10A NCAC 70M .0403     PROCEDURES/REIMBURSEMENT OF ADOPTION ASSISTANCE BENEFITS

(a)  Adoption assistance benefits for which a child is eligible shall become effective the first month following the month in which the Decree of Adoption is issued.

(b)  Claims from service providers and standard monthly cash assistance shall be reimbursed or provided from adoption assistance funds subject to the following limitations:

(1)           Vendor payments to adoptive parents, medical providers, and to providers of psychological, therapeutic, and remedial services shall be made only for treatment or services given to alleviate or correct those conditions for which the child has been determined eligible to receive benefits.

(2)           The total amount for vendor payments for any combination of medical services not covered by Medicaid including psychological, therapeutic, or remedial services for any child shall not exceed two thousand four hundred dollars ($2,400.00) per State fiscal year.

(3)           Vendor payments shall not be made to reimburse providers for the following:

(A)          routine medical examinations;

(B)          illnesses or conditions not related to or resulting from the conditions for which the child was determined eligible for vendor payments;

(C)          services or treatment provided to the child prior to issuance of the Decree of Adoption; and

(D)          services or treatment that may have been provided on or after the first day of the month following the month in which the child's eligibility ceases.

(c)  No local match, in terms of dollars, is required for funds for those children certified to receive benefits under the State Fund for Adoptive Children with Special Needs as set forth in G.S. 180A-50.1, who are the placement responsibility of licensed private child-placing agencies with the exception of monthly cash payments for those children who are eligible for benefits from Title IV-E of the Social Security Act. No monthly cash assistance payments from the State Fund for Adoptive Children with Special Needs shall be made for any adoption in which the Decree of Adoption is issued on or after October 1, 2011.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 108A-49; 108A-50; 143B-153;

Eff. July 1, 1982;

Amended Eff. October 1, 2011; July 18, 2002; July 1, 1991; March 1, 1990;

Readopted Eff. August 1, 2021.