NC House Approves Medicaid Rebase Funding
Raleigh, NC — This afternoon, the North Carolina House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed House Bill 696, a Medicaid funding agreement with the Senate that invests $319 million in the state's rebase, strengthens guardrails and accountability in the program, and supports other critical needs.
In addition to fully funding the Medicaid rebase, HB 696 reinforces responsible use of taxpayer dollars through a series of reforms, including:
More frequent eligibility reviews, changing Medicaid eligibility monitoring from quarterly to monthly.
Stronger documentation standards, barring self-attestation as the only evidence of eligibility.
Citizenship and immigration verification for applicants and their beneficiaries during eligibility determinations and redeterminations.
Increased oversight, requiring the State Auditor to conduct a comprehensive audit of the state’s Medicaid program and related workforce programs.
Annual transparency reporting, mandating the NC DHHS to report on efforts to identify and address waste, fraud, and abuse.
Improved guardrails for ABA therapy, ensuring children with autism receive high-quality care while promoting responsible use of Medicaid resources.
Directing the NC DHHS to create a Medicaid integrity and efficiency plan to actively reduce administrative burdens and identify cost-saving opportunities.
House Speaker Destin Hall said, "North Carolina's Medicaid costs are growing at an unsustainable rate, and Gov. Stein and his administration have shown little interest in tackling the waste, fraud, and abuse driving that growth. North Carolinians deserve a program that protects taxpayer dollars and delivers care to those who truly depend on it. This legislation will do just that, restoring responsibility and integrity to Medicaid."
The legislation will soon head to the Governor's desk.
