NC DHHS Unveils Medicaid Reform Draft Plan

Today the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services unveiled its multi-year draft plan to reform the state’s Medicaid program to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and NC Health Choice. As Dee Jones, Chief Operating Officer for DHHS’ new Division of Health Benefits, described it this plan is simply the “end of the beginning” of the reform process. Read the 69-page…

NC HIEA Participation Agreement Update

As the March 1 transition to a state-run Health Information Exchange (HIE) rapidly approaches, the North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) has been working closely with the HIE Authority (HIEA), the new state entity that will oversee the HIE, to help pave the way for a smooth transfer for participants. An issue with the insurance provisions in the participation agreement was resolved last week as…

NCMS Working to Ensure Sensible Medicaid Reform

The North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) is meeting regularly with state officials charged with constructing the new capitated Medicaid framework mandated by the General Assembly as well as with other stakeholders and the managed care entities likely to be pursuing a contract with the state. We are monitoring and working to influence their objectives to make sure they are in keeping with our…

What's Your Annual Meeting Personality Type?

Find the right Annual Meeting events to suit your personality: ·        The Advocate ·        The Over-Achiever ·        The Fun Seeker Advocate Personality Traits Advocates have a desire to affect change and a keen interest in all things legislative and regulatory. Many tend to sport a bow tie or appreciate the fashion statement thereof and regularly watch Chip Baggett's "Bowtie Briefings"…

Time Is Running Short To Get Medicaid Reform Right

Legislators are still optimistic a Medicaid reform bill will be passed before this extra-long session ends. Two sticking points between the House and Senate seem to have been resolved. First, it is agreed the state will no longer assume the risk for Medicaid and will ‘outsource’ that risk to other entities. Second, both chambers now appear to agree to a hybrid model in which managed care…

100 Legislative Days — With No End in Sight

Today marks the 100th day the North Carolina Legislature has been in session this year with no clear end in sight. The continuing resolution passed at the beginning of July to keep the government running absent a new state budget is set to expire on August 14.  With no progress in resolving major differences between the House and Senate on issues like Medicaid reform, that deadline seems more and…

Update on State Employee Health Plan Changes

With the General Assembly temporarily in session to take up issues like voter ID and hurricane relief, there has also been a rich discussion behind the scenes about changes to the State Employee Health Plan (SHP). State Treasurer Dale Folwell has said the plan will reimburse providers through reference-based pricing beginning in 2020. Based on feedback from our North Carolina Medical Society…

Legislative Session Ends With a Last Minute Flurry of Activity

The seemingly endless North Carolina Legislative Session finally came to a close last Wednesday – the longest session since 2001. Watch this video to hear what North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) CEO Robert W. Seligson and NCMS Director of Legislative Relations Chip Baggett had to say at the conclusion of the session. Over the last nine plus months, legislators established the framework for…

Medicaid Reform Progress — Don’t Give Up Now

As legislators reach consensus on a state budget, the debate over Medicaid reform has progressed to a point where several big questions appear to have been decided – the state will no longer assume the financial risk for Medicaid and will transfer that risk to a mix of managed care and provider-led entities. This does not mark the end of the battle for a Medicaid system that puts patients at the…