North Carolina Legislators Seek Stricter Oversight for Hospitals

In North Carolina, lawmakers are ramping up efforts to hold hospitals more accountable as of early 2026.

locationNorth Carolina

A major focus is the proposed Healthcare Accountability Act, which aims to provide state regulators with new tools like civil penalties and mandatory training to address safety issues, rather than relying solely on federal funding cuts.

conceptHealthcare Accountability Act

Beyond safety and billing, the General Assembly is debating Certificate of Need laws to boost competition and implementing prior authorization reforms to speed up patient care approvals.

orgGeneral Assembly

conceptCertificate of Need

To help with staffing shortages, Session Law 2025-37 now allows advanced practice nurses and physician assistants more flexibility in their roles.

conceptSession Law 2025-37

personadvanced practice nurse

personphysician assistant

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Comprehension Questions

What is a primary goal of the proposed Healthcare Accountability Act in North Carolina?

To grant state-level regulators intermediate enforcement options like civil penalties.

To increase federal funding for all hospitals.

To remove all regulatory oversight from health systems.

Reveal Answer

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Correct Choice

To grant state-level regulators intermediate enforcement options like civil penalties.

Why are lawmakers concerned about medical debt in hospitals?

Because hospitals are suing patients and placing liens on their homes.

Because it decreases the number of available doctors.

Because it forces hospitals to accept lower insurance reimbursements.

Reveal Answer

✓

Correct Choice

Because hospitals are suing patients and placing liens on their homes.

What was the purpose of Session Law 2025-37?

To ban facility fees for all outpatient clinics.

To modernize healthcare regulations by expanding the authority of nurses and physician assistants.

To strictly enforce federal hospital price transparency rules.

Reveal Answer

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Correct Choice

To modernize healthcare regulations by expanding the authority of nurses and physician assistants.

What is a major concern regarding the consolidation of large health systems in North Carolina?

It gives health systems immense leverage, making it difficult for competition to lower costs.

It makes hospitals too small to handle complex surgeries.

It prevents hospitals from using technology in patient care.

Reveal Answer

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Correct Choice

It gives health systems immense leverage, making it difficult for competition to lower costs.

What change is proposed for the prior authorization process?

To increase the time hospitals have to respond to requests.

To mandate quicker decision-making timelines and specialist reviews for denials.

To remove the need for any clinical review of treatments.

Reveal Answer

✓

Correct Choice

To mandate quicker decision-making timelines and specialist reviews for denials.

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