The North Carolina General Assembly (NCGA) convened earlier this week in a skeletal session in which no votes were taken and floor sessions adjourned within minutes. The mini-session had been scheduled in order to address potential action on redistricting, however such work became unnecessary.

The regularly scheduled short session of the General Assembly will begin on May 16 and focus primarily on budget-adjustments. In the meantime, appropriations subcommittees have continued to meet in order to identify areas of concern and possible solutions to impending shortfalls – including those within the Medicaid budget.

Your legislative team is already hard at work to prepare for a very short session with goals to protect Medicaid reimbursement and services, defend hard-won medical liability reforms, protect against half a dozen scope of practice threats and address needed legislation regarding insurance regulation.

With so much to discuss in such a short period of time, it is important for our members to build relationships with legislators and play an active role in advocating for your profession. Watch upcoming issues of the Bulletin and for information on the NCMS website regarding the latest developments on the many issues facing the medical community this year.