(The Center Square) – For short session priorities, Medicaid is off the board and headed to the desk of first-term Democratic Gov. Josh Stein for signature.
Health Care Practitioner Transparency Act, as House Bill 696 is known, passed 112-3 in the House of Representatives late Tuesday afternoon and a little while later 45-3 in the Senate. Stein is expected to sign, though his full options are 10 days to sign, veto or allow to become law without his signature.
As lawmakers came back into short session, Medicaid was among the top five elements to be settled by the General Assembly. Tuesday marked Day 302 of the state’s biennium budget late for its lawfully mandated July 1 implementation.
This year’s rebase will get $319 million along with an aggressive approach to “rooting out Medicaid waste, fraud and abuse,” says a release from Rep. Destin Hall, R-Caldwell. The funding keeps the program running through June 30.
“North Carolina’s Medicaid costs are growing at an unsustainable rate, and Governor Stein and his administration have shown little interest in tackling the waste, fraud, and abuse driving that growth,” Hall said. “North Carolinians deserve a program that protects taxpayer dollars and delivers care to those who truly depend on it. This legislation will do just that, restoring responsibility and integrity to Medicaid.”
Medicaid rebase means an adjustment to fiscal support because of costs and or volume of people enrolled.
Medicaid was expanded in North Carolina in 2023, increasing by 700,000 those with access. The federal government funds roughly 90%.
From fiscal years 2021 to 2025, Medicaid expenditures by the state rose from $3.9 billion to $6.1 billion.
The bill has more frequent eligibility reviews; stronger documentation requirements; citizenship and immigration verification; increased oversight by office of first-term Republican state Auditor Dave Boliek; annual transparency reporting; a focus on funds tied to autism therapy; and a directive for the Department of Health and Human Services to create an integrity and efficiency plan for Medicaid.
In funding, $80 million is nonrecurring for the Department of Adult Correction. Another $13.1 million is recurring and $8.5 million nonrecurring for the Division of Motor Vehicles. There is $10 million recurring and $1 million nonrecurring for the North Carolina Scholarship for Children of Wartime Veterans; and $2.5 million recurring and $1.2 million nonrecurring for the State Bureau of Investigation.
In the House, the no votes were from Rep. Edward Goodwin, R-Chowan; Rep. Aisha Dew, D-Mecklenburg; and Rep. Amos Quick, D-Guilford. In the Senate, no votes were from Sen. DeAndrea Salvador, D-Mecklenburg; Sen. Michael Garrett, D-Guilford; and Sen. Jonah Garson, D-Orange.
