Medicaid in North Carolina

Floor Speech

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Ms. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the urgent need to implement Medicaid expansion in North Carolina. In March, our State became the 40th to pass legislation to expand Medicaid after over a decade of political gridlock.

Nevertheless, Republicans in the general assembly are needlessly delaying implementation because they continue to bicker with each other over the State budget, jeopardizing healthcare for over 600,000 North Carolinians. Every day that Republicans wait to expand Medicaid is another day that a mother with cancer or a grandfather with diabetes cannot access the care they need, care that saves lives.

More than a decade ago, I fought for Medicaid expansion in the general assembly. More than a decade ago, vulnerable North Carolinians desperate for affordable healthcare began waiting for their leaders to do the right thing.

Mr. Speaker, our people have been waiting a decade too long. The people of our State deserve action now--not next month and not next year--to ensure that they can access the healthcare they desperately need.

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