House Health Committee hears second Medicaid relief bill

Also see:
House Health Committee hears Rep. Nye's Medicaid relief bill
Medicaid relief Web page

The House Health Committee heard H.B. 149, a Medicaid relief bill by Rep. Julia Howard (Davie), on March 24 - one week after H.B. 132 (Rep. Edd Nye, Bladen) appeared before the committee.

As was the case with H.B. 132, no vote was taken on Howard's bill. It was the only bill heard by the committee, which is chaired by Rep. Thomas Wright (New Hanover).

Howard’s bill calls for a five-year phase-out of the county share of Medicaid while also capping county costs at 2004-05 levels. Nye’s bill would phase out the county share over a six-year period, cap county Medicaid costs at 2004-05 levels, and, for counties where the number of Medicaid-eligible individuals exceeds 25 percent of the population, reduce the county Medicaid share to two-thirds of the reduced share or two-thirds of the share paid in 2004-05, whichever is less. The proposals represent the top legislative priority adopted by counties and mirror the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Medicaid Reform.

Association President Breeden Blackwell of Cumberland County, First Vice President Kitty Barnes of Catawba County, Martin County Commissioner Alphonzo Perry and Manager Russell Overman, Davidson County Manager Robert Hyatt and Northampton County Social Services Director Dr. Al Wentzy attended the hearing.

Rep. Howard told committee members that there are a number of counties spending more on Medicaid than on education.

"You should be concerned about that," said Howard, who chairs the House Finance Committee. "You want to talk about why we can't build schools?"

Howard motioned toward the county representatives seated in the back of the room, telling committee members, "If you were able to say to them, 'We're going to cap it,' ... they would hug your neck.

"This isn't my bill. It's a bill for you. It's a bill for your county."

NCACC President Breeden Blackwell of Cumberland County addressed the committee and pointed out the many problems that uncontrollable Medicaid costs are having on county budgets. Blackwell pointed out that the average growth in county property tax base is not keeping up with the growth of Medicaid costs.

"We hope that you will consider giving us some assistance," he said. "The way this program is structured, we have no choice (but to raise property taxes)."