State lawmakers question rising autism therapy costs as audit, federal scrutiny, and lawsuit raise concerns over oversight and access in NC Medicaid.
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.
Plaintiffs in a lawsuit over Medicaid-funded services for children with autism dispute North Carolina health officials’ argument that the case is now moot.
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.
Medicaid fraud has become a widespread issue, across the country and in NC, where there were almost 400 allegations in 2025.
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.
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...
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.”
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.
Donna King, Carolina Journal editor-in-chief, discusses North Carolina’s Medicaid funding issues. King offered these comments during the Dec. 12, 2025, edition of PBS North Carolina’s “State Lines.”
Donna King, Carolina Journal editor-in-chief, discusses a new report showing the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services accumulated $386 million for vacant jobs. King offered these comments during the Nov. 21, 2025, edition of PBS North Carolina’s “State Lines.”
