“Republican ” state treasurer leads coup against transparency for state health plan. (Uncle Phil is pleased.)

Dale Folwell served the people of North Carolina well during his time in Raleigh.  Whether it was in the General Assembly, at the Employment Security Commission, or at the state treasurer’s office, Folwell employed a fiscally-conservative strategy that saved money for the taxpayers and earned him their appreciation.

Folwell really got under the political establishment’s skin during his time as treasurer with his push for transparency at the state employee health plan. He thought it was pretty reasonable to demand that folks who want to do business with the state be open and transparent about what they charge for their products and services. 

Hospitals and Big Pharma, which have been feasting at the state trough for decades,  were not at all impressed with this transparency talk. Those two industries have a lot of deep-pocketed lobbyists who — I hear — are quite prolific at depositing large clumps of cash in key pockets around Raleigh.  Bought-and-paid-for politicians were enlisted to stop Folwell and his transparency campaign post-haste.

As the old saying goes — if you can’t beat them, replace them.  Folwell retired in 2024 after two terms as treasurer.  The political establishment – desperate to avoid a sequel to Folwell — went out and found Chapel Hill resident Bradford Chatsworth-Paisley-Higginbotham Briner IV to run for treasurer in 2024.  Briner learned finance at the right hand of Obama acolytes Michael Bloomberg and Steven Rattner and got groomed in politics by Phil Berger and Jim Blaine. A major screwing of conservatives — taxpayers — was in the works.  

Briner’s campaign rhetoric centered on being really different from Folwell.  With two under-funded primary opponents in an extremely low-profile primary, Briner scooted through easily to the victory circle. 

Four months into his term, Briner has succeeded in derailing Folwell’s transparency efforts and bringing smiles to the faces of Messrs. Blaine, Berger and every health care industry lobbyist in the vicinity of Raleigh’s Jones Street:

The State Health Plan (Plan) Board of Trustees met today to make pivotal decisions on the future direction of the Plan with actions to address its $507 million deficit. The board approved changes to benefits for the 2026 benefit year, which will begin Jan. 1, 2026. Member premiums will not be voted on until the August board meeting.

The board has been working to keep the Plan viable for the more than 750,000 teachers, state employees, retirees, and their dependents. To that end, the Plan is pivoting toward a more sustainable approach introducing a new Preferred Provider program focused on value, quality, and access. This will replace the current Clear Pricing Project (CPP) effective Dec. 31, 2025. This change will place the Plan on a more sustainable financial path while continuing to provide member with access to high quality, affordable health care. […]

Sooooo — HOW does reverting back to secretive, under-the-table dealings achieve these cost-savings Briner’s office speaks of?

It’s funny. (Not, ha-ha.) When they were in the minority, Republicans railed against secretive nonsense paid for by tax dollars.  *I guess it’s OK — and a lot more fun — when you and your friends are in the majority and are collecting all the ethically-questionable cash. *

HOW does keeping secrets from the taxpayers serve the taxpayers?