Signed by Governor Josh Stein

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that appropriates funds and establishes provisions for Medicaid in North Carolina.

Highlights:

• Extends the date on which certain grant funds will revert to the general fund to June 30, 2027 (Sec. 1).

• Establishes the North Carolina Blue Ribbon Commission on Public Education to study the structure and implementation of public education in the state (Sec. 2).

• Appropriates $319 million in fiscal year 2026 to the Department of Health and Human Services Division of Health Benefits (DHB) to be used to adjust Medicaid funding to account for projected changes in enrollment, costs, federal match rates, and implementation of the Children and Families Specialty Plan (Sec. 3).

• Requires intergovernmental transfers to the DHB in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 from various local management entities/managed care organizations (LME/MCOs) (Sec. 3).

• Increases the frequency with which eligibility reviews must be conducted for medical assistance benefits from quarterly to monthly (Sec. 3).

• Prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from accepting self-attestation as the only evidence in verification of eligibility for Medicaid (Sec. 3).

• Requires an individual’s income to be considered when determining eligibility for medical assistance benefits even if the individual is ineligible based on immigration status (Sec. 3).

• Requires HHS to report any applicant for which citizenship or satisfactory immigration status could not be verified to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Sec. 3).

• Requires HHS to submit an annual audit to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and the Fiscal Research Division regarding all improper Medicaid payments, fraud, waste, or abuse (Sec. 3).

• Requires HHS to annually adjust all Medicaid copayments to the maximum allowable by federal law (Sec. 3).

• Increases the maximum number of beds allowable at facilities licensed to provide overnight respite services from six to 12, and requires facilities with 7-12 participants to have a minimum of two staff awake at all times (Sec. 3).

• Prohibits HHS from accepting self-attestation as the only evidence in verification of eligibility for the food and nutrition services program (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that this Act takes effect upon passage unless otherwise stated (Sec. 9).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that appropriates funds and establishes provisions for Medicaid in North Carolina.

Highlights:

• Extends the date on which certain grant funds will revert to the general fund to June 30, 2027 (Sec. 1).

• Establishes the North Carolina Blue Ribbon Commission on Public Education to study the structure and implementation of public education in the state (Sec. 2).

• Appropriates $319 million in fiscal year 2026 to the Department of Health and Human Services Division of Health Benefits (DHB) to be used to adjust Medicaid funding to account for projected changes in enrollment, costs, federal match rates, and implementation of the Children and Families Specialty Plan (Sec. 3).

• Requires intergovernmental transfers to the DHB in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 from various local management entities/managed care organizations (LME/MCOs) (Sec. 3).

• Increases the frequency with which eligibility reviews must be conducted for medical assistance benefits from quarterly to monthly (Sec. 3).

• Prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from accepting self-attestation as the only evidence in verification of eligibility for Medicaid (Sec. 3).

• Requires an individual’s income to be considered when determining eligibility for medical assistance benefits even if the individual is ineligible based on immigration status (Sec. 3).

• Requires HHS to report any applicant for which citizenship or satisfactory immigration status could not be verified to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Sec. 3).

• Requires HHS to submit an annual audit to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and the Fiscal Research Division regarding all improper Medicaid payments, fraud, waste, or abuse (Sec. 3).

• Requires HHS to annually adjust all Medicaid copayments to the maximum allowable by federal law (Sec. 3).

• Increases the maximum number of beds allowable at facilities licensed to provide overnight respite services from six to 12, and requires facilities with 7-12 participants to have a minimum of two staff awake at all times (Sec. 3).

• Prohibits HHS from accepting self-attestation as the only evidence in verification of eligibility for the food and nutrition services program (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that this Act takes effect upon passage unless otherwise stated (Sec. 9).

Full Bill Text