In this episode of The SEANC View, our team speaks with Thomas Friedman, executive administrator of the North Carolina State Health Plan, about the recently launched Lantern program. Lantern offers state employees and teachers access to free elective surgeries (orthopedics and bariatrics) with high-quality providers across the state, including travel and lodging coverage when needed. They discuss how Lantern aims to reduce overall health costs through price transparency and bundled care, upcoming expansions (including maternity care), and efforts to manage pharmaceutical expenses. The conversation also touches on rural access, provider incentives, and open enrollment.

This episode covers a fast legislative week in North Carolina: the controversial mid-cycle congressional map changes, a stalled budget fight over tax cuts and pay raises, and how the impasse affects state employees and retirees. We discuss DMV and efficiency committee hearings, the upcoming retirement system valuation, and encourage members to share short videos about how the budget delay impacts their lives.

Host Samantha Cline, Executive Director Ardis Watkins and Government Relations Director Suzanne Beasley break down recent health care developments: the public Duke–Aetna negotiation and its resolution, the new voluntary Lantern network, and the UNC–Humana dispute. The episode also covers retiree system updates and transparency concerns around investments and contracts, a federal appellate ruling on gender-affirming care coverage, the potential impacts of the federal shutdown and state budget uncertainty, and lighter segments on the State Fair and Gen Z attitudes toward government.

This week, State Treasurer Brad Briner visited The SEANC View Podcast for an extensive interview covering everything from the status of the State Health Plan to the prospect of cost-of-living adjustments for retirees. In the last few weeks, Briner’s office has been on quite a roll. On Tuesday, he announced a significant agreement with CVS Caremark that has ended a long-standing dispute and is expected to bring savings to Plan members. It may also enable the plan to cover GLP-1 drug treatment for weight loss once again. Last week, his office brokered a deal between Duke and Aetna that will allow State Health Plan members to continue to see Duke doctors in-network. We discussed the state retirement system and the need for true COLAs for retirees at length as well. He elaborated on his comments on NC Newsline this week, stating that changes to the system's investing strategy may allow for a raise in 2027. He also discussed fees, in-house management, and the creation of an Investment Authority to oversee the system.

This week, we headed west for The SEANC View podcast, travelling to Cullowhee to interview Western Carolina University Chancellor Kelli Brown and employees. In August, Forbes Magazine named the university the third-best mid-sized workplace in the nation and the best in North Carolina. WCU was also the highest-ranked education employer in the nation. Partnering with market research firm Statista, Forbes surveyed more than 217,000 anonymous employees. Survey respondents were asked to rate their employer based on various factors, including salary, work environment, and other aspects. We wanted to hear from the employees in Cullowhee just what makes working at WCU so special. They attribute the high ranking to the sense of community, the opportunities for career advancement, and the rewards of seeing their students succeed as reasons they love working there.

SEANC's new statewide officers join the podcast this week to talk about their upcoming term, which starts on Oct. 1. Incoming President Wendell Powell, First Vice President Emily Jones, and Second Vice President Stacie Crabtree discuss priorities such as member advocacy, unity, retiree support, and worker safety. We also review the legislature’s dramatic two-day session, which included debates on Iryna’s Law, mental health services in North Carolina, criminal justice, pay raises, and the lack of a state budget. We also discuss the Duke–Aetna dispute and its potential premium impact on all State Health Plan members.