NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1961 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 138

SENATE BILL 12

 

 

AN ACT TO AMEND CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THE GENERAL STATUTES TO PROVIDE FOR THE DISBURSEMENT OF THE ANNUAL APPROPRIATION FOR AID TO THE MEDICALLY INDIGENT BY THE STATE BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE RATHER THAN BY THE NORTH CAROLINA MEDICAL CARE COMMISSION.

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact:

 

Section 1.  G.S. 131‑119, entitled "Contributions for indigent patients", is hereby repealed.

Sec. 2.  Article 3 of Chapter 108 of the General Statutes, entitled "Division of public assistance", is hereby amended by adding a new part therein, to be numbered Part 4A, and to read as follows:

"Part 4A. Hospitalization for the medically indigent.

"G.S. 108‑73.19.  Contributions for indigent patients. The State Board of Public Welfare, in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the Board, is hereby authorized and empowered to make hospitalization payments for eligible medically indigent persons hospitalized in any hospital licensed by the Medical Care Commission or licensed or approved according to the laws of another state, who do not qualify for money payments under old age assistance, aid to dependent children or aid to the permanently and totally disabled. The payments shall be established on the basis of money available for the purpose, taking into account the availability of Federal matching funds and the State funds appropriated for the program, with the non-federal share to be borne equally by the State and the several counties.

"The State Board of Public Welfare shall promulgate rules and regulations for determining the indigency of the persons hospitalized and the basis upon which hospitals shall qualify to receive the benefits of this Section.

"Any unexpended balance remaining from the present annual appropriation for medically indigent patients shall forthwith be transferred from the Medical Care Commission to the State Board of Public Welfare.

"All outstanding obligations existing under the rules and regulations of the Medical Care Commission at one dollar and a half ($1.50) per day for medically indigent patients shall be transferred from the Medical Care Commission to the State Board of Public Welfare for payment.

"G.S. 108‑73.20.  Acceptance of Federal grants. The State Board of Public Welfare is hereby authorized to accept any Federal matching funds which may be made available to the State by the Federal government for the purposes set forth under the provisions of this Act."

Sec. 3.  All laws and clauses of laws in conflict with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed.

Sec. 4.  This Act shall be in full force and effect from and after May 1, 1961.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 31st day of March, 1961.