NCMS Continues it’s efforts to increase Medicaid rebase

(RALEIGH) — North Carolina Medical Society CEO Chip Baggett has issued a letter to the Leadership of the North Carolina General Assembly to support legislation to increase the Medicaid rebase in the state. In the letter, Baggett asks for an increase of roughly $458 million.

North Carolina Medicaid could face an 8 percent fiscal cut in the biennium, and if funding is delayed beyond November, the reduction could be as much as 16 percent. Baggett says “this lack of funding would be devastating for North Carolina patients who rely on Medicaid and cannot afford to pay for care out-of-pocket.” He adds that it would also “exacerbate the lack of providers and further decrease access to imperative healthcare.”

Physicians in North Carolina have not received an increase in the rate of reimbursement for Medicaid in over 10 years. In his letter, Baggett points out how crucial adequate reimbursement is to expanding services to underserved populations. He also explains how a lack of an increase is adding to physician burnout. “An increased Medicaid rate would help alleviate some of these pressures (for providers), allowing physicians to focus more on patient care,” Baggett says.

The letter was sent to NC House Speaker Tim Moore and NC Senate Pro Tempore Phil Berger on August 29. To read the letter click here.