The General Assembly Action Committee (GAAC) is the state legislative committee for NCAHU. Our goal is to help educate legislators on health care issues in the State of NC that impact the employers we serve and the employees we represent. Our mission is to expand health care access across the state with the explicit mission of preserving the agents role in access to healthcare.
The 2021 legislative session convened in January and to prepare the GAAC committee met with many of the members of the House and Senate health committees. The focus of the meetings was to reintroduce the committee and share the role we play in the market. This was a also a time to ask about legislative priorities for the members and to reinforce our organization as an educational resource for them. These meetings were series of successful conversations about the role agents and brokers play in health care access to many of the legislators constituents.
Legislative Meetings:
Sen. Joyce Krawiec (R, Dist.31) , Co-Chair Senate Health Committee
Sen. Jim Burgin (R-Dist.12), Co-Chair Senate Health Committee
Representative Chris Humphrey (R-Dist.12), Chair House Insurance - House Majority Freshman Caucus Whip
Sen. Jim Perry (R, Dist. 7), Appropriations on Health & Human Services, Heath Care
Sen. Mike Woodard (D, Dist. 22), Health Care, Fiance & Appropriations
Rep. Donna White (R, Dist. 26), Appropriations Health & Human Services, Health
Rep. Wayne Sasser (R. Dist. 67), Appropriations Health & Human Services, Health, Insurance
Rep. Gale Adcock (D. Dist. 41) Appropriations Health & Human Services, Health
Nathan Babcock, Senate Staff for Health and Redistricting
Much of the legislative session thus far has been focused on Covid-19 relief and returning children to school. However, we are expecting legislative discussions, if not legislative action around the following important topics:
State Medicare Expansion
Surprise Billing
Pharmacy Benefit Management
Certificate of Insurance
Scope of Practice
Mental Health
Early Childhood Health
As an Association we will monitor all of these discussions and any related legislation closely and continue to talk to our legislators about how any of these topics may impact our industry.