North Carolina looks to extend Medicaid expansion to thousands of low-income adults starting Oct. 1

North Carolina lawmakers are looking to extend Medicaid coverage to thousands of low-income adults by Oct. 1. Negotiations regarding the implementation of the expansion are ongoing.

"Having a clear date and beginning that work now is going to allow us to get folks on (coverage) and really maximize the benefit as soon as possible," DHHS Secretary Kody Kinsley told The Associated Press.

The Medicaid expansion legislation passed by the Republican-controlled General Assembly in March and signed by the Democratic governor will extend the government-funded health coverage to as many as 600,000 adults who earn too much to qualify for traditional Medicaid but too little to receive even heavily subsidized private insurance.