North Carolina Clinches National Spotlight Award for Successful Medicaid Expansion Efforts

North Carolina’s efforts to expand Medicaid have been officially recognized with the latest achievement from the National Association of Medicaid Directors: the 2024 Spotlight Award. The award marks a significant milestone for the state’s Department of Health and Human Services after a successful enrollment campaign that saw over 570,000 people sign up for Medicaid since its inception on December 1, 2023.

With an apparent swelling of public support, Governor Roy Cooper emphasized the success of the expansion, citing the importance of the initiative. “We never gave up on making sure more North Carolinians got health insurance through Medicaid Expansion,” Governor Cooper said, as mentioned in a press release on the

NCDHHS website

. “Now, more of our neighbors, friends and loved ones can see a doctor, get preventative care, manage chronic conditions and get life-saving prescriptions without the burden of high premiums or co-pays.”

This newfound coverage milestone eclipses initial estimates, which projected around 600,000 individuals would enroll over two years. A considerable boost is attributed to the department’s collaboration with over 215 partners statewide, spreading Medicaid information through a network of local organizations, healthcare providers, and community advocates.

The results of these partnerships are evident, with claims totaling more than $53 million for dental services alone since the program’s launch. “We got Medicaid expansion done — and we got it done well — with the help of our state and community partners who worked tirelessly to make it easier and more accessible for people to apply,” NC Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley told in the NCDHHS release.

Kate McEvoy, Executive Director of NAMD, praised North Carolina’s innovative efforts. “North Carolina’s approach demonstrates how centering community voices can transform program implementation,” she said. For those seeking more information or wishing to apply for NC Medicaid, resources and FAQs can be found at

Medicaid.nc.gov

.

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