ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — North Carolina health officials will host a Spanish-language virtual town hall next week to help residents understand upcoming changes to the state’s Medicaid program.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will hold a live “Cafecito and Tele-Town Hall” from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25.
The event will focus on how new federal and state laws will affect NC Medicaid, including changes to eligibility, coverage and renewal requirements.
Officials also will discuss who could lose Medicaid coverage under the new rules and how residents can prepare.
Panelists will include Carolina Siliceo Perez, senior strategy and community partner engagement manager with the NCDHHS Division of Public Health; Jennifer Platts, a communications specialist with NC Medicaid; and Rodrigo Medinilla, an NC Benefits Navigator with the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy.
Topics will include:
- How to prepare for upcoming changes to Medicaid
- New work and community engagement requirements
- Who could lose coverage, including some noncitizens
- Where Spanish-speaking residents can find resources and assistance
NCDHHS said federal changes will mean some noncitizens will no longer be eligible for Medicaid beginning Oct. 1.
The department encourages residents with questions about their eligibility or coverage to visit the NC Medicaid website or contact their local department of social services.
NCDHHS also plans to release a new bilingual toolkit with information about the changes and resources available to residents. The materials will be available in English at Medicaid.nc.gov/changes and in Spanish at Medicaid.nc.gov/cambios.
NC Medicaid provides health coverage to more than 3 million North Carolinians, including children, older adults, people with disabilities, veterans and working adults. The program covers about one in four state residents and pays for about half of all births in North Carolina.
The Aug. 25 event will be streamed live on the NCDHHS Facebook, X and YouTube accounts. Viewers will be able to submit questions during the event.
Residents also can participate by phone through the tele-town hall by calling 855-756-7520, extension 134949#.
