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Medicaid expansion to provide billions to NC hospitals, state coffers

PRE News & Ideas | By Annette Weston-Riggs
Published November 29, 2023 at 6:30 AM EST
The "Medicaid Drug Decisions Transparency Act" would require pharmaceutical companies to disclose their payments to pharmacists and others who serve on state Medicaid drug boards — the advisory groups that decide which drugs Medicaid will and won't cover.
Gary Waters
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Ikon Images/Getty Images
The "Medicaid Drug Decisions Transparency Act" would require pharmaceutical companies to disclose their payments to pharmacists and others who serve on state Medicaid drug boards — the advisory groups that decide which drugs Medicaid will and won't cover.

Nearly $2.6 billion will be distributed to more than 100 hospitals across North Carolina this week as part of Medicaid expansion legislation.

The NC Department of Health and Human Services said 102 hospitals will start getting payments through the Healthcare Access and Stabilization Program.

The payments will be financed through new assessments on North Carolina hospitals, and state health officials say the state will be able to draw more than $8 billion each year from the federal government based on expected enrollment.

On Friday, NCDHHS will launch Medicaid expansion in North Carolina, meaning an estimated 600,000 people will be eligible for full Medicaid coverage.
Annette Weston-Riggs
Annette is originally a Midwest gal, born and raised in Michigan, but with career stops in many surrounding states, the Pacific Northwest, and various parts of the southeast. An award-winning journalist and mother of four, Annette moved to eastern North Carolina in 2019 to be closer to family – in particular, her two young grandchildren. It’s possible that a -27 day with a -68 windchill in Minnesota may have also played a role in that decision. In her spare time, Annette does a lot of kiddo cuddling, reading, and producing the coolest Halloween costumes anyone has ever seen. She has also worked as a diversity and inclusion facilitator serving school districts and large corporations. It’s the people that make this beautiful area special, and she wants to share those stories that touch the hearts of others. If you have a story idea to share, please reach out by email to westona@cravencc.edu.
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