North Carolina Governor Josh Stein has created a bipartisan commission to recommend ways to lower healthcare costs in the state. The Health Care Affordability Commission, co-chaired by Republican State Treasurer Brad Briner and Devdutta Sangvai, who oversees the state Department of Health and Human Services, includes lawmakers, healthcare providers, insurers, researchers, and patient advocates.
Commission Goals
The commission is expected to focus on improving transparency, promoting competition, addressing workforce shortages, expanding primary care, advancing value-based care, and improving affordability in rural communities. Stein stated that rising healthcare costs are making it harder for North Carolinians to afford care, and he looks forward to working with the commission to ensure access to critical healthcare.
Briner noted that rising costs are unsustainable for the State Health Plan, which covers over 750,000 teachers, state employees, retirees, and their families. The commission will work to deliver a vision of a functioning healthcare system and provide near-term concrete recommendations.
Original reporting: WRAL Raleigh — read the source article.
