Press Releases

State Health Officials Report First Pediatric Flu Death of 2019–20 Season

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is reporting the first influenza-associated pediatric death for the 2019–2020 flu season. A child in the western part of the state died in December from complications associated with influenza infection.

Statement from NCDHHS on Preliminary OCME Findings after Recent Infant Deaths in Durham

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) typically does not release individual autopsy reports and information prior to the completion of the case. However, given the public health concerns surrounding the Durham Housing Authority’s McDougald Terrace location, DHHS is sharing information about the carbon monoxide laboratory results today related to three infant deaths in Durham County.

North Carolina Awarded $56 Million to Promote Children’s Well-being and Early Learning

Governor Roy Cooper announced today that North Carolina will receive $56 million in federal funding over the next seven years to support children’s health and well-being, improve access to high-quality early learning for families across the state and invest in the state’s early childhood workforce.

Open Enrollment Extension Until 3 a.m. on December 18

On Monday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that the HealthCare.gov 2020 enrollment period reopened and North Carolinians now have until 3 a.m. on Dec. 18 to sign up for health insurance coverage.

Last Week for Open Enrollment for Federal Health Care Marketplace

Governor Roy Cooper today reminded North Carolinians who need health insurance or need to re-enroll or change plans for 2020 coverage to sign up before the December 15 deadline. Many people who get their insurance through the federal Health Insurance Marketplace get help paying for their premiums and may also be able to get help with copayments and deductibles.

Applications for Low-Income Energy Assistance Program Accepted Starting Monday

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will begin accepting applications through county social services departments for the state's Low-Income Energy Assistance Program on Monday, Dec. 2, 2019.

Governor Cooper Announces $6.5 Million in Grants for Partnerships to Combat Opioid Epidemic

A new federal grant will help North Carolina partner with local justice systems — including local law enforcement, courts and others — to prevent opioid overdoses and connect people to treatment. Governor Roy Cooper announced today that the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services was awarded $6.5 million over the next three years by the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance.

Legislators Adjourn Without Taking Actions Required for Medicaid Managed Care; DHHS Suspends Implementation of Managed Care

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced that because the NC General Assembly did not take needed action, managed care implementation and open enrollment for NC Medicaid must be suspended. The General Assembly adjourned last week without providing required new spending and program authority for the transition to managed care. Managed care will not go live on Feb. 1, 2020.

Disaster Preparedness Funding to Rural Health Care Providers Better Prepare for Disasters

Governor Roy Cooper announced today that the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Office of Rural Health (ORH) has awarded 23 grants for disaster preparedness to health care providers affected by Hurricane Florence.

Early Childhood Data Available for all NC Counties

The NC Department of Health and Human Services has released county data for the 10 goals and more than 50 measures that are part of the state's Early Childhood Action Plan. These new data reports are available for all 100 counties and cover issues such as infant mortality, food and housing security, emergency room visits, child health, foster care, early learning and early literacy.

NC Continues Work to Assist People Living with Mental Illness to Find Housing, Services

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services submitted an annual report to the legislature on Nov. 1 highlighting significant progress in the Transition to Community Living Initiative (TCLI) to assist people with mental illness find housing and services in the community.

NC Public Health and Emergency Management Officials Conducting Ebola Drill

Officials from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the NC Department of Public Safety will be participating with federal, state and local officials in a multi-state Ebola virus disease emergency preparedness exercise Nov. 4–8, 2019.

Lung Injury Cases Related to Vaping Increase; E-cigarette Use on the Rise

The number of North Carolina cases of severe lung injury associated with e-cigarette use or vaping continues to rise with 61 cases in people ranging in age from 13 to 72. The North Carolina cases are among a rising outbreak reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of 1,604 cases and 34 deaths in the United States and the US Virgin Islands as of Oct. 22. The acute lung injury cases have occurred in the context of a rapid rise of e-cigarette use by young people.

Black Mountain Neuro-Medical Center Named Best Nursing Home in North Carolina

Black Mountain Neuro-Medical Treatment Center, operated by the NC Department of Health and Human Services, was named the best nursing home in North Carolina by a new, national ranking recently compiled by Newsweek. Out of thousands of senior care organizations in the United States, 406 locations earned this distinction.

Back@Home NC Serves 1,000th Person

Back@Home North Carolina, the first statewide disaster rapid rehousing program, has housed over 1,000 people displaced by Hurricane Florence.

State Health Officials Announce First Flu-Related Death of 2019-20 Season

Officials with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Public Health today announced the first reported flu-related death of the 2019-20 flu season, which occurred the first week of October and involved an adult in the central part of the state. To protect the privacy of the family, the person's hometown, county, age and gender will not be released.

NC’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program Saving Lives

As October is observed as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in North Carolina, the NC Department of Health and Human Services Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program (NC BCCCP) announced that it has screened more than 89,000 women from 2013 through 2018.

North Carolina’s Infant Death Rate Reaches Record Low

Governor Roy Cooper today noted that North Carolina's infant deaths in 2018 reached their lowest rate in the 31 years they have been tracked, decreasing for a third straight year to 6.8 deaths per 1,000 live births down 4.2 percent from the previous year's rate of 7.1 per 1000 live births.

NCCARE360 Announces 1,000th Referral

NCCARE360, the state’s first coordinated care network that knits together health care, human services and community-based organizations to deliver person-centered care, is proud to announce its 1,000th referral.

New Case of Legionnaires’ Disease Reported

Public health officials are reporting a case of Legionnaires' disease in a person who did not attend the Mountain State Fair but was present at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center (WNC Ag Center) after the fair ended.