The North Carolina state legislature approved a historic Medicaid expansion bill that would expand health insurance coverage for over half a million NC residents. Medicaid expansion has allowed other states to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates. Gaining access to maternal care is a critical component of overall maternal health and improving infant health.
This is great news for North Carolinians as Medicaid will become more accessible. Another point to consider is Medicaid redetermination which began April 1, 2023. What this means is that the continuous Medicaid coverage requirement from the federal COVID-19 Public health emergency has been removed. Medicaid programs are not required to maintain continuous coverage for beneficiaries. To check on your eligibility status and determine what steps to take next visit the following link: Beneficiary Home – NC Medicaid Beneficiary Service Portal (servicenowservices.com).
In 2020 13% of Durham County residents were uninsured, according to the 2020 Community Health Assessment. This expansion would allow for more childbearing people access to post-partum health care coverage through Medicaid. Postpartum health care coverage is 12 months of ongoing postpartum health care coverage beginning the date pregnancy ends through the last day of the 12th month for eligible beneficiaries.
Focusing on pregnancy is important when we’re talking about decreasing maternal mortality, but we must also think about ways that we can help women before they get pregnant. This is where Medicaid expansion becomes a key player in reducing maternal mortality overall. When more women have access to healthcare the better they can take care of themselves before pregnancy which will positively impact the health of their pregnancy and their infants.
Families of color in Durham County are disproportionally uninsured, in 2019 11.2% of Black residents and 42.7% of Hispanic/Latino residents were uninsured, according to the 2020 Community Health Assessment. In comparison to their white counterparts, with only 6% being uninsured. Medicaid expansion will allow for more breastfeeding families of color to have access to Medicaid and WIC breastfeeding support including but not limited to breast pumps and breastfeeding support counselors. A system that provides affordable healthcare coverage to families of color is a system that benefits us all.
Once implemented in the State of North Carolina Medicaid expansion will provide health care coverage for over 600,000 residents. The expansion will be included in the fiscal year 2023 budget which should be complete by June 30, 2023.