April 14, 2026
On April 9, NCAFP Exec. VP Greg Griggs, MPA, CAE, joined other association executives and insurance company officials for a meeting with NC Governor Josh Stein, NC Dept. of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Secretary Dr. Dev. Sangvai, and other key health policy advisors to discuss the Medicaid budget, rebase funds needed to balance the Medicaid budget this year, and other issues related to the long-term stability of Medicaid. During the meeting, Griggs stressed the importance of Family Medicine and how individuals with a usual source of primary care have lower costs and better outcomes. He was joined by Will Morgan, Managing Partner of The Raleigh Group, the NCAFP’s contract lobbying team. Other attendees included representatives of the NC Healthcare Association, the NC Nurses Association, the NC Pediatric Society, and other healthcare related groups.
During the meeting, Medicaid Interim Deputy Secretary Melanie Bush noted that the state’s Medicaid program has a lot to be proud of, but she also added that this will be a rebuilding year, with a goal to “Stabilize, Strengthen, and Simplify” the Medicaid program. She noted that, at times, the program had become a bit over-engineered.
As you may recall, the NCAFP spent last fall successfully combatting the 8% Medicaid rate cuts for primary care that NCDHHS implemented in October 2025 to balance the Medicaid budget. While the cuts were reversed, there will still be a budget shortfall if the legislature does not appropriate an additional $319 million for this fiscal year that ends on June 30. The NCAFP is continuing our efforts to ensure that the Legislature ultimately passes a bill that includes appropriate funding for Medicaid.
Look for more information as we move into the Legislative Short Session later this month.
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.
