North Carolina doctors, Governor Pat McCrory meet to back his Medicaid plan
RALEIGH -- Gov. Pat McCrory and a group of doctors are urging the General Assembly to advance the governor's Medicaid overhaul plan after the North Carolina Senate essentially killed his idea in its budget.
The proposal cuts 3% off the $13 billion health insurance program for the state's poor.
The governor says his proposal is pragmatic and should be voted on by lawmakers.
"This is the plan that's on the table, and it's time for that plan to be discussed and voted on. I'm looking for reform not stagnation," said McCrory.
McCrory and more than 30 white-coated physicians held a news conference Wednesday outside the Executive Mansion. They back the idea of creating hospital and doctor networks that would share in Medicaid savings and cost overruns.
Senate Republicans say the proposal doesn't save enough.
They want to go in another direction but haven't detailed their path.
McCrory is dealing with more rejection when it comes to his reform plan.
Tuesday, the federal government said McCrory can't tax some local mental health agencies that participate in Medicaid as a way to create more revenue.
The result, a $60 million dollar Medicaid shortfall.
"We have to deal with it, and that's exactly what we're going to do," said McCrory.
Advocates say one way to fix the state's ailing Medicaid program is to expand coverage under the Affordable Care Act, a move state lawmakers denied.
Dozens of people rallied outside the Legislative Building Wednesday morning, including Republican Belhaven Mayor Adam O'Neal.
He says denying Medicaid expansion is putting his town's hospital at risk of closing.
In an emotional plea to lawmakers to put politics aside, he says it's a matter of life and death.
"You can't let hospitals close and people die to prove a point," said O'Neal.
The House is assembling its budget now. Republicans in the chamber have been more inclined to back McCrory but also say the reform process will take many years.
