South Raleigh News

More than half a million North Carolinians have enrolled in Medicaid expansion since the program began seven months ago. Beneficiaries are now able to access quality health care at low cost. Governor Roy Cooper was joined by North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kody Kinsley, Dr. Karen L. Smith MD, FAAFP, a family physician in Raeford, and Verlina Lomick, CHW-IV, Director of Community Outreach & Advocacy for Kintegra Health, along with other health care advocates to celebrate this milestone, initially projected to take up to two years.

"People across our state continue to feel the positive impact in their lives with access to affordable health care coverage," said Governor Roy Cooper. "They can now see a doctor, get preventative care, manage chronic conditions and get life-saving prescriptions without the burden of high premiums or co-pays. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services along with the many community partners supporting enrollment efforts have done a remarkable job to reach half a million North Carolinians in such a short amount of time, and we’ll keep working to enroll more people."

Since December 1, 2023, new Medicaid enrollees have filled more than 1.9 million new prescriptions for conditions like heart health, diabetes, seizures and other illnesses. Medicaid has also covered more than $28.6 million in claims for dental services since expansion began. As of today, 503,967 North Carolinians have enrolled in Medicaid expansion.

The state will soon launch a Medicaid Expansion Service Utilization Dashboard to provide insights into the health services used by new Medicaid enrollees. The dashboard will show monthly service trends since expansion launched in December 2023, including doctor visits, dental visits, cancer screenings, behavioral health services and prescriptions. It will also provide metrics on chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension among enrollees. Service totals by county will be displayed to support local efforts through local health departments and community-based organizations.

"This year we have worked tirelessly with our partners to help newly eligible North Carolinians get covered by Medicaid fast and get them connected to care," said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley. "Our new dashboard will showcase the positive impact of all the lives saved and peace of mind provided for North Carolinians by NC Medicaid."

People who did not qualify for Medicaid in the past may now be eligible under expanded criteria including those who are single or have higher incomes but do not have children or disabilities. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services' Medicaid expansion website provides information on eligibility requirements as well as application guidance and support resources.

To learn more or apply for NC Medicaid visit medicaid.nc.gov.