10A NCAC 71R .0908       HEALTH SUPPORT SERVICES

(a)  Primary Service. Health support services means helping individuals and families to:

(1)           Recognize health needs including those related to alcohol and drug abuse;

(2)           Cope with incapacities and limited functioning resulting from aging or disability; and

(3)           Choose, obtain and use resources and mechanisms of support under Medicaid (including the early and periodic screening, diagnosis and treatment program), medicare, maternal and child health programs and from other public or private agencies or providers of health services;

(4)           Receive counseling and planning for the individuals, families and health providers to help assure continuity of treatment and the carrying out of health recommendations;

(5)           Secure admission to medical institutions and children to secure admission to other health‑related facilities as needed; and family planning services as described in Paragraph (b) of this Rule; and

(6)           At county option, receive transportation, when not otherwise available as necessary to access needed medical and health care resources.

(b)  Components. There are two components to Health Support Services:

(1)           The Primary Service as described in Paragraph (a) of this Rule; and

(2)           Family planning services to enable individuals and families to voluntarily limit the family size or to space the children, and to prevent or reduce the incidence of births out of wedlock. Such services include educational activities, the provision of printed materials, counseling about family planning and genetics, help in utilizing medical and educational services available in the community, and educational services in human sexuality appropriate to an individual's emotional and social adjustment and physical development.

(c)  Optional Resource Items.

(1)           Medical Services. An agency may pay for medical services for nontherapeutic sterilization for individuals who are recipients of, Work First Family Assistance, SSI, or protective services or whose family income is less than 80 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines as provided annually in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

(2)           Resources for the Aging or Persons with Disabilities. At county option the agency may provide any combination of the following resource items to enable the aging or persons with disabilities to attain or maintain the highest level of functioning possible, to promote their well‑being and to prevent or reduce inappropriate institutional care:

(A)          Assistance with communication to enable individuals to utilize needed health and medical resources and other community services and resources through the provision of interpreters for the deaf and the provision of telephones when not otherwise available for the aging, disabled, or handicapped who are alone and homebound, or who have a health or medical condition which necessitates ready access to or frequent use of a telephone in their home.

(B)          Mobility assistance for aging and disabled persons, through the installation of ramps, rails and other safety measures at the individual's home and the provision of escort service to health facilities and other needed resources for individuals unable to travel or wait alone.

(C)          Arranging for or providing friendly visitors or companions for part of a day to assist individuals who, because of frailty, physical or mental disability or social isolation, have limited contacts with other people.

(D)          Provision of special health needs and supplies such as ostomy supplies, oxygen, bandages, orthopedic and other appliances needed by aging and disabled individuals in their own homes and not available through Medicaid, Medicare or resources without cost.

(d)  Target Population: The target population includes:

(1)           individuals or families experiencing health related problems;

(2)           for the family planning component, individuals (male or female) who are of age to produce children.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 143B‑153;

Eff. February 8, 1977;

Amended Eff. March 1, 1983; September 1, 1982; March 1, 1982; October 1, 1979;

Transferred from T10.43D .0212 Eff. July 1, 1983;

Amended Eff. March 1, 1994; July 1, 1984;

Temporary Amendment Eff. October 21, 1996;

Amended Eff. November 1, 2007; July 1, 1998;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. May 20, 2017.