A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to direct the department of health and human services to conduct a study of provider medical rates to determine the equity of existing rates among providers.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  The Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Medical Assistance, shall conduct a study of rate equity for medical providers.  The study shall include the following:
(1)	The cost of providing services, capital costs, and medical malpractice insurance.
(2)	A review of medical providers for a stand‑alone payment method, including the consideration of a private consultant to perform the rate-setting process.
SECTION 2.  Not later than October 1, 2009, the Department shall report its findings and recommendations to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, and the Fiscal Research Division.
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.