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NC Advocacy Letter to House Select Committee on COVID-19

May 1, 2020 by Christina Adeleke

April 27, 2020

 

Dear House Select Committee on COVID-19: 

 

We appreciate the opportunity to provide comments as your committee does the important work of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in North Carolina. We write on behalf of the North Carolina AIDS Action Network, Duke Health Justice Clinic and the signed individuals and organizations on behalf of people living with HIV and advocates for HIV prevention in North Carolina. 

We appreciate the leadership shown so far by state government leaders to address this pandemic. We are thankful that the NC House is seriously committed to social distancing and using technology to allow the state’s business to proceed without gathering in person. We also applaud the leadership of the executive branch in educating the public about the pandemic and implementing a stay at home order on March 30th. 

Below are several recommendations the committee should consider when moving forward to address the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

Close the Medicaid Coverage Gap

The time for debating the benefits of closing the Medicaid coverage gap is over. Expanding Medicaid would bring health insurance to more than 500,000 hardworking North Carolinians, likely more now given job loss occurring every day due to the pandemic. 

 

We have been longtime advocates for closing the coverage gap. It will provide full insurance to thousands of low-income individuals living with HIV, and increase access for low income individuals looking to access PrEP (Pre Exposure Prophylaxis) and other healthcare services to help them stay HIV-negative. Medicaid also will help our state combat the opioid epidemic and ever increasing rates of hepatitis C by connecting individuals to substance abuse treatment and helping cure hepatitis C. 

 

North Carolina has spent years debating and discussing the merits of closing the coverage gap. Now is the time to put the partisan bickering aside. Closing the coverage gap is good for the economy, it is good for our rural hospitals, and it is good for the hundreds of thousands of residents who need health insurance now more than ever. 

 

Expand Unemployment 

Extensive changes were made to North Carolina’s unemployment compensation system in 2013 that decreased the amount and duration of payments to unemployed persons. Those changes have placed North Carolina’s unemployment insurance program in the bottom ranks of states, leaving unemployed North Carolinians with inadequate protection, especially in a time of unprecedented unemployment. Earlier this month, it was reported that more than 510,000 new claims for unemployment had been filed in our state. 

 

We are thankful for the immediate steps taken to increase access to unemployment now taken by Executive Order and by Congress in the Cares Act. However, more changes are needed to provide for the anticipated long term waves of COVID-19-related unemployment. We hope the General Assembly will make long term changes to increase the maximum weekly benefit; calculate benefits based on the worker’s highest quarters of earnings, rather than lowest; increase the maximum duration of state unemployment benefits to 26; and adopt a work sharing/short time option for employers. We hope the General Assembly will bring North Carolina’s unemployment compensation system back into step with other states. 

 

Paid Sick Leave 

If someone becomes sick and suspects they might have COVID-19, it is critical that they stay at home to recuperate and get better. This is particularly true of those who are vulnerable to adverse outcomes, such as seniors, people living with HIV, those who have conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer,and those who are immune compromised. They need to take time off when they have been exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms. Some, who are particularly vulnerable, may need to take time off to reduce their risk of infection. Unfortunately, many hardworking North Carolinians live paycheck to paycheck, and do not have the sick leave or resources to take time off work. The federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act provides for paid leave for many employees, but does not apply to companies with more than 500 employees, which effectively excludes low-wage workers in grocery, fast food, and other essential businesses that continue to operate. North Carolina should fill this gap and follow the lead of other states that provide the right to paid sick leave to all workers. 

 

Harm Reduction 

Syringe service programs were legalized by the General Assembly in 2016, and provide a vital role in stopping the spread of HIV & hepatitis. Not only are they critical for preventing the spread of infectious disease, but they also support the overall well being of people who use drugs through medical care, housing, overdose prevention and other vital social services. Many local programs are innovating to stay open and mobile during this time, and they should be treated as essential services. 

 

Voting Protections

No one knows the future course of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is clear that there will be many waves that cannot be predicted with any certainty. Periods of social distancing may well be necessary during voting season and on Election Day 2020. All citizens should be able to participate in the November 2020 election safely, without risk of contracting COVID-19 disease. Those with elevated risks are particularly worried about having to choose between exercising their right to vote and their health. 

We applaud the recent move by the NC Board of Elections to allow residents to register to vote online. We must take more steps to ensure that all North Carolinians can exercise their right to vote in November. All North Carolina voters should be provided with an absentee ballot request form, we should eliminate witness and notary requirements, and ensure free return mail postage for ballots. 

 

Emergency Provisions for Remote Notarization & Witnessing

The risk of transmission of COVID-19 has interfered with the ability of citizens to execute legal documents such as Advance Directives, Powers of Attorney, Wills and other planning documents. Statutory requirements that witnesses and notaries be in the physical presence of the person signing such documents are at odds with social distancing and other disease prevention efforts, making it extremely difficult for people to complete end-of-life planning documents. This is particularly distressing for people who are at elevated risk of COVID-19 and wish to get their affairs in order. Barriers have been especially high for people in nursing homes, hospitals, hospice or other settings that are banning visitors as a COVID-19 precaution. We support legislation to permit remote witnessing and notarization on an emergency basis.

 

If you have questions or we can provide additional information, don’t hesitate to reach out to Lee Storrow at lee@ncaan.org or Allison Rice at rice@law.duke.edu. 

 

Organizations

North Carolina AIDS Action Network

Duke Health Justice Clinic

Southern HIV/AIDS Strategy Initiative (SASI)

Equality NC

The Alliance of AIDS Services – Carolina

NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina

The Frank Harr Foundation, HIV Elders Resource Outreach

RESULTS Raleigh

Health Care Justice NC

Western North Carolina AIDS Project

Partners IN Caring

Heritage Directions LLC

Charlotte Transgender Healthcare Group

ACLU of North Carolina

Coalition for Health Care of NC

We Stand Up—Indivisible

Many Voices: A Black Church Movement for Gay and Transgender Justice

NCARA

Kreative On Purpose

No Sad Story, INC

Lincoln Community Health Center

The Word Factory

Southern AIDS Coalition

Triad Health Project

RAIN

Carolinas CARE Partnership

North Carolina Council of Churches

 

Individuals

Wayne Cooley

Lee Storrow

Ames Simmons

Christina Adeleke

Carolyn McAllaster

Lynne Andrews

Galia Goodman

Andy Riddle

Barbra Roberman

Elaine Martin

Wanda Brendle-Moss

Helen Wolfson

Jenny Warburg

Laurie Fox

Sondra Stein

Helen Compton

Anne Slifkin

Robin Kirk

Mindy Oshrain, MD

Susan Lupton

Cheryl Mitchell-Olds

Susan Cohen

Sharon Goldenberg

Susan Orovitz, PhD

Jeanette Stokes

Jean Cary

Jeffrey Edwards-Knight

Brandon Cordrey

Meg Buckingham

Melissa Haithcox-Dennis

Tara Romano

Annie Schmidt

Edward Adams

William Raynor

Wesley Hyatt

Amy Lanau

Lindsay Sauders

Diana Rowan

Antonio Del Toro

Melvin Littles

Gavin Dillard

Suzette Curry

Jessica Whelan

Tom Gallaher

Thomas Clodfelter

Scotty Elliott

Lainey Millen

Holly Savoy

Lacey Rowan

Juvencio Rocha Peralta

Maurice J. Carter

Sandy Maulton

Francis M. Cox IV

Sherri Rosenthal

Leslie Boyd

Chavanne Lamb

Jesse White

Lydia Hansen

Tony Franco

Martin Streng

Michael DeMarco

Tierney Evans

Adam Versenyi

Habekah Cannon

Peggy Weil

Terry Dennis

Shelton Jenkins

Patti Rieser

Chester Williams

Donte Prayer

Ciara Zachary

Gaven Mayo

Chantal Stevens

McGee Mitchell

Kevin Varner

Clyde A. Caudle Jr.

James Burns

J.B. Sprague II

Dashita Croom

Fred Martin

James Harmon

Melissa McQueen-Simmons

Heather McLaughlin

Gerry Jackson

Matthew Evans

Kia Earp

Connie Leeper

William Wright

Linda Riggins

Jonathan Kotch

Kashinda Marche

Robert Hellwig

Valerie Watkins

Leona Whichard

Kalisha Bellamy

Laurie Humphrey

Denise Finck-Rothman, MD

Greg Capps

Jennie Holmes

Sherryl Kleinman

Karin Piergallini

Michelle Mitchell

Mason Zeagler

Ken Mauney

Charles Jansen

Rita McDaniel

Michael Floyd

David Margolis, MD

Amanda Scott

Noshima Darden-Tabb

Mindie Loebach

Robert Simpson

Lillian Spiller

Selina Schecroun

Alicia Diggs

Terry Frick

Clark Meshaw

Jonah Pierce

L’Monique King

Jeffrey DeCristofaro

Karen Butler-Woolford

Nikola Taylor

Gwendolyn Brown

Patrick Marsh

Barbara Johnston, MD

Norman Rabek

Glenn Temple

Ariana DeToro-Forlenza

Bobby Kerschner

Elizabeth Manley

Elise Rockhart

Chris Winebrenner

Sharon Parke

Leslie Brown

Robert Dogens

Brenda Whitaker

Nia Sutton

Jonella Cross

Peter Leone

Magaretha Herman

Rane Blanchard

Amy Jordan

Victoria Nneji

Damon Seils

Casey Thomas

Tysha Gregory

Tonya Stancil

Edward Whitfield

Sherry Jones

Andrew Mayo

Lariza Garzon

Margot Lester

Derick Wilson

DeShea Coney

Kelly Knudtson

Margie Storch

Trey Owen

Aidan McDonald

Evelyne Billingslea

Ashley Prayer

Brandon Cartagena

Joseph Lee

Channte Keith

Mark Cassity 

Kathryn Schley

Charles Hill

Doraza Sings

Donell Beaty

Timothy Belton

Anshula Nathan

Bertha Brown

Derrick Brown

Eric Foxx

Erick Jamison

Stephen Cearnal

Amy Reese

Matt Martin

Mike and Jeff Robinson-Thomas

Veleria Levy

Jimmy Wilbanks

Deborah Warren

Kaye Ratliff

Angela Vick

LaDonna Boyens

Wes McNeely

Dan Livingston

Arianna Fischer

Susan Rucker

Rachel Dizney

Jessica Schorr

Kara McGee

JuRod Wright

Shannon Farrar

Margaret Bordeaux

Jennifer Copeland

Grace Wilkins

Michael Wilson

Julia Sisson

Charles Trebes

Frances Moye

 

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