North Carolina lawmakers have reached an initial agreement to fully fund Medicaid, which was at risk of running out of money next month.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. โ North Carolina lawmakers have reached an initial agreement to fully fund Medicaid, as the program was on track to run out of money as soon as next month. Along with stabilizing funding, leaders are also advancing new policy changes aimed at reducing long term costs in the program.
Medicaid provides care to more than 3 million North Carolinians, and health leaders say continued funding is critical to maintaining access to care across the state.
House and Senate leaders have agreed on legislation that would close a projected shortfall in the stateโs Medicaid budget. On Wednesday, lawmakers gave initial approval to a $319 million dollar funding package designed to fully support the program through the end of the fiscal year.
The measure also includes a series of cost control provisions intended to reduce waste, fraud and abuse. Those changes include increased oversight, stricter eligibility verification and enhanced audits of provider payments.
House Speaker Destin Hall said in a social media post that Medicaid should prioritize those who truly need it and that the changes are intended to add โcommon sense guardrailsโ to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly.
Health care advocates, however, have raised concerns about some of the proposed requirements, including potential work rules. April Cook with the North Carolina Association of Free and Charitable Clinics says many Medicaid recipients are already working and warns that additional administrative requirements could create barriers to coverage.
Cook also noted concerns that increased paperwork and eligibility checks could lead to some people unintentionally losing coverage if they are unable to complete the renewal process.
Other proposed changes include expanded fraud oversight, additional audits and stricter eligibility checks.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services says it appreciates the General Assemblyโs commitment to fully funding Medicaid for the current year and will continue working with lawmakers to protect access to care for residents.
Sharisse Johnson with Camino says Medicaid is heavily used for children and warns that any reductions in coverage could place additional strain on community health organizations, which often serve as a safety net for those losing coverage.
Final approval is still needed from both the House and Senate before the bill moves to Governor Josh Steinโs desk, where it could be signed into law as early as next week.
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