RALEIGH — A plan for the state of North Carolina to give financial help to group home operators because some of their residents are not going to qualify for some Medicaid services has been expanded to include dementia patients.

The Senate Appropriations Committee agreed Wednesday to legislation making clear there is temporary financial assistance for group homes whose occupants were disqualified from Medicaid paying for personal care services starting Jan. 1. The bill says they can tap into $40 million set aside by legislators last summer.

The measure also allows the money to supplement payments to "special care" units where people with Alzheimer's disease live. Those patients have seen the number of hours they qualify for help with bathing or meals reduced.

The bill now goes to the Senate.