GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2009

SESSION LAW 2009-502

HOUSE BILL 1020

AN ACT TO DIRECT THE Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, TO ASSIST CANCER PATIENTS WITH THE MANAGEMENT OF THE DISEASE.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Part 1 of Article 7 of Chapter 130A of the General Statutes is amended by adding the following new section to read:

"§ 130A-216.  Cancer patient navigation program.

The Department shall establish a cancer patient navigation program under the Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program. The purpose of the program shall be to provide education about and assistance with the management of cancer. At a minimum, the program shall do the following:

(1) Initially serve breast and cervical cancer patients statewide with the intent of future expansion to all other cancer types.

(2) Employ a multidisciplinary team approach to assist cancer patients in identifying and gaining access to available health care, financial and legal assistance, transportation, psychological support, and other related issues.

(3) Work with an existing cancer service agency that is not affiliated with a particular health care institution so that program clients may have access to any cancer health care facility in the State."

SECTION 2.  The Department may adopt rules necessary to carry out the provisions of this act. The Department shall begin initial implementation of the statewide program established under Section 1 of this act in Mecklenburg and Guilford Counties.

SECTION 3.  The Department shall report its progress on the implementation of this program to the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, and the Fiscal Research Division not later than May 1, 2010.

SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 5^th day of August, 2009.

                                                                    s/  Walter H. Dalton

                                                                         President of the Senate

                                                                    s/  Joe Hackney

                                                                         Speaker of the House of Representatives

                                                                    s/  Beverly E. Perdue

                                                                         Governor

Approved 3:13 p.m. this 26^th day of August, 2009