North Carolina
Judge temporarily halts NC Medicaid cuts for autism treatment
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — As state lawmakers have stalled coming up with a budget, some of the most vulnerable North Carolinians have been caught in limbo.
After the General Assembly couldn’t come up with a budget that would include enough funding for Medicaid, ABA, or behavioral therapy for autism was facing a steep 10% cut for Medicaid reimbursement, higher than other programs facing a 3% cut.
After a lawsuit a judge issued an injunction to keep that funding going, but for families caught in the middle it’s still a difficult road ahead.
Marissa Scheetz from Franklinton, says her son Charlie has been through a lot by the age of 5.
“We kind of suspected about two years old that he did have autism. He wasn’t kind of meeting his milestones and that sort of thing,” she says.
Diagnosed with autism and non-verbal, ABA therapy was a gamechanger.
“He’s really come a long way. He’s starting to be able to communicate his emotions, which is really big from where he came from,” she says.
It’s sometimes been a maze of waitlists, and finding the right fit, and working with Medicaid, but now amid cuts, she’s worried he could lose the breakthrough care that finally helped him open up his world.
“I’m scared for my child. I’m scared that, you know, maybe it won’t necessarily lose all of the services, but it is a potential that he could start receiving cuts,” she says.
DHHS cut Medicaid reimbursements in October, including ABA by 10%, prompting 21 families to file suit to stop the cuts. A judge granting a temporary order.
Former U.S. Attorney Michael Easley, Jr. who worked on the case, says it’s about making sure valuable progress isn’t lost.
“Every month that those kids don’t receive that care is a month that these patterns and habits associated with their autism begin to calcify and can result in them not being able to speak or interact in a way that can allow them to be self-sufficient and productive members of society,” Easley says.
But it’s only temporary and other DHHS cuts are still in effect, until lawmakers can sort out a budget.
State Representative Zack Hawkins (D-Durham) has two sons with autism himself, and is calling on lawmakers to come to the table.
“And so, again, this this injunction is, again, a time to me to pause and just see sort of where we are, what we need and allow so that the department and legislators and others to think about and understand just how critical these services are to families across North Carolina who desperately need care,” says Hawkins.
DHHS did respond in a statement, saying:
“The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will comply with the temporary restraining order related to provider rate reductions for Research Based Behavioral Health Treatment Services. At this time, we are still awaiting the written order to be issued by the Court.
This order makes the need for the General Assembly to fund Medicaid even more urgent. Any reinstatement or reversal of the provider cuts without additional funding from the General Assembly means the program will run out of funding sooner, putting the entire state Medicaid system at risk.
Without additional funding and implementation of the October 1 rate cuts, North Carolina could run out of NC Medicaid funds as early as April 2026. If the NCGA fully funds NC Medicaid, the Department will reevaluate all cuts and take action to reverse or modify cuts to ensure NC Medicaid can operate within the appropriated budget.
We understand these provider rate cuts are devastating to people, providers and communities that rely on NC Medicaid. NCDHHS did not want to take this extremely difficult step of making these significant reductions for NC Medicaid services, however without additional funding from the General Assembly, it was unavoidable.”
As it stands right now, Medicaid rebates are only guaranteed to be funded through April.
Meantime, the next hearing in this lawsuit it set for Monday.
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The North Carolina Tar Heels will be a young program across the board next season, with well over two dozen freshmen and numerous additions from the transfer portal this offseason. Expectations for the 2026 season are lowered dramatically after a disastrous first season for head coach Bill Belichick, though those expectations could help the Tar Heels fly under the radar.
As the Tar Heels approach the end of spring ball, it is time to look at the veterans of the team—the ones who have the experience to lead, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Let’s look at three underrated seniors for the 2026 football season.
Ade Willie, Cornerback
Willie joins the Tar Heels program after four years with Michigan State, as the former 4-star player in the 2022 recruiting class gets an opportunity to not only provide depth to the secondary, but potentially start Week 0 against TCU.
Willie played in over 30 games with the Spartans and brings experience in the secondary at cornerback and safety, along with quality length and closing speed to the football. For a defense that needs players to step up, the redshirt senior from IMG Academy will be asked to do so.
Isaiah Johnson, Defensive Lineman
The defensive line is beginning to look like one of the Tar Heels’ strengths for the 2026 season. Johnson, a former transfer from Arizona, enters his redshirt senior year looking to add another year of production after 40 tackles and two sacks this past season.
North Carolina has an impressive group of starters with Malkart Abou-Jaoude, Leroy Jackson, and incoming transfer Jaylen Harvey. Johnson adds value to the group as a run defender with the ability to penetrate the pocket. While not discussed as a key player, Johnson’s name will be used plenty during the regular season as a potential standout for the program’s defensive front.
Coleman Bryson, Safety
Bryson was a reserve player for the Tar Heels’ secondary last season as a big nickel defender in the rotation. Heading into his redshirt senior year, the former Minnesota Gopher is looking to become a full-time starter in the secondary.
It wasn’t long ago when Bryson was making plays as the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl Defensive MVP. His special teams abilities were valuable for North Carolina last season, and he flashed at times in coverage against tight ends, including a pass breakup in the season-opener against TCU. The Waynesville, North Carolina, native could be a key defender on the back-seven in 2026.
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Friends and family members gathered in Washington state on Saturday, remembering former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett, who died on Easter Sunday. Another memorial service is planned in North Carolina next month.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
Posted
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | First Quarter
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | Q1 8:19
After a faceoff win by Henry Metz, Brendan Millon finds Truitt Sunderland to give the Hoos a 3-0 lead. Timeout North Carolina.
Virginia 2, North Carolina 0 | Q1 9:00
Brendan Millon gets the scoring started for the Cavaliers with a question mark style goal. On the defensive end, Jake Marek opens the game with three early saves with his third save setting up a transition goal by Tommy Snyder.
Virginia vs North Carolina pregame notes
UVA owns a 59-33 advantage since the series began in 1938.
The 59 wins are UVA’s most against any opponent in program history (followed by 51 against Duke).
In Chapel Hill last year, the Tar Heels defeated the Cavaliers 18-9, snapping UVA’s six-game series win streak.
UVA has won nine of the last 11 meetings, dating back to 2018.
The Hoos have won the last two meetings with Carolina at Klöckner Stadium, 11-4 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2024.
The Tar Heels’ four goals in 2022 marked the fewest goals in a game under Joe Breschi, who was named UNC’s head coach in 2006.
The last time the Tar Heels knocked off the Cavaliers at Klöckner was a 16-13 decision during the first of three games between the two teams in 2021.
Later that year, UVA claimed back-to-back meetings against the Heels, including in the NCAA semifinals on the way to capturing the 2021 national title over Maryland.
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