medicaid

July 3, 2014 - Most Southern states have opted not to expand the Medicaid health care program for the poor and disabled under the Affordable Care Act. A new report breaks down exactly what that means in terms of the impact on Southerners' health and quality of life.

January 30, 2014 - A new study tallies the impacts of states' refusal to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act -- including the number of people expected to die as a result. The death toll is particularly heavy in the South, where most states are blocking expansion.

December 17, 2013 - The Civitas Institute, a conservative think tank founded and bankrolled by N.C. budget director Art Pope, sought funding to portray the Medicaid program as "failed" and to urge funding cuts, according to leaked documents obtained by The Guardian. The effort comes as the McCrory administration wants to privatize management of the public health insurance program for the poor and disabled.

December 10, 2013 - But through federal taxes, their residents will still help pay for the cost of other states' efforts to expand health insurance coverage to more low-income people.

November 20, 2013 - Southern states have a high rate of unintended pregnancies, with most of the resulting births being paid for by public insurance programs. The evidence shows that investing in family planning services not only prevents unwanted pregnancies but also saves taxpayers money. So why are some Southern legislatures targeting those services for cuts?

November 11, 2013 - Big insurance companies -- with the encouragement of penny-pinching employers like Wal-Mart -- created the substandard health insurance plans that are being eliminated to comply with the minimum coverage provisions of the Affordable Care Act.

November 8, 2013 - The U.S. fast-food industry generates $200 billion a year in sales. Why are so many of its workers dependent on public assistance programs like food stamps and Medicaid?