State Sen. Gene McLaurin joined Rep. Ken Goodman this week in calling on Governor Pat McCrory to protect and support a crucial, state-based public-private partnership as he attempts to reform North Carolina’s Medicaid system.
McLaurin and Goodman are from Rockingham.
In a letter sent to the governor on Tuesday, the Democratic legislators acknowledged that recent cost-overruns indicate a need for comprehensive reform. However, they expressed concern that the total privatization of Medicaid would send crucial funds out-of-state. Rather, McLaurin and Goodman urged the governor to employ the services of the Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC) program, a collaborative effort already in existence in North Carolina between hospitals, doctors, and Medicaid that has saved the state millions of dollars.
The legislators described CCNC as an example of a North Carolina-based solution that’s really working for the state. Just last week, Republican U.S. Senator Richard Burr joined the Healthcare Leadership Council to present the program with a national award for its success with North Carolina’s Medicaid system.
“While I appreciate the governor’s efforts to address the state’s ailing Medicaid program, I don’t feel that we need Wall Street firms replacing our public private partnership called Community Care of N. C. Privatizing Medicaid with an HMO will direct funds out of the Medicaid program and out of the state. This is not the solution we need,” Goodman said.
“I was very disappointed by the governor’s decision earlier this year to deny coverage to 500,000 North Carolinians through Medicaid expansion. Now, as we move forward with reform, we do need to improve efficiency, but we also need programs that are accountable to the people of North Carolina and not just to profit,” said McLaurin.
“That’s why it’s crucial that we protect programs that are already working for North Carolinians. With CCNC, we’re fortunate to have a national model for Medicaid disbursement already here and I would strongly urge Governor McCrory to maintain and strengthen this great program in the future,” McLaurin said.
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