Opinion
What we learned from Colorado’s mistake on Medicaid expansion
One of the crueler aspects of Colorado’s Medicaid expansion is that it’s a case study for how expansion crowds out services for those who really need it.
News
N.C. General Assembly short session gets into full swing
The N.C. General Assembly convened the 2022 short session Wednesday, May 18, with fast-track plans to “pre-negotiate” the budget and be out by July 1. Still, important issues are on the to-do list, like health care access reports and parental involvement in education.
News
N.C. General Assembly opens short session with short to-do list
The North Carolina General Assembly convened the 2022 short session Wednesday, May 18 after the longest long session in state history concluded in March. Both the Senate and the House would like the short session to stay short, especially after the marathon timeframe of the long session and for those who will be campaigning for the General Election in November.
News
Sports betting legislation will probably make a comeback in 2022
A bill that would legalize mobile sports betting in North Carolina is likely to see significant consideration in the House during the abbreviated spring legislative session. Rep. Jon Hardister, R-Gulliford, and majority whip in the House and one of the sponsors of the legislation, said recently he believes Senate Bill 688 has enough bipartisan support...
News
Possible merger of internet providers could be broadband boon for North Carolina
As the federal government — and leaders in North Carolina — look to plow millions of taxpayer dollars into broadband growth, a possible merger between two internet providers with strong footprints in the state could help facilitate high-speed infrastructure development. Zayou Group LLC of Boulder, Colorado is looking to buy the Little Rock, Arkansas companies...
News
Lawmakers OK regulatory sandbox bill to boost innovation in NC financial sector
A unanimous vote in the N.C. House means a “regulatory sandbox” bill is on its way to Gov. Roy Cooper. The new “sandbox” would waive certain obstacles for a trial period for fast-emerging financial and insurance products and services. The 111-0 vote Thursday in the state House followed a 49-0 vote Wednesday in the Senate....
News
Regulatory sandbox bill moving through final hurdles in N.C. Senate
A bill to establish a “regulatory sandbox” by waiving certain obstacles for a trial period for fast-emerging financial and insurance products and services is one step closer to becoming law. It cleared the Senate Commerce and Insurance Committee on Tuesday, Sep. 21. House Bill 624 would create the regulatory sandbox, which is similar to one authorized...
News
Teledentistry bill, reducing tape for hygienists, moving in legislature
A bill that advocates say would boost access to dentistry, especially in the state’s rural areas, is sailing through the General Assembly. Senate Bill 146, sponsored by Sen. Jim Perry, R-Lenoir, has received nearly unanimous support in both chambers. After minor revisions in the House, the Senate could reconsider the legislation Wednesday, July 21. From...
News
Legislation would ease health care red tape, boost access to care
Legislation introduced in this session of the General Assembly seeks to reduce restrictions created by certificate of need laws, which critics say reduce access to health care and increase costs. Bills in the General Assembly have been filed with the intention of doing everything from making minor changes to complete repeal. Certificate of need laws...
News
Cooper’s plan to expand Medicaid relies on bad math, JLF report finds
Gov. Roy Cooper’s price tag for Medicaid expansion could be off by as much as $171.3 million, a report by the John Locke Foundation says. Medicaid expansion has dominated Cooper’s fights with the Republican legislature. Cooper’s pitch comes in the form of a moral imperative: Cover uninsured people who are suffering without medical care, and...
News
Local doctors, pharmacists stepping up to close COVID-19 testing gap
Dr. Gus Vickery has started a drive-through clinic in Asheville, where he has tested dozens of patients for COVID-19 in two days. An independent group of doctors will launch a drive-through clinic in Charlotte, where they boast 300 COVID-19 test kits and plan to get more for their patients. As the virus spreads in North...
News
Final Hometown Debate discusses delivery of medical services
The North Carolina Institute of Political Leadership’s Hometown Debate Series concluded Thursday, Oct. 17, in Henderson, as legislators and policy advocates debated the delivery of medical services. Panelists also addressed topics from the three earlier debates: Medicaid expansion, the rural-urban health care divide, and the future of telemedicine, to name a few. Since 2016, the...
