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Sign as a Business Leader

As a North Carolina business leader, I endorse the following statement:

We, as North Carolina business leaders, understand that a strong economy and a thriving workforce require healthy families. Right now, too many hard-working families are uninsured. In fact, about two-thirds of all uninsured adults in North Carolina work. They are construction workers, farmers, child care providers, and even veterans. We urge the North Carolina General Assembly to achieve a bi-partisan solution to close the health insurance coverage gap. Now is the time to act. There are proposals on the table that would require no investment of state tax dollars and closing the gap would create an estimated 37,000 jobs and billions in economic activity. Much of this economic activity would benefit our rural communities and other areas most in need of an economic boost. Closing the health insurance coverage gap is a good deal for the health of North Carolina families and for our economy. We urge you to work together and achieve a policy solution that closes the health insurance coverage gap.

Business Leaders for Closing the Coverage Gap

By signing this statement you are granting permission to Care4Carolina to publicize your endorsement. Your personal information will only be used for the purposes of this public endorsement statement and will not be shared with any other entity. Personal contact information will not be shared in endorsement statements listings or ads. Employer affiliation will be used for identification purposes only. For example: “Mr./Ms./Mrs. John Doe, CEO, ABC Corporation*; Anytown, NC”.

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Sign as a Faith Community

Faith Leaders Addendum

As a North Carolina faith leader/ community of faith, I/we endorse the following statement:

We, as people of faith in North Carolina, believe that the Lord brings good news to the poor, binds up the broken-hearted, and comforts all those who mourn. We believe that when we work to ease the burdens of our neighbors who are struggling the most, we are caring for God. And, we believe we are called to follow our God by doing good, not only in the halls of our congregations, but by seeking justice in the wider world.

That means we cannot stand silent when presented with the opportunity to provide healthcare coverage for hundreds of thousands of our brothers and sisters. We understand that a community cannot flourish while its people lack access to affordable, quality healthcare. Healthy families are the bedrock of our communities of faith and of our local economies. Uninsured North Carolinians include members of our congregations, pastors, child care providers, farmers, construction workers, small business owners, neighbors, and friends. We urge the North Carolina General Assembly to work together across bi-partisan lines to close the health insurance coverage gap for all of these children of God.

Signing Disclosure

By signing this statement you are granting permission to Care4Carolina to publicize your endorsement. Your personal information will only be used for the purposes of this public endorsement statement and will not be shared with any other entity. Personal contact information will not be shared in endorsement statements, listings, or ads. Employer information will be used for identification purposes only. For example: “Rev. John Doe, Pastor, ABC Church, Anytown, NC.”

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Sign as a Grassroots Group

As legislation progresses to enact a North Carolina solution to close the health insurance coverage gap, it is critical that we have a grassroots team ready to mobilize. By signing up as a member of the Care4Carolina Grassroots Action Network, you agree to activate your group/organization when action is requested during the campaign. Action requests may include but are not limited to reaching out to legislators, sharing posts on social media, and relaying information to other contacts.

Your work as a grassroots group/organization is essential to our efforts, and Care4Carolina appreciates your support in ensuring that our mission is achieved. Together, we will find a North Carolina solution to close the health insurance coverage gap.

*By signing on as a member of the Care4Carolina Grassroots Action Network, your group/organization’s information will not be shared externally. The information collected through this form is for internal use only.

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Do the Bump for Medicaid

August 25, 2020 by Hailey Gutzmer Leave a Comment

By Lee Storrow

[A version of this column ran in the Winston-Salem Journal on August 14, 2020.  It is republished with the author’s permission]

Strengthening health coverage is a crucial part of North Carolina’s public health response to COVID-19. In fact, earlier this year the COVID-19 State Vulnerability Index created by the Surgo Foundation found North Carolina to be the second least prepared state in the country for the pandemic, slightly behind Alabama. This is mainly due to North Carolina’s enormously high rate and growing number of uninsured residents.

The good news is that our ace in the hole has been working to mitigate the impacts of viruses and diseases for decades- Medicaid. Last month the program celebrated it’s 55th birthday, and is leading the way to greater public health. Medicaid has been crucial in our fight against HIV, helping people living with HIV access treatment and covering costs of testing and preventative services for people who are HIV negative. Medicaid has also been critical in our state’s response to the opioid epidemic, helping cover the cost of substance use disorder services along with testing and treatment for hepatitis. When Medicaid helps cure someone of hepatitis or keeps someone living with HIV virally suppressed so they won’t transmit HIV to others, the program keeps our entire state healthy. 

Though negotiations have stalled for the moment, hopefully in the coming weeks negotiators from the US House of Representatives, US Senate, and White House will finalize details on the next federal COVID-19 relief package. As they negotiate these final details, Sen. Thom Tillis and Sen. Richard Burr can support North Carolina by supporting an increase in Medicaid funds coming to our state, called the “FMAP (Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage) bump”.

Medicaid is jointly funded by the federal government and states. In fact, the largest allocation of federal money North Carolina receives is for the Medicaid health insurance program. By increasing the FMAP formula, Congress can maximize Medicaid funding and better prepare our state, and the other 49, to tackle COVID-19 and other public health challenges. This proposed change is different from discussing Medicaid eligibility, which would require the NC general Assembly to pass a state law.  Medicaid is a complicated program, and you are forgiven if you confuse the two issues, especially given the amount of conversation about Medicaid expansion in our state this year.

The funds would help North Carolina fight COVID-19 and promote economic recovery. Bolstering Medicaid funding would particularly benefit rural communities, because more families in rural North Carolina rely on Medicaid for their health coverage. North Carolina has already seen Medicaid enrollment begin to grow since the pandemic began. The vast majority of those covered by Medicaid in NC are children under 18, and adults with disabilities. Medicaid is also the single largest source of insurance coverage for people with HIV. 

Federal Medicaid funding acts as an economic stabilizer for our state. During the 2009 recession, Congress increased the FMAP by 12% to meet increased needs and protect state budgets. COVID-19 has presented an even larger crisis. A 14% FMAP increase in 2020 would acknowledge the scope of this emergency and bring in nearly $2 billion more per year in federal Medicaid dollars for North Carolina.

In March, as part of the “Families First” COVID-19 response legislation, Congress increased the FMAP by 6.2%. Both of our US Senators, Thom Tillis and Richard Burr, supported this important provision. But now is the time for greater action. Earlier this year, many of us hoped that by August the COVID-19 pandemic would be in our rearview mirror. It’s now clear we need to prepare for the long haul, and that includes shoring up and strengthening Medicaid. 

In May, the House passed the HEROES Act, which included the needed 14% FMAP increase for one year. Senators Tillis and Burr should join the House and support that FMAP bump—it is a critical stimulus element for our state. Hundreds of health advocacy organizations, hospitals, physicians, health insurers, and state & local governments are calling on Congress to support the FMAP increase. By injecting more support into North Carolina’s Medicaid program, Congress will ease the strain on both our health systems and our state budget. 

Medicaid is one of our strongest tools to combat COVID-19 and the other health epidemics facing our state. Senators Burr and Tillis, the time is now. We need your support for the FMAP bump.

Lee Storrow is the Executive Director of the North Carolina AIDS Action Network.

Category iconSummer 2020 Series Tag iconCoverage Gap,  Covid-19/coronavirus,  Financing,  Vulnerable populations

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Follow Care4Carolina

7/1/22 Statement 1/2: ...we look forward to working with our members of the General Assembly when they return to session at the end of July to finally enact a health insurance solution for the 600,000 hardworking North Carolinians stuck in the coverage gap.” -- @EricaPalmSmith

About 4 days ago

7/1/22 Statement 1/2: “While we are disappointed that our legislators were not able to include Medicaid Expansion in the state budget before they left for their holiday break...

About 4 days ago

RT @GladneyNc Yes👏🏾we👏🏾are! #closethegapNC twitter.com/ncchild/…

About 6 days ago

RT @clt_alliance Chambers of Commerce and business associations representing thousands of businesses across North Carolina, including the CLT Alliance, today announced their support for Medicaid expansion.

Please see our full statement below. pic.twitter.com/LdRX…

About 6 days ago

“I view this as an opportunity to do what’s right for the people of NC” —Rep. Donny Lambeth pic.twitter.com/6J2H…

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