With Medicaid stalemate lingering, Stein calls General Assembly back to address funding

Governor Josh Stein has summoned the North Carolina General Assembly to Raleigh this month for a special session aimed at resolving the funding shortfall in the state’s Medicaid program.

Background

Earlier this summer, the General Assembly allocated $500 million to Medicaid. However, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) reports that an additional $319 million is still needed to cover the program’s full cost.

Funding Dispute

Republican leaders in the N.C. House and Senate were unable to reach a compromise this fall, despite agreeing to provide $190 million. In response, DHHS reduced reimbursement rates for providers serving Medicaid recipients, a move that alarmed healthcare professionals and lawmakers alike.

Governor Stein’s Remarks

“We care deeply about the health and well being of the people of North Carolina. We are desperate to restore the funding levels to where they were before. But by law, we cannot spend money that we do not have, nor should we spend money that we do not have. The legislature has not fully funded Medicaid,” Stein said.

Stein reiterated his intention to restore payment rates once the program is fully funded. The special session has been scheduled for 2 p.m. at the State Capitol. It is notable that such sessions are rare in North Carolina—the last one occurred in 2018.

Summary

Governor Stein convenes a rare special session of the North Carolina General Assembly to resolve a $319 million Medicaid funding gap left unresolved by legislative deadlock.

WFAE 90.7 — 2025-11-07