VOLUME 8 ISSUE 26
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WWW.NSJONLINE.COM
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2023
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BRIEF this week
Rockingham commissioners approve casinorelated rezoning Wentworth Rockingham County Commissioners approved a rezoning case on Monday believed to be tied to potential casino expansion in the state. The commissioners, who are all Republicans, approved a nearly 200acre rezoning request on the western side of the county. Many local residents, who say the development would ruin the rural character of the area, mobilized opposition and several spoke against the project. NSJ STAFF
NC Republicans give final OK to legislation curbing appointment powers held by governor Raleigh North Carolina Republican legislative leaders finalized their efforts to curb the appointment powers of the governor on several boards and commissions, extending a yearslong struggle with Democrat Roy Cooper over who controls key panels within state government. Compromise legislation worked out by House Speaker Tim Moore, Senate leader Phil Berger and others would take away from the governor the ability to pick many spots on panels that among others set electricity rates and environmental regulations and approve road-building projects. Cooper and his allies have called versions of the bill earlier this year unconstitutional power grabs. Republican legislative leaders argue a rebalance of power is necessary to ensure differing viewpoints beyond those preferred by the governor. Democrats cite state court rulings going back 40 years addressing the separation of powers as evidence that the bill would be unconstitutional. “Consolidating power in this body is a bad, bad, bad idea,” House Minority Leader Robert Reives of Chatham County said during debate. “I struggle to believe that continuing to consolidate power in this body is best for North Carolina.” THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Payton McNabb speaks at a press conference along with NC Values Coalition Executive Director and former UNC women’s basketball coach Sylvia Hatchell in Raleigh.
General Assembly overrides latest round of Cooper’s vetoes The six veto overrides are a new one-day state override record
NCDHHS reminds families about updating vaccinations By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — As children and teens head back into the classroom in the coming weeks, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is reminding families about vaccination updates. “Vaccines are an essential piece of both child and family health and well-being,” said Dr. Zack Moore, state epidemiologist, in a press release. “We encourage parents and guardians to work with their children’s doctor to make sure their children are current on their childhood vaccines to prevent illness and reduce days missed at
school.” Vaccinations required for children entering kindergarten in public school systems include DTaP, polio, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), hepatitis B and varicella. For 4-year-olds only, additional shots include Hib and pneumococcal conjugate. Multiple doses of the vaccines are required for this entry-level grade. The same rounds of vaccinations are required for those in seventh grade, some of which require multiple shots while others only a single booster shot. In both seventh and 12th grade, a vaccination against See VACCINES, page A2
By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — The six most recent vetoes issued by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper were overridden by the legislature on Aug. 16. The overrides taken included House Bill 574 — Fairness in Women’s Sports, House Bill 808 — Gender Transitions/Minors, House Bill 488 — Code Council Reorg & Var. Code Amend., House Bill 618 — Charter School Review Board, House Bill 219 — Charter School Omnibus, and Senate Bill 49 — Parents’ Bill of Rights. All 14 of the vetoes issued by the governor so far this session have been overridden. “The legislature finally comes back to pass legislation that discriminates, makes housing less safe, blocks FEMA disaster recovery funding, hurts the freedom to vote and damages our economy. Yet they still won’t pass a budget when teachers, school bus
Report: NC hospitals sued more than 7,500 patients for over $57.3M in judgments Five health systems responsible for 96.5% of litigation By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — A new report details lawsuits over medical debt by state hospitals involving more than 5,517 patients. The report covers lawsuits spanning from January 2017 through June 2022 that won $57.3 million in judgment, an average of $16,623 per judgment. “Many of these legal actions resulted in default judgments in state district courts and included awards of 8% interest charges on patients’ medical debt,” the
SHP’s website states. “In total, interest charges and other added fees accounted for 35.4% of the $57.3 million in total judgments owed by patients.” The data behind the report comes from a study conducted by Duke University School of Law researchers and the North Carolina Office of State Treasurer (OST). The report was published on the N.C. State Health Plan (SHP) website on Aug. 16. Medical debt judgments can span decades in North Carolina as well as lead to automatic liens against the home of the patient, as the report found in several cases. The study reported that interest charges and other additional fees totaled “an estimat-
ed $20.3 million, or 35.4% of the judgments awarded” and that 463 families owed “more than $10,000 in interest alone.” The study found that hospitals won default judgments in the majority of the cases filed and patients reported not having the information they needed to understand the hospital bills in order to fight the lawsuit. Evidence was also found showing patients “had little say in these judicial proceedings” and that almost 60% were “default judgments.” Nonprofit hospitals were responsible for “90.6% of the 5,922 lawsuits against patients,” according to the report. Five health systems were found to be responsible for filing 5,922 of the lawsuits, or 96.5%.
drivers and Medicaid Expansion for thousands of working people getting kicked off their health plans every week are desperately needed,” Cooper said in a statement. “These are the wrong priorities, especially when they should be working nights and weekends if necessary to get a budget passed by the end of the month.” As of Aug. 16, Cooper has issued 89 vetoes as governor and the legislature has overridden 37 of them. For context, a total of 124 vetoes have been issued in North Carolina since veto powers were given to the governor. Only five governors who preceded Cooper had veto powers and they issued a combined total of just 35 vetoes. “The House has successfully overridden six more of Gov. Cooper’s vetoes, resulting in huge wins for North Carolina women, parents, and families,” said House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain). “While Governor Cooper has tried to stand between parents and their kids, today the NC House will continue to affirm parent’s rights, protect female athletes, and advocate for the See OVERRIDE, page A2
The five systems include Atrium Health, Caromont Health, Sampson Regional Medical Center, Community Health Systems and Mission Health. The OST interviewed several individuals facing medical debt lawsuits covered in the report. Examples include an 80-yearold couple who were unaware of a $90,000 lien against their house until contacted by OST researchers, and a 70-year-old couple who has a $192,000 lien against their house put in place by Atrium Health even after the system allegedly told the couple they would receive help with See HOSPITALS, page A2
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