North Raleigh Today

Governor Josh Stein and North Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai participated in a roundtable discussion in Nash County to deliberate on the critical role of NC Medicaid in rural communities. The gathering included local health providers and community leaders and addressed the potential impact of Congressional proposals to cut the Medicaid program.

Governor Josh Stein emphasized the importance of NC Medicaid, calling it an "innovative and fiscally responsible program" supported by both political parties. He highlighted its significance in maintaining the health of over 3 million North Carolinians, particularly in rural areas where the program provides vital support to hospitals.

In many rural counties, more than half of the residents rely on NC Medicaid for affordable health coverage. The program plays a crucial role in funding rural hospitals, many of which are struggling financially. Medicaid reduces the financial burden on hospitals by lowering the cost of care for uninsured patients, thus promoting financial stability.

Secretary Dev Sangvai underscored the life-saving benefits of NC Medicaid, which provides essential services such as preventive screenings, prenatal and postnatal care, mental health support, and low-cost prescriptions. Sangvai insisted that North Carolinians recognize the importance of the program for their communities and the state as a whole.

The roundtable was hosted by UNC Health Nash, a non-profit hospital authority in Nash County serving patients from various rural counties in eastern North Carolina. The discussion took place amidst threats to the Medicaid program from federal proposals that could severely impact the people it supports. Current Congressional proposals could result in nearly 640,000 working North Carolinians losing their health coverage, negatively affecting health outcomes and economic stability, particularly in rural areas.

L. Lee Isley, president and CEO of UNC Health Nash, stated, “Hospitals like Nash see first-hand every single day how Medicaid provides patients with access to critical services that keep them healthy and able to work and contribute to society.” He warned that any reductions to Medicaid or hospital reimbursement programs could lead to "catastrophic and unintended consequences" for patient care and could force rural hospitals to close essential services.

Other participants in the roundtable included Dr. L. Lee Isley, Reuben Blackwell, Dr. Joanna Dauber, and Tyronda “Ty” Whitaker.