While Medicaid expansion is still being debated in North Carolina, thousands of residents will be impacted by changes to the government-run program that were implemented this week.
Open enrollment has begun for Medicaid Managed Care, or what lawmakers have called Medicaid transformation.
The state General Assembly passed managed care legislation in 2015. The News & Observer reports that most residents who rely on Medicaid must enroll in a health plan and choose one of five primary care providers by December 13th.
The Department of Health and Human Services has set up contracts with those companies to provide predetermined set rates for services.
While coverage is expected to start February 1st, questions remain because of the current state budget stalemate. Governor Roy Cooper has said Medicaid expansion needs to be included in the overall state budget — a move opposed by Republican lawmakers. The Democratic governor recently vetoed a mini-budget bill that funded the transition to managed care.