Bill
HB 513
Provides recurring $1M/year to strengthen NC's LTC Ombudsman by hiring 9 regional ombudsmen and funding operations, targeting AAAs most in need to boost resident advocacy.
Status and timing
- Introduced (filed in North Carolina): March 25, 2025.
- Effective date: July 1, 2025.
- Appropriation is recurring for each year of the 2025–2027 biennium.
Purpose and intent
- Provide recurring state funding to strengthen North Carolina’s Long‑Term Care (LTC) Ombudsman Program by adding staff and covering operational needs, with the stated goal of moving the State toward national standards for LTC ombudsman programs and improving advocacy and oversight for residents of nursing homes and other long‑term care facilities.
Key provisions and fiscal details
- Appropriation: $1,000,000 from the General Fund in recurring funds for each fiscal year of the 2025–2027 biennium (i.e., $1,000,000 for FY2025–26 and $1,000,000 for FY2026–27), allocated as follows:
- Operational expenses (equipment, supplies, transportation):
- FY2025–26: $145,000
- FY2026–27: $106,750
- Staffing (to hire additional Regional Ombudsman positions):
- FY2025–26: $855,000
- FY2026–27: $893,250
- Staffing: Funds will support nine (9) additional full‑time Regional Ombudsman positions. These positions are to be assigned to the Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) / regional ombudsman programs “most in need” as determined by the Office of the State Long‑Term Care Ombudsman.
Who is affected
- Primary beneficiaries:
- Residents of nursing homes, assisted living and other long‑term care facilities — through increased ombudsman presence, advocacy, complaint investigation, and oversight.
- Regional ombudsman programs and Area Agencies on Aging — by receiving additional staff and modest operational resources.
- Administrative actors:
- Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Aging (recipient of the appropriation).
- Office of the State Long‑Term Care Ombudsman (responsible for determining deployment of new positions).
Potential impact and considerations
- Program capacity: Nine additional full‑time regional ombudsmen will increase investigatory, visitation, and advocacy capacity in targeted regions, which could reduce complaint backlogs and improve resident protections.
- Operational support: The appropriation also covers modest non‑personnel costs (equipment, supplies, transportation), facilitating effective deployment.
- Targeting: Deployment is discretionary — the Office of the State Long‑Term Care Ombudsman selects the AAAs “most in need,” so geographic coverage will depend on that assessment.
- Scale: Funding is limited (nine positions statewide); progress toward national staffing standards will be incremental.
Procedural notes
- The bill directs recurring appropriations and becomes effective July 1, 2025, enabling hiring and operational spending in the 2025–26 fiscal year.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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