Democratic lawmakers from the Twin Counties are calling for Medicaid expansion and decrying what they see as attacks on health care in eastern North Carolina in the state Senate’s budget.
“Health care is critical to eastern North Carolina citizens and to job creation and higher wages in our communities. On Thursday, the N.C. Senate gave initial approval to a state budget that directly attacks health care services and jobs in eastern North Carolina. This attack was motivated by a petty argument over political appointments,” according to a statement signed by state Rep. James Gailliard, D-Nash, state Rep. Shelly Willingham, D-Edgecombe, and several other legislators from Halifax, Northampton, Pitt and surrounding counties.
Expanding Medicaid would mean more than 4,733 people could gain coverage in Nash County and an estimated 2,871 people could gain coverage in Edgecombe County, according to research provided by pro-expansion organizations.
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