108A-70.49. Corrective action.

(a) If the Department's audit under G.S. 108A-70.46 results in a determination that a county department of social services fails to meet any of the standards adopted under G.S. 108A-70.47 or G.S. 108A-70.48, the Department and the county department of social services shall enter into a joint corrective action plan to improve the accurate processing of applications.

(b) A joint corrective action plan entered into pursuant to this section shall specifically identify the following components:

(1) The duration of the joint corrective action plan, not to exceed 24 months. If a county department of social services shows measurable progress in meeting the performance requirements in the joint corrective action plan, then the duration of the joint corrective action plan may be extended by six months, but in no case shall a joint corrective action plan exceed 36 months.

(2) A plan for improving the accurate processing of applications that specifically describes the actions to be taken by the county department of social services and the Department.

(3) The performance requirements for the county department of social services that constitute successful completion of the joint corrective action plan.

(4) Acknowledgment that failure to successfully complete the joint corrective action plan will result in temporary assumption of Medicaid eligibility administration by the Department, in accordance with G.S. 108A-70.50.

(c) Any county department of social services under a joint corrective action plan shall be audited under G.S. 108A-70.46 on an annual basis until the joint corrective action plan is successfully completed or until the failure to successfully complete the joint corrective action plan results in the temporary assumption of Medicaid eligibility administration by the Department, in accordance with G.S. 108A-70.50.