COVID Cronyism? NC Senator Calls for Investigation Into Awarding of Tracing Contract

RALEIGH – On top of the civil liberty concerns around aggressive coronavirus patient tracing initiatives by government is concern raised by N.C. Senator Danny Britt (R-Robeson) regarding possible cronyism involved in awarding contracts to manage such tracing operations.

The Carolina Community Tracing Initiative announced by N.C. Health Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen would involve hiring hundreds of people and working with private companies to deploy taxpayer dollars in collaboration with local health departments. The contract went to Community Care of North Carolina, where N.C. State Health Director, Dr. Elizabeth Tilson, used to work.

From CBS17:

“[…] “I think they need to explain how they reached the conclusion that these were the folks they were going to enter into the contract with,” said Sen. Danny Britt (R).

“We had an evaluation committee that was formed that was under the person who runs procurement for the Department of Health and Human Services, Iris Cooper,” Cohen said. “That evaluation committee evaluated the candidates on the criteria, and selected that.”

“Even if they went about it the right way if that’s where they landed I think it’s still problematic because it looks bad,” Britt said. […]”

Cohen said she would be willing to subject the process to an investigation. Yet, Britt’s point about the appearance of impropriety is important. Community Care of North Carolina, as a healthcare business mired in government-dominated policy and largesse, is no stranger to state government officials by any measure. Or Democrats, specifically. These are the interests that would benefit from the Left’s push for Medicaid expansion, and cozy relationships tend to exist when interests are aligned in such a way.

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