GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

1983 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 415

SENATE BILL 345

 

AN ACT TO PLACE A ONE-YEAR FREEZE ON THE GRANTING OF CERTIFICATES OF NEED FOR ALCOHOL TREATMENT BEDS, DRUG TREATMENT BEDS, OR BOTH.

 

Whereas, the State has an interest in promoting health care facilities that provide effective treatment of medical and mental disorders while at the same time minimizing costs to individuals, businesses, and the State; and

Whereas, alcoholism and other substance abuse disorders represent a serious health problem for the citizens of North Carolina; and

Whereas, the State must refine criteria for deciding whether additional alcohol treatment beds, drug treatment beds, or both are needed; Now, therefore,

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

Section 1.  Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, beginning with the effective date of this act the North Carolina Department of Human Resources shall not issue any certificate of need under Article 18 of Chapter 131 of the General Statutes for any alcohol treatment beds, drug treatment beds, or both unless the governing body of the applicable health systems agency has rendered or decided not to render, by April 30, 1983, a recommendation on the application for alcohol treatment beds, drug treatment beds, or both.  This prohibition will expire June 30, 1984.  For reviews commenced after June 30, 1984, new applications must be submitted and the State shall not accept any such applications prior to April 1, 1984.

Sec. 2.  Prior to the end of this limitation the Department of Human Resources is directed to review and revise "policy, criteria and standards for health care facilities" for alcohol and drug abuse treatment as required by G.S. 131-177(4) with the specific objective of limiting expansion in this area to the most cost effective treatment alternatives.

Sec. 3.  The North Carolina Mental Health Study Commission is directed to appoint an Ad Hoc Committee of recognized specialists in the field of Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Treatment.  The Ad Hoc Committee shall be of the size and composition as determined by the Study Commission and members of the committee shall be responsible for their own expenses.

This Ad Hoc Committee shall study, but not be limited to, development of criteria for defining the appropriate place of treatment, i.e., ambulatory or inpatient care; and define the optimal method(s) of treatment including appropriate mix of professional and supportive personnel. These and other related issues shall be studied particularly as they pertain to the most cost effective treatment of the client within the public and private sectors.

This Ad Hoc Committee shall report its recommendations on proposed State policies and any needed statutory revisions to the Study Commission by February 1, 1984.

Sec. 4.  This act is effective upon ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 2nd day of June, 1983.