Healthcare

in committee · North Carolina · House Feb 17, 2025

HB 128: Establish Prostate Cancer Control Program.

HB 128 appropriates $2 million annually for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to create a statewide prostate cancer screening program administered by North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services. The program provides free or low-cost screenings and follow-up care to uninsured or underinsured men aged 50-70 (40-70 with family history of prostate cancer) who meet income requirements (below 250% of federal poverty level). Eligibility requires no Medicare Part B or Medicaid coverage and specific age/family history criteria as defined in the bill. The program begins July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $2M annually for public health program via state budget, directly funding essential services per budgeting subject.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAppropriates $2M annually for free/low-cost prostate cancer screenings to uninsured/underinsured men, expanding access to preventive care and funding public health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Medicare

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in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 11, 2025

HB 242: Add Psychiatric Hospitals to Medicaid Healthcare Access and Stabilization Program (HASP).

HB 242 adds freestanding psychiatric hospitals (licensed, Medicare-certified facilities primarily providing psychiatric care that are not state-owned) to North Carolina’s Medicaid Healthcare Access and Stabilization Program (HASP). This expands the existing program - which currently reimburses acute care hospitals - to include these psychiatric hospitals, providing them with increased Medicaid reimbursements. The funding will come from a new quarterly assessment levied on the psychiatric hospitals themselves, calculated as a percentage of their hospital costs. The bill does not change patient eligibility but alters how these specific hospitals receive Medicaid payments through the HASP program.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands Medicaid reimbursement for psychiatric hospitals via new hospital assessment, funding essential mental health services without general tax increase.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands Medicaid coverage to include psychiatric hospitals, increasing reimbursements for mental health services and improving access to specialized care within the HASP program.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicaid Mental Health

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died · North Carolina · Senate Mar 13, 2025

SB 277: NC AHEC Recruitment and Retention Funds.

SB 277 appropriates $750,000 annually from the state general fund to the North Carolina Area Health Education Centers (NC AHEC) program for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The funds aim to improve recruitment, training, and retention of medical students and healthcare professionals in rural North Carolina. Key mechanisms include requiring NC AHEC to regularly convene stakeholders to share best practices and create a public database of this shared information. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, directly supporting rural healthcare workforce development.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $750k annually from state general fund to fund NC AHEC healthcare recruitment program, directly strengthening public service funding under budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds NC AHEC program for medical student recruitment/retention in higher education, directly supporting healthcare workforce development through state appropriations.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $750K to NC AHEC for rural healthcare workforce recruitment/retention, directly funding health services expansion per bill summary and subjects.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Healthcare Workforce

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in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 11, 2025

HB 343: Advocacy for Long-Term Care Residents Act.

HB 343 appropriates $380,000 for 2025-26 and $397,000 for 2026-27 to create four full-time ombudsman positions within North Carolina’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. This directly affects residents of nursing homes, adult care homes, and family care homes by enhancing advocacy for their rights and care quality. The bill’s key provision funds staff to move the state’s program toward national standards for resolving facility issues without formal complaints. It becomes effective July 1, 2025, with no advocacy language - only a concrete funding mechanism for expanded protections.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $380k/$397k for ombudsman positions, directly funding public service program under budgeting.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds four ombudsman positions to enhance patient rights and care quality in long-term facilities, directly advancing healthcare advocacy and compliance with national standards for residents.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

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died · North Carolina · Senate Mar 17, 2025

SB 282: Clubhouse Expansion.

SB 282 aims to expand access to clubhouse model psychosocial rehabilitation programs for adults with severe mental illness in North Carolina who are Medicaid beneficiaries. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a statewide reimbursement plan by December 2025, including incentives for clubhouse accreditation, consistent payment rates across managed care organizations, and staff training. The bill also appropriates $2.5 million annually (2025-2027) from the General Fund to the North Carolina Clubhouse Coalition to support member clubhouses for program expansion, accreditation, or staff training. This directly affects Medicaid-funded clubhouses, managed care organizations, and the coalition itself. The plan must be reported to the legislature by December 2025, with implementation effective July 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $2.5M annually (2025-2027) for mental health programs, directly increasing state budget allocation for public services under APPROPRIATIONS/BUDGETING subjects.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands mental health rehabilitation programs to reduce recidivism, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of improving offender rehabilitation and reducing reoffending.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands mental health access via Medicaid-funded clubhouse programs with $2.5M annual appropriation. Directly advances healthcare services for severe mental illness.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Medicaid Mental Health

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died · North Carolina · Senate Mar 17, 2025

SB 283: Expand Sickle Cell Disease Programs and Svcs.

SB 283 appropriates $1.678 million annually in recurring funds (plus supplemental nonrecurring funds) to expand sickle cell disease services for North Carolina's estimated 7,000+ patients. It directly funds six medical centers (including Duke, UNC Chapel Hill, and Atrium Health) for comprehensive care, creates transition coordinator positions to support youth moving from pediatric to adult care, and provides grants to community organizations in underserved areas. The bill also allocates funds to develop a statewide emergency department toolkit for better acute care and supports the state's sickle cell program with new staff positions. All funding is allocated for the 2025-2027 biennium and becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds expanded sickle cell care for 7,000+ patients via medical centers, transition coordinators, and community grants, directly advancing healthcare access and underserved care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 19, 2025

SB 330: LME/MCO Transparency and Accountability.

SB 330 requires North Carolina's Local Management Entities/Managed Care Organizations (LME/MCOs) serving Medicaid beneficiaries for mental, behavioral, and substance use services to submit quarterly reports starting October 2025. These reports must include data on emergency department waits over 24 hours, access to providers within 30 days, unused funds due to provider shortages, and network provider counts. The bill also sets new service standards: LME/MCOs must ensure fewer than two people per county are "boarded" in hospital ERs (staying over 24 hours after medical clearance) and that 85% of approved services begin within 45 days. Failure to meet these benchmarks for two consecutive quarters triggers corrective action by the state. This directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries accessing behavioral health services and the LME/MCOs managing those services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates transparency and service standards for mental health Medicaid services to improve access (e.g., reducing wait times, addressing provider shortages), directly strengthening patient access and accountability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicaid Mental Health

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in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 20, 2025

HB 452: Revise Law/Obstruction of Health Facility.

HB 452 makes it a crime to obstruct access to or threaten people at healthcare facilities in North Carolina. It prohibits blocking entrances, delaying care, or threatening patients, staff, or those helping others access services. The bill also restricts protests within 8 feet of people near facility entrances (unless consented to) and increases penalties: first offenses are misdemeanors, repeat offenses within three years become more serious misdemeanors, and third offenses escalate to felonies. This law directly affects individuals engaging in protests or obstruction near healthcare facilities, healthcare providers, and patients seeking care. It takes effect December 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by creating new offenses (obstructing healthcare access) and increasing penalties, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of expanding criminalization.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill prohibits obstruction and threats at healthcare facilities, protecting patient access and staff safety, directly strengthening healthcare access and safety protections.95% confidence

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in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 20, 2025

HB 453: Increase Medicaid Personal Care Services and Private Duty Nursing Rates.

HB 453 increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for two specific services in North Carolina. It raises the rate for personal care services (e.g., help with daily tasks) to $7.50 per 15-minute increment for beneficiaries in programs like State Plan Personal Care Services and Community Alternatives programs. It also increases private duty nursing rates to $16.25 per 15 minutes for both children under 21 and adults, using state funds to match federal support. The changes, effective July 1, 2025, will directly affect Medicaid beneficiaries receiving these services through approved programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases state appropriations for Medicaid services by raising reimbursement rates, directly funding essential health programs through budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases Medicaid reimbursement rates for personal care and nursing services, expanding access and funding for healthcare coverage.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 20, 2025

HB 456: No Surprises for Ambulance Services Act.

HB 456, the "No Surprises for Ambulance Services Act," prevents unexpected high costs for ambulance services by requiring health insurance companies to cover both emergency and non-emergency ground ambulance transport without surprise bills. Specifically, it caps out-of-network cost-sharing (like copays or deductibles) for ambulance services at 110% of what would apply for in-network providers, ensuring patients aren’t charged more for using an ambulance outside their insurance network. This directly affects insured individuals who use ambulance services, especially in emergencies or when they cannot choose a network provider. The law also mandates insurers to clearly disclose coverage details for emergency services, including cost-sharing and how to access care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents surprise bills for ambulance services, caps out-of-network costs at 110% of in-network rates, ensuring insurance coverage and protecting patient financial rights under health insurance.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Tags Public Safety

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