North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory signed a Medicaid reform bill driving down costs and improving patient care, according to Bladen Journal.
Here are five points:
1. The new bill pays providers based on patient outcomes rather than the number of services a patient receives.
2. Patients can choose from various prepaid health plans. The plans will be mandated to spend at least 88 cents of every dollar on healthcare services.
3. Along with provisions to the state budget, the bill will strengthen the statewide Health Information Exchange, which will give medical providers data enabling them to enhance care and lower costs.
4. Medicaid covers nearly one out of every five North Carolina residents.
5. Fifty-six percent of the births in North Carolina are to mothers receiving Medicaid benefits.