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.

Governor Roy Cooper has proclaimed January as Radon Action Month to raise the public’s awareness of radon, promote testing and mitigation for radon, and reduce the risk of lung cancer from radon. Testing is the only way to know if you or your family is at risk, and residents can order a free test kit, while supplies last, at radon.ncdhhs.gov. Read our featured blog post and radon PSA to learn how you can reduce your risk in WNC.

Join us on April 13, 2024 for the Western North Carolina site of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences’ 10th Annual Women’s Health Awareness Conference, featuring FREE health screenings, health education sessions, healthy living sessions, and health resources, plus exhibitors from many regional community partners who support women’s health in WNC. Hosted at MAHEC’s Biltmore Forest campus in conjunction with the WNC Health Policy Initiative.

January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month! Did you know that North Carolina consistently ranks in the top 10 states for reports of human trafficking? Learn more about human trafficking around the world (and closer to home), what you can do to help those being victimized right now, and how you can join the fight to end human trafficking in NC and beyond.

North Carolina’s Healthy Opportunities Pilot - an innovative program designed to use Medicaid funds to improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs by addressing social determinants of health - is making the news…and making a difference.

Learn more about the Community Health Workers who help keep WNC strong, resilient and healthy.