North Raleigh Today

Governor Josh Stein of North Carolina has announced the enrollment of 650,000 newly eligible residents in the Medicaid expansion program. This enrollment comes fewer than 18 months after the program's launch and includes veterans, and workers in various sectors such as child care, construction, hospitality, and home health care.

Governor Stein highlighted the bipartisan effort behind Medicaid expansion, saying, “Medicaid expansion shows what is possible when our state’s leaders come together in a bipartisan effort to serve North Carolinians.” He emphasized the program's fiscal responsibility and its role in supporting businesses and rural health care access, stating the need to protect it from potential federal cuts.

Since the program launched on December 1, 2023, over 6.1 million prescriptions have been filled for conditions like heart health and diabetes. Additionally, $86 million in dental claims have been covered by Medicaid for the newly eligible population. Among the enrollees, 233,000 members are from rural communities. Results have shown a decrease in overdose incidents across the state, with emergency room visits due to overdoses down by 29% and suspected overdose deaths down by 27% from 2023 to 2024.

NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai remarked, “From a regular check-up, to specialized care for a chronic condition, to filling a prescription without worrying about high co-pays, getting health coverage is life-changing for people in every county.”

The Medicaid program now provides coverage to over one in four North Carolinians, comprising more than 3 million children, older adults, people with disabilities, and working adults. Despite the program's support, Congress has proposed cuts that could adversely impact the state’s economy and healthcare outcomes, especially in rural areas.

The NCDHHS continues to offer information on Medicaid expansion, eligibility, and application processes through its website and dashboard.