When Medicaid expansion was implemented in North Carolina in December 2023, it was years of hard work coming to fruition.
Our state was one of just 10 states left that hadn’t expanded the program at that point, enrolling more than 311,000 people in the first month.
For the last eight months, the future of the program was in question in North Carolina, as Republicans repeatedly accused Democrats of lying about a funding gap in the state’s Medicaid program. That’s why it came as a bit of a shocker when those same Republicans moved to fill that gap on April 21, the day the General Assembly convened.
This week, lawmakers finished the job. That’s the good news on Good News Friday, but as Gov. Josh Stein made clear after signing the bill into law on Thursday, there’s still work to be done to truly stabilize access to Medicaid for millions in North Carolina.
Gov. Stein signs Medicaid funding bill
This week, both chambers of the NCGA granted final approval for House Bill 696, which will fill a $319 million gap in funding for Medicaid, sending it to Gov. Josh Stein, who signed it into law on Thursday.
Without a state budget currently in place, NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai had warned that the program would run out of money by the end of May.
In a release on Thursday, Stein pointed out that the bill will fully fund Medicaid for the coming fiscal year. He also urged lawmakers to stabilize the program with recurring funding so these stop-gap measures won’t continue to be necessary.
“Moving forward, the General Assembly should use recurring, not one-time, funding for Medicaid to avoid this painful process each year, protect the program for those who rely on it, and keep our entire health care system strong,” Stein wrote. “We are committed to continually improving Medicaid to contain costs and to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse at every turn.”
For healthcare advocates, the Medicaid funding bill does have its shortfalls though. It includes new Medicaid eligibility requirements that could be burdensome for some recipients, which is why a few Democrats voted against the fix.
It also includes a controversial stipulation that state social workers tell ICE when they can’t confirm a patient’s immigration status.
And, as Stein noted this week, the bill would also “eliminate health care coverage for nearly 27,000 pregnant women and children who are lawfully present in the United States, including victims of human trafficking, green card holders, and refugees. Women in need will be cut off from care in the middle of their pregnancies and children during their most vulnerable years. It is wrong.”
Stein said he signed the bill despite those concerns because he believes North Carolina lawmakers will fix that proposal in the ongoing legislative session.
Fayetteville gets proactive on public safety
Anti-violence and other community work involving public safety can be thankless, but what really makes things difficult is the lack of financial support these warriors often have to work with.
On Tuesday, the City of Fayetteville’s Office of Community Safety showed their support in a meaningful way by awarding $100,000 in Safe Space Activation Grant funding to support community-led programs for youth, families and residents throughout the eastern NC city this summer.
Four organizations were named inaugural recipients of the Safe Space Activation Grant, which funds the activation of safe, welcoming, and resource-connected spaces in neighborhoods across the city.
“These activations reflect our commitment to building safer communities through a consistent, community-led presence,” said John Jones, Director of the Office of Community Safety. “Community-based organizations will activate safe spaces across neighborhoods by providing ongoing activities and resources where youth and families can connect, engage, and feel supported.”
Fayetteville’s 2025 crime report showed that, while overall crime was down in the city last year, violent crime saw a spike. Read this release from the city to learn more about the work of the organizations the grant will fund.
Hurricanes skate through first round of playoffs
Thanks in large part to the amazing stopping power of goaltender Frederik Andersen, the Carolina Hurricanes swept through the first round of the playoffs, completing their sweep of the Ottawa Senators with a 4-2 win on Saturday.
Andersen allowed just five goals in more than 273 minutes in front of net, an effort that defenseman Sean Walker called “unbelievable.”
The goal of the series came in Game 2, when Jordan Martinook scored a double-overtime goal to lock in the team’s second win. The sweep marks the eighth straight season in which the ‘Canes have taken at least one playoff series.
The Hurricanes will face off next with the Philadelphia Flyers, the first playoff series between the two franchises. Carolina went 3-0-1 against Philadelphia this season. NHL officials will release the series schedule in the day to come.
