UNITED STATES – November 5, 2024 – You had an impact on keeping Asheville healthy by casting your vote on November 5th, because our two-party political system was strongly divided on health-related issues in 2024. The winners will become the drivers of health-related legislation and policies for the coming years. The losers will be able to voice their concerns.
A good example of the power of the vote was when our elected state officials proposed Medicaid expansion bills in 2022 to increase access to health care for more North Carolinians. The bill was ratified in 2023. This was due to the grassroots efforts of many North Carolinians. Voters in 2020 and 2022 had a strong role in choosing state legislators that overturned years of avoiding Medicaid expansion, the federal program for health insurance for low-resource individuals. 75% of North Carolinians (including most Republicans and Democrats) wanted to improve the health of low-income persons and expand Medicaid. They voted for representatives to enact their wishes. On December 1, 2023, North Carolina officially became the 40th state to expand Medicaid.
The latest political candidates took sides on many health-related issues during the 2024 election, including:
- Climate change
- Woman’s reproductive health
- Health care access
- Vaccination
- Gun violence
Everyone needs their health to live. Therefore, it is now up to our newly elected officials to enact legislation and health-related policies to keep us healthy. Timely assessment will show us how our legislators did. Our democracy’s strength lies with the ability of its citizens to chart their future course and keep Asheville healthy!
Listen to the full report below:
Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, healthyasheville@ashevillefm.org