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TIME TO BE BOLD: Updates on Medicaid Expansion and the Budget

Medicaid Expansion Update: 

We had two pathways to expand Medicaid in North Carolina this year: through the budget, or with a standalone Medicaid expansion bill. Thanks to NCGA politics, the standalone Medicaid expansion bill didn’t make it through a committee vote before the May 13th deadline. That’s what we call “dying in committee.” 

We knew this would likely happen, which is why we’ve focused our efforts to included Medicaid Expansion in the state budget. And now it’s time to double down.

We need Governor Cooper and the NCGA to BE BOLD and finally cover the 682,000 North Carolinians living in the healthcare gap. We need Governor Cooper to BE BOLD and refuse to compromise on Medicaid expansion.

Budget Process Update: 

Our state budget process is long, confusing, and not very transparent. Make no mistake, that’s by design. 

Budgets are a reflection of our values. They show us where our elected representatives are willing to put their money where their mouth is – and where they aren’t. For several years now, the NCGA has claimed they simply can’t afford to put the things we need in the budget. But that’s a lie: We’ve had the money to do it, we still have the money to do it, and we simply need the political will. 

a woman holding an Expand Medicaid sign

So, what’s happening next?

  • Now through late June or early July, the Republican Caucuses will work on developing a conference report. This will tell us:

    • (1) How much money they intend to spend in next year’s budget, and 

    • (2) What programs they intend to fund

  • When the conference report is released, we’ll see if they plan to expand Medicaid as a part of the budget. 

 

The NCGA already knows the majority of North Carolinians support Medicaid expansion. They know the already-passed American Rescue Plan offers us enough federal money to cover the cost of expansion several times over. Now, they need to know we’re watching them craft the budget, and we expect them to expand Medicaid. 

We need the NCGA to BE BOLD and finally cover the 682,000 North Carolinians living in the healthcare gap. We need Governor Cooper to BE BOLD and refuse to compromise on Medicaid expansion and the other very real things that working-class North Carolinians need. 

 

We’ve been bold for years, tirelessly fighting for years. Email Cooper today and tell him to BE BOLD, too.