizations (LME/MCOs), prepaid healthplans operatingaBH IDDtailoredplan,orboth, as appropriate.
Page 2 DRS15216-MRa-96A
Page 2 Senate Bill 488-First Edition
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Action History

  1. Passed 1st Reading

  2. Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

  3. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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2 sponsors · 9 co-sponsors · 168 not signed on

Sponsors (2)

Co-sponsors (9)

Not signed on (168)

168 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 488?
SB 488 is sponsored by Jim Burgin (Republican), Krawiec, Kevin Corbin (Republican), Gale Adcock (Democratic), Val Applewhite (Democratic), Ralph Hise (Republican), Julie Mayfield (Democratic), Timothy D. Moffitt (Republican), Mujtaba A. Mohammed (Democratic), Natalie S. Murdock (Democratic), and Gladys A. Robinson (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 488?
This bill died with 2023-2024 Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 488?
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