Rivals to Blue Cross Blue shield are backing legislation to eliminate a negotiation technique that North Carolina health insurers use with doctors and hospitals.

Gov. Pat McCrory signed into law Tuesday changes to North Carolina's unemployment insurance system that supporters say puts the plan on firmer footing and gives businesses more certainty. Critics say it will devastate the jobless with decreased benefits or none at all.

North Carolina legislators agreed Wednesday to cut payments to future jobless workers and raise business taxes to hasten repayment of $2.5 billion owed to the federal government because the state couldn't keep up with benefit requests during the recession.

A Republican plan to cut jobless payments and raise business taxes to speed repayment of North Carolina's $2.5 billion federal debt on unemployment benefits won tentative approval Tuesday in the state Senate, all but ensuring enactment this summer.

Several physicians and nurses said Monday the North Carolina General Assembly's choice to cover more uninsured people through Medicaid should be a no-brainer because it will create jobs, save state money and make people healthier.

A Republican-authored solution to more quickly pay off the $2.5 billion North Carolina owes the federal government for covering unemployment benefits cleared another legislative hurdle Tuesday.

Using outside companies to help detect Medicaid program fraud and abuse ultimately will reap significant savings for the state of North Carolina, despite a recent audit critical of contract terms and the initial yields, the state Medicaid director said Wednesday.

Legislators are trying to prevent North Carolina prison officials from privatizing inmate medical care for all of the state's adult prisoners unless they get the express approval of the General Assembly.