NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1971 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 1027

HOUSE BILL 480

 

 

AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 130 OF THE GENERAL STATUTES TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM FOR THE CARE AND TREATMENT OF PERSONS SUFFERING FROM CHRONIC RENAL DISEASES, AND MAKING AN APPROPRIATION THEREFOR.

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

Section 1.  Chapter 130 of the General Statutes is hereby amended by inserting immediately after Article 26 a new Article to be numbered Article 27 and to read as follows:

"Article 27

"Chronic Renal Disease Control Program

"§ 130-236.  State Board of Health to establish program. — The State Board of Health, hereafter referred to as the board, shall establish a program for the care and treatment of persons suffering from chronic renal diseases. This program shall assist persons suffering from chronic renal diseases who require lifesaving care and treatment for such renal diseases, but who are unable to pay for such services on a continuing basis.

"§ 130-237.  Renal Disease Advisory Committee, organization. — The State Health Director, hereafter referred to as the Director, shall appoint a Renal Disease Advisory Committee, hereafter referred to as the committee, to consult with the board in the administration of this act. The committee shall be composed of 11 persons representing hospitals and medical schools which establish dialysis centers, voluntary agencies interested in kidney diseases, local public health agencies, physicians licensed to practice medicine, and the general public. Each member shall hold office for a term of 4 years commencing on September 1, 1971, and quadrennially thereafter, and until his successor is appointed and qualified, except that the term of the members first taking office shall expire, as designated at the time of appointment, 2 at the end of the first year, 3 at the end of the second year, 3 at the end of the third year, and 3 at the end of the fourth year. Any person appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which his predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder of such term. The committee shall meet as frequently as the Director deems necessary, but not less than once each year. The committee members shall receive no compensation but shall be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in carrying out their duties as members of this committee.

"§ 130-238.  Powers and duties of the board. — The board shall:

(1)        With the advice of the committee, develop standards for determining eligibility for care and treatment under this program;

(2)        Assist in the development and expansion of programs for the care and treatment of persons suffering from chronic renal diseases, including dialysis, renal transplantation and other medical procedures and techniques which will have a lifesaving effect in the care and treatment of persons suffering from these diseases;

(3)        Assist in the development of programs for the prevention of chronic renal diseases;

(4)        Extend financial assistance on the basis of need to persons suffering from chronic renal diseases in obtaining the medical, nursing, pharmaceutical, and technical services necessary in caring for such diseases, including the renting of home dialysis equipment;

(5)        Assist in equipping dialysis and transplantation centers; and

(6)        Institute and carry on an education program among physicians, hospitals, public health departments, and the public concerning chronic renal diseases, including the dissemination of information and the conducting of educational programs concerning the prevention of chronic renal diseases and the methods for the care and treatment of persons suffering from these diseases.

"§ 130-239.  Renal Disease Fund. — There is hereby created a Renal Disease Fund. Contributions to the Fund may be accepted in its behalf by the Director from any source including, but not limited to, insurance proceeds, the medical profession and the Veterans Administration."

Sec. 2.  There is hereby appropriated to the State Board of Health for the purpose of administering the provisions of this act the sum of $250,000 for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1971, and ending June 30, 1972, and $250,000 for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1972, and ending June 30, 1973. Any funds unexpended at the end of any fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund, but shall be retained by the State Board of Health.

Sec. 3.  This act shall become effective July 1, 1971.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 20th day of July, 1971.