North Carolina
North Carolina government is incentivizing hospitals to relieve patients of medical debt
North Carolina state government is seeking to rid potentially billions in medical debt from low- and middle-income residents by offering a financial carrot for hospitals to take unpaid bills off the books and to implement policies supporting future patients.
Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s administration unveiled Monday a plan it wants federal Medicaid regulators to approve that would allow roughly 100 hospitals that recently began receiving enhanced federal Medicaid reimbursement funds to get even more money.
But to qualify an acute-care, rural or university-connected hospital would have to voluntarily do away with patients’ medical debt going back ten years on current Medicaid enrollees — and on non-enrollees who make below certain incomes or whose debt exceeds 5% of their annual income.
Going forward, these hospitals also would have to help low- and middle-income patients — for example, those in a family of four making no more than $93,600 — by providing deep discounts on medical bills incurred. The hospitals would have to enroll people automatically in charity care programs and agree not to sell their debt to collectors or tell credit reporting agencies about unpaid bills. Interest rates on medical debt also would be capped.
Cooper said the plan has the potential to help 2 million people in the state get rid of $4 billion in debt, much of which hospitals are never going to recoup anyway.
“Large medical bills from sickness or injury can cripple the finances of North Carolinians, particularly those who are already struggling,” Cooper said in a news release. “Freeing people from medical debt can be life-changing for families, as well as boost the overall economic health of North Carolina.”
Other state and local governments have tapped into federal American Rescue Plan funds to help purchase and cancel residents’ debt for pennies on the dollar. North Carolina’s proposed initiative would be different by creating a long-term solution to debt, state Health and Human Services Secretary Kody Kinsley said.
“We really wanted to create a more sustainable path forward and not just be one-and-done, but to keep it going,” Kinsley said in an interview.
North Carolina legislators last year created the enhanced Medicaid reimbursement payments for hospitals — called the Healthcare Access and Stabilization Program —alongside provisions that expanded Medicaid coverage in the state to working adults who couldn’t otherwise qualify for conventional Medicaid. More than 479,000 people already have enrolled for the expanded Medicaid offered since last December.
Cooper’s proposal doesn’t require a new state law and won’t cost the state any additional funds, but the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services must approve the Healthcare Access and Stabilization Program changes. Kinsley said he believes regulators will be “aggressive in their approval.” Cooper’s administration wraps up at year’s end, since he’s barred by term limits from reelection.
To sweeten the deal, the financial possibilities for hospitals in the debt program that agree to debt alterations appear rich. The state Department of Health and Human Services said hospitals that choose to participate would be eligible to share funds from a pot of up to $6.5 billion for next year. Those who don’t can share from $3.2 billion.
The effort also will depend on the willingness of the state’s hospitals to participate. Kinsley said he didn’t know where the North Carolina Healthcare Association — which lobbies for non-profit and for-profit hospitals — stands on the effort, and that it wouldn’t participate in a public announcement later Monday.
And the debt relief wouldn’t begin right away, with consumers benefitting in 2025 and 2026, according to state DHHS.
Republican State Treasurer Dale Folwell has questioned the commitment of the state’s largest nonprofit hospital systems to treat patients who are poor at free or reduced rates. The N.C. Healthcare Association has pushed back at Folwell, promoting their members’ charity-care efforts and other contributions to communities they serve.
A group called Undue Medical Debt that’s assisted other governments with cancelling medical debt, also would work on North Carolina’s effort, DHHS said.
North Carolina
Former staffer claims sexual harassment in ethics complaint against NC insurance commissioner
A Forsyth County woman has filed an ethics complaint against North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey, alleging that the official sent her what she called inappropriate text messages for years while she worked in the Department of Insurance.
Causey, meanwhile, says he would welcome an investigation into the allegations, telling WRAL News in an interview this week: “The truth will come out.”
Former regulatory analyst April Taylor filed the complaint last week with the State Ethics Commission. The DOI said Wednesday it has received a copy of the complaint.
Taylor is alleging sexual harassment. She also claims Causey campaigned on state time and misused a state vehicle.
Taylor alleged last month that Causey sent her a series of inappropriate text messages during her nine years at the department. She made the allegations in an article published by The News & Observer.
On Wednesday, Taylor shared images of the text messages with WRAL. She characterized her relationship with Causey as “friendly,” citing family ties dating back before she worked there. But the messages reflect a more complicated dynamic.
“Just don’t let me catch you in the room alone,” reads one message.
“I might jump your bones. Watch out!!!” reads another.
The messages made her uncomfortable, she told WRAL News, adding: “At the time, I didn’t know how to respond.”
Taylor told state investigators that she has many more text messages and screenshots to prove Causey was campaigning on state time while at a department office in Archdale. She also said Causey used a state vehicle for personal use, including to attend her great-aunt’s wedding in 2025.
“Although Causey and I had a friendship,” Taylor said in her filing, “he crossed the line many times, leaving me feeling uncomfortable and violated.”
She said she first attempted to raise the concerns
– unrelated to the text messages
– about Causey to the Office of the State Auditor, related to his official capacity as the state’s Insurance Commissioner. She alleged that the auditor’s office expressed little interest in investigating. A spokesperson for State Auditor Dave Boliek challenged her narrative, saying her complaint “draws incorrect conclusions.”
In her complaint, Taylor said: “I am willing to take a polygraph exam and testify before legislatures. Evidence will be furnished upon request.”
In her role as an analyst at the department, Taylor’s job led to frequent communication with Causey.
Taylor, who resides between Greensboro and Winston-Salem, allowed WRAL to read through text messages exchanged with Causey over the years.
Much of the communication observed appeared friendly or work-related. But Taylor says some texts went too far – particularly those that commented on her appearance.
WRAL asked Causey about Taylor’s allegations. He declined to comment, saying it was a personnel matter. He added that he was open to an investigation into the initial allegations.
“We want to make sure everything is clear and transparent,” Causey said, “because we certainly have nothing to hide to the public, to the lawmakers, or to any of my fellow elected officials.”
Causey acknowledged to the N&O that he sent work-related texts to Taylor. But he told the newspaper that he didn’t recall sending comments related to her appearance. Taylor disputes that.
“Throughout the years, I thought they were inappropriate,” Taylor said. “I felt uncomfortable. I responded with laughing emojis because I didn’t know how to respond. What am I supposed to do, respond with mad faces? He may look at it as a form of rejection.”
Taylor said she was in an appointed position. “He could have let me go for any reason,” she said.
Asked why she didn’t push back against the messages, Taylor said: “I just didn’t want to make the situation uncomfortable. Just wanted to laugh it off.”
Several messages sent by Taylor to Causey were flattering in nature, including heart and smiling emojis, as well as references to Causey as a “handsome” man. “I felt the laughing emoji was my way of trying to shut it down,” she said.
A spokesperson for the department declined to comment on the allegations.
“Commissioner Causey and NCDOI will fully comply with any requests by the N.C. State Ethics Commission regarding this or any other matter,” Barry Smith a DOI spokesman, said in a statement.
North Carolina
‘Bonsai in the Blue Ridge’ exhibit brings dozens of displays to North Carolina Arboretum
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — The North Carolina Arboretum will host a bonanza of bonsai this week with “Bonsai in the Blue Ridge,” a limited-time exhibition of more than 50 living sculptures as part of the American Bonsai Society’s Learning Seminar 2026.
Between June 4-7, arboretum visitors can explore the exhibits for a $5 admission fee, along with the arboretum’s regular parking fee. A press release from the arboretum said there will also be opportunities to register for seminars, workshops and tours led by bonsai artists for an additional cost.
GROWING YOUR GARDEN? PLENTY OF PLANTS FOR PURCHASE AT THE ARBORETUM’S SPRING SALE
“The American Bonsai Society brings together people who share a passion for bonsai. Through world-class publications and events such as the Learning Seminars, ABS promotes and educates, sharing techniques that showcase North American artistic expression and encouraging the use of plant species that grow well in the United States, Canada, and Mexico,” ABS Convention Chair Scott Barboza said in a written statement.
FILE IMAGE of a bonsai plant that is part of the North Carolina Arboretum’s Bonsai Exhibition Garden. (Photo: North Carolina Arboretum)
Bonsai is the ancient art of shaping trees over time to create miniature living sculptures. The North Carolina Arboretum is no stranger to the art, having established the Bonsai Exhibition Garden in 2005, which showcases up to 50 specimens of traditional Asian bonsai subjects, tropical plants, American species and plants native to the Blue Ridge region.
IKEBANA INTERNATIONAL ASHEVILLE STAGES FLORAL DESIGN EXHIBITION AT NC ARBORETUM
“Bonsai in the Blue Ridge” takes place 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 4, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 5 and 6, and 9 a.m. to noon Sunday, June 7.
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See a full schedule of events for this week’s seminar at americanbonsaisociety.org.
The Greenville Police Department joined community leaders in Pitt County this week to promote safe firearm storage as part of North Carolina’s annual NC S.A.F.E. Week of Action, the Greenville Police Department said.
In a statement, the Greenville Police Department thanked NC S.A.F.E. and the North Carolina Department of Public Safety for the opportunity to help educate residents about responsible firearm storage practices.
We want to thank NC S.A.F.E. and the North Carolina Department of Public Safety for allowing us to help relay to the community the importance of safely securing firearms so that we can avoid tragedies in the future!
The local event follows Gov. Josh Stein’s proclamation recognizing June 1-7 as NC S.A.F.E. Week of Action.
According to Gov. Stein’s office, the campaign aims to encourage gun owners to securely store firearms and make safety resources more widely available across North Carolina.
An unlocked gun is a tragedy waiting to happen, and too often, it does,” said Governor Josh Stein. “NC S.A.F.E Week is a reminder to all of us about the measures we can all take to keep ourselves and the people we love safe.
Safe firearm storage is one of the simplest steps we can take to prevent tragedies before they happen,” said North Carolina Department of Public Safety Deputy Secretary William Lassiter Lassiter. “NC S.A.F.E. is increasing awareness around secure firearm storage and making safety resources more accessible to help reduce preventable injuries and build safer communities throughout our state.
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