Medicaid Expansion starts December 1st
Governor Roy Cooper and NC Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley announced today that DHHS will launch Medicaid Expansion on Dec. 1, 2023, giving more than 600,000 North Carolinians access to health care.
“Finally expanding Medicaid in North Carolina is a monumental achievement that will extend health insurance to people who need it,” said Governor Cooper. “This means better health care, including those with mental health and substance use disorders, hope for rural hospitals struggling to stay open and billions of dollars for our economy. This action is long overdue, and we aren’t wasting a moment in beginning enrollment in North Carolina.”
On Friday, Governor Cooper announced that he would allow the state budget passed by the General Assembly to become law and directed NCDHHS to immediately begin the process to start Medicaid expansion in North Carolina.
Even while the budget stalled in the state legislature, NCDHHS worked with county and community partners to be ready to launch so people could get the care they desperately needed as soon as possible. On Friday, Governor Cooper and Sec. Kinsley spoke with federal leaders of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services about the urgent need to begin enrollment.
“This work will yield results,” Governor Cooper said. On Dec. 1, 2023, the Department anticipates approximately 300,000 eligible people currently receiving Medicaid Family Planning benefits will automatically be enrolled in full health care coverage.
“More than 600,000 people in North Carolina will get the health care coverage they have been waiting for,” said NCDHHS Secretary Kody H. Kinsley. “Medicaid Expansion is the most significant investment in the health of North Carolina in decades and represents billions of dollars of investment each year that helps keep clinics, providers and hospital doors open.”
Medicaid Expansion increases the eligible population to adults aged 19-64 who have incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level. For example, expansion gives health care coverage to single individuals making under $20,000 a year. Likewise, a family of three earning under $34,000 combined will now be eligible. Beneficiaries will get care the same way as existing Medicaid beneficiaries and be eligible for the same comprehensive benefits and copays as other non-disabled adults in Medicaid. More communications will be coming soon, and information about Medicaid Expansion is on the FAQ here and Spanish FAQ here.
Medicaid expansion will be transformative for access to health care in rural areas, for better mental health and for veterans, working adults and their families while bringing billions in federal dollars to the state.
North Carolina is one of 41 states that has expanded Medicaid since it was authorized in 2014, though state legislators delayed enrollment until passage of the state budget.
Source: NCGovernor
Redistricting hearings ahead of maps being unveiled
State lawmakers redraw the maps for North Carolina’s 14 congressional districts and all 120 state House districts and 50 state Senate districts once every 10 years, after the newest census data is released. That’s how it’s supposed to work, anyway.
Last year, however, legal challenges filed against the congressional and legislative maps GOP lawmakers passed in late 2021 resulted in prolonged court battles over claims of gerrymandering that ended with the state Supreme Court putting a congressional map drawn by court-appointed experts in place for the 2022 midterms.
The fallout from the disputes between the parties over those maps continued this year, after the newly-seated GOP majority on the Supreme Court overturned a decision by the court’s recently voted-out Democratic majority and found that the constitution did not prohibit partisan gerrymandering.
With all of that behind them, GOP lawmakers are set to draw and release new district lines for U.S. House and their own legislative districts in the coming weeks.
This week, members of the House and Senate redistricting committees held hearings to solicit public comment on this year’s process of drawing new maps.
During a hearing in Raleigh on Wednesday, speakers from across the state expressed concern that the GOP would gerrymander new districts, demanded a transparent redistricting process, and proposed that an independent, nonpartisan commission handle the drawing of new maps, our Kyle Ingram writes.
“When you draw districts that preordain who will be in control on Jones Street, you are not doing the people’s business,” Hilary Klein, a lawyer with the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, told lawmakers. “... You are denying us the responsive government this country was founded to guarantee.”
Others praised the maps the GOP originally produced in 2021.
“I’m 100% confident that this General Assembly and your sage legal advisers will thoroughly apply the many lessons learned over a long history of redistricting,” Jim Womack, president of the North Carolina Election Integrity Team, said during Wednesday’s hearing.
Wednesday’s meeting was the third public hearing on redistricting, after hearings in Elizabeth City and at Appalachian State University. Sen. Ralph Hise, one of the chairs of the redistricting committee, confirmed that Wednesday’s hearing would be the last before votes on new maps begin.
Senate leader Phil Berger has said that votes on a new redistricting plan could begin by the week of Oct. 9.
Source: NCInsider
Governor Cooper vetoed the following bill:
- Senate Bill 749: No Partisan Advantage in Elections.
Governor Cooper made the following statement on his veto of SB 749:
"The legislative takeover of state and local elections boards could doom our state’s elections to gridlock and severely limit early voting. It also creates a grave risk that Republican legislators or courts would be empowered to change the results of an election if they don’t like the winner. That’s a serious threat to our democracy, particularly after the nation just saw a presidential candidate try to strongarm state officials into reversing his losing election result. Courts have already ruled the ideas in this bill unconstitutional, and voters overwhelmingly said no when the legislature tried to change the constitution."
Governor Roy Cooper signed the following bills into law:
- Senate Bill 189: Fentanyl Drug Offenses and Related Changes.
- Senate Bill 615: Adoption Law/Notary Changes/Guardianship Rts.
- House Bill 432: Principal Licensure Changes.
Source:NCGovernor
Bills Passed:
From Disability Rights NC:
House Bill 361-Require Report/Protection & Advocacy Agency has passed both the Senate and the House. This bill is an unprecedented government overreach imposing requirements on a private, independent, nonprofit business. It seeks to require Disability Rights NC to report its activities to the NC legislature multiple times annually. As a silver lining, the law would afford DRNC the opportunity to share the truths we see every day about disability discrimination and unmet disability-related needs in NC, including systemic failures violating the rights of disabled people, empty promises by those entrusted to fix and run the system, and the unnecessary and costly barriers to progress DRNC regularly encounters in our work.
For the first time, North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services is joining with the American Society on Aging to acknowledge the newly established Ageism Awareness Day on Oct. 7, 2023. Modeled after the United Nation’s International Day of Older Persons, Ageism Awareness Day provides an opportunity to draw attention to the existence and impact of ageism in our society.
NCDHHS is hosting a virtual webinar event on Oct. 5 at 10 a.m. to help bring attention to the existence and impact of ageism in our society. To learn how to reframe aging in our communities, join the virtual Zoom event online.
The most widespread and socially accepted form of prejudice, ageism is defined by the World Health Organization as "the stereotypes (how we think), prejudices (how we feel) and discrimination (how we act) towards others or oneself based on age."
"Ageism hurts us all. Getting older is something to celebrate — we have to learn to find joy in every stage of our lives," said Joyce Massey-Smith, Director of the NCDHHS Division of Aging and Adult Services. "Older people are one of North Carolina’s greatest natural resources, and we are one of the most age-friendly states in the country. We are committed to honoring people of all ages through initiatives such as All Ages, All Stages NC and through our collective efforts, we will continue to stand up for older North Carolinians in the face of ageism."
North Carolina has seen significant demographic changes in the 21st century, with a national ranking of 9th in population aged 65 and older. In 2021, one in six people in North Carolina were over the age of 65. That number represents 1.8 million adults, or 17% of the total population, in North Carolina. By 2031, there will be more individuals aged 65 and older than children under 18 in the state, according to the North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics.
Source: NCDHHS
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October was first declared as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in 1989. Since then, October has been a time to acknowledge domestic violence survivors and be a voice for its victims. Domestic violence is prevalent in every community, and affects all people regardless of age, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, or nationality. Physical violence is often accompanied by emotionally abusive and controlling behavior as part of a much larger, systematic pattern of dominance and control. Domestic violence can result in physical injury, psychological trauma, and even death. The devastating consequences of domestic violence can cross generations and last a lifetime.
Although there has been substantial progress in reducing domestic violence, an average of 20 people are physically abused by intimate partners every minute. This equates to more than 10 million abuse victims annually. 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have been physically abused by an intimate partner, and 1 in 5 women and 1 in 7 men have been severely physically abused by an intimate partner. Millions of Americans live in daily, silent fear within their own homes. In addition, every year millions of children are exposed to domestic violence. Domestic violence incidents affect every person within a home and can have long-lasting negative effects on children's emotional well-being, and social and academic functioning.
Source: National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Domestic violence touches every community in this Nation. Americans of every race, religion, and background are affected; its consequences transcend generations, impacting children and reshaping whole families. During National Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, we stand with the tens of millions of people who have experienced intimate partner violence, and we thank the first responders, service providers, and community members who work to make sure that every American can live in safety, with dignity and respect. (from The White House Proclomation on National Domestic Violence Awareness & Prevention Month, 2023).
National Domestic Violence Hotline
Hours: 24/7. Languages: English, Spanish and 200+ through interpretation service
1-800-799-7233 or SMS: Text START to 88788
Voting Information
In 2023, there are three municipal election dates in North Carolina:
- Thursday, Sept. 21 One-stop, in-person early voting begins for October municipal elections
- Saturday, Oct, 7: One-stop, in-person early voting ends for October municipal elections
- Tuesday, Oct. 10 ELECTION DAY (various municipalities)
- Thursday, Oct. 19: One-stop, in-person early voting begins for November municipal elections.
- Saturday, Nov. 4: One-stop, in-person early voting ends for November municipal elections.
- Tuesday, Nov. 7 ELECTION DAY (various municipalities)
Check out our NASW-NC's Election Page HERE.
Common Cause NC
What: Fall Supporter Call
Who: Common Cause North Carolina members, supporters and allies far and wide
When: Tuesday, October 3, at 6:00 p.m. on Zoom.
During this hour-long call, we'll 1) cover the latest voting rights changes in North Carolina, 2) preview the upcoming redistricting cycle, 3) introduce you to new members of our Common Cause North Carolina team, and 4) share how you can organize with us across the state to help create a democracy for all.
And we want to welcome everyone who has joined us along our #UniteNC Town Hall Tour throughout North Carolina.
RSVP For Our Fall Supporter Call
P.S. Do you have questions about the Fall Supporter Call? Email us at gino@commoncause.org
What is #UniteNC?
Pro-Choice North Carolina is excited to join with our partners at Common Cause North Carolina and other organizations across the state for a series of #UniteNC town halls! This is a fantastic opportunity to build our shared power and hold lawmakers accountable. Pro-Choice North Carolina will have materials at all town halls and we’ll be in-person at some of them, too.
If you're concerned about harmful policies in the state legislature like attacks on abortion access, upcoming elections, and redistricting, join us and speak up for people-first policies!
- October 4: Orange County (Hillsborough)
- October 5: Roberson County
- October 11: Asheville
And there are more #UniteNC town halls to come…stay tuned! You can register and learn more by clicking HERE.
Thank you to the members of NASW-NC for supporting the advocacy work we do. We would not be able to advocate for the social work profession or social justice issues in North Carolina without a robust and engaged NASW membership. If you are a social worker and not a member, we ask that you join NASW today. Our voice is louder with your membership.
Learn more about NASW-NC membership here.
Want this information sent directly to your inbox? Sign up for weekly NASW-NC legislative updates: https://votervoice.net/NASWNC/home
