Healthcare

signed · North Carolina · House Jul 7, 2025

HB 546: Medicaid Modernization.

HB 546 modernizes North Carolina's Medicaid program by requiring the state to develop team-based care coordination for individuals with alcohol and opioid use disorders, including screening, medication, and recovery support. The bill also allows telehealth-only providers to enroll in Medicaid without needing a physical office in the state and mandates a statewide specialty plan for children in foster care or receiving adoption assistance, to be implemented by December 2025. These changes directly affect Medicaid beneficiaries with substance use disorders, telehealth providers, and eligible children and families. The Department of Health and Human Services must report on the implementation of the substance use care and telehealth provisions by October 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands Medicaid coverage for substance use treatment via team-based care, enables telehealth provider enrollment, and mandates specialty health plans for foster children.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · North Carolina · House Jun 27, 2025

HB 576: Department of Health and Human Services Revisions.

HB 576 makes technical revisions to North Carolina's laws governing the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). It designates DHHS as the agency managing school nurse funds, requiring school nurses to focus solely on health services (like health education and emergency response) rather than instructional duties. The bill extends until June 2028 the temporary use of the federal health insurance marketplace for determining Medicaid eligibility, and clarifies that Medicaid coverage for people released from prison continues for up to 12 months post-release. It also updates Medicaid provider screening rules to align with federal standards, particularly for Indian Health Program providers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends federal health insurance marketplace for Medicaid eligibility until 2028, ensuring continued coverage access; designates DHHS to manage school nurse health services focus.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

passed · North Carolina · House Jun 25, 2025

HB 480: Medical Board Licensing Efficiency Act.

HB 480 creates a new pathway for doctors, physician assistants, and anesthesiologist assistants to obtain North Carolina medical licenses by transferring licenses from other states ("licensure by endorsement"). To qualify, applicants must have held an active license in another U.S. jurisdiction for at least five years (with two years of practice post-residency for doctors), have a verified full-time job offer in North Carolina, maintain good standing with no recent disciplinary actions, and meet practice hour requirements. The bill increases application fees for endorsement (e.g., $825 for physicians vs. $400 for standard licensure) and requires additional documentation within 180 days to keep the license active. This directly affects out-of-state medical professionals seeking to practice in North Carolina without retaking exams.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStreamlines medical licensing for providers, increasing healthcare access and provider availability in North Carolina.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · North Carolina · House Jun 24, 2025

HB 578: The Jason Flatt Act of North Carolina.

HB 578, the Jason Flatt Act, requires all North Carolina public K-12 schools to implement suicide prevention education and training for school staff. It mandates that licensed educators complete at least one hour of annual suicide prevention training, while staff working with grades 6-12 must receive guidelines for identifying at-risk students and procedures for referrals. Schools must adopt a mental health plan including these elements, with initial staff training of six hours (within six months of hire) and two hours annually thereafter. The law applies to all public schools, charter schools, regional schools, and lab schools starting the 2025-2026 school year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates suicide prevention training for K-12 staff, enhancing mental health support within educational settings per bill requirements.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates suicide prevention training and mental health plans in schools, strengthening mental health services under public health initiatives.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed both · North Carolina · Senate Jun 16, 2025

SB 171: Pract. Transparency/Reagan's Law/Sam's Law.

SB 171 allows licensed psychological associates in North Carolina to practice independently without direct supervision after completing 3,000 hours of supervised experience over 24-60 months. This directly affects psychological associates who meet the experience requirement, reducing regulatory barriers to their practice. The bill amends licensing rules to establish this pathway, requiring an application with proof of experience and granting certification as a "health services provider psychological associate." It also updates board composition rules to ensure balanced representation. The changes take effect October 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareReduces regulatory barriers for mental health professionals, improving access to services by allowing independent practice after experience requirements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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signed · North Carolina · House Jun 13, 2025

HB 231: Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact.

HB 231 establishes North Carolina's participation in the Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact, allowing licensed social workers from participating states to practice across state lines without obtaining separate licenses in each state. The bill directly affects licensed social workers seeking to provide services in multiple states, particularly those serving military families or addressing workforce shortages. Key provisions include mutual recognition of licenses among member states, accountability for social workers practicing where clients are located, and streamlined processes for disciplinary information sharing. This reduces duplicate licensing requirements while maintaining state authority to protect public health and safety through existing licensure systems.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill removes licensure barriers for social workers, directly improving access to mental health services and supporting workforce mobility in healthcare.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill facilitates social workers serving military families (including veterans' families), improving access to social services and addressing workforce shortages in veteran support.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

passed · North Carolina · House May 8, 2025

HB 886: AEDs and CPR in Public Schools.

HB 886 requires all public schools in North Carolina to install Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) and train school personnel on their use and on CPR. The State Board of Education must develop rules for AED placement, maintenance, and coordination with emergency services, with at least one AED per school, ideally in an athletic area. Local school boards, charter schools, and regional schools are then required to create policies aligning with these state rules. The bill appropriates $4.1 million for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to help public school units purchase AEDs and train staff.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $4.1M for school AEDs/CPR training, directly funding public safety infrastructure under budgeting/appropriations subjects.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates AEDs/CPR training in schools with $4.1M funding, enhancing student/staff safety within educational infrastructure.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates AEDs and CPR training in schools, appropriating $4.1M for emergency medical equipment and training, directly supporting public health infrastructure and emergency services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · North Carolina · House May 7, 2025

HB 489: Insurance Coverage Emergency Ambulance Transportation.

House Bill 489 establishes a minimum reimbursement rate for emergency ambulance transportation services provided by out-of-network providers under health benefit plans. It mandates that insurers pay these out-of-network ambulance providers directly and sets a cap on the cost-sharing amounts that insured individuals must pay for these services. The minimum reimbursement rate is determined by local government rates, or if none, by comparing 400% of the Medicare rate to the provider's billed charges. This bill affects individuals needing emergency ambulance services, health insurers, and ambulance service providers, with an effective date of October 1, 2025, for new or renewed insurance contracts.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareSets minimum ambulance reimbursement rates and caps patient cost-sharing, improving access to emergency services under health insurance.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · North Carolina · House May 7, 2025

HB 572: Veterans/Electroencephalogram Combined Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Pilot Program.

HB 572 authorizes the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to establish a statewide pilot program providing Electroencephalogram combined Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (eTMS) treatment. This program is for veterans, first responders, and their immediate family members experiencing conditions such as substance use disorders, mental illness, sleep disorders, traumatic brain injuries, and PTSD. The Department will select a provider to create a network for in-person and off-site care, aiming for statewide access. Participants in the program will also receive neurophysiological monitoring, counseling, wellness programming, and access to a peer-to-peer support network. The selected provider must collect and report treatment outcomes and expenditures to the Department and legislative committees by September 15, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes pilot program for eTMS mental health treatment access for veterans and first responders, directly expanding healthcare services under mental health and health services subjects.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransEstablishes eTMS pilot program for veterans' mental health/PTSD treatment via Veterans Affairs department, directly expanding healthcare access for covered conditions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · North Carolina · House May 7, 2025

HB 618: Ivermectin Access Act.

House Bill 618, the "Ivermectin Access Act," directs the State Health Director to issue a statewide standing order that allows licensed pharmacists to dispense ivermectin for human use. Under this order, pharmacists would be authorized to provide ivermectin without requiring a written prescription or consultation from a healthcare professional. The bill also grants immunity from civil or criminal liability to the State Health Director for issuing the order and to any pharmacist who dispenses ivermectin in accordance with it. The State Health Director is required to issue this statewide standing order by October 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates pharmacists to dispense ivermectin without prescription, directly expanding patient access to medication per healthcare access indicator.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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