SB 316: Lower Healthcare Costs. - North Carolina

Edition 3 → Edition 4 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was updated to its fourth edition with minor formatting corrections to the title and version number. A new definition for 'Statewide data processor' was added to clarify who can process healthcare data, while an unrelated line item regarding a third-party entity was removed. These changes refine the bill's definitions without altering its core policy goals or operational requirements.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains largely unchanged, but the definition section was expanded to include a specific reference to the 'Statewide data processor' as defined in existing state law.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'Statewide data processor' to clarify the role of the entity responsible for processing healthcare data statewide.

Removed a line item defining 'Public or private third party' which included employers and insurers, likely to prevent redundancy or confusion with other sections.

TECHNICAL

Corrected the bill's version number from 'Edition 3' to 'Edition 4' and fixed minor formatting inconsistencies in the title and header.

Edition 2 → Edition 3 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill text was reorganized to swap the order of the legislative 'Whereas' clauses, placing the argument about market competition and efficiency before the reference to the President's Executive Order. Additionally, the page number was updated from 2 to 3, and a new Judiciary Committee adoption date was added.

TECHNICAL

The order of the two introductory 'Whereas' clauses was swapped; the clause regarding market competition now appears before the clause referencing the President's Executive Order.

The page number at the top of the document was changed from 2 to 3.

A new line indicating 'Judiciary Committee Substitute Adopted 3/25/25' was inserted below the Health Care Committee adoption date.

Edition 1 → Edition 2 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill text was updated to reflect a committee substitute version adopted on March 19, 2025. The primary changes involve removing the original list of sponsors and the specific committee referral, likely to update the bill's status after committee review.

TECHNICAL

The original list of primary sponsors (Senators Burgin, Galey, and Sawrey) was removed from the header.

The specific committee referral information was removed from the header.

A new header line indicating this is the 'Health Care Committee Substitute Adopted 3/19/25' was added.

The internal bill version number was updated from S316-v-1 to S316-v-2.

A1: ABC-15-V-6 → Edition 1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was converted from a legislative amendment to a complete new statute, expanding its scope to include ambulatory surgical facilities and adding a new statewide data processor role. The text was rewritten to align with recent federal executive orders and to explicitly define key terms like CPT and HCPCS codes. The bill now mandates quarterly reporting of healthcare costs for the 100 most frequent inpatient diagnoses and the 20 most common surgical and imaging procedures.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include ambulatory surgical facilities alongside hospitals, and the definition of the reporting entity was changed from a generic department to a specific 'statewide data processor.' The timeline for reporting was set to begin with the period ending September 30, 2015.

DEFINITION

Added specific definitions for Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) to clarify what data must be reported.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for a 'statewide data processor' to receive and submit hospital data to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Expanded reporting requirements to include ambulatory surgical facilities, requiring them to report the 20 most common surgical and imaging procedures.

Changed the reporting frequency to quarterly and specified that data must cover the 100 most frequently reported DRGs for inpatients.

ENFORCEMENT

Added authority for the Medical Care Commission to adopt rules ensuring uniform implementation of the reporting requirements.

TECHNICAL

Rewrote the entire text from an amendment format to a full bill format, including a new 'Whereas' preamble and updated statutory language.

Filed → A1: ABC-15-V-6 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to introduce a new 'statewide data processor' role and expand the Commission's authority to set rules for data reporting and quality measures. The changes require hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities to report specific data to this new entity, which will then publish the information on the Department's website. Additionally, the bill adds a new section defining the duties of this data processor, including receiving data from facilities and making it publicly available.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include ambulatory surgical facilities alongside hospitals in data reporting requirements and added a new administrative role (statewide data processor) responsible for managing and publishing the data.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'statewide data processor' referencing G.S. 131E-214.1.

REQUIREMENT

Modified reporting requirements to direct data submissions to the 'statewide data processor' instead of just the Department of Health and Human Services.

Added new rules requiring the Commission to establish at least 10 quality measures for hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities.

Added a new section defining the duties of the statewide data processor, including receiving data from facilities and publishing it on the Department's website.

Lower Healthcare Costs.

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