Source: Charlotte Business Journal, Erik Spanberg Senior Staff Writer ⇥
by Erik Spanberg, Senior Staff Writer-Charlotte Business Journal: Email | Twitter | Google+
N.C. Gov. Pat McCrory sounds skeptical about accepting expanded coverage for low-income people across the state from the federal government. This week, while McCrory was in Charlotte attending the announcement of new golf event at Quail Hollow Club, I asked the governor for an update on expanding Medicaid.
He has spent much of the past year flirting with the idea of a tailored version of the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, to make expanded coverage more palatable. Supporters of the Obama program say the state is losing money paid by N.C. taxpayers that is benefiting other states that have opted in.
McCrory discussed the matter with Obama at the White House this month and in January.
“My major goal right now is to get Medicaid reform,” McCrory told me Wednesday. “In fact, I was in Washington the last six days in which I talked to Health and Human Services, and I even had the (agency) at the mansion two weeks ago. My major goal right now is Medicaid reform because we can’t sustain the current level of expenses and the poor customer service being provided to the elderly, the poor, the disabled and the women that are qualified for Medicaid.”
McCrory went on to say the uncertainty swirling around the current Supreme Court case involving Medicaid reimbursement rates for doctors and other health-care providers is another reason to push for what he called an alternative plan.
The president was unenthusiastic about the idea, the governor said. “At this point in time, I’m not sure the White House is interested in that.”
> Article continues with quotes from pro-Expansion advocates and stats on the policy and polls.
> Opposite opinion three days earlier: Civitas Institute tweeted: .@PatMcCroryNC still considering medicaid expansion? http://bit.ly/1Lzz9S5 #ncpol
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