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Statement

North Carolina Moms Thrilled that State Lawmakers Have Agreed to Expand Medicaid, Which Is Sure to Improve Health in Our State

March 2, 2023
Health Care

Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1996

Statement of Felicia Burnett, National Director for Health Care at MomsRising, the online and on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, including 47,000 in North Carolina, on the news that North Carolina will expand Medicaid:

"Today, families across North Carolina are able to breathe a sigh of relief with the news that North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate Leader Phil Berger have reached a deal to pass Medicaid expansion. More than 600,000 North Carolinians have been stuck in our state’s coverage gap for much too long. We are thrilled that will finally end when North Carolina becomes the next state to expand coverage to low-income uninsured adults. The health of our state’s citizens is sure to improve as a result.

“Everyone, regardless of race, class, or zip code, deserves to have health care coverage. More than 20% of people in North Carolina’s rural communities lack health insurance altogether. Expanding Medicaid is the first step toward getting coverage to many more people.

“The pandemic served as a painful reminder that we must all be able to see a doctor and get care when we get sick. All of us. Now that progress is on the horizon. But North Carolina’s uninsured individuals should not have to wait long for the legislature to pass and Gov. Roy Cooper to sign the state budget to get health coverage. We urge lawmakers to move quickly to make Medicaid expansion a reality. It will save lives and save dollars in our state. Health care can’t wait."

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.