Editorial: Not expanding Medicaid - morally bankrupt, fiscally inexcusable

The costs of failing to expand Medicaid in North Carolina continue to mount. As May approaches:

The General Assembly has demonstrated feline-like quickness in passing laws to limit the governor’s authority, manipulate the courts or social policies like HB2. But it has shown sloth-like foot-dragging when it comes to making sure all North Carolinians have access to adequate health insurance.

In recent weeks some faint and potentially hopeful signs have emerged that the icy opposition of legislative leaders’ to expanding Medicaid eligibility may be thawing.

It must leap through three House committees before it even makes its way to a full House vote. There is no indication, amid the frantic pace of the current legislation cross-over deadline, that the bill has even been scheduled for a first committee hearing.

Seventy of North Carolina’s 80 rural counties have been designated “medical deserts” for their lack of primary care and seven rural hospitals are at risk of closing.

A sound and fair plan to provide health insurance to North Carolinians most in need is far overdue. Legislative leaders need to end their partisan opposition to expanding health coverage and work with Gov.Cooper now to end the stalemate.

It is hard to believe that anyone would play politics with people’s health care. But our General Assembly continues to amaze us. The lack of expansion of Medicaid is both morally bankrupt and fiscally inexcusable.