We’ve only just begun

County Assembly Day important to the future of Medicaid relief legislation

Over the last few years, there have been numerous bills filed to relieve counties of the Medicaid burden. Prior to April 11, 2007, there had never been a Medicaid relief bill filed that included 117 signatures from members of the House of Representatives. When H1424, “Medicaid County Share Reduced,” was introduced that day, the jacket contained 119 of 120 possible signatures.

Considering that Speaker of the House Joe Hackney generally does not sign legislation before it is introduced, we almost batted 1.000.

The bill’s prime sponsors read as a veritable Who’s Who among the House of Representatives. They are Rep. Bill Owens – a past NCACC president and chair of the powerful House Rules Committee – Appropriations Committee Co-Chairs Mickey Michaux and Doug Yongue, and House Minority Leader Paul Stam.

The proposal calls for $100 million in 2007-08, which would cap county costs at 2005-06 levels and provide about $10 million of additional targeted relief for counties with high Medicaid eligible populations. It calls for $154 million in 2008-09, which includes about $15 million earmarked for targeted relief. It also makes the cap permanent!

Despite the overwhelming show of bi-partisan support – Democrats Owens, Michaux and Yongue went out of their way to get a key Republican as a prime sponsor – this is not the end of the road, my friends. In fact, in many ways, the journey has just begun.

More on Medicaid relief

There are still hurdles and obstacles that must be overcome before this bill ever becomes reality. The Senate appears intent on a revenue swap as the solution to our Medicaid burden. And there’s the little matter of figuring out where the $254 million to fund the bill will come from.

There is still a ways to go, and there is still time for all county commissioners to get involved. The Association’s annual County Assembly Day is scheduled for May 2, and the timing couldn’t be better.

I am asking all county officials from around North Carolina to make the trip to Raleigh that day. For the second year in a row, we are asking county commissioners to come to the Legislature and make their voices heard. We must thank the members of the House for their support, and we must begin our educational campaign with our Senators.

Registration information has been mailed to all county commissioners, managers and clerks. The details of the event have been posted on the Association Web site at www.ncacc.org/2007caday.html.

Now more than ever, we need you to get engaged and involved. The battle is far from over, but it has definitely entered a new phase.