Health care available to thousands locally through Medicaid expansion

HIGH COUNTRY — Thousands of people are now eligible for health care across the High Country through the recently expanded Medicaid program, which went into effect on Friday, Dec. 1.

Those who qualify can visit epass.nc.gov or visit their local Department of Social Services office to receive assistance and sign up. For those signing up, it is important to have accurate and complete information to help ensure access to care.

Numerous local health care providers are also creating awareness and helping provide access, such as UNC Health Appalachian, High Country Community Health, AppHealthCare, the Toe River Health District, Appalachian State University and the Community Care Clinic, among others.

According to Rob Hudspeth, Senior Vice President of System Advancement with UNC Health Appalachian, the expansion of Medicaid offers health coverage to those who previously fell into a coverage gap.

"What this means is that working-class folks who cannot afford insurance and who historically made too much money (to qualify for Medicaid) can have free health care," Hudspeth said. "This is a really big deal for people who didn't have insurance before."

To receive benefits, one must live in North Carolina, be between the ages of 19 and 64, be a US citizen — or a non-citizen with a valid immigration status, depending on the circumstance — and meet certain income requirements.

Medicaid provides primary care, hospital services, maternity and postpartum care, vision and hearing services, prescription drug benefits, behavioral health, preventative and wellness services, dental and oral health services, medical-related devices and other therapies.

According to UNC Health Appalachian, an estimated 8,096 additional people across the High Country are eligible for health coverage through the expansion of Medicaid.

Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties have a combined population of 98,422 people, and 17,411 of those people are current Medicaid recipients. In Ashe County, there are 6,916 current recipients and 2,291 additional people now eligible. In Avery County, there are 3,999 recipients, and 1,407 people are now eligible. In Watauga County, there are 6,496 recipients, and 4,398 people are now eligible, according to UNC Health Appalachian.

Through the expansion, North Carolina became the 41st state to expand Medicaid services after the Affordable Care Act was implemented in 2014. Through the legislation, the federal government covers 90% of the costs to expand the program, while the state covers the remaining 10%.

In North Carolina, the federal government provided $8 billion to expand the program, while hospitals across the state covered the remaining funds. Statewide, the expansion is estimated to provide health coverage to 600,000 additional people.

According to UNC Health Appalachian, the expansion of Medicaid is linked to significantly better health coverage rates, as well as earlier detection, diagnosis and treatment of serious medical conditions.

Furthermore, expanding coverage helps safeguard people from catastrophically high out-of-pocket medical costs. Better access also helps advance racial and ethnic equality.

Hudspeth added that one of the major issues in health care over the years has been people receiving care through the emergency department — which is one of the most expensive ways to receive treatment — after years of delaying care due to being unable to afford doctor visits, among other reasons.

"We've always done a lot of Medicaid enrollment here and what typically happens is they come through the emergency department," Hudspeth said. "They're sick, and they don't go to the doctor's office, and they end up delaying care and showing up through the emergency department. There's a discussion around health maintenance that's not occurring. When they show up at the emergency room, they're typically sicker."

Through the expansion of Medicaid, Hudspeth and other health care professionals are encouraging people to take advantage of the extended benefits and to go ahead and establish a relationship with a doctor and begin their health maintenance.

"Because health care is so daunting, with understanding insurance and what you qualify for, people may be reluctant to even apply," Hudspeth said. "So this group has put different programs together. We have boots on the ground so people can come and meet with people to help walk them through this process."

For more information or to apply for Medicaid, visit epass.nc.gov or call Watauga County Social Services at (828) 265-8100. UNC Health Appalachian, formerly Appalachian Regional Healthcare System, can be reached by calling (828) 262-4100 or by visiting apprhs.org.