The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) will hold a live fireside chat and tele-town hall on Wednesday, September 24, from 6 to 7 p.m. The event aims to inform the public about Medicaid eligibility, the impact of Medicaid expansion in North Carolina, how to apply for health coverage, and upcoming federal changes to the program.
Panelists for the event include Jay Ludlam, Deputy Secretary for NC Medicaid at NCDHHS; Dr. Crister Brady, a family physician with UNC Family Medicine; and Brenda Jackson, Director of Cumberland County Department of Social Services.
Medicaid in North Carolina provides affordable health coverage and access to doctors and prescriptions for over three million residents. This includes children, older adults, people with disabilities, veterans, and working individuals. According to NCDHHS, Medicaid covers one in four people in the state and is responsible for half of all births statewide.
Discussion topics during the fireside chat will include how Medicaid contributes to better health outcomes for North Carolinians, details on who is newly eligible under recent expansion efforts, ways to apply for coverage, and information about future changes to the program.
Since expanding eligibility on December 1, 2023, nearly 700,000 additional individuals aged 19 through 64 have enrolled in Medicaid. In less than two years since this expansion began, more than $126 million has been paid out in dental claims for new enrollees. These individuals have also filled over 9.4 million prescriptions covering conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, seizures, and other illnesses.
Information about eligibility requirements and application procedures can be found on the NCDHHS Medicaid expansion website. Residents may also contact state support teams or their local department of social services for assistance with understanding their options or enrolling in coverage.
The fireside chat will be streamed live on NCDHHS’s Facebook, X (Twitter), and YouTube accounts. Viewers can submit questions during the broadcast. The tele-town hall component allows participants to listen by phone and ask questions by dialing 855-756-7520 Ext. 126224#.
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