As N.C. House and Senate Republican budget negotiators struggle to reach an overall compromise on the delayed 2025-26 state budget, state health officials prepare to implement up to $319 million in Medicaid funding cuts.

The funding reductions — prompted by passage of the controversial "One Big Beautiful Bill" by Congress — will take effect on Oct. 1.

However, it's unclear whether Republican House and Senate leadership will take up potential legislation to address the funding gap during a second extra legislative session set to begin Monday and last through Thursday.

Instead, the focus is expected to be on a planned wide-ranging public-safety bill in response to the fatal attack of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte passenger rail line.

The issue at hand is what is known a

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