Medicaid expansion plan for North Carolina revived in House

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A Republican proposal to expand Medicaid in North Carolina advanced again on Wednesday with bipartisan support in the state House. But it's unclear whether reviving the idea will erode strong opposition from the Senate's GOP majority.

The expansion measure approved by the House Health Committee is similar to a bill the panel heard and approved in July. The earlier proposal got sidelined as the state budget impasse intensified.

North Carolina is one of 14 states that haven't accepted funds through the 2010 federal health care law to cover adults who make too much money to qualify for traditional Medicaid but not enough to get subsidized health insurance exchange policies.

Just like the previous proposal, Wednesday's measure says qualifying low-income adults must meet work or training requirements and pay premiums equal to 2% of household income. Hospital and health care insurers would cover the state's share to draw down the federal funds equal to 90% of the program's cost.

In a strategy to attract even more GOP support, provisions were added to halt expansion if federal Medicaid regulators or courts later prevent the bill's key requirements from being carried out. Work requirements in a few states have been struck down, for example.

"Those poison pills are actually an important piece ... to try to build the support that you need to get this done," Forsyth County GOP Rep. Donny Lambeth, the chief proponent of the expansion measure, said after the committee vote. A few Republicans still voted no.

The proposal considered in July would help qualify 300,000 people for expanded Medicaid coverage. Lambeth said on Wednesday the updated bill would target roughly the same number.

Many committee Democrats still voted for the plan after offering amendments...