NC lawmakers approve $319M Medicaid funding bill, send it to Stein
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- North Carolina lawmakers on Tuesday approved HB 696, a measure that allocates $319 million to fund Medicaid through June after months of negotiations between the House, Senate, and Gov. Josh Stein's office.
The bill passed nearly unanimously in both chambers, clearing a major hurdle in efforts to maintain Medicaid funding. Its passage followed prolonged disagreements over the timing and structure of the funding plan, as Stein's office had repeatedly urged lawmakers to act.
Democratic lawmakers raised objections to language in the bill they said would harm immigrant communities. They cited concerns from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, which said the provision could affect care for nearly 27,000 women and children statewide. Republicans disputed that interpretation.
Republican Senate Leader Phil Berger said concerns about the provision stemmed from "a misunderstanding or at least an impression on a part of our nonpartisan staff about the language for the bill." Berger added, "That provision would not be effective until October, and so we are now in late April. There is plenty of time for us to address a problem if a problem exists. And at this point, we're not sure there is a problem."
Democrat Senator Natalie Murdock said, "This bill injects fear in our healthcare system when families believe that applying for Medicaid or other needs that they have and will expose them or their loved ones to immigration enforcement, they don't sign up even when their children are eligible."
HB 696 now heads to Stein's desk, where he is expected to sign it.
