Gov. Josh Stein’s Department of Health and Human Services implemented unprecedented cuts to Medicaid reimbursements after creating an arbitrary cutoff of October 1st for the legislature to pass more funding.

Rep. Donny Lambeth told WRAL in August when Gov. Stein’s administration warned of their proposed cuts, “In my 12 years of working on health issues, I have never seen the department jump to tell providers they will face major cuts when legislators’ oversight committees have not met yet.”

This week the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and the Joint Legislative Committee on Health and Human Services held a full day of meetings to hear from DHHS officials about the status of Medicaid funding and what was being done to control costs.

[Presentation materials for the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid can be found on the legislative website here.]

[Presentation materials for the Joint Legislative Committee on Health and Human Services can be found on the legislative website here.]

At the hearing this week Rep. Donna White told DHHS leaders, “We thought we had an understanding with the governor’s office. We thought we had an understanding with you all.”

Previously legislative leaders have pointed out that historically the legislature has provided additional funding for Medicaid rebase, including an additional $377 million just last November. Dr. Grant Campbell, a first term member and physician from Cabarrus County, in September underscored, “[DHHS] would not be in a situation where mathematically they would need to do cuts until well into next year when we are in short session.”

A hallmark of the conservative leadership of the North Carolina General Assembly has been a careful review of spending to ensure money isn’t wasted on unnecessary projects. Legislators have time and again stepped up to provide funding when needed. The legislature should be commended for their continued commitment to this approach that has kept our savings strong, our budgets balanced, and the economy robust. Gov. Stein’s administration would be wise to work with legislators to reverse their cuts for Medicaid reimbursements, rather than continue the political theatrics.