(The Center Square) – Unanimous approval in the North Carolina House of Representatives funds current Medicaid services and provider payments for the coming fiscal year.
If approved by the Senate and signed by the governor, North Carolina’s Medicaid rebase and administration investment will be $792 million. That’s $192 million above previous appropriation.
Additional Medicaid Funds and Requirements, known also as Senate Bill 403, passed 111-0 with 47 Democrats on board.
The Senate’s version – Healthcare Investment Act, known also as House Bill 562 – funds the rebase at $690 million. Its passage was 28-19 with no Democrats for it and no Republicans against.
Wednesday of next week will be the day state health officials say Medicaid reimbursement rates to medical facilities and providers will need to be cut if funding is not approved. The state Department of Health and Human Services says Medicaid is “for people with lower incomes. NC Medicaid provides health care coverage to people ages 19-64.”
The House of Representatives touts a “clean bill,” meaning without the third of three legs of appropriation for a new children’s hospital in Wake County.
“What’s crazy,” said first-term Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, “is that both the House and Senate agree that more funding is needed, and they agree on exactly how much, but they’re allowing a separate disagreement between the chambers to sink this critical funding. They’re putting their politics ahead of our people. It’s inexcusable. I urge the Legislature to set their differences aside and protect North Carolinians’ ability to access health care.”
In a release, Speaker Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, said the legislation:
• Eliminates vacant positions at the Health Department.
• Has a 5% flexible vacant position cut across other gubernatorial state agencies.
• Ends Medicaid coverage of GLP-1 drugs for weight-loss only, while continuing coverage for federally required medical diagnoses.
• Directs the state auditor to review SNAP and Medicaid redetermination processes at the state and county levels to clear backlogs.
• Requires the Health Department to work with the auditor’s office to set standards for timeliness and accuracy in Medicaid redeterminations, with enforcement tools to ensure county compliance.
• Expands Rylan’s Law to include Medicaid redeterminations.
