Some adults in North Carolina could get Medicaid coverage within weeks because Gov. Roy Cooper says he'll let the state budget bill coming to his desk become law.

Some adults in NC could get Medicaid coverage within weeks because Gov. Roy Cooper says he'll let state budget bill coming to his desk become law.

A Medicaid expansion law that Gov. Cooper signed in March said that a state budget for this fiscal year still had to be enacted before coverage could be implemented.

Passing North Carolina’s budget will remain the last hurdle for the state to expand Medicaid to cover 600,000 low-income adults now that an effort to link expansion to authorizing more casinos is off the table.

For a few hours this week, it seemed like Medicaid expansion would not become a reality in North Carolina. But with final votes on the state budget expected before the weekend, health equity advocates are again optimistic.

The Republican-controlled General Assembly began voting Thursday for a long-delayed North Carolina budget that speeds up individual income tax cuts, broadens private-school scholarships to all K-12 children and initiates other right-leaning changes.

The Republican-controlled North Carolina General Assembly has given its initial approval to a long-delayed state budget.

Expanding Medicaid coverage could be possible in North Carolina following Republican lawmakers approving language of a Democratic health care bill.