Topics Related to Health Benefits (NC Medicaid)

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced Blue Cross Blue Shield NC was selected to operate the Children and Families Specialty Plan. A first-of-its-kind initiative, the CFSP is a single, statewide NC Medicaid Managed Care plan that will wrap Medicaid-enrolled children, youth and their families in the child welfare system with seamless, integrated and coordinated health care.

North Carolina Hospitals Sign On to Relieve Medical Debt

August 12, 2024

PRESS RELEASE — Governor Roy Cooper and Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley today announced all eligible hospitals in North Carolina have signed on to their innovative plan to relieve medical debt for millions of people across the state. As of today, all of the state’s 99 eligible hospitals have committed to participate in North Carolina’s medical debt relief incentive program.

Governor Cooper and NCDHHS Highlight Importance of Medical Debt Relief for NC

August 7, 2024

PRESS RELEASE — North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and NC Health and Human Services Secretary Kody Kinsley today gave an update at Care Ring in Charlotte on their plan to incentivize hospitals to relieve medical debt for millions of low- and middle-income North Carolinians. Participants spoke about the impact of relieving up to $4 billion in medical debt for people in the state, as well as the program’s potential reach in the Mecklenburg County area.

Governor Cooper Announces NC Medicaid will Cover Oral Contraceptive Opill at Pharmacies Statewide

July 31, 2024

PRESS RELEASE — Today, Governor Roy Cooper joined North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services leadership and a representative from Walgreens for an announcement on Medicaid coverage in Chapel Hill. As part of NCDHHS and the Governor’s continued work to expand access to reproductive health services, NC Medicaid will begin covering over-the-counter contraception in pharmacies across the state. Starting Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, the oral contraceptive Opill will be available through local and retail pharmacies without a prescription, at no cost for NC Medicaid beneficiaries. Opill is the first over-the-counter oral contraception that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

NCDHHS Livestream Spanish-language Cafecito and Tele-Town Hall Get Covered and Get Care: NC Medicaid for More People

August 2, 2024

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live Spanish-language Cafecito and tele-town hall on Tuesday, Aug. 6, from 6 to 7 p.m., to discuss who is newly eligible for Medicaid under expansion, ways to apply, how to access application support in Spanish and which qualified immigration statuses are eligible for health care coverage.

CMS Approves North Carolina’s Medical Debt Relief Incentive Program

July 29, 2024

PRESS RELEASE — Millions of low- and middle- income North Carolinians are one step closer to medical debt relief. The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved on Friday, July 26 Governor Roy Cooper and the NC Department of Health and Human Services’ plan to use the state's Medicaid program to incentivize hospitals to relieve more than a decade of existing medical debt for eligible North Carolinians and prevent accumulation of new debt going forward.

NCDHHS Fireside Chat and Tele-Town Hall: NC Medicaid for More People: Supporting the Health of American Indian Communities

July 29, 2024

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live fireside chat and tele-town hall on Thursday, Aug. 1, from 6 to 7 p.m., to discuss how Medicaid expansion supports the health of American Indian communities.

NCDHHS Awarded $2.5 Million to Expand School-Based Health Services

July 18, 2024

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has been awarded a $2.5 million grant from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to expand school-based health care in North Carolina. The grant will support NCDHHS’ ongoing work to ensure school-aged children and their families have equitable access to health care and behavioral health services readily available in the same places where they learn and grow.

North Carolina Celebrates More Than 500,000 Enrolled in Medicaid Expansion

July 12, 2024

PRESS RELEASE — More than half a million North Carolinians have now enrolled in Medicaid expansion since the program began seven months ago. Beneficiaries are now able get the quality health care they need at low cost. Governor Roy Cooper was joined by North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kody Kinsley, Dr. Karen L. Smith MD, FAAFP, a family physician in Raeford and Verlina Lomick,CHW-IV, Director of Community Outreach & Advocacy for Kintegra Health and health care advocates to celebrate reaching this major milestone, which had originally been projected to take as long as two years.

NCDHHS Releases Statement from State Health Director, Dr. Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson, on Expanding Coverage for Syphilis Testing

July 2, 2024

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services continues to respond to the recent increase in syphilis and congenital syphilis cases with NC Medicaid now covering point of care rapid testing for syphilis and HIV. This new coverage, effective Jan. 1, 2024, allows Medicaid recipients to access rapid testing directly from their Medicaid-enrolled provider.