Business Advisory Council

Closing the Gap Means Business

Care4Carolina launched its’ Business Advisory Council on September 23, 2020 with business leaders from across the state sharing the message that closing NC’s health insurance gap is the top policy priority for NC’s economic recovery and for a strong business climate.

“There is no other single policy solution that the legislature can enact that will bring this level of funding to our local economies, stabilize our healthcare system, and benefit our economy” notes Patrick Woodie, President of the NC Rural Center and Chair of the Business Advisory Council. “There are over $7 billion federal dollars that will flow to NC when we close the health insurance gap. This will generate 37,000 new jobs, generate $7.4 billion in gross revenues and $106 million in county tax revenues just from 2020 to 2022. How can we leave these funds sitting in Washington DC at a time when we need to bring in every penny we can to help North Carolinians get back on their feet, strengthen our local economies, and make NC competitive?”

The Council is communicating six economic benefits of finding a solution for NC’s uninsured:

Council members are reaching out to business and community leaders to discuss the economic benefits to their communities and to urge the legislature to take action. If you are interested in joining the Business Advisory Council to make this a top policy priority, please complete this form and Meg Molloy, Business and Community Leader Engagement, will be in touch!

Care4Carolina Business Advisory Council Members

Patrick Woodie
Chair, C4C Business Advisory Council
President, NC Rural Center

Miles Atkins
Mayor of Mooresville
Director of Corporate Affairs & Government Relations, Iredell Health System

Dr. Philip M. Brown, Jr., M.D.
President, NC Medical Society
Chief Physician Executive and EVP, New Hanover Regional Medical Center

John Chaffee
Business Broker, Transworld Business Advisors
Former President and CEO, NC East Alliance

Heidi Chan, MBA
Market President, AmeriHealth Caritas NC

Casey Cooper
Chief Executive Officer, Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority

Sharon Decker
President, Carolinas Operations, Tryon Equestrian Partners at Tryon Resort, Tryon International Equestrian Center
Former NC Secretary of Commerce

Brian Etheridge
President, Leadership NC

Mike Hawkins
Co-Chair, Small Business Policy Task Force, NC Rural Center
President, Pisgah Enterprises

Anna Healy James
Senior Vice President, Public Policy and Government Relations, Sentara Healthcare

Tracey Johnson
Board Chair, Washington County Commissioners
Chair, Albemarle Commission BOD, member COG Board
1st Vice Chair, NC Association of County Commissioners
Seat 1 National Association of Counties Board of Directors

Steve Lawler
President, NC Healthcare Association

Chris Paterson
CEO, Carolina Complete Health

Sophia Paulos
Board Chair, Mountain Biz Works

Andrew P. Stephenson
Director, Government and Community Relations, Sentara Healthcare

Ron Wesson
Chair, Bertie County Commissioners
Chair, Mid East Commission COG

Map of Our Supporters

“There is no other single policy solution that would bring about greater economic impact in rural NC, stabilize our healthcare system, and benefit our rural residents”.

Patrick Woodie

Chair, C4C Business Advisory Council / President, NC Rural Center

“We’re calling on all business leaders, from executives at major corporations to small business owners, to urge our legislature to establish a common sense policy that will bolster North Carolina’s economy to the tune of billions of dollars – and improve their own bottom lines”.

Miles Atkins

Mayor of Mooresville / Director of Corporate Affairs & Government Relations, Iredell Health System

“Every day that we do not close the gap, we leave 750,000 North Carolinians without an affordable health insurance option. And we leave $7.8 million federal dollars on the table -- every day -- that could be returned to hard working North Carolinians who paid them in the first place. It is time that we work together to find a solution”.

Dr. Philip M. Brown, Jr., M.D.

President, NC Medical / Society Chief Physician Executive and EVP, New Hanover Regional Medical Center

“The healthcare system is a critical component of local economies, providing direct, high wage jobs while maintaining a healthy workforce providing companies with reliable employees. We need to keep NC’s competitive advantage by keeping our healthcare systems strong and our citizens healthy”.

John Chaffee

Business Broker, Transworld Business Advisors / Former President and CEO, NC East Alliance

“Closing the health insurance gap will mean that the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will no longer need to subsidize our hospital authority to the tune of $7 million dollars each year. Those tribal funds can be repurposed to help address housing, infrastructure and other pressing community priorities across the Qualla Boundary.”

Casey Cooper

Chief Executive Officer / Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority

“A healthy workforce is essential for businesses to thrive. Closing the gap is the right thing to do, and it will support healthy employees, healthy families and healthy businesses”.

Sharon Decker

President, Carolinas Operations, Tryon Equestrian Partners at Tryon Resort / Tryon International Equestrian Center / Former NC Secretary of Commerce

“NC gets through challenging times when we pull together. It’s time for us to come together to close the gap, and strengthen our economy and our health”.

Brian Etheridge

President, Leadership NC

“Being in the restaurant business gives you a front row seat on the many challenges that COVID-19 has created. Hundreds of North Carolina restaurants have closed and most might never reopen. But even in normal economic times the coverage gap directly hits hundreds of thousands of hard-working North Carolinians. These are some of our most vulnerable citizens. We need to close the gap to support lower wage workers, and help people who have lost their job get back on their feet”.

Mike Hawkins

Co-Chair, Small Business Policy Task Force, NC Rural Center / President, Pisgah Enterprises

“North Carolina can look across the state line to see the significant economic and health benefits that Virginia has experienced by closing the health insurance gap. The federal revenues that are now flowing to Virginia health systems are investments that benefit all patients and create new jobs. The state is saving $1.52 million annually. And 475,000 Virginians are now receiving lifesaving, quality health care so they can manage health conditions with the right care at the right time”.

Anna Healy James

Senior Vice President, Public Policy and Government Relations, Sentara Healthcare

“We lost our hospital and worked hard to bring it back. Closing the health insurance gap will be a force that stabilizes our hospital, our health and our economy.”

Tracey A. Johnson

Board Chair, Washington County Commissioners / Chair, Albemarle Commission BOD, member COG Board / 1st Vice Chair, NC Association of County Commissioners / Seat 1 National Association of Counties Board of Directors

“Data shows us that thousands of North Carolinians who suffer from systemic disparities in care would, under expansion, immediately receive the preventative care they need to thrive.”

Steve Lawler

President, NC Healthcare Association

“Closing the health insurance gap will support small businesses and entrepreneurs, and bring new revenues to local government and the private sector. There are few state policies that have such a strong return on investment”.

Sophia Paulos

Economic Development Director, Graham County / Board Chair, Mountain Biz Works

“When a solution benefits business, government, and individuals, it is a clear community priority. Closing the health insurance gap benefits everyone”.

Andrew P. Stephenson

Director, Government and Community Relations, Sentara Healthcare

“Closing the gap will stabilize county government budgets. We will no longer have to redirect budget away from other local priorities to cover what existing federal healthcare funds are earmarked to do once our state leaders support this policy”.

Ron Wesson

Chair, Bertie County Commissioners / Chair, Mid East Commission COG

As CEO of one of the state’s new Medicaid health plans, I am pleased to join Care4Carolina’s Business Advisory Council. Our experience with Medicaid programs and healthcare innovation is well-aligned with efforts to continue to improve access to high quality healthcare in North Carolina.

Chris Paterson

CEO / Carolina Complete Health

Closing the Gap Means Business

Business Advisory Council Interest