Big crowd at the home of @NC_Governor for the bill signing for #medicaidexpansion Cooper acknowledges efforts of advocates for the past decade in pushing for the policy.
Senate leader @SenatorBerger speaking now, “we see this as an opportunity to chipping away at rules the limit access to care” #ncga
#nchouse Speaker Tim Moore says “this has been a long day in coming” touts #medicaid transformation that made the program #mco driven. #ncga cites the money that will cone in to provide more services to #rural providers, will be a “generational change”
#ncsen Dan Blue acknowledges persistent advocacy of @NC_Governor and @DrMandyCohen “we accomplish more when we work together… says this is the biggest economic and jobs announcement the state has ever seen” #ncga#medicaidexpansion
“By becoming the 40th state to expand #Medicaid we will save #rural communities and rural #healthcare Blue says.
Now speaking @KodyKinsley who says that the 18k @ncdhhs workers who’ve been longing for this tool to help patients across the state. “To care for those with #mentalillness instead of sitting in an emergency room” #ncga#medicaidexpansion
In presser now where #nchouse#ncga giving overview of their biennial budget. According to Rep. Lambeth, health provisions include:
- $177.5M recurring in each year to perm maintain enhanced COVID Medicaid rates in Skilled nursing facilities
- also increased salaries for personal care service workers
- $15M for increased communicable disease surveillance,
- funds to increase rates for subsidizing child care
- $25M for rural hospital stabilization fund
- $50M in loan forgiveness for health care workers to go into rural communities
- $2B for water and sewer, esp in rural communities as incentive for rural economic development.
First abortion prohibition bill filed, H533 ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/202…
Would ban abortion from time of conception, with exceptions for ectopic pregnancy. 1/
Also includes exceptions if "pregnant female... has a life-threatening physical condition aggravated by, caused by, or arising from a pregnancy that
places the female at risk of death or poses a serious risk of substantial impairment of a major bodily function" 2/
"A person who violates ... subject to a civil penalty of not less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for each violation." Class B1 felony, on par with rape, aggravated child molestation, 2nd degree murder. Usually punishable by 144 months in prison. 3/
Presser by #NCGA Dems advocating for statewide non-discrimination legislation. "Equality for All" bill filed. ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/202…
Butler noting that "a teacher's voice can be their savior." Speaks to teachers re: working with professionalism. "Not for a moment do I believe that a teacher wants to out a child who has placed their trust in that teacher." #LGBTQIA
Notes that there are >1M same sex households in the U.S. as of the last census. #LGBTQIA#ncga