Healthcare and North Carolina

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have some great news about the healthcare situation in North Carolina that I recently discovered this week! It's amazing! The current healthcare statewide crisis if finally starting to brighten up! The following is a description of what is happening! Woo-hoo North Carolina!

The state of North Carolina has slowly been joining this political progress in healthcare reform. During the 2007 session, on March 20, 2007, the General Assembly of North Carolina passed the health reform bill H.B. 901, a.k.a. “Health Care for All.” This bill is an act that will “amend the North Carolina constitution to recognize the right to health care” (Universal Health Care Legislation, 3). Below is a description of the bill that was offered at this session.

Short Title: Health Care for All. (Public)
Sponsors: Representative Insko.
Referred to:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO AMEND THE NORTH CAROLINA CONSTITUTION TO
RECOGNIZE THE RIGHT TO HEALTH CARE.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1. Article I of the North Carolina Constitution is amended by adding a new section to read:
“Sec. 38. Health care.
Health care is an essential safeguard of human life and dignity, and there is an obligation for the State to ensure that every resident is able to realize this fundamental right. Not later than July 1, 2009, the General Assembly shall provide by law a plan to ensure that by July 1, 2013, every resident of North Carolina has access to appropriate health care on a regular basis.”
SECTION 2. The amendment set out in Section 1 of this act shall be
submitted to the qualified voters of the State at the general election in November 2008, which election shall be conducted under the laws then governing elections in the State. Ballots, voting systems, or both may be used in accordance with Chapter 163 of the General Statutes. The question to be used in the voting systems and ballots shall be:
“[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST
Constitutional amendment providing that health care is a fundamental right.”
SECTION 3. If a majority of the votes cast on the question are in favor of the amendment set out in Section 1 of this act, the State Board of Elections shall certify the amendment to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall enroll the amendment so certified among the permanent records of that office.
SECTION 4. This act is effective when it becomes law. (Universal Health Care Legislation).

The following is the history of this bill thus far in the State House:

03/19/2007:
[H]
Filed

03/20/2007:
[H]
Passed 1st Reading

03/20/2007:
[H]
Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
(“North Carolina General Assembly--House Bill 901 Information/History, 1).

With this bill, we are on our way to improve the healthcare coverage situation for all residents in North Carolina! Let's hope that the state legislature keeps up this fantastic work!!!!