Sen. Burgin files bill in North Carolina Senate to raise Medicaid reimbursement rates

A new bill filed by State Sen. Jim Burgin in the North Carolina Senate seeks to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for personal care and private duty nursing services, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 366 on March 20 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Increase Medicaid PCS and PDN Rates.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, the bill allocates $119.2 million annually from the North Carolina General Fund for the 2025-27 fiscal biennium to boost the Medicaid reimbursement rate to $7.50 per 15-minute increment for personal care services. This increase applies to services under the State Plan Personal Care Services Program and several Community Alternatives Programs. Additionally, the bill provides $19.8 million annually to raise the Medicaid rate to $16.25 per 15-minute increment for private duty nursing services, applicable to beneficiaries of all ages under Medicaid Clinical Coverage Policies 3G-1 and 3G-2. These state funds will secure matching federal funds totaling $217.8 million and $36.2 million annually, respectively. The act becomes effective July 1, 2025.

A related bill, HB 453, was also filed in the North Carolina House, introduced by Rep. Donna McDowell White (and three others) on March 18, 2025.

Of the three sponsors of this bill, Timothy D. Moffitt proposed the most bills (36) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Burgin graduated from The University of Tennessee Knoxville with a BS.

Burgin, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2019 to represent the state’s 12th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Ronald Rabin.