House Bill 635 requires certain large group health benefit plans to provide coverage for fertility diagnostic care, treatment, and preservation services. This bill directly affects individuals covered by these plans, aiming to increase their access to fertility-related medical care. Key provisions include mandatory coverage for at least three in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles per insured, provided procedures follow American Society of Reproductive Medicine guidelines and are performed at licensed facilities. However, the requirements do not apply to plans offered by religious institutions or self-insured group health plans, and explicitly exclude experimental procedures or nonmedical costs for donor gametes or surrogacy.
HB 555, "Medicaid Telehealth Services," aims to ensure that certain telehealth providers can enroll as Medicaid providers in North Carolina. The bill specifies that individual health care providers licensed by the state who offer services exclusively through telemedicine are not required to maintain a physical presence in the state to be eligible for Medicaid enrollment. Similarly, medical provider groups that exclusively offer telemedicine services will not need an in-state service address to be eligible for the state's Medicaid program. This bill directly affects telehealth providers and medical groups by removing location-based requirements for participating in Medicaid.
HB 824 aims to expand access to treatment for opioid use disorder and overdose for individuals covered by health benefit plans. It requires health insurers to cover specific healthcare services provided by pharmacists, such as testing and medication administration, if those services are within a pharmacist's scope of practice. The bill also mandates coverage for all FDA-approved prescription drugs for opioid disorder and overdose, prohibiting prior authorization for these medications. Additionally, it updates state laws to ensure mental health benefits in health plans are no less favorable than physical health benefits, aligning with federal requirements.
This bill, HB 508, proposes to lower the maximum interest rate that can be charged on certain open-end credit plans, including revolving credit card accounts, in North Carolina. It reduces the aggregate monthly interest rate cap from one and one-half percent (1.5%) to one and seventeen hundredths percent (1.17%) on the unpaid balance. These changes directly affect consumers who use credit cards and the lenders who provide these services, taking effect for charges made on or after October 1, 2025.
HB 347 restricts the types of automobile physical damage insurance that can be included in a credit property insurance policy. It prohibits coverage for costs like repossession or when a borrower disposes of or cannot be found with the collateral. The bill also prevents policies from requiring a borrower's insurance deductible to be less than $250. This legislation directly affects borrowers who obtain loans requiring credit property insurance and the insurers offering these policies. While these specific coverages cannot be integrated into a credit property insurance policy, they may be offered separately as long as no charge is passed to the borrower.
HB 634 updates North Carolina laws to enhance parity in health insurance coverage for mental health and addiction recovery. It requires all health benefit plans to provide benefits for mental health conditions that are no less favorable than those for physical illnesses, including applying the same financial limits. A key provision mandates that medical necessity determinations for substance use disorders must rely solely on the most recent American Society of Addiction Medicine criteria. The bill also requires the State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees to comply with these new utilization review standards and updates terminology from "chemical dependency" to "substance use disorder" in relevant statutes.
Senate Bill 527 modifies laws applicable to Local Management Entities/Managed Care Organizations (LME/MCOs), which oversee behavioral health and intellectual/developmental disability services. It grants LME/MCOs greater flexibility in managing their personnel by largely exempting their employees from most provisions of the State Human Resources Act. Specifically, the bill removes salary caps tied to county plans and allows LME/MCOs to establish their own personnel systems, subject to approval by the State Human Resources Commission and county commissioners. Additionally, it provides flexibility for LME/MCOs operating certain tailored health plans regarding contracting with specific licensed entities after an initial period. These changes primarily affect LME/MCO employees and their operational autonomy.
House Bill 363 allows regional public transportation authorities to operate buspool services further than ten miles beyond their usual service area. This bill amends G.S. 160A-610(20), removing the previous mileage restriction specifically for buspool services. The change enables these authorities to extend buspool routes into more distant communities, potentially affecting a broader range of commuters.
HB 949, known as the School Protection Act, proposes to allow specific armed security guards to carry firearms on nonpublic educational property in North Carolina. The bill amends existing law to create an exemption for sworn law enforcement officers who are hired as armed security guards by nonpublic schools and are acting in their official duties on school premises. This includes officers certified under state law enforcement chapters, company police officers, and campus police officers. If enacted, this change would become effective on December 1, 2025.
HB 985 increases the criminal penalty for assaulting a school employee or volunteer in North Carolina. It reclassifies such assaults from a Class A1 misdemeanor to a Class I felony when the incident occurs while the individual is performing their duties or as a result of their duties. The bill broadly defines "school employee or volunteer" to include staff, independent contractors, and adult volunteers involved in school activities. It also protects school personnel from civil or criminal liability for taking reasonable actions to end student fights. Finally, the bill updates supervisor reporting requirements for assaults and prohibits intimidating employees from reporting these incidents.
HB 573 proposes to eliminate the standardized testing requirement for individuals applying for a teacher license in North Carolina. The bill repeals existing laws that mandate these examinations and prohibits the State Board of Education from adopting any future rules or policies requiring them. This change directly affects all applicants seeking a teacher license, including those pursuing a limited license.
Senate Resolution 372 is a procedural bill that addresses the confirmation of McKinley Wooten, Jr. as the Secretary of the Department of Revenue. It outlines that the Senate will consider whether to approve the Governor's appointment for this principal State department head position.
