Democrats press N.C. to expand Medicaid; Ohio launches Medicaid signup site

The White House asks two top North Carolina Democrats to urge Gov. Pat McCrory and state lawmakers to reconsider a health law provision to cover more low income people. Meanwhile, Ohio reports that more than 1,100 residents signed up for Medicaid on the first day a signup site went live.

McClatchy/Raleigh News & Observer: White House, NC Democrats Press State To Expand Medicaid
The White House enlisted two top North Carolina Democrats on Monday to urge Gov. Pat McCrory and the legislature to reconsider their opposition to Medicaid expansion under Obamacare. "Medicaid expansion is a smart choice for states," White House Spokesman Josh Earnest said during a telephone news conference along with Durham Democrats, Mayor Bill Bell and state Sen. Floyd McKissick (Schoof, 12/9).

Columbus Dispatch: Ohio's Medicaid-Enrollment Website Works Smoothly On First Day
Online enrollment began yesterday for Ohio's newly expanded Medicaid program, allowing more than 1,100 low-income residents to sign up for tax-funded health insurance by the end of the day. State officials said it's likely the largest number ever to sign up for benefits in a single day. ... It also was without the technical failures and glitches that plagued the Oct. 1 launch of HealthCare.gov's online enrollment system (Candisky, 12/10). 

Cleveland Plain Dealer: Ohio Launches Website To Help Enroll Applicants For Newly Expanded Medicaid Program
The state "flipped the switch," [Sam Rossi, a spokesman for the Ohio Department of Medicaid,] said, at 6 a.m. Monday. By 11 a.m. about 450 people had enrolled. By later in the afternoon, about 3:30 p.m., the number had risen to 1,165. The computer system itself is new, replacing one that was 32 years old, Rossi said. By 2015, the state intends to integrate the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly called food stamps, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families into the same computer system (Higgs, 12/10). 

The Associated Press: Ohioans Can Sign Up Online For Medicaid Program
Many low-income state residents can now sign up for the Medicaid health program through a new website, though it's unclear how soon their applications will get finalized. The online enrollment option became available Monday to children, pregnant women and adults who are newly eligible under an expansion of the federal-state program for the poor and disabled (12/9).