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Primary Sponsor

Last Action

Ref to the Com on Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House2026-04-30

Vote Breakdown

No floor votes recorded.

Plain Language Summary

This bill establishes three healthcare access programs in North Carolina: a $5 million Maternal Care Access Grant Program to fund community-based organizations addressing maternal health disparities, a $2 million Prostate Cancer Control Program providing free or low-cost screenings for uninsured/underinsured men, and insurance coverage requirements ensuring that diagnostic and supplemental breast imaging have the same patient cost-sharing as screening mammograms.

Arguments in Favor

• •Supporters argue this bill addresses documented health disparities by funding community-led maternal health initiatives that have proven effective, particularly for marginalized populations experiencing higher maternal mortality rates.
• •They contend the prostate cancer screening program improves early detection for high-risk uninsured men, and that requiring equal cost-sharing for all breast imaging removes financial barriers that may prevent women from accessing necessary diagnostic follow-up after screening.

Arguments Against

• •Opponents may argue the bill's $12 million appropriation adds to state spending during budget constraints and that mandating equal cost-sharing for diagnostic imaging could increase insurance premiums for all policyholders.
• •Some may question whether grant funding to community organizations without traditional healthcare credentials ensures quality outcomes, and whether prostate cancer screening expansion aligns with current medical guidelines that recommend individualized decision-making rather than universal screening programs.