Sen. Phil Berger

shows a computer screen in the foreground with statistics about COVID on the screen, a woman stands at a podium in t he distance.

Coronavirus Today – May 20 – Indoor restaurant dining; barbershops salons to open, but no gyms yet; Cooper unlikely to pick pizza

May 20, 2020 by Editor

Coronavirus Today – May 20 – Indoor restaurant dining; barbershops salons to open, but no gyms yet; Cooper unlikely to pick pizza - North Carolina Health News

As the number of COVID-19 lab confirmed cases continue to rise, Gov. Roy Cooper modifies his phased reopening plan.

By North Carolina Health News staff Restaurants, salons, barbershops may open soon North Carolinians will be able to get haircuts at a barbershop or salon after Friday and spend time inside restaurants and at swimming pools that have been closed for nearly two months due to COVID-19. Gov. Roy Cooper announced Wednesday that he will […]

Shows man at a podium, there's another man standing next to him who is wearing a facemask against COVID-19

Lawmakers return to Raleigh to address health care, other needs generated by COVID-19 pandemic

April 29, 2020 by Rose Hoban

Lawmakers return to Raleigh to address health care, other needs generated by COVID-19 pandemic - North Carolina Health News

Legislature returns to tackle funding and policy issues brought about by the pandemic.

By Rose Hoban In an eerily unoccupied General Assembly building, only a scattering of lawmakers were in each of the chambers of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Nonetheless, there were enough members present to vote and carry out their work. Thus began what is likely the strangest of legislative sessions, one designed for […]

we see hands of a researcher who is moving around dangerous pathogens such as covid -19

General Assembly leaders supported a study on COVID with $100,000. What will it tell us going forward?

April 16, 2020 by Rose Hoban

General Assembly leaders supported a study on COVID with $100,000. What will it tell us going forward? - North Carolina Health News

A Wake Forest Baptist study aims to track who’s infected or not, but is only part of the broader picture as NC takes next steps.

By Rose Hoban The science of tracking the novel coronavirus’ spread took on a political tinge Wednesday with Senate leader Phil Berger (R-Eden) participating in the rollout of a research study to track people who may have already had COVID-19 without knowing it. Berger announced earlier this week that $100,000 in discretionary funding from the […]

Image of money with a caduceus superimposed on the bills. We're using this image to denote Medicaid managed care.

Federal proposal could change the face of Medicaid in North Carolina

January 31, 2020 by Sarah Ovaska

Federal proposal could change the face of Medicaid in North Carolina - North Carolina Health News

A Trump Administration announcement of lump-sum offer for adult Medicaid coverage draws fire from some quarters.

By Sarah Ovaska and Liora Engel-Smith The Trump Administration announced a proposal Thursday that could potentially transform how Medicaid functions in some areas. The proposal would let states opt into a lump-sum funding system to pay for the health care needs of low-income, working-age adults. The proposal is already drawing fire from critics and Democrats […]

a man stands at a podium with a number of grim faced advocates for Medicaid expansion standing behind him

Legislative mini-session produces little movement on health care issues, despite new call for Medicaid expansion

January 16, 2020 by Rose Hoban

Legislative mini-session produces little movement on health care issues, despite new call for Medicaid expansion - North Carolina Health News

An unlikely coalition of business people, law enforcement and local officials - all conservative - came together Wednesday to criticize the legislature for missing the opportunity to act on Medicaid.

By Rose Hoban By the time he reached Raleigh after six hours of driving, Dale Wiggins was angry that the lawmakers he was coming to see had already skipped town. Wiggins, the chair of the Graham County Board of Commissioners, came to Raleigh Tuesday to speak to legislators about enacting Medicaid expansion. But by the […]

Shows Hurricane Dorian as it was over the NC Coast in September

Gov. Cooper signs Storm Recovery Act despite concerns

November 20, 2019 by Anne Blythe

Gov. Cooper signs Storm Recovery Act despite concerns - North Carolina Health News

Nearly $180 million in help is on the way for North Carolina recovery and resiliency projects related to hurricanes Dorian, Florence, Matthew and Michael.

By Anne Blythe A political storm that brewed last week between Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican legislative leaders over language in the Storm Recovery Act of 2019 calmed this week. The Democratic governor signed the bill into law, approving the release of some $180 million in state funds for recovery and resilience projects related to […]

shows a red cross with the word Medicaid printed on it, in front of a pile of dollar bills. For Medicaid transformation

NC’s Medicaid transformation suspended indefinitely

November 20, 2019 by Anne Blythe

NC’s Medicaid transformation suspended indefinitely - North Carolina Health News

With North Carolina Republican legislators and Gov. Roy Cooper at a budget impasse, North Carolina’s secretary of health suspends a long awaited move to Medicaid managed care.

By North Carolina Health News staff What state health officials have hinted at for weeks happened officially on Tuesday. The state Department of Health and Human Services announced that the long-awaited transformation of Medicaid to managed care from the existing fee-for-service system will not go live on Feb. 1 as planned. Nonetheless, Medicaid beneficiaries should […]

Will Ocracoke and North Carolinians still struggling from Hurricane Dorian, Florence and Matthew get disaster assistance soon?

November 14, 2019 by Anne Blythe

Will Ocracoke and North Carolinians still struggling from Hurricane Dorian, Florence and Matthew get disaster assistance soon? - North Carolina Health News

The General Assembly adopted the Storm Recovery Act, a $180 million relief and storm preparation package. Now it goes to Gov. Roy Cooper. But the governor objects to some additions to the bill.

By Anne Blythe Gail Covington, a family nurse practitioner who tends to people’s health needs on the Outer Banks through her Island Mobile Health Care, was doing some work in Raleigh this week. That’s where she heard that both General Assembly chambers had approved a long-awaited disaster relief bill that could bring needed aid to […]

A graphic with money in the background. Medicaid transformation graphic, prepaid health plan, medicaid expansion

No state budget, no Medicaid transformation?

November 12, 2019 by Sarah Ovaska

No state budget, no Medicaid transformation? - North Carolina Health News

The impasse in Raleigh may (again) push back what’s slated to be the biggest change to North Carolina’s health networks in decades.

By Sarah Ovaska-Few Talk about a health care policy cliffhanger. On one hand, North Carolina is slated to drastically alter the health care landscape of the state with a scheduled February handoff for most of its massive Medicaid system to managed care companies. The hope is that these companies, which will be paid a capitated, […]

shows a building entrance to Randolph Health facility. The general assembly threw a lifeline to the financially strugglig Randolph hospital this week.

Legislature comes and goes, leaves most health care priorities unfinished

November 1, 2019 by Rose Hoban

Legislature comes and goes, leaves most health care priorities unfinished - North Carolina Health News

One significant bill did get done, which will allows for a bailout of Randolph hospital in Asheboro.

By Rose Hoban County and health officials in Asheboro will likely breathe a sigh of relief this weekend as a long-desired bill to help the county hospital, which has been in financial trouble in recent years, passed both chambers of the General Assembly and is headed to Gov. Roy Cooper for his signature. Language from […]

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