Medicaid is expanding in North Carolina.
Hundreds of thousands of people who previously did not have access to health care now have access to it.
“Everyone deserves access to affordable, quality health care, regardless of their background, culture, religion or identity,” said Congresswoman Valerie Fossey.
That was a powerful message to those who attended Saturday's Behavioral Health and Health Equity Forum in Hillsboro, where Foushi said knowledge is power.
“I think part of this convening is to make sure we get the message out that there is affordable health care through Medicaid expansion,” Foushi said.
She says expanding Medicaid in North Carolina has given more people access to things they didn't have before.
“There is an opportunity for those who have fallen into the gap, those who have not been able to enroll in an insurance plan or cannot afford health insurance through their employer,” Foushi said.
The event's keynote speaker was North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Cody Kinsley.
“A health care system that leaves people behind is not a health care system at all,” Kinsley said.
Kinsley says Medicaid expansion is one of the best tools we've ever had to close the gap.
“This works, it works fast, and it's great for the people of North Carolina,” Kinsley said.
But he says there's still a way to go.
“We want to get everyone who might be eligible for expansion registered,” Kinsley said.
But he says this will leave hundreds of thousands of people without health care because they don't have access to health insurance, and he wants to change that in the future.
Dr. Michelle Laws, who helped organize the event, added that she hopes the conversation will highlight their efforts and how the community can be part of the solution.
