10A NCAC 43B .0304. DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS

(a)  Subject to the availability of funds, the Maternal Health Branch shall disburse Rural Obstetrical Care Incentive Funds to local health departments that have submitted an approved application as follows:

(1)           first priority shall be given to those counties that meet the criteria in Rule .0302(b)(1), second priority shall be given to those counties that meet the criteria in Rule .0302(b)(2), third priority shall be given to those counties that meet the criteria in Rule .0302(b)(3), and fourth priority shall be given to those counties that meet one or more of the criteria in Rule .0302(b)(4);

(2)           the Division of Public Health shall rank and disburse funds to underserved counties within each priority group according to the anticipated improvement in obstetrical coverage that will result from funding; and

(3)           Counties funded shall receive ongoing funding based upon a renewal application that has been reviewed and approved by the Division of Public Health.

(b)  For each eligible physician with whom the local health department contracts, the health department will be paid either the difference between the physician's premiums with obstetrical care coverage and without obstetrical care coverage, or seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500), whichever is less.  Payment shall be based upon a maximum of one million/one million dollars ($1,000,000/$1,000,000) coverage.  The local health department will then pay this amount to the physician to cover a portion of the physician's annual malpractice insurance premiums.  The total payments to one physician cannot exceed the amount stated in this Paragraph.

(c)  For each eligible nurse‑midwife with whom the local health department contracts, the health department will be paid the total amount of the nurse‑midwife's premium or four thousand dollars ($4,000), whichever is less.  The local health department will then pay this amount to the nurse‑midwife to cover a portion of the nurse‑midwife's annual malpractice insurance premiums.  The total payments to one nurse‑midwife cannot exceed the amount stated in this Paragraph.

(d)  No more than thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) may be disbursed to any underserved county.

(e)  No funds may be disbursed to a health department in the absence of a contract with an eligible physician or nurse‑midwife.

 

History Note:        Authority S.L. 1993, c. 321, s. 283;

Temporary Rule Eff. October 20, 1988, for a Period of 180 Days to Expire on April 18, 1989;

Eff. March 1, 1989;

Amended Eff. January 4, 1994; February 1, 1991; February 1, 1990.