Adam Searing Recognized for His Achievements as a Leading Health Care Advocate in North Carolina

Searing Receives the Families USA Consumer Health Advocate of the Year Award

Washington, D.C.—Families USA, the national organization for health care consumers, today is presenting Adam Searing with the Consumer Health Advocate of the Year Award at its annual Health Action conference.

The award, presented every year since 1998, recognizes outstanding contributions on behalf of our nation’s health care consumers. The award is being presented to Searing to recognize and honor his fierce defense of health care consumers in North Carolina, his efforts to educate North Carolinians about the Affordable Care Act, and his accomplishment in helping to defeat legislation that would have hurt implementation of health reform in the state.

“Adam is the kind of advocate that my staff calls the ‘whole package’ in terms of consumer advocacy,” said Ron Pollack, Executive Director of Families USA. “When we work with Adam, we marvel at his innovative and creative use of media and online advocacy, his broad understanding of health care policy, and his ability to bring it all together in coalition building.

“Adam is a fierce defender of health care consumers, and he is the kind of advocate residents of North Carolina would be proud to follow into any battle over health care benefits.”

Adam Searing joined the Justice Center as Director of the North Carolina Health Access Coalition in 1997. The Health Access Coalition is a leading voice in North Carolina for progressive health care reforms that address the needs of the uninsured and underinsured. The project advocates both for more comprehensive and effective public health care programs and on behalf of average consumers in the private market.

During his tenure, Searing has led the fight to defeat a proposed conversion of Blue Cross/Blue Shield NC to a for-profit, won and helped implement expansions of the state Medicaid program, helped win passage of the state’s Children's Health Insurance Program (Health Choice), and fought for consumer rights for North Carolinians in HMOs.

Searing has received awards and recognition for his work from the North Carolina Public Health Association, the North Carolina Primary Health Care Association, regional and state newspapers, and the honorary societies Delta Omega (public health) and Pi Sigma Alpha (political science).

He received his graduate degrees in law and public health from the University of North Carolina.

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Families USA is the national organization for health care consumers. It is nonprofit and nonpartisan and advocates for high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans.

1201 New York Avenue NW, Suite 1100 · Washington, DC 20005
202-628-3030 · Email: info@familiesusa.org · www.familiesusa.org