NC Lawmakers Approve $319M Medicaid Funding

0:00It's April 22nd. You're listening to Durham News today. AI-powered local news. I'm Corey with the story. North Carolina lawmakers just pushed through $319 million in Medicaid funding with near-unanimous support from both. Chambers. They did second readings on Wednesday with final votes set for Tuesday, April 28th. This cash infusion keeps the program afloat through June, dodging a total shortfall. Rising costs hit hard. Thanks to federal funding shifts in the one big beautiful bill act, inflation, booming demand for autism treatments, and pricey, new drugs like GLP-1s, earlier this year, they already approved $500 million plus $100 million for admin in a mini-budget, but held back on. This final chunk amid bigger budget fights. Providers and families are relieved, but not everyone's cheering. Just like House leader Robert Rees, wanted a straightforward funding bill without Republican add-ons, yet they mostly voted yes.

1:02Critics worry about tougher work requirements, monthly eligibility checks, and cuts the coverage for legal immigrants with five-year status, including pregnant women and kids. The bill packs in more than just money. It orders a performance audit by the state auditor, fraud reporting by October 1st, and a cost-saving plan from health officials. It also tightens rules on applied behavior analysis therapy for autism, banning most telehealth and requiring in-person starts to weed out bad players, and save up to $450 million over five years. Lawmakers call it a solid step forward, crediting teamwork across the aisle, but they know long-term fixes are needed to tame those exploding costs. Final approval should lock it in soon.