As many as 4,000 people, most living in North Carolina adult care homes, could lose Medicaid-paid services for personal assistance as patient qualifications are aligned with requirements for patients living at home.

Top regulators in North Carolina's Medicaid office told a legislative committee Tuesday the number of Medicaid consumers who could no longer be covered for personal care services. The service eligibility standards are being made the same for all 46,000 recipients to comply with federal law and court rulings.

Medicaid regulators say the changes will take effect April 30, but they're asking the federal government for a delay.

Adult-care home industry lobbyists say the rules could lead to facilities being closed because it won't be financially feasible to keep serving those residents.

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