This Week: New County Commissioner Appointed and Support Building for Medicaid Expansion

Prepared by Katie Loovis on February 9, 2023

This week, the Orange County Board of Commissioners unanimously appointed Phyllis Portie-Ascott to the seat vacated by former Chair Renee Price, who has stepped into her new role with the NC General Assembly. Commissioner-Elect Portie-Ascott, First Vice Chair of the Orange County Democrats, will be sworn in on February 16, 2023 at the Board of Commissioners’ Work Session and will begin serving immediately. She will fill the remaining two years of Price’s term, through the end of November 2024.

Also, The Chamber signed onto the statewide campaign of chambers led by the Charlotte Business Alliance in support of Medicaid expansion. This issue is emerging as a front runner in the General Assembly with increasing bipartisan support. Not only would expansion help close the health insurance coverage gap for approximately 600,000 individuals, which means more workers for the labor market, increased productivity, and reduced absenteeism, but also is projected to drive $2.9 billion in new business and health care activity in North Carolina and add 37,200 new jobs statewide.  The copy of the letter is pasted below. 

Chambers Across North Carolina Support Medicaid Expansion

Letter prepared by the Charlotte Business Alliance on February 7, 2023

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Chambers of Commerce and associations representing thousands of businesses across North Carolina this week announced their continued support for Medicaid expansion.

The Charlotte Regional Business Alliance®, along with the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce; The Chamber, Leading Business in Cabarrus; Carolinas Asian American Chamber of Commerce; Cary Chamber of Commerce; The Chamber of Catawba County; The Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro; Greater Durham Chamber; Greensboro Chamber of Commerce; Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce; Haywood Chamber of Commerce; Matthews Chamber of Commerce; Moore County Chamber of Commerce; Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce; Rocky Mount Area Chamber; Rolesville Chamber of Commerce; Rowan County Chamber of Commerce; Wake Forest Area Chamber; Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce; and Greater Winston-Salem, Inc.; representing the business community throughout the state, supports Medicaid expansion.

Closing the health insurance coverage gap for approximately 600,000 individuals is expected to lead to more labor force participation and worker productivity, as covered individuals are more likely to seek preventative care, testing, medication, and mental health services, leading to reduced rates of absenteeism. Ensuring a healthy workforce has options for affordable health insurance and access to affordable health care is critical to North Carolina’s economy.

Medicaid expansion is projected to drive $2.9 billion in new business and health care activity in North Carolina and add 37,200 new jobs statewide.

The members of the business community in North Carolina represented here support Medicaid expansion as a policy that leads to greater access to care for individuals, and significant positive economic benefits for state and local governments and businesses through increased economic activity.

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For questions about Medicaid Expansion, contact Tanya Mendis, Senior Director of Communications, tmendis@charlotteregion.com