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Primary Sponsor

Last Action

Re-ref to Health Care. If fav, re-ref to Finance. If fav, re-ref to Rules and Operations of the Senate2025-05-27

Vote Breakdown

Plain Language Summary

This bill requires North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services to request federal approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to extend Medicaid coverage for personal care services to certain low-income individuals living in adult care homes. The coverage would apply to people whose income is between the current limit and 180-200% of the federal poverty level, but only if the new services are paid for through savings or cost avoidance and the federal government approves the request.

Arguments in Favor

• •Supporters argue this bill expands access to necessary personal care services for low-income seniors and disabled adults who currently fall into a coverage gap—they earn too much for existing assistance programs but cannot afford care services otherwise.
• •Proponents contend this could help individuals remain in less expensive adult care home settings rather than more costly nursing homes, potentially reducing overall Medicaid expenditures while improving quality of life for vulnerable populations.

Arguments Against

• •Opponents may be concerned about the fiscal impact and the requirement that costs be offset by savings, questioning whether projected savings will materialize or be sufficient.
• •Some may worry about the implementation complexity of seeking federal approval, the timeline for access, or whether targeting resources to this specific population is the most effective way to address care needs across the state's Medicaid system.