Earlier this week the North Carolina House Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services (HHS) met to continue its discussion of the upcoming short session. General Assembly leaders have indicated a desire for a quick session, lasting a number of weeks rather than months. This means budgets are being discussed now and votes will take place very early in the session.

At Wednesday’s HHS Subcommittee meeting it was determined that the Health and Human Services spending target for FY 2012-2013 is $4,392,302,749. Among the parameters set by the House leadership for developing the HHS budget are the following:

• Funding restorations may be considered but no expansion of current programs or services.
• No fee increases.
• No substantive policy in special provisions.
• Additional Medicaid funds for growth and certain non-recurring liabilities are excluded from the spending target; funds will be held in reserve until further notice.
• The HHS Subcommittee is encouraged to continue funding programs previously supported by the Health and Wellness Trust Fund.

The subcommittee continues its work today to finalize its recommendations for the FY 2012-2013 HHS budget, with the Full House Appropriations Committee Chairs meeting next week to finalize the recommendations. According to a calendar distributed this week, the House plans to introduce its Budget Bill on Wednesday, May 16 – the first day of the 2012 short session. Final approval of the House Budget is expected to come the following week, as early as Wednesday, May 23.

Your NCMS legislative team is actively engaged in HHS Budget discussions and will keep members updated via the Bulletin and the NCMS website. Click here to review the budget handouts from this week’s HHS Appropriations Subcommittee.