MEDICAID MOMENTUM: The Drumbeat of Calls for Expansion Continue | Eastern North Carolina Now

    WRAL: Editorial: Moore, Berger flat-out wrong. Compromise, expand Medicaid now     By Capitol Broadcast Company     June 21, 2019

    It is cruel and thoughtless to deny health care to North Carolina citizens most in need but least able to get it.

    North Carolina legislative leaders continue to parrot canned talking points from hyper-partisan organizations to justify their opposition to expanding Medicaid. They did it again this week in a letter to Gov. Roy Cooper. These groups, like the legislative leadership, reflexively despise anything initiated by former President Barack Obama - no matter the benefits that might be gained or the hardship their bias inflicts.

    A large majority of North Carolina voters support expanding Medicaid. Remember, Medicaid expansion comes at relatively little cost to the state. Thirty-seven states have done it. Federal taxes collected here are paying for expansion in those states.

    [...]

    The federal government has never scaled back Medicaid funding before. Even though it could, in theory, cut back funding that's also true for current Medicaid funding. There's also a simple way to address this concern, as has been done in Arkansas, Arizona, Indiana and Virginia, among others. Include a provision that expansion authorization sunsets if federal funding changes.

    [...]

    The state's legislative leadership has unilaterally declared as off-the-table, compromise that would include any form of Medicaid expansion. It seems they just want Gov. Roy Cooper to compromise by saying their budget is great.

    There are plenty of good reasons for the governor to veto the budget legislative leaders will shove through the General Assembly. But none surpass failure to expand Medicaid.

    There's still time for legislative leaders to reach a reasonable and acceptable compromise with the governor to expand Medicaid.

    Sen. Phil Berger, Speaker Tim Moore, show some good faith and some concern for ALL North Carolinians. Agree to expand Medicaid now.

    Read the full editorial HERE.


    Dozens of health care and business leaders across North Carolina support Medicaid expansion. Supporters include:

Ashe Memorial Hospital, Chatham Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Erlanger Western North Carolina, Henderson County Hospital Corporation, J. Arthur Dosher Memorial Hospital, Johnston Health Services Corporation, Nash UNC Health Care, North Carolina Healthcare Association, Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center, Novant Health Charlotte Orthopedic Hospital, Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center, Novant Health Kernersville Medical Center, Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center, Novant Health Rowan Medical Center, Novant Health Southern Piedmont Region, Onslow Memorial Hospital, Outer Banks Hospital, Randolph Health, UNC Caldwell, University of North Carolina Health Care System, WakeMed, Vidant Roanoke-Chowan Hospital

• Contact: Ford Porter
•     govpress@nc.gov