Executive Summary: Emerging Issues and Opportunities in Healthcare Policy for WNC
“Western North Carolina (WNC) faces significant healthcare challenges, mirroring national trends of stagnating life expectancy and persistent health disparities. NC fares more poorly than the US, with an overall life expectancy average of 76.6. The Appalachian region and WNC have some of the highest levels of death for adults in their prime (ages 35 to 64).
Despite substantial healthcare spending, chronic illnesses remain the biggest threat to premature death and disability, particularly among working-aged individuals. These trends undermine our economy and threaten long-term fiscal and economic well-being in our region, state, and nation. In response, the 2024 WNC Legislative Caucus is committed to addressing three pressing healthcare policy issues: Social Care Delivery Systems, NC Medicaid Expansion, and Workforce Development.”
This “event pre-read” document has been prepared for attendees of the 2024 WNC Legislative Caucus: Emerging Issues and Opportunities for WNC Healthcare and Health Policy to provide a summarized background for the topics being covered during the event’s panel discussions. A full-length report is also being prepared and will be published after the event. The intent of this report is to provide additional context and information relating to these topics for those wishing to explore the issues and potential strategies for addressing them more deeply, as well as how these issues intersect with the broader goals of improving life expectancy and overall quality of life for Western North Carolinians.
The WNC Legislative Caucus is hosted annually by the WNC Health Policy Initiative, and brings together members of the NC General Assembly, individuals working in policy development and advocacy, regional health and healthcare leaders, and community service organizations to learn about key health policy priorities for Western North Carolinians.
The overarching theme of these events is to explore solutions and strategies for reducing healthcare costs, improving health outcomes, expanding economic opportunities, and strengthening systems related to health and healthcare in WNC with particular focus on moving “upstream” to address root causes and prevent problems from developing or harm from occurring, vs. “downstream” approaches that seek to solve problems/address harm only after they have occurred.
2024 panel topics include:
The Impact of Medicaid Expansion in WNC and Upstream Solutions
WNC Healthcare Workforce Needs and Opportunities
WNC Healthy Opportunities Pilot: A Model for the Future of NC Health and Healthcare
For more information about this event, including panelist information, panel discussion notes, and other resources, visit our event page at www.wnchealthpolicy.org/2024-wnc-legislative-caucus.
