The Consumer and Family Advisory Committee (CFAC) works hard all year, volunteering to provide Vaya and other stakeholders with invaluable feedback and perspective directly from and on behalf of those Vaya serves. Taking those messages to legislators provides crucial insight for lawmakers, so on March 11, CFAC members shared their stories, their thanks, their frustrations, and their hopes with members of the North Carolina General Assembly.
CFAC members spoke with legislators in private meetings and held a press conference in combination with other CFACs and the State Consumer and Family Advisory Committee (SCFAC).
With Medicaid very much in the news, there was no better time to remind policymakers of the critical role that Medicaid plays in the lives of so many North Carolinians.
“I want to thank the representatives who have joined us here today,” Brandon Wilson, chair of SCFAC, said at the press conference. “That’s a testament to where your values lie.”
Elected officials at the event included Rep. Sarah Crawford, Rep. Zack Hawkins, and Rep. Phil Rubin.
Rep. Crawford, who hosted the event, spoke about priorities, including addressing workforce challenges and increasing the number of North Carolinians served through the Innovations Waiver.
“We can open Innovation Waivers slots, but if we don’t have workers to do the work, then we have not made any progress,” Crawford said. “It’s critical that we do both of those things.”
Also speaking at the event was Benita Purcell, a member of Vaya’s CFAC.
“I just want to say—continue to fight,” said Purcell. “This is the favorite part of my life—being able to advocate. I am just amazed that there are so many people here. Thank you all so much.”
CFACs are self-governing bodies with a voice in the management of Vaya and the three other Local Management Entities that operate as Managed Care Organizations (LME/MCOs). Four Vaya CFAC members serve as voting members on Vaya’s Board of Directors.
To find out more about Vaya’s CFAC and get involved, see Consumer and Family Advisory Committee | Vaya Health.
CFAC Legislative Day Photos
