Substantively identical to S 24, filed 1/29/25.
Contains whereas clauses.
Part I
Enacts new GS 120-272 (legislation containing health benefit mandates). Defines health benefit mandate as a regulation impacting a health benefit plan or the State Health Plan that meets any of the following criteria:

Mandates that a health benefit plan or the State Health Plan provide coverage of any healthcare service, any specific treatment or set of treatments, or any prescription drug used for the treatment of any health, physical, mental, or behavioral condition.
Requires that a health benefit plan or the State Health Plan include coverage for any healthcare service or treatment by a provider or group of providers other than a physician licensed in this State.  
Places requirements on any cost-sharing mechanism utilized by a health benefit plan or the State Health Plan, such as a copayment or deductible.
Regulates any health benefit plan or the State Health Plan cost-control process, including those that necessitate a healthcare provider obtain advance approval from an insurer before a specific service, treatment, or prescription benefit is delivered to the patient or utilized by the patient in order to qualify for coverage under the applicable plan.
Places a limit or requirement on a pharmacy benefits manager under Article 56A of GS Chapter 58.
Regulates the manner in which a health benefit plan or the State Health Plan provides coverage for a healthcare service, treatment, or prescription drug, regardless of whether the regulation is imposed upon a covered service that is provided by a healthcare provider that participates in the provider network of the health benefit plan.

Defines health benefit plan, piece of legislation, and State Health Plan.  Requires that any piece of legislation containing one or more new health benefit mandates is required to also contain at least one provision that repeals at least the same number of health benefit mandates that are already in effect as of the date of the consideration of that piece of legislation prior to ratification of that legislation. Directs that any such legislation is required to also contain a provision appropriating recurring funds in the amount of the cost of that mandate to the Department of the State Treasurer and the State Health Plan or to any other relevant State agency prior to ratification. If any repeal of an existing health benefit mandate required to be contained in the legislation results in cost-savings to the State, then that cost-savings will have no impact on the amount  required to be appropriated under this subsection.
Part II.
Expands the mandates applicable to the State Health Plan under GS 135-48.51 (coverage and operational mandates related to GS Chapter 58) so that a provision of GS Chapter 58 containing a health benefit mandate that first becomes effective on or after July 1, 2025, will apply to the State Health Plan as of the start of the next Plan year following the effective date of the health benefit mandate.
Effective 30 days after the act becomes law and applies to pieces of legislation considered by the General Assembly on or after that date.

Statutes affected:
Filed: 135-48.51
Edition 1: 135-48.51