By now you have probably read or heard that the NC General Assembly is finally, in earnest, taking up the prospect of Medicaid expansion. In addition to Medicaid expansion, HB149 is an expansive piece of legislation that contains a plethora of health care related policy including amending laws that deal with Certificate of Need, regulation of nurse practitioners, surprise billing and telehealth.
The NC Senate voted last week 44-2 to advance the legislation to the House. While support in the Senate is strong, House legislators are more cautious and the bills fate is uncertain because of historically entrenched opposition and because of the logistics of trying to pass a bill this complicated during a short work session.
This committee met with Sen. Jim Burgin (R. Dist. 30/Chair, Health Committee) to discuss some of the nuances of the bill and to reiterate NCAHU's support of this legislation. Sen. Burgin has been, and continues to provide important and timely information on all things health care related that impact brokers/agents and all of us in the healthcare community.
We will continue our conversations with key legislators and other aligned healthcare associations as this bill progresses.
This will also be my last blog post as Chair of this Committee. It has truly been my great honor to work with the wonderfully talented members on this committee for the last two years. I proceeded Hughes Warren, who left an indelible mark on this position and my first few meetings were filled with nervous anticipation. But the members of this committee have always been warm, generous and patient (much like NAHU members as a whole) and I was able to find my sea legs. I also owe a huge debt of gratitude to our lobbyist Joe Stewart, without whom so much of the success we have had would not be possible. And I am excited to pass the torch to David Smith, who I know will carry the torch with as much professional grace as Hughes did and that I have endeavored to do.
My job moving forward will be to continue to serve on the Executive Board of NCAHU and provide my support to our President, Carol Matznick.
With many thanks,
Michelle Wilson-Reynolds