Virus-related health funding bill moving, but NC hospitals say they're down $1B a month
RALEIGH, N.C. — Lawmakers in the state House backed a bill Thursday with more than $600 million in it for COVID-19 research, medical care, hospital bailouts and a slew of other programs.
A key budget writer called it "phase one." The North Carolina Healthcare Association says hospitals around the state are out about $1 billion a month because of the elimination of profitable non-essential procedures and spending on COVID-19 preparations.
The House working group, laying out priorities ahead of next week's legislative session, also approved a bill that details long-term plans for a new state stockpile of personal protective equipment – the PPE considered so crucial to protect hospital and other front-line workers from the new coronavirus.
The bills include funding for rural hospitals and a temporary Medicaid boost, if the federal government signs off on it, to cover COVID-19 treatment costs for people up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. That's an annual income of about $50,200 for a family of four.
Read more: https://www.wral.com/coronavirus/virus-related-health-funding-bill-moving-but-nc-hospitals-say-they-re-down-1b-a-month/19068282/