Price, Adams, Butterfield Urge Rejection of NC Medicaid Waiver

Press Release

Today, Congressman David Price (NC-04), Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12), and Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) sent a letter urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to reject the McCrory administration's request to reorganize and partially privatize North Carolina's Medicaid program. The State of North Carolina's request, known as a Section 1115 Demonstration waiver, would replace the award-winning Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC) program with a complex and unproven model that could disrupt established provider networks, diminish access to care, and degrade health outcomes for North Carolina's Medicaid population.

While requesting a complete overhaul ofthe successful Medicaid program, Governor McCrory and General Assembly leaders continue to reject expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act,despite the fact that the federal government would cover nearly all of the costs of expansion. Studies have shown that expanding Medicaid could provide improved quality of care for as many as half a million North Carolinians, save the state some $300 million over the next three years, and create thousands of jobs statewide.

"Governor McCrory's proposed Medicaid scheme would significantly weaken and privatize portions of the existing program, which has been a national model for success and cost-efficiency," said Congressman Price. "Some states that have implemented models similar to the proposal have faced significant cost overruns and dissatisfaction from providers. If Republican leaders really want to improve health care in our state, they should put political considerations aside and accept the Affordable Care Act's generous Medicaid expansion funding."

"The proposal to change the Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC) program is a rushed and partisan decision," said Congresswoman Adams. "Governor McCrory and the General Assembly have ignored the success of the Affordable Care Act and the need for Medicaid Expansion in the State of North Carolina. An overhaul of state's current CCNC program without public input, or consideration of other state's best practices, could result in the loss of thousands of potential new jobs and leave over 500,000 residents without health care coverage. We are looking to provide critical access to health care and create jobs for North Carolinians -- not the reverse."

"The working families of North Carolina deserve access to quality and affordable healthcare," said Congressman Butterfield. "Unfortunately, Governor McCrory's proposal would provide the exact opposite, by creating a complex, convoluted, and unproven system that would weaken access to coverage. Even more troubling is Governor McCrory's refusal to build on the state's current Medicaid system that already has a proven record of excellence in caring for North Carolinians. It is clear that the plot to replace North Carolina's current Medicaid system is purely political and not in the best interest of our families."

The State of North Carolina's waiver request was submitted on June 1 and is subject to a public comment period through July 20, 2016. CMS officials will work with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services in the coming months to determine whether to approve the waiver.

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