So far, we really don’t know what Governor McCrory will do about Medicaid expansion. No doubt he is being pressured from both sides behind closed doors. Today the Governor received a letter from 73 North Carolina groups urging him to come out in support of this key aspect of health reform. The heaviest hitter on the list was Duke University Health System. Also included were Cone Health Foundation, a number of community health centers, the AARP, and the major disease advocacy groups (cancer, MS, diabetes). Several HIV/AIDS groups signed on, including the North Carolina AIDS Action Network, Western North Carolina AIDS Project, Ryan White Medical Providers Coalition, Asheville Infectious Disease Consultants, and Regional AIDS Interfaith Network (RAIN). The full letter and list of signatories can be found here.
The press release for the letter touted the economic benefits of Medicaid expansion, including health care jobs and $20 billion in new federal dollars. Groups are still welcome to sign on by emailing Madison Hardee at madisonh@lssp.org
