NC Overturns Long-Standing Opposition and Approves Medicaid Expansion

North Carolina has approved Medicaid expansion, which will provide healthcare coverage for hundreds of thousands of low-income adults. The state is one of several Republican-led states that have begun considering expanding Medicaid after years of opposition. The final agreement also included provisions scaling back or eliminating regulations that require state health officials to sign off before medical providers open certain new beds or use equipment. The state's 10% share of expenses for Medicaid expansion recipients would be paid through hospital assessments. Hospitals are also expected to receive larger reimbursements for treating Medicaid patients through a federal program that the legislation tells the state to participate in.