NC Now Can Consider Expanding Medicaid

North Carolina's Secretary of Health and Human Services says after stabilizing the massive department, officials are "finally able to look at the information" needed to consider expanding Medicaid in the state, which initially decided not to grow the program as part of the federal Affordable Care Act. The secretary said when she started at HHS 20 months ago, the department suffered from "chronic problems" that wouldn't have allowed for Medicaid expansion. After getting the department in order, HHS finally has the data it needs to present options to Gov. Pat McCrory regarding possible Medicaid expansion," Wos said, adding that growing the program would have wide-ranging effects. For example, the secretary questions whether county social services departments would be equipped to handle an extra 300,000 or more people in the system.