Expansion of Medicaid, Improving Access to Quality Healthcare in NC

The American Lung Association celebrates the enactment of House Bill 76 to expand Medicaid in North Carolina.

“Eliminating disparities and improving access to quality, affordable healthcare is vital for all, especially for the more than 1.3 million North Carolina residents who currently live with a lung disease like asthma, COPD, or lung cancer,” said Danna Thomson, Director of Advocacy for North Carolina. “The American Lung Association commends North Carolina leaders on this bipartisan effort to close the coverage gap and expand Medicaid.”

“Medicaid expansion provides quality, affordable health coverage to low-income adults. In North Carolina, this equates to 600,000 residents having access to affordable healthcare. Medicaid expansion covers preventive services such as quit smoking treatments, lung cancer screenings for individuals at high risk, and pneumonia and influenza vaccinations. States that expanded Medicaid have seen numerous benefits in expanding access to care, improving health outcomes, and reducing health disparities, including many that directly benefit patients with asthma, COPD and lung cancer.”

“The American Lung Association believes that everyone deserves the opportunity to lead a full and healthy life. More than half of the 27.5 million uninsured Americans are people of color, and research is clear that having health coverage impacts people’s medical care and ultimately their health outcomes.”

“We at the American Lung Association are committed to ensuring everyone has access to quality and affordable healthcare in North Carolina. The Lung Association will work to ensure this legislation is implemented swiftly and continue to champion the benefits of Medicaid expansion in the 10 remaining states that have not adopted this policy.”

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About the American Lung Association

The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to champion clean air for all; to improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families; and to create a tobacco-free future. For more information about the American Lung Association, which has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a Platinum-Level GuideStar Member, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org.

American Lung Association • 55 W. Wacker Drive, Suite 1150 • Chicago, IL 60601

1331 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Ste. 1425 North • Washington, D.C. 20004

1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) Lung.org