As both former N.C. Insurance Commissioner and a fellow citizen looking for solutions, here’s a reasonable proposal for N.C. I’ve been considering for the last several weeks as we fight the coronavirus pandemic.
BACKGROUND: In recent weeks, months and years North Carolina hospitals have closed throughout N.C. for lack of use or insufficient revenue streams, or lack of Medicaid expansion.
IDEA: Wouldn’t it be great if those for-profit and nonprofit corporations of recently closed facilities re-opened them — for the extended short-term — so North Carolina has the capacity to handle the highly expected surge in the need for hospital beds and clinics?
I hear from reliable sources that retired N.C. medical personnel and nurses are already being called back into service to help with the current crisis. I also hear that the newly enacted and proposed federal legislation will take care of coronavirus costs of hospitals, etc. that aren’t paid for by private insurance, Medicaid and Medicare.
Further, I’d expect it’s easier to clean, sanitize, re-stock, and refurbish recently closed health facilities and rehire folks (even if for a few months) at closed health facilities than only create everything from scratch on the fly.
Further, the proposal addresses head-on public health needs in hard-hit rural communities, provides greater care and stability there, provides newer jobs for local economies and businesses during these challenging times. It’s my understanding the newly-enacted federal legislation will take care of coronavirus costs that aren’t paid for by private insurance, Medicaid and Medicare.
And if there are unknown costs and regulations, with the #WeAreInThisTogether attitude and the need to transcend partisanship, I’d expect statutory emergency powers and a combination of the upcoming legislative session and input from business leaders could address them.
This proposal may not work for any number of reasons, but it is certainly worth a good, very strong look. I have faith that in these times of crisis and challenge, our better angels will prevail & we will see this through.Â
Wayne Goodwin is chairman of the N.C. Democratic Party. He is also a Richmond County native a former state representative.
