December 12, 2025
During a press conference on Dec. 10, NC Governor Josh Stein and NC Dept. of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Secretary Dr. Devdutta Sangvai announced that the state will not submit a State Plan Amendment to reduce Medicaid rates, which would have resulted in an 8% cut to Family Medicine. “NCDHHS is restoring rates because the courts have required doing so, but the $319 million funding gap remains,” said Gov. Stein. “The General Assembly must act to fully fund Medicaid and protect health care for more than 3 million North Carolinians.” NCAFP was one of the petitioners in a suit against NCDHHS seeking to stop the cuts.
During the press conference, NCAFP President Dr. Benjamin “Frankie” Simmons spoke on behalf of Family Medicine and the medical community describing the adverse impacts of the cuts and the relief that patients and physicians will now enjoy. “The proposed cuts would have been devastating, threatening the stability of primary care practices and limiting access for every patient we serve,” said Dr. Simmons. “We are grateful that the Governor took these steps and we will continue to work with him and the legislature to ensure the Medicaid program is appropriately funded and continues to serve our patients and communities.” The NCAFP has advocated against the 8% cuts to Medicaid rates since before they were implemented Oct. 1.
The North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians, Inc. (NCAFP) is a nonprofit professional association headquartered in Raleigh which represents over 4,300 family physicians, family medicine residents, and medical students across the state. It is the largest medical specialty association in North Carolina and is a constituent chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians, based in Leadwood, KS.
