NC Lawmakers Inject $319M into Medicaid, Ending Cuts

0:00North Carolina lawmakers just dropped a big move on day one of the new session, striking a deal to pump $319 million into, Medicaid to cover the shortfall through June. House Speaker Destin Hall and Senate Leader Phil Berger announced a Tuesday saying it will fully match what the health department asked for last year. This comes after months of back and forth beef between Republican leaders and the House Incident and the Democratic Governor's team, starting last summer. Behind closed doors, they hashed it out before session kicked off and now a bill is ready for a House vote Wednesday. Folks are feeling the heat from this. Over 3 million people are Medicaid in the state face provider cuts of 3-10% back in October. Plus the end of coverage for weight loss drugs like Wagovi. The Governor's office reversed those after lawsuits, but providers and patients been yelling for relief. The bill skips extra cash for that new UNC and Duke Children's Hospital System, which was a Senate push last year and stalled everything.

1:01Instead, it targets waste, fraud, and abuse with tweaks to renewals, a state auditor check and steps to rein in skyrocketing costs that leaders say ain't sustainable. Governor Josh Stein's on board, calling for quick action and teaming up to bend the health care cost curve statewide. With some budget progress too, this could unlock bigger deals and steady the ride ahead. Stay informed with Durham News today, AI Powered Updates, I'm Corey with the story.