By | 9 Feb 2022

This Heart Month, Celebrate Heart Health by Closing the Gap

During American Heart Month, we celebrate heart health and spread awareness of healthy habits to live a healthy and longer life. But for many North Carolinians without health insurance, heart health is truly out of reach.

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hero_image_alt_text===Terri Phillips M.D.
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thumbnail_alt_text===Terri Phillips M.D.

High blood pressure is one of the top risk factors for heart disease and stroke, and the uninsured face many barriers to getting the right care. Unable to see a doctor consistently, it is difficult to manage blood pressure and access medication. The costs for basic prevention can also be prohibitively expensive without insurance.

If North Carolina closed the health insurance coverage gap by expanding Medicaid, many more people could improve their health and prevent more devastating health issues, such as a heart attack or stroke. Medicaid can help with the preventative care, as well as address some of the broader issues they are facing, such as food insecurity or transportation, which we know contributes heavily to health outcomes.

And for the states that have already expanded Medicaid, we have seen the positive benefits for heart patients: studies show that states that have expanded Medicaid are experiencing greater improvements in heart disease outcomes. Expansion can improve consistent care for chronic conditions and increases the use of preventative service and health screenings.

This Heart Month, let’s show some love to all of North Carolinians, and expand Medicaid.

By Terri L. Phillips, M.D., Chief Medical Affairs Officer, Merz Aesthetics, Chair, American Heart Association Triangle Board

Pulse State - NC

Showing 2 reactions

Nathan Thomas commented 2022-03-29 23:42:38 -0400
Thank you, AHA, for promoting and supporting cardiovascular disease (health).
Kim Ross published this page in The Pulse 2022-02-09 16:23:01 -0500

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For good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, I hereby grant to the American Heart Association (“AHA”) and its successors and anyone authorized by it the following unrestricted rights and release, all of which may be exercised without geographical, time or other limitation: In regards to the submission of stories, video or digital recordings, whether of an audio or visual nature, and photographs (collectively “Submitted Material”) for use by the AHA, I hereby release the AHA from all liability, and make the following grants and representations in connection therewith:

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