Medicaid fix would stop prison hospital privatization
A bill to make up for gaps in the state Medicaid program now contains a provision that would keep the state prison system from contracting for prison health care.
Posted — Updated"During the 2011-2013 fiscal biennium, the State of North Carolina shall not issue any request for proposals for, or enter into any new contract for, the operational oversight or management of health care services for inmates in the State prison system without the prior approval of the General Assembly through a legislative act."
Administration officials hope that privatizing the health service would save money that could go toward other priorities.
Lawmakers had been considering putting prison health care language in the budget bill. But with the issuance of the RFP, they've chosen a faster legislative vehicle: the Medicaid fix bill.
That bill could be heard on the House floor as early as this afternoon and would then have to return to the Senate for concurrence.
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