Care4Carolina Hosts Eight Virtual Forums

Care4Carolina (C4C) is a statewide coalition with over 1,000 supporters focused on closing the health care coverage gap in North Carolina. Over the course of the summer and early fall, Care4Carolina hosted eight virtual forums across North Carolina with over 550 people in attendance.

At each gathering, a carefully selected local panel of experts covered a range of topics including:  the impact of the pandemic on North Carolina’s economy, health systems, families and children, and chronic disease patients, as well as the role disparities played in worsening the circumstances for many in North Carolina. Erica Palmer Smith, the coalition’s Director, also offered insight on policy options to address concerns and offered the opportunity for attendees to add their names to the growing movement in support of closing the coverage gap in North Carolina.

The Mid-State forum targeted Guilford, Rockingham, Randolph and Alamance counties. Greensboro Mayor, Nancy Vaughan, offered comments of support along with speakers from each county. Susan Shumaker, Foundation President, and Peg O’Connell, C4C Chair, welcomed attendees and introduced the speakers. Cone Health Foundation, Action Greensboro, United Way of Greater Greensboro, Greensboro Area Health Education Center, Guilford Community Care Network and Team Reidsville were all sponsors.

Care4Carolina also released favorable polling results on Medicaid expansion in NC in late summer. The poll showed 75% of North Carolina voters support closing the coverage gap.  The support is bipartisan in nature:   64% of Republicans, 83% of Democrats, and 76% of unaffiliated voters.  

North Carolinians agree on Medicaid expansion across ideological, racial, gender, age, and regional lines.  See the full results here: https://care4carolina.com/2020/poll-findings-favor-action/.