Medicaid Expansion news dominated the headlines last week as the North Carolina Senate took a historic vote and passed House Bill 149 Expanding Access to Healthcare, an omnibus health care bill that includes expanding Medicaid in North Carolina. The bill now goes to the House for a vote. Since the Senate amended a bill that the House had previously passed, the House can vote to concur with the Senate’s changes or vote not to concur. If they vote to concur, the bill will go to the Governor to be signed into law. However, if they vote not to concur, the bill will go to a conference committee and House and Senate leadership will appoint members from each chamber to work on one bill they both agree on. House leadership has previously indicated that they do not intend to pass Medicaid Expansion, so NASW-NC anticipates this bill will go to a conference committee.

Additionally, the Senate voted to approve House Bill 755 Parents’ Bill of Rights with a vote of 28-18 and sent the bill to the House for a vote. Like House Bill 149, the House can vote to concur with Senate changes or not concur since the Senate amended a House Bill. As a reminder, aside from the harmful anti-LGBTQ+ language in the bill, the bill also prohibits a healthcare provider (including social workers!) from providing, soliciting, or arranging treatment for a minor child without first obtaining written consent from that minor child’s parent and subjects providers to a fine and disciplinary action. Please reach out to your House of Representatives member and ask them to vote NO on House Bill 755, click here to take action!

Abortion Bills: Several legislators have introduced bills codifying Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey into law. These bills are: 

HB 1119 Reproductive Freedom Act: Codifies Roe V. Wade and Planned Parenthood V. Casey in state law and repeals other prohibitions and restrictions on abortion services. Additionally, it appropriates funds to assist in implementing the Reproductive Freedom Act.

SB 888 Codify Roe and Casey Protections: This bill ensures the nearly 50-year legal precedent set in Roe that prohibits states from creating arbitrary restrictions or outright banning abortion will still be in place in North Carolina, even if Roe is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Here are NASW-NC's active Action Alerts: 

1) Oppose HB 755 Parent's Bill of Rights

2) Expand Medicaid: Tell your House member to take action on Medicaid Expansion! 

3) Keep telehealth flexibilities: We are asking providers to email legislators and communicate their success stories from serving clients via telehealth during the current pandemic. 
4) Advocate for funding for more School Social Workers