Roy Cooper on the “non-traditional coalition” behind North Carolina's Medicaid expansion
North Carolina launched its expanded Medicaid program on Dec. 1, marking the end of a years-long political battle between the state's Democratic and Republican governors. Roy Cooper and Republican-controlled state legislatures.
I spoke with Governor Cooper late last month about our path to expansion, ongoing developments and other health care priorities as he concludes his second and final term leading the Tar Heel State. The conversation has been edited for brevity and clarity.
Health Summary: Enrollment for the new insurance plans for low-income North Carolina adults began Dec. 1. Are you happy with the state's progress so far?
Cooper: The plan was to enroll. 600,000 people We're already approaching 500,000 people in the next two years, which is very exciting. One thing that shows how much this medical care is needed is that 1.3 million Prescriptions written to treat heart disease, diabetes and other illnesses through Medicaid expansion. Another notable $20 million In billing for dental services.
Health Summary: Your administration has been trying for years to finally get Medicaid expansion through, what tactics have been most effective?
Cooper: We had a coalition of very non-traditional people that really helped bring about change. For example, we had a rural Republican on our county commission who didn't want to see the hospital close and knew that the money from Medicaid expansion would keep it afloat.
We talked to some tough-on-crime Republican sheriffs who were very frustrated that their officers were spending so much time with people with mental illnesses and substance use disorders. They knew these people shouldn't be in jail, but they needed medical attention, and they supported Medicaid expansion.
We had the support of the Chamber of Commerce because they recognized that expanding Medicaid would help contain private insurance premiums. And then, of course, we had advocates, hospitals and patients who have been with us from the beginning.
Health Summary: Besides Medicaid expansion, what do you consider to be some of your biggest accomplishments in health care?
Cooper: We've worked hard to combat the opioid crisis. We took a setback during the COVID pandemic, but we're now starting to get back on track and making great progress.
Just because we passed the Medicaid expansion bill doesn't mean there will be no more uninsured people. We need to find ways to make health care available to everyone. I think we can use Medicaid funding to help even more people through free clinics and federal facilities.
Health Summary: What can we expect from you in the final stages of your term?
Cooper: In the coming weeks, we'll be implementing some important proposals on health care affordability for low-income people. When this happens, people are really stuck in a bind, and we have to find a way out of this.
I support President Biden's reelection. Josh SteinOur current Attorney General has been elected Governor, and I will do everything in my power to defeat the supermajority in the State Legislature.
After that, we'll monitor the situation and figure out what to do next, but over the next six months, we're going to do everything we can to make North Carolina a healthier, better-educated, more prosperous place.
Trump allies have tried to link Harris to Biden's health problems.
Donald Trump's presidential campaign and its allies have sent out condemning messages. Vice President Harris Conceal the state President BidenHealth, The Washington Post Isaac Arnsdorf, Josh Dorsey and Marianne Levine report.
“No one is more central to the cover-up than Kamala Harris.” Republican National Committee He said in an email on Friday. 16 times Ms Harris vouched for Mr Biden's suitability, a remark that foreshadows messaging from the Trump campaign if Mr Biden steps down and Ms Harris becomes the Democratic nominee.
The White House and Biden's campaign have resisted calls for the president to step aside because of his health, but advisers privately acknowledge there is limited time to reassure panicked members of the party.
On Thursday, former White House adviser to President Trump Stephen Miller Republican House members called on Senator Harris to testify before Congress about what she knows about Biden's health. Chip Roy (Texas) also said Fox News Trump said Friday that Harris could be subpoenaed and impeached for “lying to the American people” about Biden's mental state and for failing to invoke the 25th Amendment to the Constitution, which allows the president to transfer power if he is unable to perform his duties.
My colleagues Michael Kranish and Dan Diamond I published an in-depth article over the weekend. Kevin O'Connoris an osteopathic physician who has treated Biden for many years, but has never recommended that he undergo cognitive testing.
Why is this important?Biden's poor performance at last month's debate has drawn renewed attention to O'Connor's handling of the president's health care. Unlike some presidential physicians, O'Connor has not appeared at the White House podium to answer questions about Biden's annual physicals or other medical events, including during Biden's 2022 bout with COVID-19.
What's next: House Republicans on Sunday cited Michael and Dunn's stories and other reports in calling for O'Connor to testify about her refusal to accept the president's cognitive testing order. The White House did not respond to Dunn's questions about whether O'Connor would testify.
Kansas Supreme Court upholds abortion rights
The Kansas Supreme Court on Friday overturned two laws that restricted abortion access, reaffirming its position that the state Constitution protects the right to an abortion.
detail: The Supreme Court struck down a ban on a common late-term abortion method called dilation and aspiration. The court also blocked a Republican-backed law that would have imposed special licensing restrictions on abortion clinics. Both policies had been blocked by preliminary injunctions issued by lower courts.
Overall picture: Kansas Supreme Court 5-1 decision It suggests that abortion restrictions in other states may not withstand legal challenges. John Hannah Reports Associated Press.
Lawsuits are currently being filed in lower state courts challenging restrictions on medication abortions, a ban on doctors meeting with patients via teleconference, rules on what health care providers must tell patients before an abortion, and a requirement that patients wait 24 hours after receiving information about the abortion procedure.
In other news from the courts…
- Federal Judge in Mississippi A nationwide ban was issued Temporarily block implementation of Biden administration rules preventing discrimination in health care based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
- Federal Judge in Texas Temporarily blocked Federal Trade Commission Regulation The Washington Post's ban on non-compete agreements Julian Mark The new regulations are reportedly expected to save billions of dollars in health care costs over the next decade, but they have faced strong opposition from hospitals.
- Federal judge in Connecticut Boehringer Ingelheim lawsuit dismissed The bill, which challenges Medicare's power to negotiate prescription drug prices, is a new setback for drug companies and industry groups who argue the program is unconstitutional.
The White House Prescription
White House Regulatory Overview
The Biden administration released its semi-annual regulatory update late Friday, signaling potential policies to increase oversight of federally funded long-term care facilities and strengthen cybersecurity in health care.
Points to remember: The agenda is more of a wish list than a binding document, and agencies have often missed deadlines for proposed rules. Whether some of the rules become law hinges heavily on the outcome of the November election.
But it's worth looking at what the White House's health agenda is, including its long-term ambitions.Health proposals include a proposed limit on nicotine content in cigarettes and amendments to federal privacy laws, and final rules are imminent that would clarify remote prescription of controlled substances and tighten standards for bulk tobacco production.
See the full regulatory agenda here here.
- Colorado Dairy Workers Infected Avian influenzaMy colleague is the fourth person to be infected in the ongoing outbreak that began when the disease was detected in cattle this spring. Lena H. Sun I will report.
- Supporter of an effort to enshrine an abortion right up to 18 weeks in the Arkansas Constitution They submitted thousands of signatures of support on Friday, aiming to place their proposal on the November ballot.
- Food and Drug Administration Regulation of Laboratory-Developed Tests May be at risk After the Supreme Court overturned long-standing precedent last month, The Washington Post Jacob Boggage I will report.
📅 Welcome back Congress! Both the House and Senate are in session starting today. Here's what we're focusing on.
Plan of this week: The Senate Women's Reproductive Freedom Actseeks to enact the protections afforded below. Roe v. Wade The measure would become federal law. While the vote is unlikely to garner enough Republican support to move forward, it would be Democrats' latest attempt to back Republicans into a corner on reproductive rights in an election year.
on tuesday: of Senate Budget Committee Consider Congressional Budget OfficeEconomic forecasts for the next 10 years.
on wednesday: of House Appropriations Committee Debate on bills to raise funds Ministry of Health and Human Services The plan is to expand to other institutions by fiscal year 2025.
On Thursday: of Senate Appropriations Committee They are scheduled to consider legislation to fund the FDA and other agencies in fiscal year 2025. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Discuss what Congress can do to address medical debt. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Scrutinize US taxpayer-funded research into dangerous viruses.
on friday: of House Ways and Means Committee hold an on-site public hearing on health care access in Salt Lake City;
Trump sparks outrage as he considers new abortion bill amendment to GOP platform (Michael Scherer and Josh Dorsey | The Washington Post)
Isolation, exhaustion and lingering misery: What it means to survive measles (by Lena H. Sun | The Washington Post)
'Republicans need to step up': Anti-abortion groups roll out new messaging (Megan Messerly and Alice Miranda Olstein | Politico)
Consuming hallucinogenic mushrooms has purported health benefits, but experts say caution is needed. (David Ovalle | The Washington Post)
Thanks for reading. Not a subscriber yet? Sign up here.
