- Piedmont Rising
Sen. Tillis Scrambles to Atone for Failure to Expand Medicaid as Rural North Carolinians Struggle
Senator Tillis Scrambles to Atone for His Failure to Expand Medicaid as Rural North Carolinians Struggle to Access Health Care
As NC House Speaker, Tillis blocked 500,000 North Carolinians from access to lifesaving health care by passing a law blocking the state from expanding Medicaid
Raleigh, N.C. – Piedmont Rising Executive Director Casey Wilkinson released the following statement after Senator Thom Tillis sent a letter urging support for health care providers in rural North Carolina:
“While Senator Tillis’ record in the U.S. Senate is harmful enough -- he’s repeatedly voted to increase health care premiums, out-of-pocket costs and prescription drug costs -- North Carolinians will not forget his leading role as a state legislative leader in blocking Medicaid expansion after the Affordable Care Act became law,” said Casey Wilkinson, Piedmont Rising Executive Director. “Expansion would have extended coverage for 500,000 North Carolinians, helped to keep rural hospitals open and provided a lifeline in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. We agree with the assertion in this letter that financial assistance for rural hospitals is an urgent need for North Carolinians. That’s why it’s so disappointing that Senator Tillis is responsible for our state not expanding Medicaid to cover the most vulnerable.”
Yesterday, Piedmont Rising released a new report highlighting how North Carolina has experienced more rural hospital closures than almost any other state in the country. The analysis highlights how Medicaid expansion in North Carolina likely would have reduced the number of rural hospital closures in the state.
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Jessica Coscia
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