State Priorities

North Carolina hospitals and health systems are in the midst of transforming our delivery of care to respond to the changing needs of our state. Our goal is to provide the appropriate level of care in the appropriate setting with the best outcomes. North Carolina’s hospitals are open all day, every day. We support more than 395,000 jobs statewide and contribute billions to the economy every year.

Our mission is to provide care to all, regardless of ability to pay.

The following list of state legislative priorities, and the associated position statements, will be presented for review at the next NCHA’s Board of Directors meeting:

• Preserving the Safety Net North Carolina’s hospitals and health systems support a legislative approach that ensures federal funds received through supplemental payment programs and hospital taxes support hospital-based care for the uninsured. Hospitals and health systems oppose distributing those fund to entities that do not contribute to the tax or treat patients. 
• Certificate of Need Preservation
  North Carolina’s hospitals and health systems support the current Certificate of Need law and urge our legislators to protect the law, thereby protecting access to care for our communities.
• Increased Access to Health Insurance
  North Carolina hospitals and health systems support increased access to affordable health insurance coverage for all North Carolinians and urge the General Assembly to expand Medicaid.
• Tax Treatment Preservation
  North Carolina’s hospitals and health systems support the current non-profit sales and property tax laws.
• Behavioral Health Reform
  North Carolina hospitals and health systems support increased access to resources for our behavioral health patients to ensure that they receive the right care at the right time in the right place.
• Telehealth Expansion
  North Carolina hospitals and health systems support a legislative and regulatory solution that establishes and promotes technology infrastructure that provides access to telehealth services for every North Carolinian in every part of the state.
• Graduate Medical Education
  North Carolina’s hospitals and health systems support measures to address our state’s current provider shortage through maintaining current medical educations programs and expanding access to additional GME funds in more areas of the state.
• State Health Plan
  The North Carolina State Health Plan should adopt proven methods to provide and coordinate quality-driven care to improve the lives of state employees and retirees, while achieving efficiencies in cost to both the plan and taxpayers.
• Assignment of Benefits
  North Carolina’s hospitals and health systems support measures to ensure that providers are reimbursed for care provided to patients who have insurance coverage.

To learn more about these priorities, please log in to NCHA Member Resources.