Log in to WRAL.com with one click using your favorite social network:
OR
Log in using your WRAL.com account:



Wrong email/password combination.

Forgot password?

Register with WRAL.com using your favorite social network:
OR
Register for a WRAL.com account using our web form.

8:19 p.m. • 6-19-13

Weather Forecast for Raleigh

  • Thu: Partly Cloudy.
    • Hi: 85° F
  • Fri: Partly Cloudy.
    • Hi: 85° F
  • Sat: Thunderstorm.
    • Hi: 85° F

Other Locations

> 7 Day Forecast

Doppler Image

Alert

  • Just In: Actor James Gandolfini, who won Emmys for his role as Tony Soprano in the HBO series "The Sopranos," has died of an apparent heart attack, according to CNN. He was 51.

Published: 2012-05-16 18:37:00
Updated: 2012-05-17 08:51:05

Senate passes Medicaid fix


RAL-nc-flag
RAL-nc-flag
print friendly

The state Senate voted 47-0 to fill a $205 shortfall in North Carolina's Medicaid health insurance program for the poor and disabled. 

Under a measure that will now go to the House, the Department of Health and Human Services will be able to move money from other sources, including money set aside for building repairs and funds left unspent from across state government at the end of the year.

The shortfall was created because lawmakers anticipated they could save money by making dozens of changes to the state's Medicaid program. However, the federal government needs to sign off on all such changes. Those federal approvals came more slowly -- or have not come at all in some cases -- than lawmakers anticipated, sparking the cost overrun.

Even with the deal making its way through the legislature now, Medicaid may have a shortfall when the fiscal year ends on June 30. Lawmakers say the shortfall could reach $250 million, about $45 million more than Wednesday's fix could patch.


38 Comments


WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.

View Comments VIEW ALL 38 COMMENTS

This story is closed for comments. Comments on WRAL.com news stories are accepted and moderated between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Latest Comments
LambeauSouth, I work for the federal government on a military post and all of us go through drug testing as well as the soldiers here and my second job for a private contractor I and all employess had to take a drug test. Everyone gets tested does except for the ones collecting free goverment handouts. I was in the military they might make every one pee in a cup but they don't test everybody .They do it random just pick a few and test them.

Some of you people making comments on here, do not have a clue what requirments are to get on medicade. swray001

Do you mean medicaid? having worked for DHS in this department, I think i do. And it's amazing how many are eligible at this current time, anything from having their medicare premiums paid to spend downs for some to have medicaid pick up the tab, to getting it all..EVEN TO having someone pick u up at the door and take them to the medical appointments they have.

Some of you people making comments on here, do not have a clue what requirments are to get on medicade.

And everyone like her? Do you have ANY idea of the COST of doing that? And you guys complain about DEBT spending?!?

Pleez. MakoII

i totally agree with you..

mep,

How mis-managed is aviation safety? It's one of the few agencies that don't get watered down.

How about the Military? People rarely water that down either. Boehner proposed MORE than what the Military asked for!!

But the EPA, OSHA, FDA, etc get lobbied against and watered down all the time.

If they were ALLOWED to operate with their original powers granted and not watered down, they would be effective.

Just like Aviation Safety. Just like NASA was in getting us to the Moon.

Government only doesn't work, when people MAKE the government not work, so they can prosper from it. It's quite logically designed lobbying. Why can't you see that, is the question.

View Comments VIEW ALL 38 COMMENTS

Political Video Picks

 
  • North Carolina first lady Ann McCrory urged lawmakers Wednesday to take action on a bill that would establish basic standards of care…

  • After laying out his plans to reform Medicaid, transportation funding and job-recruitment efforts, Gov. Pat McCrory turned his…

  • Who should pay to clean Jordan Lake?

  • The House takes up legislation that would allow the speed limit on some N.C. highways to be raised to 75 mph.

  • The Senate Health Committee is expected to take up an as-yet unannounced proposed committee substitute for a state symbols bill.

  • The Senate Education Committee discusses a bill that would give students with disabilities publicly-funded scholarships to attend…