Today the Department of State Treasurer and Novant Health announced the first major expansion to the State Health Plan’s (Plan) Lantern surgical benefit. This will significantly broaden access to no-cost, high-quality surgical care for hundreds of thousands Plan members across the state. The announcement was made during a press conference at Novant Health Kernersville Medical Center.
Press Releases
Surging population growth in the town of Holly Springs has resulted in the need for new and upgraded infrastructure to meet higher demand, and the Local Government Commission (LGC) today approved $135 million in revenue bonds for projects to meet the town’s needs. The town, located in Wake County, has seen a population boom from 24,661 in 2010 to 48,674 in 2024, according to U.S. Census data.
For the first time since its creation in 1985 the North Carolina Supplemental Retirement Plans’ (SRP) 401(k) Plan and NC 457 Plan topped $20 billion in investment assets, State Treasurer Brad Briner announced today. The major milestone was reported at the Supplemental Retirement Board of Trustees’ quarterly meeting. The market value of investments increased from $17.7 billion at the end of 2024 to $20 billion at the close of 2025. The assets have more than doubled in the past seven years. Currently there are 325,714 participants in 401(k) and 457 plans.
The State Health Plan (Plan) held its inaugural meeting of the newly established Medical Policy Advisory Committee on Feb. 25. The committee’s work is intended to strengthen the Plan’s ability to evaluate emerging treatments, ensure evidence-based decision-making and promote high-quality, patient-centered care for members.
The North Carolina Investment Authority (NCIA) Board of Directors met today and voted to make changes to how the North Carolina Retirement Systems’ (NCRS) makes investment decisions. “These were the final steps in the construction of North Carolina’s newest state agency, the North Carolina Investment Authority,” State Treasurer Brad Briner said. “We now have approved the Investment Policy Statement and the incentive compensation plan.
Treasurer Brad Briner took out his personal checkbook today to pay off the first loan repayment due for the Cashflow Loan Program. The loans, which were distributed last year to Hurricane Helene-affected communities, had an initial, nominal $1 repayment due this fiscal year. As many communities are still continuing their recovery efforts, the treasurer wants to take one clerical action off their plates.
The Local Government Commission (LGC) today approved requests from the city of Raleigh (Wake County) to issue $221 million in bonds to support its 17-story City Hall across the street from historic Nash Square and to support other public safety buildings.
Votes taken by the State Health Plan (Plan) Board of Trustees yesterday aim to improve health outcomes for members while also considering cost transparency and long-term affordability. The trustees approved contracts with three clinically integrated networks (CINs): Aledade, Community Care Physician Network and UNC Health Alliance. These agreements represent the first phase of the Plan’s new preferred provider strategy.
The North Carolina Retirement Systems (NCRS) Boards of Trustees (BOT) voted today to modify policies intended to make it easier to give retirees a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in their monthly benefit payments, effective in the fiscal year beginning in 2027.
The state’s Debt Affordability Advisory Committee (DAAC) voted today to approve a study that concluded the state has sufficient debt capacity to borrow nearly $2 billion in each of the next 10 years for capital projects and $155 million annually for transportation projects.