This is a study conducted by graduate students at Duke University who found it impossible to justify opposing the Medicaid expansion under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
...It is safe (click here) to say that the students who were attracted to this course were reflexively for the Medicaid expansion, and in many ways “didn’t get” how the state of North Carolina wasn’t undertaking the Medicaid expansion as part of the ACA. Most of them are not from North Carolina, and only came here to study. I tried to push them hard over the course of the semester to take seriously the opposition. They mostly still don’t get the opposition or think it is primarily based on opposition to President Obama, but they wrestled mightily to try and understand the perspective of opponents’, and to fashion what they understand to be a plausible way forward that they believe has given some ground.
...It is safe (click here) to say that the students who were attracted to this course were reflexively for the Medicaid expansion, and in many ways “didn’t get” how the state of North Carolina wasn’t undertaking the Medicaid expansion as part of the ACA. Most of them are not from North Carolina, and only came here to study. I tried to push them hard over the course of the semester to take seriously the opposition. They mostly still don’t get the opposition or think it is primarily based on opposition to President Obama, but they wrestled mightily to try and understand the perspective of opponents’, and to fashion what they understand to be a plausible way forward that they believe has given some ground.
I should note that these students did independent cost projections, and considered issues of crowd out and woodwork effects. This report represents thousands of a dollars worth of effort at any sort of market rate, especially that done after the final product turned in for the class.
In the spirit of inquiry, I invite my fellow North Carolinians are opposed to expansion, to come wrestle and reason together with these students in their nuanced pages....
There are a variety of communities across the state in need of and supporting the Medicaid expansion through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act for North Carolina.
North Carolina Justice is already on the 'distressed' hospitals. It is a human rights issue as well as an economic issue. The communities facing down very dangerous circumstances have allies they have not realized or explored.
TAKE BACK OUR TAX DOLLARS (click here)
$891,477,189.81
Since January 1, 2014, North Carolina has rejected $4.9 million per day that would provide coverage to 500,058 uninsured people. We can make a better choice.
UNC Chapel Hill Hospital shoulders the burden for a large population of "Charity Care." It is time the dollars rightfully set aside for these large institutions and especially for the rural communities find a way to connect and more the state legislature out of their political rhetoric and into accepting desperately need funds for citizens across the state.
March 21, 2014
Greensboro City Council (click here) members approved a resolution Tuesday night supporting the expansion of Medicaid in the state of North Carolina. It passed 7 to 2 with council members Zack Matheny and Tony Wilkins voting no.
City Council members are asking N.C. Governor Pat McCrory and the General Assembly to reconsider a previous decision not to expand Medicaid benefits under the Affordable Care Act Law. The League of Women Voters of the Piedmont Triad, a Greensboro grassroots organization, held a press conference prior to the Greensboro City Council’s Tuesday night meeting urging council to support the resolution for Medicaid expansion.
“Every citizen deserves affordable healthcare. It’s the just and right thing to do,” said Willie Taylor, League of Women Voters co-president. Under the Affordable Care Act, states could opt to accept additional federal funds to be able to offer Medicaid insurance to more low-income citizens than the current model allows. The federal government would pick up the full cost of the coverage for three years and 90 percent or more in future years.
Proponents argued that it was a moral, ethical and financially good decision. Andrew Brod, a University of North Carolina at Greensboro economist noted that studies have shown the economic benefit to North Carolina expanding Medicaid benefits. “We know that catastrophic medical expenses account for high stress in households. Medicaid expansion is a way the Affordable Care Act helps alleviate that stress from high medical expenses in households. North Carolina taxpayers are paying for this in their roles as federal taxpayers. Why not get some of the benefit from it,” said Brod.McCrory and the General Assembly decided against expanding the state Medicaid program last year, citing concerns about the program’s operation and efficiency....
There are six major trauma centers in North Carolina. The role of the other hospitals, especially the rural community hospitals are to stabilize any patient and ready them for transport. The entire nation witnessed the miracle performed in Boston during that horrible day. But, lives were saved because of the quick action of the emergency teams and their ability to transport them quickly to a trauma center. Location of a hospital is vital to saving lives.
NC Justice needs to file a class action suit against the McCrory government to over rule the poor political agenda of the current administration. I know this is a well worn path, but, Former Senator Edwards was a fighter for the second America. I don't know if he would agree to advise the best approach, but, it would not hurt to ask.
By Michael Abramowitz
The Daily Reflector
Monday, November 25, 2013
NC Justice needs to file a class action suit against the McCrory government to over rule the poor political agenda of the current administration. I know this is a well worn path, but, Former Senator Edwards was a fighter for the second America. I don't know if he would agree to advise the best approach, but, it would not hurt to ask.
By Michael Abramowitz
The Daily Reflector
Monday, November 25, 2013
Demonstrators (click here) will hold a rally and prayer vigil in Greenville today to protest a decision by Vidant Health System to close Pungo Vidant Hospital in Belhaven.
The State Conference of the NAACP said it will join residents for the protest at 5 p.m. at the corner of Memorial Drive and Stantonsburg Road near Vidant's headquarters.
NAACP leader William J. Barber, Mayor Adam O'Neal of Belhaven and others will address issues raised by Vidant's decision to close facilities they say serve more than 25,000 people in Hyde and Beaufort Counties.
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