HB 1051 allocates $250,000 in state funds to the MedAid Foundation to improve healthcare for seniors and vulnerable populations in North Carolina. The grant is intended to address barriers such as a lack of affordable medical supplies, limited preventive care, and insufficient support from existing facilities. This funding will be available for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, with the bill taking effect on July 1, 2026.
This bill proposes raising Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care providers in North Carolina to match the rates paid by Medicare. To fund these increases, the state would allocate $48 million from its General Fund starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The changes would take effect on July 1, 2026, and would apply to primary care services as defined by a specific state task force report.
House Bill 433 allows licensed registered nurses (RNs) to serve as school nurses in North Carolina public schools. The bill prohibits the State Board of Education from requiring a four-year degree for school nurse employment. It specifies that RNs with at least two years of experience in a hospital or health clinic can work as school nurses without needing additional certifications or licenses. These qualified registered nurses will be paid under the certified school nurse pay scale.
SB 561, "The Working Hearts, Empowered Homes Act," creates a coordinated system to streamline access to childcare, healthcare, nutrition assistance, and preventive care for working families in North Carolina. It establishes a statewide coordination system under the Department of Health and Human Services to consolidate applications and services, replacing fragmented programs. The bill funds two pilot programs: a $3 million regional hubs initiative (2025-2027) testing centralized access points, and a $7 million childcare innovation program targeting small businesses and rural centers through grants. Both pilots require evaluation reports by February 2028 to assess effectiveness before potential statewide expansion.
SB 352 allocates $2.5 million annually from 2025-2027 to fund grants for nonprofit community health centers in North Carolina. These grants will allow centers to purchase and provide long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), such as IUDs or implants, to underserved, uninsured, or medically indigent patients. LARCs must meet specific criteria: they provide extended birth control without daily user action, are temporary, FDA-approved, and require a prescription. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, focusing on expanding access to affordable, long-term contraceptive options.
SB 742 appropriates $500,000 from the General Fund to provide a directed grant to The C.W. Williams Community Health Center, Inc., a nonprofit organization in Mecklenburg County. The funds are intended to support the completion of its full-service community health center facility during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. This bill directly affects the C.W. Williams Community Health Center by providing targeted financial assistance for infrastructure completion. The grant is non-recurring and becomes effective July 1, 2025. The bill does not establish new policies or broadly impact other entities or services.
HB 629 extends the deadline for North Carolina's Primary Care Payment Reform Task Force from May 1, 2024, to December 31, 2026. The task force studies primary care spending across Medicaid, the State Health Plan, and commercial insurance to evaluate system adequacy, define primary care services, and identify data collection methods. This extension allows the task force additional time to complete its analysis and submit reports to legislative committees, directly affecting state agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services responsible for implementing the study.
HB 750 appropriates $2.5 million annually (2025-2027) to fund grants for nonprofit community health centers in North Carolina. These grants enable centers to purchase and distribute long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), such as IUDs or implants, specifically for underserved, uninsured, or low-income patients. LARCs are defined as FDA-approved, temporary contraceptive methods requiring no daily user action (e.g., pills) and a prescription. The bill establishes a competitive grant process administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, targeting expanded access to these contraceptives without altering existing patient eligibility rules.
HB 944 appropriates $1.5 million from the state General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services for a directed grant to Care Ring, Inc., a nonprofit community health clinic in Mecklenburg County. The funding supports the clinic’s operations to provide primary care services to medically vulnerable residents facing geographic, economic, or other barriers to care. This grant specifically targets patients who would otherwise be unable to access necessary primary care due to these challenges. The bill directs all funds to be used for the clinic’s core operations during the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
