Medicaid Transformation Delay
While the news below about the budget is very good, delays in passing a state budget coupled with the realignment of county MH/DD/SAS management among LME MCOs mean that the long-awaited Medicaid Tailored Plan rollout will be moved from July 1, 2022, to December 1, 2022. Tailored Plans are an integrated health plan for people with significant behavioral health needs and/or those with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities who are receiving Medicaid or state and local funded supports and services. Read the DHHS announcement and an updated launch date fact sheet.
State Budget Passes
SB 105, the state budget for fiscal years July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2023 has passed and was signed into law by the Governor. This year’s budget contains a mix of state appropriations and allocations of federal funding that has come to North Carolina through several “recovery act” bills.
The state budget contains an unprecedented number of provisions and funding related to access to Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers and other services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities including those with autism. While the funding will not address the full scope of need or eliminate the current waiting list, it is a good move forward.
Top highlights that impact the autism community include:
- Authorization and funding of an additional 1,000 waiver slots
- Including recurring funding to increase direct support staff wages across community services, as well as adding in one-time direct support bonuses.
- Increasing special education funding cap to 13%, adding the special education ADM and transportation funds, and studying additional funding for special education.
- Including special education due process hearings bill language.
A longer, more comprehensive list of items that relate to ASNC current and past public policy priorities is highlighted on our website.
The Budget legislation, special provisions and committee reports can be found on the NC General Assembly’s home page in the left column.
Note that the budget is divided into two documents:
- the budget bill itself, which includes the language of the “special provisions” that provide guidance on how funding is to be used and dictates additional policy changes and
- the committee report(s), often called the “money reports,” which provide some detail on spending increases and decreases in each budget area.
There are many budget issues not included in the linked table. If you have questions about the budget please contact Jennifer Mahan, Director of Public Policy, jmahan@autismsociety-nc.org.
Thank your legislators, budget chairs, and the governor!
We are pleased that legislators and our administration are starting to recognize the need to address the 15,500 people on the waiting list for services, the need to pay the direct care workforce a competitive wage, as well as the significant lack of special education resources.
Please thank budget chairs, your own legislator, and the Governor! Prepare a short statement using our Advocacy Tips Sheet or Advocacy 101 Toolkit. BE BRIEF, BE RESPECTFUL.
- Introduce yourself and how you are connected to autism.
- Thank them for making autism services and support a priority in this budget:
- Recognizing the need for supports and services for people with autism with additional 1000 waiver slots
- Including recurring funding to increase the wages of direct support staff across community services, as well as adding in onetime direct support bonuses, so the new waiver slots (and other services) have staffing.
- Increasing the special education funding cap to 13%, studying additional funding for special education, and for adding the special education ADM and transportation funds.
- Including special education due process hearings bill language.
You can also
- Talk about what YOU need and/or see our list of legislative targets.
Your own Legislators (NC House and NC Senate)
If you do not know who represents you in the General Assembly, please click here. Enter your street address and check the button for NC House and then NC Senate to see your districts and connect with your General Assembly members.
Senate and House Budget Leadership
Senator Brent Jackson representing Duplin, Johnston, Sampson
Office Phone: (919) 733-5705 Email: Brent.Jackson@ncleg.gov
Senator Kathy Harrington representing Gaston
Office Phone: (919) 733-5734 Email: Kathy.Harrington@ncleg.gov
Senator Ralph Hise representing Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Yancey
Office Phone: (919) 733-3460 Email: Ralph.Hise@ncleg.gov
Senator Joyce Kraweic representing Davie, Forsyth
Office Phone: (919) 733-7850 Email: Joyce.Krawiec@ncleg.gov
Senator Jim Burgin representing Harnett, Johnston, Lee
Office Phone: (919) 733-5748 Email: Jim.Burgin@ncleg.gov
Senator Jim Perry representing Lenoir, Wayne
Office Phone: (919) 733-5621 Email: Jim.Perry@ncleg.gov
Senator Deanna Ballard representing Alleghany, Ashe, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes
Office Phone: (919) 733-5742 Email: Deanna.Ballard@ncleg.gov
Senator Michael Lee representing New Hanover
Office Phone: (919) 715-2525 Email: Michael.Lee@ncleg.gov
Representative Kristin Baker representing Cabarrus
Office Phone: 919-733-5861 Email: Kristin.Baker@ncleg.gov
Representative Larry Potts representing Davidson
Office Phone: 919-715-0873 Email: Larry.Potts@ncleg.gov
Representative Wayne Sasser representing Stanly, Cabarrus, Rowan
Office Phone: 704-982-8003 Email: Wayne.Sasser@ncleg.gov
Representative Donna White representing Johnson
Office Phone: 919-889-1239 Email: Donna.White@ncleg.gov
Representative Donny Lambeth representing Forsyth
Office Phone: 919-733-5747 Email: Donny.Lambeth@ncleg.gov
Representative Jason Saine representing Lincoln
Office Phone: 919-733-5782 Email: Jason.Saine@ncleg.gov
Representative Dean Arp representing Union
Office Phone: 704-282-0418 Email: Dean.Arp@ncleg.gov
Representative Jon Hardister representing Guilford
Office Phone: 919-733-5191 Email: Jon.Hardister@ncleg.gov
Representative Pat Hurley representing Randolph
Office Phone: 919-733-5865 Email: Pat.Hurley@ncleg.gov
Representative John Torbett representing Gaston
Office Phone: 919-733-5868 Email: John.Torbett@ncleg.gov
For a full list of the budget conferees please see https://www.ncleg.gov/Legislation/Bills/Conferees/2021/S105
The Office of the Governor
Visit the Governor’s contact page and scroll to bottom of the page to submit your thank you to the Governor for advocating for people with disabilities in the budget process and for signing the budget.
Please contact Jennifer Mahan, ASNC Director of Public Policy, jmahan@autismsociety-nc.org for assistance connecting with your elected officials and other questions about advocacy.
Tags: autism advocacy, autism legislation, autism medicaid, Autism Society of North Carolina, legislation, managed care, medicaid, NC state budget, ncga, North Carolina General Assembly, public policy, special education