North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) is assessing whether he should expand Medicaid in his state, which would provide about 500,000 North Carolinians with health coverage, according to a Citizen-Times report.
One of the key drivers of Gov. McCrory's decision to consider Medicaid expansion is the funding incentive. The federal government would cover 100 percent of North Carolina's expansion costs through 2016 and at least 90 percent of costs after 2016. Forgoing Medicaid expansion could cost North Carolina approximately $51 billion in lost federal money over the next 10 years.
Although Gov. McCrory has said he will consider expanding Medicaid, he wants to improve healthcare services for the 1.8 million people in North Carolina already covered by Medicaid before doing so.
Last year, Gov. McCrory signed legislation that requires General Assembly approval for Medicaid to be expanded in North Carolina. Although some Republican legislatures have said Gov. McCrory and lawmakers should consider expanding Medicaid next year, North Carolina Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) is still strongly opposing expansion in the state, according to the report.
More articles on Medicaid expansion:
How the 2014 Governors' races could influence Medicaid expansion
Will Medicaid expansion hurt Indiana's economy?
Medicaid, CHIP enrollment increases significantly: 5 things to know