The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live fireside chat and tele-town hall Wednesday, January 10, from 6 to 7 p.m., to discuss Medicaid expansion, including impacts on rural communities, who is newly eligible and ways to apply for health care coverage.

Event participants include:

  • Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson, M.D., State Health Director and Chief Medical Officer, NCDHHS
  • LaQuana Palmer, MPA, Deputy Director, NC Medicaid Communications and Engagement
  • Brenda Jackson, Director, Cumberland County Department of Social Services

More than 600,000 people ages 19 through 64 years are newly eligible for health care coverage through Medicaid. People living in rural communities will be particularly impacted as they are three to four times more likely to be uninsured. Medicaid expansion has been a critical tool in other states in helping to sustain access to health care in rural areas.

Fireside chat and tele-town hall panelists will discuss the following:

  • Who is eligible for Medicaid
  • How to apply for health care coverage
  • What health services are covered under Medicaid
  • How expansion impacts rural communities

The new NCDHHS Medicaid Expansion website provides information on eligibility, how to apply and where to find support. The state and its regional partners also have resources available to support those in rural or other areas who don’t have consistent access to the internet. Individuals can also find state and local support teams to help them better understand their health care coverage options and complete Medicaid applications.

The fireside chat will stream live from the NCDHHS Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accounts, where viewers can submit questions. The event also includes a tele-town hall, which invites people by phone to listen in and submit questions. People can also dial into the event by calling 855-756-7520 Ext. 100651#.

NCDHHS’ fireside chats and tele-town halls are part of the state’s ongoing public efforts to ensure equitable access to timely health information, including Medicaid enrollment updates and resources to help North Carolinians find health care coverage. [source]