Since the expansion of Medicaid in late 2023, there have been intense debates over the funding of the program. Most recently, in October of this year, there was a 3% to 10% cut to medicaid providers in NC. According to NCNewsLine, the state Department of Health and Human Services said the cuts were necessary because lawmakers underfunded the Medicaid program by around $319 million in its spending package this summer.
Now NC DHHS Secretary, Devdutta Sangvai said the state’s medicaid program is required to have a balanced medicaid budget, before anything is approved.
At a presser held December 10th, Governor Josh Stein stated “Medicaid serves 1 in 4 million North Carolinians. It’s the difference between being denied critical care, because it is too expensive”
Wednesday, Gov. Stein announced North Carolina has restored provider rates to its September 30th levels before the cuts were enacted, meaning patients can receive the care they deserve and need, and healthcare clinics won’t have to worry about losing staff to fund this critical care.
However, medicaid is still not fully funded, leaving tens of millions of patients at risk of losing care in the near future. If lawmakers don’t find a resolution, Medicaid is expected to run out of funding by spring 2026.
“Without additional medicaid funding from the general assembly, this entire medicaid program is at risk”, NC DHHS Sec. Sangvai said.
As a leading safety net provider, 42% of Advance Community Health patients participate in medicaid programs. Cuts to this vital program would have had significant impacts on access to care for our patient population, and residents all over North Carolina. This would also have a significant impact on healthcare clinics, like Advance, who provide care for our underprivileged populations.
Medicaid not only provides healthcare to those who can’t afford it, but it also bolsters our economy by providing millions of dollars to FQHC’s like Advance.
“Today’s announcement by Governor Stein really put a spotlight on good policy, good process, and eliminated the rhetoric and the bureaucracy around who should be right and wrong.” CEO of Advance Community Health, Scot McCray said. “The real work is now, how do we keep the most robust Medicaid system in the nation up and sustainable through the spring and into the new budget year. It’s going to take everybody at the table, even outside of lawmakers, to lean in and come up with ironclad strategies. Beyond the private practices and hospital-based practices, the network that should be leaned on the most for Medicaid access is the community health centers. That’s the solution.”
We’re grateful to leaders like Gov. Josh Stein and NC DHHS Secretary Devdutta Sangvai, who advocate for medicaid funding. This is a truly vital program that keeps our communities healthy and our economy thriving.
“Its not about politics, it’s about saving peoples lives” – Governor Josh Stein
