Medicaid News and Reporting Coverage | WRAL

DRAUGHON DRAWS: Season's Greetings from the North Carolina General Assembly

Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025-- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist

DRAUGHON DRAWS: Healthcare coal for the holidays

Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025-- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist

DRAUGHON DRAWS: Medicaid's Carolina cornucopia

Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025-- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist

NC Medicaid fight: Cuts could affect millions, with no end in sight

North Carolina state lawmakers haven't fully funded Medicaid, and the state has begun cutting what it pays doctors and hospitals to treat Medicaid patients. Now the political finger-pointing has begun.

DRAUGHON DRAWS: North Carolina's state budget at a snail's pace

Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025-- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist

NC Republicans reject Stein's order on 'special session' to fund Medicaid

Gov. Josh Stein, a Democrat, called lawmakers back to Raleigh for a special session to address the state's lack of Medicaid funding, after GOP leaders failed to pass a new budget. Republicans say they plan to disobey the order and wait until next year to address the funding shortfall.

Gov. Josh Stein calls NC lawmakers back to address Medicaid shortfall

North Carolina lawmakers must return to Raleigh later this month, Gov. Josh Stein said Thursday, using his constitutional authority to call for a special legislative session.

Stein orders NC lawmakers back into session to address Medicaid funding shortfalls

Nearly one in three North Carolinians is insured through Medicaid. But the program is hundreds of millions of dollars short heading into the final months of 2025, as state lawmakers have failed to pass a new state budget.

DRAUGHON DRAWS: SNAP restored as the train keeps on coming

Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025-- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist

DRAUGHON DRAWS: The Nothing-Berger -- Where's the beef?

Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025-- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist

NC Medicaid cuts under scrutiny amid funding stalemate

A Republican-led Medicaid oversight committee questioned top health officials about the future of the program and a decision to cut reimbursement rates.

More than $6.5B in medical debt relieved through NC program. Stein calls it 'life changing news'

The state's Medical Debt Relief Program has relieved debts for more than 2.5 million North Carolinians, totaling billions of dollars. Officials say it's only the start.

Will Doran, WRAL News

Fact check: Did Democrats propose to give health care to immigrants illegally in the US?

Democrats' funding proposal would restore access to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act marketplace for legal immigrants who will lose access once certain provisions of the Republicans' tax and spending law take effect.

Maria Ramirez Uribe, PolitiFact reporter

What is 'Trump RX'?

President Donald Trump and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla announced that the drugmaker will drop its prices for Medicaid pateints and guarantee that pricing on newly launched drugs.

Millions in NC on Obamacare, Medicaid affected by budget fights

As Republicans and Democrats in Washington, D.C. spar over a spending deal a different budget standoff in the North Carolina government also hit a key deadline on Wednesday.

DRAUGHON DRAWS: Time has run out in Washington and Raleigh

Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025-- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist

Deadline approaching for Medicaid funding with NC lawmakers at a standstill

North Carolina lawmakers have failed to approve the necessary state funding for Medicaid before the Oct. 1 deadline, risking higher medical bills and possible loss of coverage for tens of thousands of people.

Gov. Josh Stein calls on NC lawmakers to pass Medicaid bill before Oct. 1 deadline

North Carolina lawmakers have failed to approve the necessary state funding for Medicaid before the Oct. 1 deadline, risking higher medical bills and possible loss of coverage for tens of thousands of people.

Gov. Josh Stein on proposed Medicaid cuts in North Carolina: There is not enough funding

Gov. Josh Stein spoke Thursday at the Alliance Medical Ministry in Raleigh.

Proposed Affordable Care Act funding cuts: Democratic lawmakers, health workers warn of impacts to NC patients

Democratic Rep. Deborah Ross joins health workers on Thursday to discuss the impact that cuts to Affordable Care Act tax credits could have on North Carolina patients.

Medicaid cuts loom as North Carolina lawmakers fail to reach funding deal

North Carolina health officials say they'll need to start cutting Medicaid reimbursement rates on Oct. 1 if state lawmakers don't approve additional funding for the program.

Paul Specht, WRAL state government reporter

NC Senate moves to end Medicaid's work with Planned Parenthood, boost medical bill transparency

A new North Carolina bill aims to disqualify Planned Parenthood as a Medicaid contractor and, separately, require medical providers share more information about the cost of services.

Paul Specht, WRAL state government reporter

Move to restart executions in NC: What we know about 'Iryna's Law'

Changes to bail policies, rules for magistrates and the death penalty are among the proposals North Carolina legislators are considering after the Charlotte stabbing of Iryna Zarutska.

State lawmakers return to Raleigh focused on crime, health care spending and more

Republican leaders in the House and Senate disagree on a number of issues including tax policy, raises for state workers, funding for a state-supported children's hospital and more. So they're focused on passing a variety of smaller policy or funding bills.

WRAL staff

GOP NC lawmakers spar over Medicaid, children's hospital funding

Leaders of the North Carolina House and Senate, who remain far apart on the state's overall spending priorities, are working on a mini-budget to enable continued funding for health care initiatives, people familiar with the negotiations said.