Healthcare
Healthcare expenditures are rising and currently consume roughly 25% of NC’s General Fund budget. Currently, 1.8 million NC residents depend on Medicaid for healthcare needs, roughly 18% of the state’s population. NC is the only state in the union which requires counties to pay 15% of non-federal Medicaid costs and is placing a huge burden on county budgets – $426 million just in 2006. Frivolous lawsuits also contribute to the rising cost of healthcare and force physicians to perform defensive medicine, such as extra tests, to protect themselves from lawsuits.
- Introduced SB 72, Healthcare Liability Claims. This bill would place limits on damages against healthcare providers for liability claims, reduce healthcare costs and insurance premiums.
- Introduced SB 1013, Initiatives to Reduce Medicaid Costs. This bill would allow the Department of Health and Human Services to deploy a demonstration project to increase the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the Medicaid program
- Co-sponsored SB 1318, Health Insurance Tax Deduction. This bill would allow tax payers to deduct any amount spent on a qualified health coverage plan.
- Introduced SB 71, State Retirees Health Benefits Trust Funds. This bill would establish a trust fund for state retirees’ health benefits to cover increases in healthcare costs.
- Introduced SB 176, Medicaid/Title V Elig. Changes. This bill would allow Medicaid recipients to deduct income earned so they do not lose Medicaid benefits.
