Posted in Healthcare
As South Carolina and the rest of the country faces the worst public health and economic crisis in decades, Southerners in eight non-expansion states are uniting for the first time ever, to demand affordable healthcare for our essential workers, communities of color and rural hospitals.
The newly formed Southerners for Medicaid Expansion coalition will hold its South Carolina event, a Southern Storyteller Spotlight interview on Thursday September 24th at 12pm EST, hosted by South Carolina Appleseed. The first Spotlight will feature Sue Berkowitz, Director of SC Appleseed, Dr. Elizabeth A. Brown, Assistant Professor in the College of Health Professions at the Medical University of South Carolina, Lynne Eickholt and more.
Advocates from South Carolina will be joined by their coalition partners from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas and North Carolina to uplift the voices and experiences of southerners who have been impacted by our states’ refusal to expand Medicaid.
During the September 24th event, the Southerners for Medicaid Expansion coalition will highlight their website which includes resources and data from the eight non-Medicaid expansion states. This Southern Storyteller Spotlight series will culminate on October 1 when candlelight vigils will take place simultaneously throughout the South in an action of solidarity and remembrance to honor the lives of people who are suffering from the denial of healthcare access during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“With over 130,000 cases of COVID-19 and our struggling rural hospital system, expanding Medicaid would allow 250,000 people who are uninsured to gain coverage in South Carolina that have denied healthcare access to their residents for far too long.” Sue Berkowitz, Director of South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center said. “There has never been a more dire moment for the Southerners for Medicaid Expansion coalition to unite and fight for our people.”
To cover this event live, please join us by Facebook Live at 12pm on Thursday, September 24, 2020. South Carolina Storytellers Spotlight – Southerners for Medicaid Expansion
