2025 NCMS White Coat Day Ends With Huge Win for CARE FIRST Act!

This CARE FIRST Act passed the house in a 109-1 vote on April 29, 2025, the culmination of years of work by the North Carolina Medical Society staff and members. The announcement came at the end of the 2025 White Coat Day which was attended by more than 65 NCMS members.

The annual white coat day is a a chance for members of the NCMS to learn more about the legislative process and to put that knowledge into action at the NC General Assembly. More than 90 meetings were held with senators and representatives from across the state.

“(It) was a great day to be a member of the North Carolina Medical Society. Our members advocated for patients across the state when they met with legislators to discuss ways to keep North Carolinians healthy and safe. NCMS has been urging members of the General Assembly to pass the CARE FIRST Act (HB 434)—a piece of legislation that reforms the prior authorization process—and we were pleased to see the House pass it during White Coat Day.” — NCMS Interim CEO Steve Keene

NCMS thanks the House of Representatives for their support of this essential legislation, especially the bill’s primary sponsors. The CARE FIRST Act now heads to the Senate for consideration and is likely to be conferenced between the two chambers.

With the wellbeing of North Carolinians and their physicians at the top of its list of priorities, the North Carolina Medical Society supports House Bill 434, The CARE FIRST Act, which would reform the process of patients seeking prior authorization from their health insurance provider. NCMS firmly believes that physicians should be the ones to make medical decisions for their patients and health insurance companies should take responsibility for the outcome of denied medically necessary care.

NCMS has prioritized the CARE FIRST Act this legislative session.

This common-sense reform will require health insurers to:

Set minimum clinical standards for provision of care.
Consult with the patient’s physician before refusing to cover medical care.
Set time frames and make timely decisions based on treatment urgency.
Promote continuity of care for patients.
Set limits on retrospective denials.
Hold health insurance companies responsible for the outcome of denied care.

“The physicians and medical professionals NCMS represent have told us prior authorization reform will make healthcare more efficient and effective,” said NCMS VP of Advocacy John Thompson. “We are thrilled to see (Wednesday’s) success and will continue to advocate for NC’s patients and medical professionals at the General Assembly.”