In early April, the Governor McCrory announced a proposal to reform Medicaid under a new comprehensive Section 1115 waiver that would integrate all Medicaid services (physical health, mental health, long-term care, etc.) into a seamless statewide system under a managed care model known as the Partnership for a Healthy North Carolina. The proposal would, according…
Public Policy Update: Some Bills Survived “Crossover” and Some Did Not
As I mentioned in my previous blog posting, the week of May 10th to 14th at the General Assembly was crossover, a “do or die” week for policy bills introduced in the legislative long session. Simplified: bills that pass one chamber, either the NC House or the NC Senate, stay “alive” and can be voted…
Legislative Update for May 20 – NC House Passes Autism Insurance Bill!
The following post was filed by Jennifer Mahan, Autism Society of North Carolina Director of Advocacy and Public Policy. Crossover Week Last week, the legislature finished a very busy week known as “crossover.” During each long session the NC General Assembly sets a deadline for policy bills to be approved by one chamber or the…
Autism Insurance Update: Insurance Committee Hearing for H 498 Scheduled!
House Bill 498 that would require group insurance plans and the state health plan in North Carolina to cover treatment of autism is scheduled for a House Insurance Committee hearing on Tuesday May 14, 2013 at 1PM in room 1228/1327 of the Legislative Building. The House bill would ensure that plans for companies that operate…
Autism Health Insurance Reform
The following column was written by Autism Society of North Carolina CEO Tracey Sheriff. State lawmakers have an opportunity to right an unfortunate injustice this legislative session. Currently in North Carolina, the nearly 60,000 individuals with autism and their families face unfair financial hardship because of an inequality in their health insurance coverage. To correct…
Autism Insurance Legislation Introduced in North Carolina!
North Carolina General Assembly Representatives Chuck McGrady, Tom Murry, Phil Sheppard and Trisha Cotham have introduced NC House Bill 498, titled “Mandate Autism Health Coverage.” The bill would ensure that health benefits plans in North Carolina will provide coverage for diagnostic and treatment services for Autism Spectrum Disorders in individuals in private and state…
Public Policy News and Action: Group Home Bill Moves, No Medicaid Expansion, Federal ABLE Act Reintroduced, Federal Regs Leave Out ABA
This policy update contains both an update on the North Carolina General Assembly (state laws) as well as actions by the US Congress and federal regulators (federal laws). North Carolina General Assembly Update Group Home Bill Moves House Bill 5, which would extend temporary funding to residents of group homes who no longer qualify for personal care services,…
Legislative Long Session Kicks Off! What Might the Session Hold For People on the Spectrum?
This week marks the beginning of the North Carolina General Assembly long session, which typically lasts from the end of January to sometime in June/July. Lawmakers arrived for work in Raleigh over the last two weeks and began organizing for the session, with new legislators receiving training. There are a LOT of new folks – of…