South Raleigh News

A new video has been released showcasing Governor Roy Cooper's efforts to expand Medicaid and extend healthcare coverage to over 600,000 residents of North Carolina. This achievement comes after overcoming a decade of opposition from Republicans. The video includes interviews with stakeholders and advocates, highlighting Cooper's strategy in forming a coalition that played a crucial role in passing the expansion.

Governor Cooper stated, "We knew that the dream of a healthier North Carolina could become a reality and that’s why we spent years fighting for it." He described Medicaid Expansion as "the working families bill of the decade," emphasizing its long-term impact on the state.

Since taking office eight years ago, Governor Cooper aimed to create a healthier, better-educated North Carolina with more financial opportunities for its citizens. Medicaid expansion is seen as pivotal in achieving these goals by ensuring access to health care, which is essential for education and employment.

To facilitate the expansion, Governor Cooper built a diverse coalition comprising business leaders seeking healthy employees, rural county commissioners concerned about hospital closures, and Republican sheriffs addressing mental health issues in jails. Initially facing legal challenges from Republican leaders upon taking office, Cooper eventually collaborated with them to sign the Medicaid Expansion bill into law six years later.

The expansion officially began on December 1, 2023. In just one year, over 600,000 individuals have enrolled—twice as fast as initially projected. Various state partners and community organizations supported this initiative through events and outreach efforts to boost enrollment.

In the past year alone:

- Over 4.15 million prescriptions were filled by enrollees for various health conditions.

- $62.2 million in dental service claims were covered.

- More than 217,183 rural residents gained access to health coverage through Medicaid.

The NCDHHS continues to provide information on eligibility and application processes via their Medicaid Expansion webpage.

For more details or involvement opportunities regarding Medicaid Expansion, visit Medicaid.nc.gov.