There’s growing evidence that after 10 years of debate, North Carolina is finally working to expand Medicaid coverage.North Carolina is one of only a dozen states that haven’t expanded Medicaid.The reason why North Carolina may finally expand Medicaid is money — lots of federal money.One of the reasons it might not is the program is linked to Obamacare. “It’s a big problem,” Forsyth County lawmaker Donny Lambeth said. Lambeth is the Republicans’ point man on Medicaid expansion.Lambeth said the biggest roadblock to expanding the program comes from conservative lawmakers in rural counties.”When I asked members in the or wherever, ‘so why are you opposed, because economically, you can’t be opposed?’ I hear it’s Obamacare and I was opposed to Obamacare,” he said.The Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, made Medicaid expansion possible.Now, its connection to the former president is cited as a reason why some lawmakers won’t adopt it.However, new federal incentives for states that refused expansion may change that. “North Carolina stands to gain almost a billion and a half dollars in savings,” said Derwin Montgomery of the American cancer society.Former Forsyth County lawmaker Montgomery said that money isn’t the only reason why he’s encouraged by what’s happening in Raleigh. ” first time since 2012, in the ACA, we are actually having real, robust conversation in the legislature, amongst the legislative leaders about what Medicaid expansion could look like,” Montgomery said.That robust conversation is co-chaired by Lambeth through a bipartisan committee on Medicaid, where lawmakers are discussing a North Carolina Plan.The effort has the backing of Senate leader Phil Berger.”The importance of getting Phil Berger on board. Well, that was huge,” Lambeth said.Lambeth said that the federal incentives, of $1.7 billion, is one of the reasons Berger has come around on Medicaid.He said the money doesn’t even have to be spent on Medicaid. “That’s a huge incentive that will allow North Carolina to receive some federal money to be used on some other programs,” Berger said.”There will ever be a time for folks to hear from their constituents. I think this short session could be the one to hear deeply on the issue of Medicaid expansion,” Montgomery said.Montgomery said that there’s a good chance Medicaid expansion happens in the upcoming short session, but Lambeth doesn’t agree.”No Medicaid expansion to the short session in your mind. I do not believe that there will be expansion because there’s just not enough time,” Lambeth said.Lambeth said he believes Medicaid expansion is coming to North Carolina, either through a plan that he and his committee are working on or through a federal mandate forcing the state to expand coverage. A recent poll shows Republican voters continue to oppose Medicaid expansion by an almost 2-1 margin.North Carolina lawmakers return to work on May 18, the day after the primary election.
There’s growing evidence that after 10 years of debate, North Carolina is finally working to expand Medicaid coverage.
North Carolina is one of only a dozen states that haven’t expanded Medicaid.
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The reason why North Carolina may finally expand Medicaid is money — lots of federal money.
One of the reasons it might not is the program is linked to Obamacare.
“It’s a big problem,” Forsyth County lawmaker Donny Lambeth said. Lambeth is the Republicans’ point man on Medicaid expansion.
Lambeth said the biggest roadblock to expanding the program comes from conservative lawmakers in rural counties.
“When I asked members in the or wherever, ‘so why are you opposed, because economically, you can’t be opposed?’ I hear it’s Obamacare and I was opposed to Obamacare,” he said.
The Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, made Medicaid expansion possible.
Now, its connection to the former president is cited as a reason why some lawmakers won’t adopt it.
However, new federal incentives for states that refused expansion may change that.
“North Carolina stands to gain almost a billion and a half dollars in savings,” said Derwin Montgomery of the American cancer society.
Former Forsyth County lawmaker Montgomery said that money isn’t the only reason why he’s encouraged by what’s happening in Raleigh.
“[The] first time since 2012, in the ACA, we are actually having real, robust conversation in the legislature, amongst the legislative leaders about what Medicaid expansion could look like,” Montgomery said.
That robust conversation is co-chaired by Lambeth through a bipartisan committee on Medicaid, where lawmakers are discussing a North Carolina Plan.
The effort has the backing of Senate leader Phil Berger.
“The importance of getting Phil Berger on board. Well, that was huge,” Lambeth said.
Lambeth said that the federal incentives, of $1.7 billion, is one of the reasons Berger has come around on Medicaid.
He said the money doesn’t even have to be spent on Medicaid.
“That’s a huge incentive that will allow North Carolina to receive some federal money to be used on some other programs,” Berger said.
“There will ever be a time for folks to hear from their constituents. I think this short session could be the one to hear deeply on the issue of Medicaid expansion,” Montgomery said.
Montgomery said that there’s a good chance Medicaid expansion happens in the upcoming short session, but Lambeth doesn’t agree.
“No Medicaid expansion to the short session in your mind. I do not believe that there will be expansion because there’s just not enough time,” Lambeth said.
Lambeth said he believes Medicaid expansion is coming to North Carolina, either through a plan that he and his committee are working on or through a federal mandate forcing the state to expand coverage.
A recent poll shows Republican voters continue to oppose Medicaid expansion by an almost 2-1 margin.
North Carolina lawmakers return to work on May 18, the day after the primary election.