WASHINGTON, DC – June 1, 2022 –  Medicaid expansion was included in the 2010 Affordable Care Act, by raising the low-income threshold, but the Supreme Court ruled that each state had the right to decide instead of the federal government. Thirty-eight states and Washington D.C. have expanded Medicaid either through their state legislature or by voter referendum. All six voter-referendums have passed including in three Republican states. North Carolina is one of the 12 remaining non-expansion states. The legislature has resisted any attempt to pass Medicaid expansion, in spite of strong support by the governor. The North Carolina state legislature had passed a law that disallows voter referendums blocking attempts by voters to circumvent the legislature. However, 75% of North Carolinians (including a majority of Republicans and Democrats) want to improve the health of low-income persons and expand Medicaid according to a 2020 poll.

Medicaid is an essential part of the healthcare safety net and has provided health care access to many people who lost their jobs and health insurance as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program currently covers over two million people in North Carolina yet more than one million people, representing almost 13% of the population, do not have health insurance including 30 thousand Buncombe County residents. However, it is very difficult for low-income working adults without children to qualify for coverage. Therefore, expanding Medicaid extends coverage to this group.

According to a recent University of Michigan study, states that have expanded Medicaid enrollment have improved the physical and financial health for low-income persons, reduced uncompensated care; stimulated the economy and created jobs.

Contact: Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

RALEIGH, NC – June 1, 2022 –  New health care legislation which includes Medicaid expansion (called House Bill 149) has been passed by the North Carolina State Senate on June 1^st by a near unanimous vote. The measure has been sent to the House for consideration. The income threshold for Medicaid coverage would increase from 100% to 138% of the federal poverty guidelines and provide health care access for up to 600 thousand uninsured low-income people and families. Republican Phil Berger, the highest-ranking officer of the Senate, strongly supports Medicaid expansion. He cites the durability of the federal promise to defray the state’s cost for Medicaid expansion by 90% and recent improvements in how Medicaid is administered. The House Republican leader Tim Moore, does not feel that there is sufficient Republican support so the bill may not be filed. The House would have to approve the bill before heading to Governor Cooper for his signature. The Governor is a long-time supporter of expanding Medicaid. He said, “I believe that we’re getting closer than ever to an agreement.”

The proposal eliminates the certificate of need law, covers telehealth services, prevents surprise medical bills from out-of-network providers, and allows advanced practice registered nurses to provide patient care without physician supervision. The state’s cost for expanding Medicaid would be covered by hospital assessments and the expansion would end if the federal government reduces state subsidies.

Erica Smith Palmer, the Executive Director of Care4Carolina, a nonprofit organization that advocates for expanding access to healthcare in North Carolina, notes “We look forward to making 2022 the year we close the coverage gap for all those without an affordable option for health insurance.”

Listen to the full report below:

Contact: Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

ASHEVILLE, NC – June 3, 2022 – The Buncombe County COVID-19 metrics are on the North Carolina COVID Dashboard. Data from the week ending on June 1 indicate:

• The CDC reports that the risk level for Buncombe County is medium for the week ending June 2^nd. The risk is higher than last week when there was low risk. For a community at a medium risk level, the CDC recommends:
  • Wear a mask on public transportation.
  • You may choose to wear a mask at any time as an additional precaution to protect yourself and others.
  • If you are at high risk for severe illness, consider wearing a mask indoors in public and take additional precautions.
• There are 270 cases per 100,000 residents in the last 7 days down from 306 cases from the previous week.
• 66% of the total population have received their full primary vaccination series. This is unchanged for over 3 months
• 63% of people with full primary vaccination series have had at least one booster. This is up from 62% last week.
• The seven-day daily average of COVID-19 hospitalizations have increased by 18% and of ICU patients are unchanged over the previous week.
• Wastewater surveillance may provide an early warning before individual testing shows that COVID-19 is spreading. The state dashboard reports that the 15-day rate of change of viral load for the Metropolitan Sewer District for Buncombe County is moderately increasing for the time period ending May 25^th. The CDC website reports that the rate of change is severely increasing for the time period ending May 30^th.

The Department of Health and Human Services recommends:

• Get vaccinated and boosted when eligible.
• People with any COVID symptoms or exposure to someone with COVID should get tested
• People who are positive for COVID-19 or do not feel well should stay home

Vaccination sites and testing sites can be located through the North Carolina and Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Services.

Save your face masks:

• The risk level may rise with a new variant
• A person at high risk for severe illness should speak with their health care provider
• Mask wearing is recommended for persons with a positive test, having symptoms, or exposure to someone with COVID-19
• Effective May 4, 2022, the North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services and the CDC recommend wearing masks in health care and long-term care settings. The N95 or KN95 mask offers the best protection. Wear a mask that is well-fitting.

Listen to the full report below:

Contact: Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]