midtownclt

Uptown lit up all red last night... and downtown (South End) rising. (Sorry for the poor quality)

Everyone check out the sinkhole on 6th Street at Settlers Place between Church St. and Pine St. in Fourth Ward. Will have to get a pic in the daylight hours.

last night...

"Centene settlement with South Carolina raises total payout to $964.8M" "The pact is the latest in a string of settlements since 2021 that Centene has reached with at least 18 state governments totaling $964.8 million. In a June 2021 regulatory filing, Centene said it had set aside $1.1 billion in reserve related to allegations in several states regarding its pharmacy benefit management practices." from the Charlotte Business Journal

I guess Congressman Chuck Edwards (or his staff that wrote the press release) doesn't know or remember that I-85 passes through Cleveland County for about 8 miles (including the Casino at Exit 5). Having a second interstate that runs through the entire county is good news, however.

I am very excited about this hotel for uptown and for the N. Tryon area. I really hope to see the start of construction soon.

From the TRIANGLE BUSINESS JOURNAL FEB 2023 about the 400H tower in downtown Raleigh New Raleigh tower searches for tenants as completion nears Downtown Raleigh's newest high-rise is on track to open this year but has yet to sign a single office or retail tenant. AND ... The big Triangle projects to watch as economy teeters As the macroeconomic picture shifts and access to capital dries up, companies will be re-evaluating their strategies for shiny new towers and major expansions. I can't access the article in the Triangle Business Journal but I wonder about the impact on all the proposed projects in Raleigh and maybe some in Charlotte as well.

NCPA February 10, 2023 California announced a massive $215 million settlement with Centene less than a week after the announcement that Indiana reached a $66.5 million settlement with Centene for overcharges to the state Medicaid program. Here’s the tally so far: in December, Oregon reached a $17 million settlement with Centene for overcharges to the state Medicaid program, and Iowa agreed to a $44 million settlement agreement. Those settlements followed announcements of Centene’s settlements with Texas ($165.6 million), Massachusetts ($14 million), and Washington state ($33.3 million). Over the past two years, Centene entered similar settlements (made public so far) with 14 states, including Arkansas, California, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, and Washington. Additionally, it has been reported that a total of 17 states, totaling $939 million, have reached settlements. In 2021, it was announced that Centene had put aside $1.25 billion for settlements with states.

Building permits posted on door of Amelie's. A peek inside and it appears major renovation taking place.

NCPA December 15, 2022 Oregon and Iowa became the latest states to enter into a settlement agreement with Centene for overcharges to the state Medicaid program, reaching a $17 million settlement agreement and a $44 million settlement agreement respectively (Oregon settlement news and Iowa settlement news). This comes on the heels of the company's recent settlement with Texas ($165.6 million), Massachusetts ($14 million), and Washington state ($33.3 million). In the last two years, Centene entered similar settlements with Arkansas, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, and Washington. Additionally, there is likely an unnamed state as Centene reported they have entered into settlement agreements with a total of 13 states. To date, Centene has paid almost $500 million to states for Medicaid overcharges. In 2021, it was announced that Centene had put aside $1.25 billion for settlements with states. Please share this information with your state policymakers as just another example of why Medicaid managed care programs need major reforms. These practices not only harm patients and pharmacies, but taxpayers as well. Also, NCPA has a resource with recommended Medicaid managed care pharmacy payment reforms. NCPA

DEVELOPMENT Duke Energy finalizes sale of 1 of 2 uptown buildings, as developers plan changes Here’s the latest on what out-of-town developers are planning to do at 401 South College St. and 526 South Church St.

I sure wish 12/1/2022 was soon...ish rather than later...ish! Anyone know about possible reopening plans/date? I know they seem to use the space for food prep and/or private functions but still not open to the public.

Great to see these empty spaces being filled soon. 1 N Church Street 2 N Tryon Street 3 S College Street

It is small in size like Belmont or Mount Holly, but has the potential be to just as nice. I really enjoy seeing so many of the downtown areas around the region coming back to life.

Restoration efforts in downtown Kings Mountain including updated streetscape. #1 - Former Imperial Theater conversion to lofts and retail. #2 - Former Griffin Drug store. #3 - New dining option 133 West. #4 - Former First National Bank. #5 - Part of the former Belk Department Store converted to events venue. #6 - Former 1949 Joy Movie Theater, now a performing arts center with plans for more restoration and expansion.

Correction: Vela Longview is the Raleigh proposal; Vela Uptown is the Charlotte proposal.

Has anyone seen this yet? Vela Longview Charlotte on the Levine Museum site. https://veladev.com/ Four projects planned in 4 cities - the planned tower for Raleigh looks great.

You mean BELL UPTOWN CHARLOTTE - it's no longer called the ELEMENT UPTOWN.

NCPA September 26, 2022 Yet another state has entered into a settlement agreement with Centene. The latest: Texas had entered into a $165.6 million settlement with Centene for overcharges to the state’s Medicaid program. This is the largest state settlement with Centene to date. This is on the heels of the announcement by the Washington state attorney general that Centene would pay the state $33.3 million for overcharging Medicaid. This happened while there is an ongoing battle between Washington’s Medicaid managed care pharmacy program and pharmacists over Medicaid dispensing fees that are well below the national average. Centene’s settlements with Texas and Washington state over fraudulent practices follow similar settlements with Mississippi, Kansas, New Hampshire, Ohio, New Mexico, Arkansas, and Illinois. Additionally, there are likely several unnamed states that have entered or will enter into a settlement agreement. To date, Centene has paid $475 million to states for Medicaid overcharges. In 2021, it was announced that Centene had put aside $1.25 billion for settlements with states. NCPA

Charlotte Ledger had a headline that states adding lanes to I-77 could take until 2045 or later. How is Gaston County (pop ~230,000+ will get a 4th lane to I-85 while Mecklenburg with (1,000,000+) will have to wait for a 4th lane to I-77. Just build the damn toll lanes before I go crazy!

While I am excited to see I-85 through Gaston County get more lanes, what about I-77? Why keep I-77 at 6 lanes flowing though a county with a population of 1 million people? I am sure traffic counts on I-77 from downtown to South Carolina are much higher than I-85 from US 321 to Belmont.

This will be great for College Street - I just hope Amelie's reopens sometime soon to the public. They use the site for food preparation, it seems, but it's not yet open for walk in service I think.

Problems never seem to end for Centene: NCPA August 26, 2022 The Washington State Attorney General last week announced that Centene would pay the state a whopping $33.3 million for overcharging Medicaid. Attorney General Bob Ferguson called this Medicaid fraud recovery “the second-largest in state history.” The breakdown of settlement: $19 million to the state of Washington, $13.3 million for the federal portion for administration of state Medicaid program, and $1 million to the whistleblower. This happened while there is an ongoing battle between Washington’s Medicaid managed care pharmacy program and pharmacists over Medicaid dispensing fees that are well below the national average. Centene’s settlement with Washington state over fraudulent practices in Medicaid is far from its first. In the last two years, Centene has entered into similar settlements with Mississippi, Kansas, New Hampshire, Ohio, New Mexico, Arkansas, and Illinois. NCPA