Attorney General Jeff Jackson Sues Federal Government Over Cuts in NC Healthcare Funding

Last week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services told several states, including North Carolina, that it was terminating $11 billion in health care funding.

(WITN Web Team) — North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson has filed a lawsuit against the federal government over hundreds of millions of dollars in healthcare funding cuts.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services told several states, including North Carolina, that it was terminating $11 billion in health care funding.

Jackson says the cuts, which include over $230 million to North Carolina, are unlawful and that the funds were congressionally appropriated.

Jackson is filing the lawsuit jointly with dozens of other state attorneys general.

Jackson listed several items he says would suffer because of the cuts:

1. Local health programs in at least 77 of North Carolina’s 86 health departments, particularly in North Carolina’s rural counties.
2. Community-based organizations and community health workers who have been providing care and resources to people impacted by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina.
3. County-based nurses who investigate disease outbreaks.
4. Collection and analysis of infection control data, which is critical for humans as well as North Carolina’s farming economy and livestock industry.
5. EMS programs in six counties (Davie, Durham, Gaston, Surry, Orange, and Cumberland counties).
6. Response to outbreaks of infectious disease in high-risk places like nursing homes and assisted living facilities, where North Carolina’s older population is at risk.
7. Effective control and prevention of the spread of infections, like the flu. North Carolina just experienced its worst flu season in 15 years, leading to more than 382 deaths.
8. Substance use disorder treatment programs, especially in rural areas, and the loss of behavioral health therapists and substance use treatment specialists who are critical to North Carolina’s fight against the addiction crisis.
9. Collegiate substance misuse recovery programs that operate in 14 North Carolina colleges and universities (Appalachian State University, Elizabeth City State University, East Carolina University, Fayetteville State University, North Carolina A&T State University, NC State University, North Carolina Central University, UNC Asheville, UNC Charlotte, UNC-Chapel Hill, UNC Greensboro, UNC Pembroke, UNC Wilmington, and Winston-Salem State University).