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Last Action

Ref to the Com on Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House2025-03-20

Vote Breakdown

No floor votes recorded.

Plain Language Summary

This bill increases North Carolina's Medicaid reimbursement rates for two types of home-based care services: personal care services (PCS) would increase to $7.50 per 15-minute increment, and private duty nursing services (PDN) would increase to $16.25 per 15 minutes. The state would spend approximately $139 million annually with federal matching funds totaling approximately $254 million per year for the 2025-2027 fiscal period.

Arguments in Favor

• •Supporters argue that these rate increases are necessary to attract and retain qualified caregivers for vulnerable populations, as current reimbursement rates have not kept pace with inflation and wage demands in the home care industry.
• •They contend that higher rates will improve access to care for Medicaid beneficiaries who depend on these services to live independently in their communities, and will reduce caregiver turnover and burnout in an already understaffed field.

Arguments Against

• •Opponents may argue that the state cannot afford the $139 million in new annual spending during budget constraints, and that these funds could be allocated to other healthcare or social needs.
• •Some may also question whether rate increases will actually result in better caregiver recruitment and retention, or if the increases will primarily benefit service agencies rather than individual workers, and whether the effectiveness of spending should be evaluated before committing to recurring funding.