N. Carolina governor signs Medicaid expansion bill into law
Associated PressRALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Gov. “Today is a historic step toward a healthier North Carolina.” The measure contains a proviso that Cooper opposed requiring a separate state budget law to be enacted first for expansion to be accepted and implemented. “While a solution sat just out of reach, with this law I’m about to sign, many of them will be close enough to grab it,” Cooper said, standing next to House Speaker Tim Moore, Senate leader Phil Berger and other expansion supporters. Cooper, who has pushed the need for health care since the beginning and didn’t stop until this was completed,” said Cassandra Brooks, who owns day cares near Raleigh and advocated for expansion after two of her teachers lacking insurance died prematurely. “I feel confident that we can work together to get something that we can agree on,” Cooper told reporters after the signing, adding that expanding Medicaid is now a question of “when” and not “if.” Monday’s legislation directs the state’s expansion expenses be paid with hospital assessments.