​In a legislative session that continues to leave many North Carolinians of all political persuasions “jaw-dropped,”  a bill introduced in the NC House of Representatives, if passed, would require the Department of Health and Human Services to “examine strategies for increasing the number of assisted living residences in rural areas of the state.”  The bill would specifically require the department, among other approaches, to “examine the advantages and disadvantages of exempting adult care homes, including adult care homes that serve only elderly persons, from certificate of need review.”  The department would be required under the legislation to report its findings to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, and the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services no later than February 1, 2014.  We will continue to track and report on this legislation.