News
Berger outlines priorities, calls for unity ahead of 2026 session
Senate Leader Phil Berger highlights GOP policy goals, budget hopes, and calls for unity as North Carolina lawmakers prepare for the 2026 short session.
News
Lawmakers press NC officials over Medicaid fraud, oversight concerns
Republican lawmakers pressed NC officials on Medicaid fraud oversight, raising concerns about enforcement gaps, data tracking, and accountability.
News
Judge refuses to dismiss suit over funding NC Medicaid autism services
A Wake County judge refused Monday to dismiss a lawsuit over state funding of Medicaid services for children with autism. The state had argued that the case was moot.
News
NC lawmakers probe surge in autism therapy costs
State lawmakers question rising autism therapy costs as audit, federal scrutiny, and lawsuit raise concerns over oversight and access in NC Medicaid.
Opinion
Welfare reforms create good problems
When the North Carolina General Assembly reconvenes next month for its 2026 session, one subject on the table will be how best to apportion an additional $85 million in SNAP administrative costs between the state and its counties.
News
Parties disagree over future of NC Medicaid autism services suit
Plaintiffs in a lawsuit over Medicaid-funded services for children with autism dispute North Carolina health officials’ argument that the case is now moot.
News
Sawrey: Senate to revisit health costs, Medicaid, CON reforms
State Sen. Benton Sawrey, R-Johnston, said health care reforms, including hospital price transparency, Medicaid, and Certificate of Need (CON) laws, are among the issues the Senate plans to tackle during the upcoming short session.
News
$12.7M Medicaid fraud scheme exposes wider program concerns
Medicaid fraud has become a widespread issue, across the country and in NC, where there were almost 400 allegations in 2025.
Opinion
Fiscal storm is about to hit us
The General Assembly elected this November will have to close budget holes for Medicaid and SNAP. Municipal and county officials elected in 2026 and 2027 will have to craft current and capital budgets that assume federal grants will shrink, not grow.
Opinion
Reforming SNAP is a fiscal necessity
As several provisions of the reconciliation bill Congress passed last year come into effect, the North Carolina General Assembly may have to appropriate as much as $659 million a year to maintain the state’s participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), what used to be called Food Stamps. That’s a huge increase. Our state...
Video
Locke’s Mitch Kokai assesses NC health care funding challenge
Mitch Kokai, John Locke Foundation senior political analyst, discusses North Carolina’s health care funding challenges linked to the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Kokai offered these comments during the Jan. 16, 2026, edition of PBS North Carolina’s “State Lines.”
News
DHHS seeks dismissal of suit over Medicaid autism service rate cuts
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is asking a court to dismiss a lawsuit over cuts to state Medicaid funding for services provided to children with autism.
