Health Care
Lawmakers return to talk teacher pay as another red state expands Medicaid
The North Carolina General Assembly convenes on Tuesday for a so-called “mini-session” amidst the budget standoff waged by legislative Republicans since last summer. From North Carolina Health News: “We have not set a date and honestly we’re waiting like everyone else to see what the legislature” does this week, said Dave Richard, the N.C. Department of Health…
Read MoreStatement on federal court ruling on the Affordable Care Act
RALEIGH — Progress NC, the NC Justice Center, and partner organizations released the following statement on Thursday in response to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on Texas v. United States regarding the Affordable Care Act: Wednesday’s Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling on the Texas v. United States decision means that millions of North Carolinians with…
Read MoreThe Washington Times: FDA must fast track insulin for the millions of Americans living with diabetes
Did You Know? Three Canadian researchers discovered insulin almost a century ago and sold the patent for $1 so the world could access this life-saving medicine for diabetics. Today just three big Pharma companies control the U.S. market for insulin. Result? The price of insulin has gone up 900% in the last 18 years. From…
Read MoreRewire: An Anti-Choice Group Misspent $50,000 on Religious Material. North Carolina Wants to Give It $400,000 More.
The Anti-abortion group that runs the dubious “Crisis Pregnancy Centers” in North Carolina used tens of thousands of dollars on the printing of illegal religious rhetoric pamphlets. Instead of receiving any consequences for their unconstitutional actions the Republican-led General Assembly wants to give them $400K more in funds. From Rewire: Last year, Rewire.News revealed that…
Read MoreBudget would quadruple funding for anti-choice fake pregnancy clinics
In addition to throwing schools and low-income families under the bus, the GOP budget awards more than $1.2 million to fake clinics designed to deceive pregnant people. Although Raleigh politicians claim not to have enough money for textbooks or school nurses, they appear to have ample funds for Christian-based conservative clinics that do little other…
Read MoreMedicaid expansion will help keep rural hospitals from closing
Every North Carolinian should be able to access the health care they need without going bankrupt. Expanding Medicaid in North Carolina would provide coverage to about 500,000 low-income people. Unfortunately, the General Assembly continues to reject federal funding to expand Medicaid, choosing politics over the health and the well-being of North Carolina families. Since the General…
Read MoreWTVD – Patients and physicians call for expanded Medicaid coverage in NC
North Carolina is poised to make one of the biggest changes to state policy in a generation. Democrats have introduced a pair of bills that would make our state’s health insurance program, Medicaid, available to the very poor. And they’ll do so primarily at the expense of the federal government, who are already paying for…
Read MoreWLOS: NC Democrats introduce bills to expand Medicaid
Last week almost every single one of the Democrats in the General Assembly gathered to announce two bills expanding the state’s Medicaid program. This was a huge move that could bring more than half a million people access to health care. Even better, the cost of this expansion would be almost entirely covered by the federal government.…
Read MoreDaily Reflector: Activists rally around healthcare, reproductive rights at Greenville Town Hall
Several advocacy groups, including Progress, met in Greenville to speak on the issues of a second Trump Supreme Court confirmation. President Trump nominated Brett Kavanaugh after Justice Kennedy announced his retirement. Kavanaugh has a long history of ruling against contraception, abortion, and the Affordable Care Act, which makes his nomination all the more troubling. Because…
Read MoreWashington Post: GOP health-care talks center on stark question: Help vulnerable Americans or help the rich?
The GOP clearly does not want to prioritize vulnerable Americans over helping the rich, as their approved health care plan gave the top 0.1% huge tax breaks. Their bill, which was drafted completely in the dark, cut Medicaid funding by $772 billion and would leave 22 million Americans without health care. In response to the…
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