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North Carolina's 20-Week Abortion Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
A federal judge has overruled a North Carolina law banning abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy.
U.S. District Judge William Osteen's ruling Monday gives state legislators 60 days before the law he declared unconstitutional is voided so that they can amend it or appeal his ruling.
The law was challenged shortly after it passed in 2016. It would have allowed abortions after the 20th week of gestation only if the mother faces a risk of death or serious and irreversible harm from some urgent medical emergency.
House Panel OKs Halting Treasurer Health Care Pricing Change
Some North Carolina legislators want to derail imminent changes to the health insurance plan for state employees, teachers and retirees that would rework how it pays hospitals and other service providers.
The House Health Committee voted on Tuesday to block State Treasurer Dale Folwell's switch next year to a new pricing system for the 720,000-member State Health Plan. Folwell says his proposal would make health costs more transparent and save the state over $250 million annually.
But committee members — many of them Folwell's fellow Republicans — say his changes are too rash and agree with hospital executives worried his changes would lower revenues and could force more rural facilities to close.
Senate GOP Health Bill Seeks Access Without Broad Expansion
Senate Republicans are floating legislation they say would offer medical access to more people in North Carolina without expanding Medicaid to able-bodied adults through the federal health care law.
The legislation unveiled on Tuesday from Sens. Joyce Krawiec and Dan Bishop would set aside $41 million to help 2,000 more people with developmental disabilities receive assistance through a current state Medicaid program.
The omnibus measure also would repeal certificate of need laws that require state approval before operating a new hospital, nursing home or hospice, or adding new services or equipment. The bill also attempts to provide more mental health service access.
Ex-Football Player Admits Running Business To Bribe Athletes
A federal court document says a former N.C. State football player admits operating a business which bribed college athletes.
A plea report says Eric Leak pleaded guilty last week to conspiracy to commit promotional money laundering.
A bill of information filed in U.S. District Court in Charlotte says Leak and others moved money from his mental health business to his sports management company, which between 2012 and 2015 "provided and caused to be provided things of value" to student-athletes and a student-athlete's family member to steer them toward the company.
Leak is serving an 18-month prison term for Medicaid fraud linked to the mental health company.
Pioneering Medical Drone Program Takes Off In North Carolina
A pioneering use of drones to fly blood samples across a North Carolina hospital campus has launched in the latest move to expand their roles in business and health care.
The short trips between medical buildings announced Tuesday mark the first time the Federal Aviation Administration has allowed regular commercial flights of drones carrying products. That's according to UPS and drone company Matternet, which partnered with Raleigh's WakeMed on the program.
Matternet CEO Andreas Raptopoulos says the WakeMed program will start by flying patients' medical samples from a clinic to a separate lab for testing at least six times a day five days a week.
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