Report Shows Impact of NC Medicaid

Jan. 10, 2020 – The NC Medicaid Annual Report for State Fiscal Year 2019Open PDF is now available, offering a look at how NC Medicaid makes a difference in North Carolina.

The easy-to-read report provides detailed financial results, statistics, accomplishments, as well as interviews with beneficiaries, their families and providers.

NC Medicaid ended the year below budget for the sixth straight year, even while serving more North Carolinians. And Medicaid’s Office of Compliance and Program Integrity’s activities saved the state more than $25.5 million.

Other accomplishments include:

• Providing access to Medicaid and NC Health Choice services to 2.2 million people.

• Continuing the fight against the opioid epidemic with help from a $10-million, five-year grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

• Supporting individuals recovering from traumatic brain injuries to enable them to live in their communities.

• Reinstating adult optical services.

• Hitting several significant milestones toward Medicaid Managed Care, although managed care implementation was suspended in late 2019.

• Increasing rates for primary care providers for the first time in several years. Reimbursement rates were also increased for personal care services, which led to pay increases for caregivers and improved recruitment, and for dental services, which led to an increase in services provided.

“NC Medicaid is committed to being good stewards of taxpayer money while continuing to provide beneficial health programs and services to some of the most vulnerable people in our state,” Deputy Secretary for NC Medicaid Dave Richard wrote in a message in the report. “We are privileged to share this significant responsibility with our state, community and health care partners. Our NC Medicaid team is dedicated to making a real difference in the lives and communities of North Carolinians.”