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Issue record

Health care

In short

Balkcom's campaign says she will fight for better health care and names no specific policy. Ager's campaign backs a public option and Medicare dental and vision coverage; Groo's would end rules requiring state approval before some health facilities open. On the record, Balkcom voted no on all four House votes on the 2023 state Medicaid expansion law. She voted for the 2023 budget that expansion depended on.

Campaign positions

What each campaign says.

Jennifer Capps Balkcom

Her second ad says she will fight for better health care. Her campaign states no specific health policy.

Jamie Ager

He wants a public option, protection of Medicaid and Medicare, Medicare drug-price negotiation and the insulin cap kept, and Medicare coverage of dental and vision care.

Travis Groo

He wants to abolish certificate-of-need laws, which require state approval before some health facilities can open or expand.

Evidence timeline

What the record shows.

  1. official action

    Jennifer Capps Balkcom: Matches stated direction

    She voted no on all four House votes on the 2023 Medicaid expansion law, but voted for the 2023 budget that expansion depended on.

    Read the full check

    Full detail

    At a Chamber of Commerce forum in her 2022 Republican primary for the state House, she said she did not favor expanding Medicaid and that her concern was where the budget would find the money. She voted no on all four House roll calls on House Bill 76, which expanded Medicaid and changed some certificate-of-need rules: 96 to 23 and 92 to 22 in February 2023, then 95 to 21 and 87 to 24 on agreeing to the Senate's version in March. It passed, and the governor signed it on March 27, 2023 (Session Law 2023-7). Limit: Her words are from 2022, before she took office; her 2026 campaign says only that she will fight for better health care. Expansion could start only after a 2023 budget became law, and she voted for that budget.

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Sources12 source records

How we use sources

  1. NC-11 candidates offer competing 'mountain values' in unique adshttps://ncnewsline.com/2026/09/30/nc-11-candidates-offer-competing-mountain-values-in-unique-ads/

    NC Newsline · Published Sep 30, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Transcribes both campaigns' newest ads.

    original reporting

    For: Jennifer Capps Balkcom: campaign position

  2. Mom 30 sechttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWut6wscfZM

    Jennifer Balkcom for Congress (YouTube) · Published Sep 29, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Her campaign's second ad, posted September 29, 2026; she approves it on camera. NC Newsline reports it was paid for by the NRCC. Read from the video's captions.

    candidate statement

    For: Jennifer Capps Balkcom: campaign position

  3. Platformhttps://agerforcongress.com/platform

    Ager for Congress · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Campaign-controlled; ten sections. Positions are attributed, not verified facts.

    candidate statement

    For: Jamie Ager: campaign position

  4. Travis Groo, including his 2026 Candidate Connection surveyhttps://ballotpedia.org/Travis_Groo

    Ballotpedia · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    His survey answers are his own words, published by Ballotpedia. The page also records his earlier Libertarian runs for the state House in 2018 (District 11) and 2024 (District 36) and the state Senate in 2020 (District 17), all lost in November.

    candidate statement

    For: Travis Groo: campaign position

  5. House 117 candidates talk Ecusta Trail, taxes, Medicaid expansionhttps://www.hendersonvillelightning.com/four-seasons-politics/11539-house-117-candidates-talk-ecusta-trail-taxes-medicaid-expansion.html

    Hendersonville Lightning · Published May 1, 2022 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Reports a Chamber of Commerce forum in the 2022 Republican primary for state House District 117 and prints each candidate's answers. Used only for Balkcom's own answers on Medicaid expansion and business taxes.

    original reporting

    For: Jennifer Capps Balkcom: Matches stated direction

  6. House Bill 76 (2023): Access to Healthcare Optionshttps://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2023/H76

    North Carolina General Assembly · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Medicaid expansion and certificate-of-need changes. Signed March 27, 2023; Session Law 2023-7.

    official legislative record

    For: Jennifer Capps Balkcom: Matches stated direction

  7. House Roll Call #16, HB 76, second readinghttps://www.ncleg.gov/Legislation/Votes/RollCallVoteTranscript/2023/H/16

    North Carolina General Assembly · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Recorded vote of February 15, 2023 on House Bill 76, second reading, passed 96 to 23. The transcript lists Balkcom among the Republican noes.

    official legislative record

    For: Jennifer Capps Balkcom: Matches stated direction

  8. House Roll Call #25, HB 76, third readinghttps://www.ncleg.gov/Legislation/Votes/RollCallVoteTranscript/2023/H/25

    North Carolina General Assembly · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Recorded vote of February 16, 2023 on House Bill 76, third reading, passed 92 to 22. The transcript lists Balkcom among the Republican noes.

    official legislative record

    For: Jennifer Capps Balkcom: Matches stated direction

  9. House Roll Call #93, HB 76, concurring in the Senate version (second reading)https://www.ncleg.gov/Legislation/Votes/RollCallVoteTranscript/2023/H/93

    North Carolina General Assembly · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Recorded vote of March 22, 2023 on agreeing to the Senate's version of House Bill 76, passed 95 to 21. The transcript lists Balkcom among the Republican noes.

    official legislative record

    For: Jennifer Capps Balkcom: Matches stated direction

  10. House Roll Call #113, HB 76, concurring in the Senate version (third reading)https://www.ncleg.gov/Legislation/Votes/RollCallVoteTranscript/2023/H/113

    North Carolina General Assembly · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Recorded vote of March 23, 2023 on agreeing to the Senate's version of House Bill 76, passed 87 to 24. The transcript lists Balkcom among the Republican noes.

    official legislative record

    For: Jennifer Capps Balkcom: Matches stated direction

  11. Session Law 2023-7https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/SessionLaws/HTML/2023-2024/SL2023-7.html

    North Carolina General Assembly · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    The enacted text. Part I adds the federal Medicaid expansion group; Part IA says it ends unless a 2023-24 budget becomes law by June 30, 2024; Part III changes certificate-of-need rules.

    official legislative record

    For: Jennifer Capps Balkcom: Matches stated direction

  12. Governor Cooper Signs Medicaid Expansion into Lawhttps://governor.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2023/03/27/governor-cooper-signs-medicaid-expansion-law

    Office of the Governor of North Carolina · Published Mar 27, 2023 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Says House Bill 76 was signed on March 27, 2023 and will expand Medicaid.

    official office record

    For: Jennifer Capps Balkcom: Matches stated direction