NC General Assembly Adjourns 2012 Session

The North Carolina Senate and House have officially concluded their business for 2012. Overall, this Republican-controlled session was a success for physicians. Medicaid spending, mental health system changes, and numerous scope of practice issues were major topics addressed this session. While none of the scope of practice issues received favorable votes, an unexpected amount of emphasis on these long-standing matters took place in the new legislature. However, the priority for the 2012 short session was adjusting the current spending for the fiscal year, which began on Sunday, July 1. 

Lawmakers focused on settling Medicaid shortfalls that have been prevalent over the past couple of years. The newly penned budget, which was vetoed by Governor Bev Perdue, added over $200 million in additional spending to ensure that Medicaid recipients will continue to receive services over the next year. This influx of funds also accounted for many “off-the-book” expenditures that the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) had been dealing with over the last couple of years.

Late Monday night, July 2, 2012, six Democrats joined the 68 House Republicans to override the Governor’s veto of the budget. They included Rep. Jim Crawford (D-Granville), Rep. William Brisson (D-Bladen), Rep. Dewey Hill (D-Columbus), Rep. Marcus Brandon (D-Guilford), Rep. Darren Jackson (D-Wake), Rep. Marian McLawhorn (D-Pitt). Rep. Susi Hamilton (D-New Hanover) was not present for the vote. These Democrats showed incredible fortitude by standing with you and your patients to ensure that a real and accurate Medicaid budget emerged from this process. If not for their support, Medicaid shortfalls and most likely further Medicaid cuts would have taken effect over the next year because of previous budget provisions. 

Over the next few weeks, your NCMS legislative team will provide you with a full analysis of the bills that were considered during the 2012 session. Watch upcoming Bulletin publications for issue summaries and a complete session summary. In the meantime, if you have questions about legislation considered or passed, contact Chip Baggett, Director of Legislative Relations, at [email protected] or Amy Whited, Director of Health Policy, at [email protected]  for additional information.

The NCMS would also like to take this opportunity to thank the countless physicians and physician assistants who made calls to legislators, the physician lobbyists representing more than a dozen specialties, and our medical community partners that helped make this session such a success. The NCMS benefits from strong partner relationships that allow us to advocate with a unified voice on your behalf. If you have not recently donated to the NCMS PAC, now is a great time to help rebuild the foundation of our advocacy program. Click here to donate. Please consider becoming a sustaining donor of the NCMS PAC today.

 
 

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1 Comment

  • jugta kahai

    hi Amy, thanks for update. In being absent for the veto-vote, was Susi Hamilton in fact speaking (silently) against the veto?