NC legislators face full agenda with public health, Medicaid updates

Two joint legislative oversight committees on health care will receive today an update on how the state’s Medicaid program is performing, along with progress reports on two high-profile behavioral-health initiatives.

The morning session covering Health and Human Services will focus on how the state is doing in diverting individuals having a behavioral health crisis from a hospital emergency department to other care settings, and in complying with a federal order to assist eligible adults from nursing home settings into independent housing.

The afternoon session covering Medicaid will address the program’s financial and enrollment performances, provide an update on the state’s Medicaid waiver proposal, and discuss how Medicaid reform is affecting individuals with behavioral health needs.

The state’s request for a Medicaid waiver has been in the hands of federal health officials for more than five months.

Read more: http://www.journalnow.com/news/local/nc-legislators-face-full-agenda-with-public-health-medicaid-updates/article_6c6ca936-cffc-54a7-b8fe-3ebca8884f07.html