North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper touts Medicaid expansion reaching 500,000...

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper touts Medicaid expansion reaching 500,000 enrollees during a news conference at the North Carolina Executive Mansion in Raleigh, N.C., on Friday, July 12, 2024. It took about seven months to reach 500,000 enrollees, which Cooper said exceeded his office's expectations. Credit: AP/Makiya Seminera

RALEIGH, N.C. — More than 500,000 North Carolina residents have enrolled in the state's Medicaid expansion program since it went live about seven months ago, officials announced Friday.

Gov. Roy Cooper, joined by North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kody Kinsley and two health care professionals held a news conference to tout the enrollment number as a significant milestone for the program. The original goal was to enroll 600,000 people in the Medicaid expansion over two years, Cooper said.

The number of enrollees was 503,967 as of Friday morning, according to the governor's office.

Expanding Medicaid had been a major goal of Cooper’s since the Democrat took office in 2017. The plan to broaden the pool of eligible adults received bipartisan support from state legislators last year and started Dec. 1. Within the first few weeks, almost 300,000 people had signed up under the expansion. Under the 2010 Affordable Care Act, the federal government pays 90% of the cost.

“We never, ever, ever gave up. And that's why we're standing here today,” Cooper said.

Almost 2 million prescriptions have been filled for new Medicaid enrollees, many of which treat chronic conditions such as seizures or heart diseases, Kinsley said at the news conference. Dental services have also seen increased claims under Medicaid due to the expansion, he said.

“We're not just getting people covered. We are getting people care," Kinsley said.

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Kody Kinsley...

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Kody Kinsley discusses the impact of Medicaid expansion on prescriptions during a news conference at the North Carolina Executive Mansion in Raleigh, N.C., on Friday, July 12, 2024. Almost 2 million prescriptions have been filled for new enrollees, and Kinsley said many of which treat chronic conditions such as asthma and heart disease. Credit: AP/Makiya Seminera

He also called for increasing provider rates in the Medicaid program, which was included in Cooper's budget proposal this year.

Nearly 20,000 Long Islanders work in town and city government. A Newsday investigation found a growing number of them are making more than $200,000 a year. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.  Credit: Newsday/Drew Singh; Randee Daddona; Photo Credit: Thomas A. Ferrara

'No one wants to pay more taxes than they need to' Nearly 20,000 Long Islanders work in town and city government. A Newsday investigation found a growing number of them are making more than $200,000 a year. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports. 

Nearly 20,000 Long Islanders work in town and city government. A Newsday investigation found a growing number of them are making more than $200,000 a year. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.  Credit: Newsday/Drew Singh; Randee Daddona; Photo Credit: Thomas A. Ferrara

'No one wants to pay more taxes than they need to' Nearly 20,000 Long Islanders work in town and city government. A Newsday investigation found a growing number of them are making more than $200,000 a year. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports. 

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