Sen. Tillis’ Health Care Record Leaves North Carolinians at Greater Risk of COVID-19

Coronavirus Outbreak Prompts NC Advocacy Group to Call for Affordable, Accessible Health Care

Raleigh, N.C. -- With health officials reporting North Carolina’s first case of COVID-19, caused by the coronavirus, Tuesday afternoon, it is more important than ever that North Carolinians can access affordable care to contain outbreaks. However, Sen. Tillis’ opposition to Medicaid expansion and repeated attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act have left hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians unable to access the care they need.

Piedmont Rising Executive Director Casey Wilkinson, released the following statement in response:

“It’s critical that our elected officials address the spread of the coronavirus and ensure people receive the proper, affordable preventative and treatment and care. Right now, North Carolina families are cautious of being tested and seeking help because of expensive health care costs.”

This is a bitter reminder that if past ACA repeal bills, supported by Senators Tillis and Burr, had been successful in their many attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, they would have eliminated the Center for Disease Control (CDC) Prevention and Public Health Fund, which funds vaccines and tracks diseases like coronavirus. In addition, Tillis’ previous efforts to block Medicaid expansion in North Carolina have left 500,000 people without the affordable health care they need during a crisis like this. We need our elected officials, including Sens. Tillis and Burr, to ensure vaccines are accessible affordable and available to everyone who needs it.”

The House is positioned to vote on a coronavirus funding package today, while a bipartisan group of congressional negotiators reached an $8 billion funding agreement to address the outbreak this afternoon.

PRESS CONTACT:

Jessica Coscia

jessica@piedmontrising.org

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About Piedmont Rising Piedmont Rising is a 501 (c)4 issue advocacy organization built by and for North Carolinians to advocate for lower insurance premiums and prescription drug costs and to ensure that more people have access to safe and affordable health care. Through grassroots organizing, education, and engagement, we are amplifying our health care stories and holding our elected officials accountable to the people, and issues, they were elected to represent. www.piedmontrising.org