North Carolina House Approves Medicaid expansion

March 23, 2023 -- The North Carolina House voted 87-24 in favor of a historic deal to expand Medicaid.
The vote was a major breakthrough

in a long battle over whether to expand the healthcare program for low-income residents in the state.

The Medicaid expansion deal was the result of months of negotiations between Democrats and Republicans in the North Carolina legislature. Under the deal, an estimated 634,000 low-income individuals in the state will be eligible for Medicaid coverage.

The vote was met with jubilation by advocates who have been pushing for Medicaid expansion for over a decade. They argued that expanding Medicaid would provide access to healthcare for thousands of uninsured North Carolinians and help to stimulate the state's economy.

The North Carolina Senate is expected to vote on the Medicaid expansion deal in the coming days. If it passes, North Carolina will become the 38th state to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

The Medicaid expansion deal includes a work requirement for some Medicaid recipients and a cap on Medicaid spending. It also includes provisions to encourage the use of preventive care and to reduce unnecessary emergency room visits.

The Medicaid expansion deal is approved by the North Carolina Senate, it will be a major victory for advocates who have fought tirelessly to expand access to healthcare in the state. It will also provide much-needed relief to low-income North Carolinians who have been struggling to afford healthcare.

WNCtimes by Marjorie Farrington