NC doctors, residents celebrate announcement of Medicaid expansion
North Carolina lawmakers announced a deal Thursday to expand Medicaid after a decade of debate.
It's expected to bring health care coverage to nearly 500,000 people across the state.
“This is our state finally investing in the health and well-being of the people of North Carolina, finally,” said Dr. Robin Peace, the former president of medical at UNC Health Southeastern in Lumberton.
Peace said for years, the health center had patients choosing not to come to clinics because they couldn’t afford to get help. Peace is celebrating Thursday, calling Medicaid expansion a win for patients and hospitals.
During Peace’s 25 years practicing in Robeson County, she’s had countless patients avoid seeking medical help because they didn’t have health insurance.
“[It’s been] frustrating,” Peace said. “It’s been frustrating because those of us that are in health care, we’ve known all along that Medicaid expansion would help everybody.”
After top leaders in the state legislature announced the expansion, Gov. Roy Cooper called it a monumental step that will save lives.
Some families in rural areas of the state agree with Cooper.
“People should be able to go to the doctor without worry, and have help to do so,” said Lumberton resident Emily White.
White said she knows all too well how hard it can be to go without health insurance.
“There’s been plenty of times where my family’s had to go to doctor and they couldn’t get the procedures that they needed from not having the help that they needed to have, and it was rough,” White said.
White said the deal should help families in similar situations.
Doctors say it won't just benefit patients: Medicaid expansion could benefit rural hospitals, which can see higher rates of patients without health coverage.
“This funding will help the hospitals to provide that service,” Peace said. “There are hospitals in rural areas that are closing, that they are having to stop certain services because of lack of funding.”
Peace said the expansion will help save lives and help save the state money.
Cooper has been pushing lawmakers to expand Medicaid for six years now, but there is a catch to the deal.
Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore say expansion will be dependent on the passage of the state budget. It will leave Cooper very little leverage to veto it.
