North Carolina just took a big step forward on Medicaid expansion

North Carolina could become 40th state to expand Medicaid

Medicaid expansion in North Carolina got a big boost.

Republican leaders yesterday launched a safety net program about 600,000 people — A compromise that could put an end to more than a decade of political struggle.

Consent of the President of the Senate Phil Burger and Speaker of the House Tim Moore It won praise from both Democrats and advocates who argued North Carolina was long overdue to pick up Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion. The leader briefed the state’s Democratic governor on the plan after announcing the agreement at a press conference yesterday morning.

Governor: “I support it. Roy Cooper (d) He said in a phone interview yesterday after discussing the deal with Berger and Moore. “We are working to see if we can change the timing a bit. …But overall, this is a monumental step for our state.”

The deal marks a significant turnaround for Republican leaders that have been playing out for years in North Carolina and states across the country. When it stopped working years ago, advocates put the bill to ballots in seven conservative-leaning states, and voters approved the expansion in every state.

North Carolina is one of 11 states that have long refused to expand Medicaid, which was originally included in the 2010 Affordable Care Act, but was made state voluntary by the Supreme Court. Doing this in the remaining states in holdout status is a difficult climb for the program’s backers.

last year in both the North Carolina Senate and House of Representatives Pass competing bills Expand Medicaid. However, due to disagreements over relaxing the “certificate of need” law, the regulatory mechanism for approving major expansions and projects in some health facilities, they were unable to reach consensus. I could not do it.

That set the stage for this year’s deal. The House sent the Medicaid expansion bill to the Senate last month. That law is gaining momentum after Berger and Moore announced yesterday that they had settled their differences in some key ways.

timing: Even if the bill is approved within a few weeks, Republican leaders said it would not go into effect until Congress passed the budget. Some Democrats, like Mr. Cooper, want the law to take effect sooner. Then a few months later, perhaps he will be insured people from January 1st.

North Carolina is ending a years-long battle over health insurance.

for example: 2013 Republican State Senator passed the bill Oppose expansion and prevent governors from unilaterally expanding Medicaid. 2019, Cooper vetoed the budget agreement I was sent to his desk because I didn’t extend my Medicaid.

Since then, however, some vehement opponents of expansion have overturned their views. At a press conference last May, Berger announced that he believed in the expansion of the program, saying, “If there is anyone in North Carolina who is more against expanding Medicaid than I am, I would love to meet him.” .It is the “right thing to do” and Around Associated Press.

Moore’s support was due in part to available federal funds, such as dollars to boost reimbursement for certain hospitals that see Medicaid patients. The covid aid bill passed in 2021 also includes two years of additional funding for newly expanded states. Both help the state pay for the expansion.

• “When you put a pen in the back of a napkin, It’s break even at worst, and frankly, it’s net positive when you do the math,” Moore said at a press conference yesterday.
• In the interview Cooper said he was “very optimistic” about the deal, adding:[ed] I appreciate that Republican leaders are trying to change their minds. ”

Democratic opinion? “Is this the version that I and my colleagues at the Democratic caucuses would have put forward? No,” the lawmaker said. Ashton Wheeler Clemons House Deputy Minority Leader (D) added that he would have preferred a clean Medicaid expansion if it weren’t for other medical provisions.

Walgreens to pull out of dispensing abortion drugs in several states

major pharmacy chains do not prescribe abortion pills In some states where drugs are legal, such as Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, and Montana, Politico report.

This comes after nearly 20 Republican state attorneys general wrote letters threatening legal action. walgreens If the company starts distributing the drug. The company has since responded to all officials and said it will not distribute the pills by mail or in brick-and-mortar stores in those states.Politico’s Alice Miranda Allstein report.

How I got here: Earlier this year, Food and Drug Administration For the first time, some retail pharmacies have allowed abortion pills to be dispensed. This is a big step towards potentially making medical abortion easier to access in states where it is legal. The next day, two large pharmacy chains CVS and walgreenssaid it intends to seek certification to offer the drug in states where it can.

almost 200 Human rights groups around the world have issued ‘urgent appeals’ united nations Intervene to Make Abortion Accessible for U.S. Women After Supreme Court Overturns Law vs Wade last year, the post Adela Suliman report.

Akira Radhakrishnan, President of the Global Justice Center said:

House Republicans demand declassification of covid origins report

republican top House Energy and Commerce Committee to the Biden administration Declassify all reports Related to the origin of covid-19.

Their demands come the day after the Senate Bill Passed Without Objection That would require the Director of National Intelligence to declassify information about the origin of the outbreak, and pressure the White House to do so voluntarily. energy department It concluded there was “low confidence” that the lab leak most likely caused the worst pandemic in a century.

• The statement issued yesterday Cathy McMorris Rogers (R-Wash.), Chairman of the Committee. H. Morgan Griffiths (R-Va.), Chair of the Subcommittee on Surveillance and Investigations. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.), Chair of the Subcommittee on Health.and Jeff Duncan (RS.C.), Chair of the Subcommittee on Energy, Climate and Grid Security.

Learn more about what fueled this week’s debate over the origins of covid-19.

and the post Joel Achenbach Analyze what we know and don’t know about the origin of viruses.

Senate Health Committee sparked a little spark

of Senate Help Committee has been held Hearing of community health center Yesterday — an issue with bipartisan support. However, at first Sen. Bill Cassidy The Republican head of the panel (La.) voiced some complaints.

detail: Cassidy claimed that the majority party did not cooperate with the Republicans in developing hearings. There is no reason not to cooperate from the beginning,” he said in his opening remarks.

However, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), chairman of the committee, objected. “It doesn’t look like it. …You don’t have to clear any witnesses with me. We’re not going to clear any witnesses with you,” Sanders said. I think.”

Important reasons: Both Sanders and Cassidy are the new leaders of the Senate’s Drastic Health Committee and don’t have a long history of working together. made a request for Information from health care providers About how to solve the labor shortage. But we’ll be keeping a close eye on how their relationship plays out, as it could be the key to unlocking major legislation in a commission with a long history of bipartisanship.

• Senator Diane Feinstein (California Democrat), the oldest member of the Senate, was hospitalized in California. After being diagnosed with shingles. In his statement, he said his Feinstein, who turns 90 in June, is expected to make a full recovery and hopes to return to the Senate later this month. Liz Goodwin report.
• Federal Trade Commission poised to ban online mental health app BetterHelp from sharing users’ medical data with online advertisers. of Suggested order issued yesterday $7.8 million The company has fined it for allegations that it shared sensitive health information of its customers with third parties, even though it had told customers it would keep their personal information private.
• Ohio Republican Attorney General Dave Yost Approved the proposed language Yesterday, an amendment to put abortion rights into the state constitution was passed, clearing an early hurdle after a lengthy process for supporters to put the bill to a vote this November.
• about 20,000 people are likely exposed To measles during a 24-hour spiritual revival It took nearly two weeks at the University of Kentucky after an unvaccinated worshiper was found to be infected with a highly contagious virus that causes the disease. Anumita cowl I am writing.

Advocates, lawmakers warn Biden’s telemedicine rule will exacerbate opioid crisis (By Lev Facher | Stat)

Street Teams and Clubhouses: A New Plan to Help New Yorkers with Psychosis (Andy Newman and Emma G. Fitzsimmons | The New York Times)

After a Medicaid participant dies, some states are aggressively seeking repayment from property (By Tony Leys | Kaiser Health News)

thank you for reading! see you on monday.