Governor Bev Perdue released her budget adjustments yesterday for consideration by the NC General Assembly. The $20.9 billion budget includes a three quarters cent sales tax increase, restoration of education funds cut during the last year, salary increases for some state employees and a continuation of the many smaller cuts in Medicaid. There do not appear to be any additional across-the-board rate cuts proposed in the Governor’s budget. While the health and human services portion of the budget seems to be relatively untouched, your NCMS legislative team is working to analyze each line item to ensure no further erosions to rates and essential medical services. Further detail and a comparison to the House budget expected to be released next week will be posted online.