North Carolina
North Carolina ranks 33rd in new national scorecard on women’s health, reproductive care • NC Newsline
A new state-by-state scorecard of women’s health released this week by the Commonwealth Fund raises concerns over the care women receive and the ripple effects of the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
The “2024 State Scorecard on Women’s Health and Reproductive Care” is based on 32 measures of state health systems and examines how state policy actions are changing the way women can access and use health care.
“Based on the evidence and data, one thing is absolutely clear, women’s health is in a very fragile state,” said Dr. Joseph Betancourt, president of the Commonwealth Fund, during a briefing with reporters on Wednesday. “There are stark disparities in women’s access to quality health care among states across racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic lines. Those inequities are longstanding, no doubt, but recent policy choices and judicial decisions restricting access to reproductive care have and may continue to exacerbate them.”
Rates of maternal deaths were highest in the Mississippi Delta region, which includes Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. North Carolina’s rates for maternal deaths while pregnant and for infant mortality were both above the national average.
Eighteen percent of North Carolina women aged 18-64 reported being in fair or poor health based on the data from 2022.
More than 1 in 5 women in our state (21%) reported having 14 of more poor mental health days in the past month.
North Carolina performed best on women who were up to date on colon cancer screenings.
Such screenings are critically important as deaths from breast and cervical cancer are considered preventable and treatable for women who receive timely screening and follow-up health care.
Researchers found that Black women experienced higher breast cancer mortality than white women due to a variety of factors, including poorer quality of care after an abnormal test, or a diagnosis made at a more advanced stage.
The scorecard also found deaths among women of reproductive age are highest in southeastern states. Causes of death included pregnancy related complications and other preventable causes such as substance use, COVID-19, and treatable chronic conditions.
The uninsured rates among women in the U.S. ranged from 2.5% to over 20% with the highest uninsured rates in states that have not expanded their Medicaid programs.
North Carolina expanded its Medicaid coverage on December 1, 2023. Just last week the NC Department of Health and Human Services announced the enrollment of more than 500,000 North Carolinians in the seven months since the program was launched.
“Each of those 500,000 who now have the peace of mind to be able to face some of the greatest challenges that they ever thought they could face and know that they are not alone,” said North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kody Kinsley in marking the milestone.
But while North Carolina has made progress in expanding health care access, 10 states have yet to expand eligibility for Medicaid. That leaves nearly 800,000 women uninsured.
A maternity care desert made worse by Dobbs ruling
The Commonwealth Fund experts said access to care isn’t just about having coverage, it’s also about being able to get to a service provider when care is needed.
“It’s estimated that over five million women (nationwide) already live in a county that’s considered a maternity care desert, meaning there’s no hospital or birth center offering obstetric care and there are no obstetric providers,” explained David Radley, Ph.D., a senior scientist for the Commonwealth Fund.
Twenty percent of women in North Carolina age 18-44 said they did not have a person who was their personal or primary health care provider.
Abortion bans are also having an impact on the care that women receive, said Sara Collins, the Commonwealth Fund’s vice president for health care coverage and tracking health system performance.
“A clear pattern in the study is states that have had abortion restrictions prior to Dobbs rank lower and a lot of our measures, including having adequate numbers of maternal health care providers,” Collins shared. “We’re seeing post-Dobbs the effect that decision is having on states delivery systems. We’re seeing lower residency applications in states with abortion bans from new medical students.”
So, is there going to be a growing divide across the states between those that have left abortion legal and those that have enacted the tightest restrictions?
“I think that time will tell,” Collins said.
North Carolina’s legislature enacted a 12-week abortion ban in 2023 and could move toward a six-week ban in 2025.
What researchers do know now is that states in which a large share of residents are living in rural areas, there tend to be the fewest obstetric providers.
Fewer providers means that patients face barriers in receiving the full continuum of prenatal and postnatal care.
Elections will shape future health access
How women’s health fares in the future could very well depend on the outcome of the 2024 presidential election.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) not only expanded Medicaid and provided subsidies the help lower-income families, but it also banned insurers in the individual market from charging young women higher premiums than young men. The ACA also required insurers to cover maternity care –something that was not guaranteed prior to the law.
After more than 60 failed Republican-led votes to repeal Obamacare, experts believe a scenario could emerge if the GOP takes control of Congress and the White House in 2025 that would involve passage of legislation requiring slimmed down plans and fewer guaranteed benefits. It remains unclear if insurers would be allowed to deny coverage to those with pre-existing conditions.
“While some states undoubtedly are championing women’s continued access to vital health and reproductive services, many others are failing to ensure that women can get and afford the health care they need. The failure is having a disproportionate impact on women of color and women with low incomes,” said Betancourt.
Click here to read the 2024 State Scorecard on Women’s Health and Reproductive Care for North Carolina.
On Friday, North Carolina Tar Heels center Henri Veesaar announced his decision to enter the 2026 NBA Draft, with no intention of removing his name from the process.
Hours after the news broke, the 6-foot-11, 224-pound center shared a heartfelt goodbye to Chapel Hill and the Tar Heel faithful.
What Veesaar Said
- “This journey didn’t happen alone,” Veesaar said in a statement. “To my family – thank you for every sacrifice, every late night, every moment you believed in me before anyone else did. To my friends, teammates and coaches – thank you for being part of the grind and helping shape me into who I am today.”
Veesaar transferred to North Carolina last offseason after spending two years at Arizona. In his lone campaign with the Tar Heels, the junior center averaged 17.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while shooting 60.8 percent from the field and 42.6 percent from three-point range. Veesaar spoke on the impact the university has made on him.
- “The University of North Carolina – thank you for the memories, the lessons and the brotherhood. It’s something I’ll carry with me forever. I’m proud to say I’m taking the next step and declaring for the NBA Draft. Thank you to everyone who’s been part of the journey.”
North Carolina’s season abruptly ended in the first round of the NCAA against VCU. That did not appear to be the end result, as the Tar Heels held a 19-point lead halfway through the second half. Veesaar, who led the team with 26 points and 10 rebounds, shared his love for North Carolina, which should have been a sign that he was leaning towards entering the upcoming NBA draft.
- “I love the school, I love the people, I love the university, they’ve given me so much,” Veesaar said.
Overall Thoughts
Veesaar declaring for the draft is a monumental loss for head coach Michael Malone and the Tar Heels heading into next season. Now, Malone and his staff must adjust on the fly and plan accordingly. With the transfer portal closing on April 21, the options have dwindled significantly, putting North Carolina’s brass in a serious bind.
While the Tar Heels would love to bring in someone like Arizona State’s Massamba Diop, who was dominant rim protector and effective offensive piece in his freshman season in 2025. The 7-foot-1, 230-pound center does not possess the shooting ability that Veesaar has in his repertoire, but Diop still averaged 13.6 points and 5.8 rebounds while shooting 56.9 percent from the field.
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RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — North Carolina’s largest craft beer festival returned to downtown Raleigh, continuing on Saturday, bringing thousands of visitors and dozens of breweries together for the second day of the two-day event.
Organizers said Brewgaloo was expected to draw about 50,000 people, with nearly 80 breweries from across the state offering samples.
The festival began Friday evening with a ceremonial keg tapping, followed by a block party. Attendees enjoyed unlimited three-ounce samples, including limited releases, barrel-aged beers, and sours.
Saturday’s street festival ran from noon to 8 p.m. along Fayetteville Street, featuring dozens of breweries, food trucks, vendors and two live music stages. Although some much-needed rain cut the iconic Brewgaloo festival short, many called the festival a massive success.
“It’s nice to be able to see a lot of people from different areas and a lot of different breweries in one location. All I have to do is buy a ticket and I get to support local brewers,” said Raleigh resident Ryan Walker.
Festivalgoers were able to sample more than 350 craft beverages by redeeming drink tickets for either a pint or a three-ounce pour.
Admission to Brewgaloo was free, but tickets were required for beer sampling.
This was the fifth year that Goldsboro Brew Works participated in the festival.
“There’s double the amount of kegs that we normally bring, so here’s hoping,” said Zachary Fein, one of the owners of Goldsboro Brew Works. “Every single time we get people after Brewgaloo, we get them wanting to buy kegs, we get them coming to the taproom on the way to the beach.
“We’re remote, we’re 45 minutes down 70 from here, we’re east,” Fein said. “A lot of these folks have never heard of us before and it’s really kind of great for us to get our name out.”
This year’s event came amid amplified concerns about safety downtown. In the past few weeks, several people were stabbed during a brawl on Fayetteville Street and a man was seriously injured in a shooting in Glenwood South.
“It’s always concerning to see any incident in Raleigh,” Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell said. “We are doing several things working with our police chief. Reallocating resources based on data and crime patterns. I think we’ve found that this is going to be one of the areas.”
According to Cowell, the city council is also exploring adding more police officers in the upcoming budget.
For Brewgaloo specifically, Raleigh police had barricades and barriers in place to protect the tens of thousands who were expected to enjoy the festivities this weekend.
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“Overall, Raleigh’s a safe place,” Cowell said. “I think when there’s a lot more people is when we actually have fewer incidents because you’ve got so much activity, eyes on people, feet on the sidewalks.”
This year’s event also came on the heels of recent controversy involving Shop Local Raleigh, the group that organizes Brewgaloo. Executive director Jennifer Martin apologized after making an anonymous social media comment, stating “there is “there’s no such thing as a transgender son.”
The backlash led to the creation of a separate event, the “Y’all Means All” North Carolina Beer Festival, which is scheduled for Saturday at the same time as Brewgaloo. More than 16 breweries are expected to participate in that event, hosted by Raleigh Brewing Company, with a portion of proceeds benefiting the LGBT Center of Raleigh.
North Carolina
North Carolina Central University hosts the HBCU Dope Art Tour at Hayti Heritage Center
DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) — North Carolina Central University (NCCU) will host a groundbreaking event celebrating Black excellence.
The HBCU Dope Art Tour kicks off on Saturday, April 25. This initiative, led by NCCU alumnus Rahiem James, is a nationwide tour themed “Painting the Legacy of Black Excellence.”
It aims to honor all 110 Historically Black Colleges and Universities through hyper-realistic artwork representing their mascots.
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“It’s really impactful how art can endure over time and foster conversations that may be difficult to have on a daily basis,” said curator and artist Rahiem James.
The art show will feature a hyper-realistic painting of the NCCU Eagle, and a gallery designed to spark conversations about the legacy of NCCU and Durham.
The launch event will take place from noon to 4 p.m. at the Hayti Heritage Center.
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