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32 <br /> 1 A motion was made by Commissioner Fowler, seconded by Commissioner Hamilton, <br /> 2 and further supported by Commissioner Portie-Ascott, Vice-Chair McKee, Chair Bedford, <br /> 3 Commissioner Richards, and Commissioner Greene, to approve Budget Amendment #3-A to <br /> 4 transfer $94,794 from the Social Justice Reserve Fund for the start-up costs and six (6) months <br /> 5 of operational expenses for a new Bridge Housing program at 2032 Homestead Road in Chapel <br /> 6 Hill in collaboration with Alliance Health and Caramore, Inc. <br /> 7 <br /> 8 VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> 9 <br /> 10 7. Reports <br /> 11 a. Implementation of Medicaid Expansion in Orange County <br /> 12 The Board received an update regarding the expanded Medicaid availability in Orange County <br /> 13 beginning on December 1, 2023. <br /> 14 <br /> 15 BACKGROUND: The North Carolina General Assembly approved legislation in early 2023 that <br /> 16 authorized Medicaid expansion in North Carolina, and Governor Roy Cooper signed it into law <br /> 17 in March 2023. <br /> 18 <br /> 19 However, the expansion legislation did not include a specific date that eligibility rules would <br /> 20 change, and it also made Medicaid expansion contingent on the passage of a State budget for <br /> 21 the 2023-25 fiscal years. The budget was ultimately approved in September, and December 1, <br /> 22 2023 was announced as the start date of Medicaid Expansion in North Carolina. <br /> 23 <br /> 24 Starting December 1, 2023, North Carolina is providing health care coverage to more people <br /> 25 through Medicaid. Medicaid will cover people ages 19 through 64 years with incomes up to <br /> 26 138% of the Federal Poverty Level. This is about $20,000 for an individual and about $34,000 <br /> 27 for a family of three. <br /> 28 <br /> 29 Medicaid provides comprehensive medical coverage including services like primary care, <br /> 30 maternity care, hospitalizations, prescription drugs, and hearing and vision. Current Medicaid <br /> 31 recipients with full coverage will not see any changes and will continue receiving services. <br /> 32 <br /> 33 An additional 600,000 North Carolinians are expected to receive coverage through the <br /> 34 expanded Medicaid program. In Orange County, an additional 6,800 people are expected to <br /> 35 receive coverage once the program is fully implemented. <br /> 36 <br /> 37 In anticipation of Medicaid Expansion, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners, <br /> 38 based on the recommendation of the County Manager, approved the creation of nine (9) new <br /> 39 positions to assist with enrollment. Social Services staff have been working to fill those positions <br /> 40 and get new staff trained to be ready to take applications in December. <br /> 41 <br /> 42 Lindsey Shewmaker, Human Services Manager for DSS, made the following <br /> 43 presentation: <br /> 44 <br /> 45 <br />