Medicaid Expansion to begin October 1, 2023
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is moving forward with Medicaid expansion and announcing the anticipated start date of Oct. 1, 2023. This announcement is part of a compromise agreement NCDHHS obtained from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that will allow the department to move forward with the required public notices for beneficiaries, counties and providers while still awaiting authority from the NC General Assembly.

To launch expansion on Oct. 1, NCDHHS will still require action by the NC General Assembly — either through “de-coupling” expansion from the budget or through an enacted budget — by Sept. 1. The work the department is doing now will reduce the original implementation period, from 90-120 days upon receiving legislative authority, to 30 days so enrollment can begin more quickly.

"We are thankful for leadership and partnership in passing Medicaid Expansion which will save lives, increase access to care and bring billions of dollars to North Carolina," said NCDHHS Secretary Kody H. Kinsley. "Moving forward now sets the department on a path to be able to get health care coverage to thousands of people as soon as possible."

The state’s implementation plan initially was organized around obtaining final authority from the NCGA by June 30. With budget negotiations — to which final authority to move forward with Medicaid expansion has been tied — slipping toward August, the department contemplated strategies to push forward preparations to maximize the benefit for North Carolina.

If NCDHHS does not have authority to move forward by Sept. 1, the earliest fallback date is Dec. 1, 2023, and depending on how late authority is given, it could fall into 2024. As part of the compromise to move forward, NCDHHS is opening the public comment period on the State Plan Amendment for Medicaid Expansion’s Alternative Benefit Plan, a legal document required to be submitted to the federal government. If you would like to submit a public comment visit https://medicaid.ncdhhs.gov/medex-state-plan-amendment-new-medicaid-expansion-20230726/download?attachment.

NCDHHS appreciates the leadership of the NCGA and Governor Roy Cooper in securing the passage of HB76, which set the state on the path to expand Medicaid and enable access to care for more than 600,000 North Carolinians. Medicaid expansion will be transformative for access to health care in rural areas, for better mental health and for veterans, working adults and their families while bringing billions in federal dollars to the state.

Source: NCDHHS.gov 

Read more: Medicaid expansion could be on hold indefinitely due to NC budget stalemate (WRAL)

2023 Budget Delayed Into August 
Another week has passed without a budget, putting the legislature at almost a month overdue for the state’s two-year spending plan. As closed door negotiations continue, here’s a look at some of the biggest budget provisions still in limbo that could significantly impact North Carolinians.

Raises for teachers and state employees 
While legislative leaders have reportedly agreed on an percentage increase for raises, they’ve yet to share details publicly. 
The final agreement is likely somewhere between what each chamber initially proposed earlier this session. 

The House wanted: 
• 10.2% average raises for teachers 
• 7.5% raises for most state employees

The Senate came in lower, proposing: 
• 4.5% raises for teachers 
• 5% raises for most state employees

House Speaker Tim Moore stressed on Thursday that raises are a priority for the legislature, and they will work to pass them through “mini budgets” if the chambers can’t agree on a full spending plan soon. 

Tax cuts
Disagreements over the state’s tax plan appear to be fueling some of the budget gridlock according to legislative leaders. 
The Senate called for a more aggressive schedule to reduce the state’s personal income tax, proposing lowering it to 2.49% by 2029. The current rate is 4.75%. 
The House proposal included a drop to 3.99% by 2026, but no further changes.

Election funding 
Republicans have proposed sweeping changes to the way elections are conducted in North Carolina, several of which would require further funding to implement. 

Republicans want to use signature matching technology to validate absentee ballots, which would require expensive software and machinery to implement. 

On top of legislative changes, voter ID will go into effect in upcoming elections due to a decision from the state Supreme Court. The State Board of Elections asked for $6.5 million to implement voter ID, saying the funds would be used to inform voters of the change and train poll workers.

The House’s initial proposal included $3.5 million for this purpose, but the Senate’s budget did not include any money for voter ID. 

Source: NCInsider

NASW-NC is hearing from legislative sources that the budget may be voted on the week of August 14th.  Each day there is no 2023 budget is currently costing NC taxpayers $44K per day as the General Assembly has been operating in overtime period since July 1, 2023.  Stay tuned for any budget news in our weekly Advocacy Update. 

Editorial: Legislature's in overtime. Address N.C.'s real needs now (Capitol Broadcasting Company)

Imagine what our neighborhoods would look like if we had all that we need, North Carolina! We can rewrite the rules so that everyone contributes to make our schools, hospitals, parks & programs all that our families deserve regardless of where we live, what we look like, or how much money is in our wallets. Corporations paying what they owe means fully funded schools that prepare our children for the future, healthcare that keeps us well without breaking the bank, and more. We’re joining together to #FundOurFuture: https://ncbudget.org/jointogether/ #TaxEquity #ncga       

Source: NC Budget & Tax Center

July is Anniversary of ADA
NASW-NC is proud to support the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 33rd Anniversary. On July 26th we celebrated this important civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The purpose of the law is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.  Connect & Share about the ADA. adaanniversary.org.

Read the White House Proclamation's: A Proclamation on Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 2023

What is #UniteNC?
Pro-Choice North Carolina is excited to join with our partners at Common Cause North Carolina and other organizations across the state for a series of #UniteNC town halls! This is a fantastic opportunity to build our shared power and hold lawmakers accountable. Pro-Choice North Carolina will have materials at all town halls and we’ll be in-person at some of them, too. 

If you're concerned about harmful policies in the state legislature like attacks on abortion access, upcoming elections, and redistricting, join us and speak up for people-first policies!

• August 1: Gibsonville (Guilford County)
• August 2: Fayetteville (Cumberland County)
• August 3: Wentworth (Rockingham County)
• August 7: Kannapolis (Cabarrus County)
• August 14: Wilmington (New Hanover County)
• August 17: Salisbury (Rowan County)

And…more to be announced in Eastern & Western North Carolina + the Triangle! You can register and learn more by clicking HERE.  

NEW VOTER ID LAWSUIT 
Federal court considers longstanding challenge to voter ID 
A federal judge on Wednesday heard procedural requests in a five-year-old lawsuit challenging North Carolina’s voter ID law. Plaintiffs, led by the NAACP, argue the law will disproportionately harm Black and Latino voters. 

The case has been on hold for several years as voter ID worked its way through other court cases, and legislative leaders attempted to intervene as co-defendants. The ID requirement never went into effect in a general election due to several court actions, including a full strike down of the law in 2022 by the State Supreme Court’s former Democratic majority. 

However, following a landmark decision from the Supreme Court’s new Republican majority earlier this year, voters will now be required to show ID at the polls. With this in mind, the plaintiffs asked for an update on their case, hoping to set a trial before the 2024 general election. 
No decision was made on a trial date, but the judge said he would consider allowing plaintiffs to request more information from the State Board of Elections as part of discovery.  

With the current timeline set by the judge, it will likely be about three weeks before further court action could take place. 
Source: NCInsider

Robinson targets transgender community in fiery sermon 
North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson says gender identity issues are bringing the country to “hell’s gates.” Public speeches in which Robinson disparages LGBTQ+ people have become par for the course in his political career. Now he’s running in the Republican primary for governor.
Robinson, giving a speech centered around patriotism at a Baptist church on the Sunday after the Fourth of July, brought up recent legislation about transgender athletes, saying, “why is this even a conversation in our society right now?"

In 2021, Democrats called for Robinson’s resignation after a speech at a different church in which he questioned the “purpose” of homosexuality, The News & Observer previously reported. He alluded to past controversies in this month’s speech. “A lot of these political folks that work with me, they get nervous when I come stand up here,” Robinson said in his July 9 speech streamed on the YouTube page of Winkler’s Grove Baptist Church in Hickory. Robinson is anti-abortion, saying at the 2023 March for Life he wants the state to be a “destination for life.” 

“We’re talking about folks who want to allow men to swim against women in a swimming pool, men to wrestle against women. ... Because again, there are only two genders. I don’t care who gets mad about it. I don’t care who doesn’t vote for me because of it. There are two genders. And if we continue down this road, we’re going to open up hell’s gates in this nation,” Robinson said.

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has vetoed three anti-LGBTQ+ bills that the Republican-dominated legislature could soon pass by overriding his vetoes. The three bills would ban transgender athletes’ participation in girls’ and women’s sports, restrict gender-affirming surgery and other treatment for transgender minors, and limit instruction on gender identity in elementary schools. The executive director of Equality NC, which advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, said the bills “would tarnish North Carolina’s reputation as an inclusive and welcoming place to live, work, and visit.” Kendra Johnson said in a statement that they would “cause immense damage to transgender and queer youth, who already experience significant disparities."

Robinson is in a growing Republican primary field along with State Treasurer Dale Folwell, former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker and former state Sen. Andy Wells. Whoever wins the Republican primary will likely face Democratic candidate Josh Stein, who is currently attorney general, in the general election next fall.  
Source: NCInsider 

Item to Watch: 
SB 90- Searches of Student's Person (Children's Law Omnibus) was re-submitted to the K-12 Education Committee with several PCS (proposed committee substitutes) that would change how social workers can support children with their mental health.  The PCS version of the bill would clarify that minors have no authority to consent to mental health treatment unless they believe themselves to be a danger to themselves or others.  NASW-NC OPPOSES ALL PCS SUBMITTED. 

• Challenge school library books and prosecute librarians
• Challenge instructional materials
• Force a superintendent to be dismissed or receive a reduction in pay
• Request for their child to be reassigned to another school or district
• Be informed if their child identifies as transgender or is at risk of suicide
• Prohibit instruction on gender identity, sexual activity and sexuality in fourth and fifth grade
• State that charter schools are not state actors, potentially giving them more leeway to institute dress codes 
   

Due to public backlash and media coverage, SB 90 was pulled from the committee calendar.  Please be on the lookout for more information from NASW-NC if it is reintroduced during this legislative session. 

You can see a copy of SB 90 with the PCS changes by clicking HERE. 

Read More: NC's controversial new education bill likely won't be heard this session, speaker says (WRAL)

NASW-NC Bills of Interest: 
HB 762 - School Social Workers/Master's Pay as a stand alone bill was heard in the House Education Committee on May 30th. Master's Level Pay for School Social Workers was included in the Governor's & House versions of the Budget. However, it was cut from the Senate version. NASW-NC and the NC School Social Workers Association (NCSSWA) were present at the NC General Assembly to advocate for this legislation.  It passed unanimously out of the House Education Committee and is now in the Appropriations Committee, where we hope it will be included in the final version of the 2023 Budget. 

Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact Update

SB 718 was not subjected to the final bill crossover deadline of May 4th. This means we still have the rest of the 2023 Legislative Session to get the bill passed in both chambers and signed into law by Governor Cooper. We are optimistic the bill will pass. Since only Republican-sponsored bills have moved this session, we are pitching the Compact as primarily a bill to support military spouses. The Social Work Compact creation was initiated by the Department of Defense to promote licensure portability for military spouses. You can read about that here: Interstate Licensure Compact for Social Work (socialworkers.org)  A large number of Republican lawmakers, who have the supermajority in both the House and Senate, are very supportive of bills that support military populations and NASW-NC is working on getting support to advance the bill before session ends. Please be on the lookout for action alerts to contact your legislators to support the Social Work Licensure Compact. 

More information about the Social Work Licensure Compact can be found here: https://swcompact.org   

Thank you to the members of NASW-NC for supporting the advocacy work we do. We would not be able to advocate for the social work profession or social justice issues in North Carolina without a robust and engaged NASW membership. If you are a social worker and not a member, we ask that you join NASW today. Our voice is louder with your membership.

Learn more about NASW-NC membership here.

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