LEFT BEHIND

Left Behind is about the importance of Medicaid expansion in North Carolina and the film emphasizes how access to healthcare can harm North Carolina's number one economic commodity: agriculture. I have a heart for farmers because my spouse was born and raised on a sheep farm and my in-laws still farm that land. We spend a few weeks at the farm every year and I can see how difficult it has become to make a living as a farmer. Achieving quality, affordable health care is almost impossible for many farmers, making their risky line of work even more dangerous. Left Behind is part of a series of three short films - all looking at different states that haven't expanded Medicaid. The project was funded by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network to bring light to how the lack of Medicaid is disproportionately impacting working people and rural hospitals.

We interviewed dozens of possible subjects and we wanted to be sure to feature a wide range of people who are living in fear, working hard and could benefit from Medicaid expansion. Because this issue matters to every demographic, every gender, race and every age group - we wanted show that range. Access to affordable healthcare matters in every corner of North Carolina. One of our subjects was a middle-age male farmer, another was a young farmer in her twenties. Our final subject was a mother of three and a pre-school teacher.

The most difficult moment for us to shoot was during a conversation with Richard over coffee. Richard has a really loving marriage with his wife of decades, Vicky. He loves farming and has an orchard that he hopes to pass down to his children. He fostered children and adopted two of his foster kids because he and his wife couldn't have kids of their own. Richard falls squarely in the Medicaid gap - meaning he isn't "poor enough" to receive Medicad even though he lives below the poverty line and he doesn't make enough to buy health care in the marketplace. There are no options for him. Richard has a history of heart disease in his family. His mother, father, uncles, brothers have all had heart attacks. Richard hasn't been able to go to the doctor in over ten years due to the cost. I asked if he'd go to the hospital if he had a heart attack and he said, "No. It would cost too much." He wouldn't want to burden his family with the hospital bill. Instead, he'd rather die and be able to leave them the farm. This is a decision that no person should have to make. It was heart breaking to hear him say this and to witness his wife, Vicky, processing his sentiment.

I want people to be open to the fact that talking about Medicaid is important and being educated about it is critical because lives are hanging in the balance. I think people have a lot of preconceived notions, prejudices, and misinformation when it comes to Medicaid. Every person we interviewed for the film is working hard and wants to work. Beyond that, lack of Medicaid disproportionally impacts the people working in agriculture in the state of North Carolina and that is the state's number one export. Expanding Medicaid is fiscally and socially responsible. One of our subjects, Adrienne, asked me why elected officials are playing God. For so many North Carolinians, the belabored conversation is playing roulette with her life and so many other lives. This isn't about politics. This is about human life.