The Daily One Rural Doctor on the Cuts to Medicaid
424 snips
Jul 14, 2025 
Shannon Dowler, a family physician and health advocate in western North Carolina, dives into the consequences of recent Medicaid changes. She shares poignant stories of patients burdened by financial barriers to healthcare, emphasizing how these policy shifts jeopardize access for vulnerable populations. Dowler highlights the positive impacts of Medicaid, showcasing a young farmer's recovery, while critiquing political narratives that overlook systemic issues. The emotional toll of navigating these changes looms large, reflecting the urgent need for lawmakers to recognize real-life struggles.
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Pre-Expansion Care Challenges
- Before Medicaid expansion, many patients in rural North Carolina faced heartbreaking health outcomes due to lack of coverage.
- Providers struggled to secure proper care for working poor patients without insurance.
Tragic Patient Story
- A man with hepatitis C and bipolar disorder died after years of inadequate care because he lacked insurance.
- A lack of coordinated mental health and addiction treatment contributed to his death.
Cost Barriers To Early Care
- A woman avoided health care due to costs and died of advanced breast cancer that was detectable early.
- Fear of bankruptcy from health expenses kept her from seeking timely care.