What do the mandated services laws require?
The mandated services rules address thirteen types of services that fall into one of two categories: (1) services that the local agency must provide under the direction of the local health director and supervision of the local board of health; or (2) services that a county may provide through the local public health agency, contract with another entity to provide, or not provide at all if the local agency can certify to the state’s satisfaction that the services are available in the county from other providers.
Table 2. Mandated public health services in North Carolina (10A NCAC 46 .0201-.0216)
Services a LPHA must provide | Services a LPHA must provide, contract, or certify are otherwise available |
Food, lodging, and institutional sanitation | Adult health |
Individual on-site water supply | Home health |
Sanitary sewage collection, treatment, and disposal | Dental public health |
Communicable disease control | Grade-A milk certification[1] |
Vital records registration | Maternal health |
| Child health |
| Family planning |
| Public health laboratory |
Each of the mandated services has its own rule that identifies more specifically which services must be provided or assured. For example, the specific services that must be provided for maternal health include pregnancy testing, information, and referral; and prenatal care for women not otherwise served, through direct provision of care, referral to other providers, contracts with other providers, or a combination of those methods.[2]
[1]In 2011, responsibility for milk sanitation at the state level was transferred from the former Division of Environmental Health, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, to the Food and Drug Protection Division of the Department of Agriculture and Community Services. S.L. 2011-145, sec. 13.3.(b).
[2]10A NCAC 46.0205.
