BY REP. TODD CARVER

I wanted to take just a moment to temper expectations this week about the Medicaid funding situation in North Carolina. The reason I feel it is necessary to provide an update is that Gov. Josh Stein called the General Assembly back into session for Monday, November 17.

To provide context, the State of North Carolina is expected to need $819 million for the Medicaid program for this coming year (July 1-June 30). The N.C. House and N.C. Senate have appropriated $500 million with a pledge to circle back in the beginning of 2026 and allocate any needed funds to continue the program. I have been told this is the way it’s been done for many years.

This year Gov. Stein made the decision to cut the Medicaid reimbursement rate to providers by 10 percent because of the gap in requested and appropriated funds. This was an unnecessary move, which has impacted patients and providers alike all across the state. When the House was in session in October, we passed the remaining appropriation requested by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. We also passed measures authorizing the NCDHHS to move reserve funds around to prevent harm to patients and providers.

The request from the governor to reconvene the General Assembly was rejected by the leadership of the Senate and the House. They denied the governor’s request for a special session because we were already scheduled to be in session this week.

The reality is that there is no reason to reconvene until there is deal on Medicaid funding within the Senate. The House has done its part, and we would go back anytime the Senate leadership is willing to fully fund the state’s obligations.

There will be a great deal of political grandstanding this week. I want you to know about this development before it starts to transpire. The state budget and the Medicaid funding are both being held up by a small group of people. The House has done its part, and are willing to move forward whenever the logjam finally breaks. I will be very glad to see progress. I was optimistic it would happen this fall; now I will be surprised if these issues get resolved before the primary elections in March. Sen. Phil Berger, who controls the pace of the budget and the Medicaid funding legislation, is facing a primary opponent. Until we have an answer to that question, all we can do is keep sending over legislative fixes which get promptly returned.

I pledge to do all I can and to work with anyone who will come to the bargaining table and negotiate.

Rep. Todd Carver represents the 95th District in the N.C. House. Email him at todd.carver@ncleg.gov.