Budget Update: Governor Beverly Perdue vetoes the bipartisan state budget
Sunday afternoon, Governor Perdue called a press conference in which she vetoed the state budget that was passed on a bipartisan vote several days before. This veto was not a big surprise to most, given the current strained relationship between the General Assembly and the Governor. For more information on the state budget, please see last week’s Health Care Update by Joseph Coletti.
Legislative Update
With crossover week complete and the long 2011 session drawing to an end, here is a quick recap on where important health-related bills stand before recess:
- HB115: North Carolina Health Benefit Exchange
The Health Insurance Exchange bill has been on hold since May when it passed the Joint Committee on Health and Human Services (HHS) and was referred to the Senate Committee on Rules and Operations. This delay in passing the bill comes after a much-contested journey through HHS and Insurance Committees. - HB2: Protect Health Care Freedom
The health protection bill has seen a lot of action in the 2011 session and may see more yet. After being vetoed by Gov. Perdue in early March, the bill was re-presented on the House floor March 9. However, at that time, a veto override failed and the bill was motioned for suspension. This ultimately means that the House will be able to bring the bill to vote again, whenever it sees fit, and attempt another override of the Governor’s veto. Given the current state of political relationships, it won’t be too surprising if the House finds a way to override the HB2 veto on the heels of a state budget veto override. - HB916: Statewide Expansion of 1915(b)/(c) Waivers
The use of 1915 (b)/(c) waivers has been at the forefront of discussion at the NCGA this session as CABHAs, LMEs and other health care entities look to secure funding not tied to the state budget. After much public testimony, the 1915 (b)/(c) Expansion Bill passed the Senate on June 9, 29-16. - SB769: Abortion–Women’s Right to Know
This exceptionally controversial bill passed the House floor in early June with a 71-48 vote. The bill is now waiting to be heard in the Senate Committee on Judiciary. SB769 has been a hotly disputed piece of legislation, pitting political parties against one another. Although this bill still has to pass the Senate, it will be on a lot of legislator’s minds as they strategize for the upcoming short session. - S551: Establish State Public Health Authority
Creators of this bill claim that the formation of a "Public Health Authority" in North Carolina will strengthen the infrastructure of health delivery systems throughout the state. The bill originated in the Senate in early April, but has yet to be voted on in their HHS Committee. Due to the possibility that the Senate HHS Committee may not convene in the 2011 short session, this bill may not make any progress. - H848: Establish HHS Oversight Committee
This bill would create a joint committee that would oversee the development, budgeting, financing, administration and delivery of health services across the state. The bill was viewed as an important transition of authority to the joint HHS Committee, but has not been discussed since its referral to the House HHS Committee in April. It will most likely make an appearance in the 2011 short session. - S375: Establish Statewide Health Information Exchange
The statewide information exchange bill was designed to allow health care providers to pass protected patient health information back and forth through secure electronic means. While this sounds easy enough, the complicated nature of safeguarding information and transmitting it securely has led to much discussion about privacy and technology at the NCGA. This bill passed the Senate unanimously in early April, but is currently sitting in the House HHS Committee. - S465: Behavioral Health Management
If passed, the Program Evaluation Division at the General Assembly will be tasked with evaluating the governance of LMEs, the impact of their consolidation or expansion, and the effect Medicaid waivers have on LME success. Given the previous use and perceived success of LMEs, a better understanding of their structure could highly influence the future structure of NC health care services and providers. This bill passed favorably through the Senate Mental Health and Youth Services Committee and currently sits in the House HHS Committee waiting for 2011 short session. - SB323: State Employee Health Plan
Rewrites of the state health plan began in early March after Gov. Perdue vetoed the initial plan. The newest version of the State Employee Health Plan became law on May 23 without the Governor’s signature. Previous analysis and discussion of SB323 can be found on the Locke Foundation website here and here.
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