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State Government
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By Administrator
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Wednesday, 22 May 2013 14:53 |
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RALEIGH, (AP) — An audit of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services says it has failed to fully test a new $484 million computer system scheduled to begin processing Medicaid claims on July 1.
The report issued by the office of State Auditor Beth Wood raises serious questions about the process used to affirm the complex NCTracks software will be ready to handle the more than $12 billion in Medicaid claims paid by the state each year.
NCTracks is being developed under a contact with Computer Sciences Corporation. The system was originally set to go live in August 2011 at a cost of $265 million.
In a written response, DHHS Secretary Aldona Wos agreed with the audit's key findings and said the agency is working hard to address the issues. |
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 22 May 2013 14:54 |
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State Government
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By Administrator
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Wednesday, 22 May 2013 14:32 |
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RALEIGH, (AP) — Opponents of a measure that would repeal North Carolina's Racial Justice Act for death row prisoners and seeks to restart executions after several years of legal battles say capital cases shouldn't be rushed because a person's life is on the line.
Supporters of the Senate bill heard Wednesday in a House judiciary committee say justice for murder victims and their families have waited long enough and want this legislation to pass.
The Republican legislation in part would end completely a 2009 law backed by Democrats allowing condemned inmates to use statistics and other evidence to persuade a judge that bias influenced their sentences. Successful cases convert their sentences to a life term without parole.
No vote was taken Wednesday, but the bill cleared the Senate last month along party lines.
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 22 May 2013 14:33 |
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State Government
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By Administrator
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Monday, 20 May 2013 13:52 |
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RALEIGH, (AP) — Senate Republicans say ever-rising costs for Medicaid are siphoning away money in North Carolina government that could be used to help public education and law enforcement and raise employee pay.
Senate budget-writers discussed Monday their proposed two-year state budget being heard later in the day by subcommittees and voted through the chamber this week.
They say the proposal must set aside $1.2 billion in additional funds through mid-2015 for Medicaid expenses. Sen. Pete Brunstetter of Forsyth County says the budget's attempts to get costs under control within the health insurance plan prevented senators from offering pay raises for state employees next year.
Gov. Pat McCrory says the Senate budget aligns well with his proposal on Medicaid but says further dialogue is needed on several Senate provisions that are different. |
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Last Updated on Monday, 20 May 2013 13:52 |
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State Government
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By Administrator
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Monday, 20 May 2013 13:43 |
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RALEIGH, (AP) — North Carolina's Democratic Attorney General Roy Cooper is opposing a state Senate budget provision that moves much of an investigative unit from his department to one headed by an appointee of Republican Gov. Pat McCrory.
Cooper spoke against the idea Monday alongside police chiefs and prosecutors who also oppose moving the State Bureau of Investigation to the Department of Public Safety.
The SBI assists local law enforcement and pursues public corruption investigations. It is currently under the Attorney General's Department of Justice. State sheriff and police chief associations oppose the change.
Cooper argued the move could inject politics into corruption investigations by jeopardizing the agency's independence. The Republican-led Senate says the change makes organizational sense because most law enforcement functions are under the Department of Public Safety.
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Last Updated on Monday, 20 May 2013 13:44 |
