Agency Praises NC as 'one of the strongest states according to every measure.'
Topics Related to OST Press Release
“We appreciate the support nearly half of the states have shown by filing an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to review the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision. Our position remains unchanged. State governing bodies are best equipped to evaluate health care coverage that provides the greatest good to the highest number of people. They, and not the courts, are the proper place to make such decisions.”
We are pleased that Blue Cross NC is choosing not to appeal the well-reasoned opinion of Judge Melissa Owens Lassiter of the Office of Administrative Hearings. The members of the State Health Plan and taxpayers like them deserve to have this uncertainty ended. We will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of improving benefits for teachers and state employees in a cost-effective manner for taxpayers.
From the beginning, it has been clear that the State Health Plan (Plan) performed a well-reasoned, high-integrity, and correct procurement process for third-party administrative services. This process clearly revealed that Aetna’s bid was superior to Blue Cross NC’s, and the Plan’s Board of Trustees properly approved the contract’s award to Aetna. As Judge Melissa Owens Lassiter said in her opinion:
We are glad that the Department of Health and Human Services and the governor have finally recognized my pro-family initiative to help prevent medical debt from decimating the finances of North Carolina families. The best and most simple way that our new allies can be helpful in this fight is to immediately support the Medical Debt De-Weaponization Act that passed the Senate unanimously and is only one vote short from passing the House.
As keeper of the public purse, I have done my best to safeguard taxpayer money and to prudently use — not abuse — state resources. I learned just yesterday that a state agency investigator believed it necessary to obtain search warrants to look into use of my assigned state vehicle for the many public functions I routinely perform throughout the state, all of which are purposefully planned to accomplish the maximum job duties possible during the trips. I have tried to be very careful in following published guidance — including written communications from the N.C.
I applaud the Federal Trade Commission for doing its job to protect the consumers of health care in the Lake Norman area. North Carolina has the highest hospital costs in the country and Novant’s proposed purchase of two Lake Norman hospitals would have made the matter worse. High medical and pharmaceutical costs are pushing the State Health Plan (Plan) to the brink of insolvency.
During the May meeting of the Local Government Commission (LGC), State Auditor Holmes requested that officials from City of Rocky Mount have an opportunity to address the LGC regarding its pending application for approval of debt for a refurbished fire station. That item has now been included on the agenda for discussion purposes during the June 4 LGC meeting.
Requests Retirement Services Division to Expedite Benefits
I welcome the U.S. Senate investigation into monopolistic drug manufacturers who commit unconscionable price gouging on GLP-1 medications. These global companies are reaping enormous profits that exponentially outweigh the costs to make them. The North Carolina State Health Plan cannot double the individual premiums for over 500,000 state employees for the prescription of one drug to 25,000 people.