RALEIGH, N.C. – Last week, Representative Chris Humphrey (R-Lenoir) joined NC House Health Committee Chairmen Donnie Lambeth and Donna White to file House Bill 76: Access to Healthcare Options, legislation to provide North Carolinians with increased access to healthcare options, particularly in rural areas like Lenoir, Jones, and Greene counties.

“Rural hospitals have been struggling to remain open for some time now, causing many to shut down entirely,” said Humphrey, “The people living in rural Eastern NC need access to these critical healthcare facilities. That’s why I’m proud to sponsor this legislation that will expand Medicaid coverage and allow rural and safety-net hospitals to access federal funding so they can continue providing care to patients.”

This measured approach to Medicaid expansion would provide coverage to about 500,000 new individuals. By providing coverage to uninsured individuals, this bill will lessen the burden on businesses and workers to subsidize the cost of uncompensated care, and thus drive down premiums for everyone. This legislation aims to help the working poor get health coverage, ease medical debt, and save struggling rural hospitals.

The legislation directs the NC Department of Health & Human Services to establish preventative care and wellness incentives, including health risk assessments, routine physicals, immunizations, and screenings.

The bill also includes several important components to address North Carolina’s workforce shortage by directing the Department of Commerce to develop a plan that creates a seamless, statewide, comprehensive workforce development program. The plan is prescribed to include job training assistance, job placement, recruiting services, and workforce support.

House Bill 76 was filed and then sent to the House Committee on Health for further debate and consideration. Committee hearings are anticipated to take place over the next several weeks.