Press Releases

Statement from NCDHHS on Medicaid Managed Care Ruling

The NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is pleased to announce that once again court rulings affirm the integrity and fairness of the Departments' managed care procurement process.

NCDHHS Adds Testing Turnaround Times to COVID-19 Dashboard

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has added new data to the COVID-19 Data Dashboard – average turnaround time for COVID-19 testing. Located on the Testing page, the graph shows the average daily turnaround time based on data from all laboratories that report electronically to NCDHHS.

New NCDHHS Toolkit to Help Community Organizations Host COVID-19 Testing Events

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) today released a Partner COVID-19 Testing Toolkit designed for organizations seeking to host community testing events.

NCDHHS Announces COVID-19 Support Services Program for Individuals in Isolation or Quarantine

NCDHHS awarded four contracts to regional organizations to administer its new COVID-19 Support Services program. The program will support North Carolinians in 20 targeted counties who are asked to isolate or quarantine due to COVID-19 and need assistance such as food, relief payments, or access to primary medical care.

NCDHHS Launches “¡Recuerda las 3Ms!” Campaign to Increase Awareness of Preventative Measures to Slow the Spread of COVID-19

Today, the "¡Recuerda las 3Ms!” (Know your 3Ms) campaign is being launched by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) as part of a larger public outreach campaign designed to reach historically marginalized populations disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

NCDHHS Updates COVID-19 Guidance for Colleges and Universities

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services updated guidance for institutions of higher education, further emphasizing that colleges and universities must work to reduce risk of viral spread of COVID-19 both on and off campus.

NCDHHS Sends Additional COVID-19 Testing Capacity to Counties

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced its selection of an additional vendor — StarMed Urgent and Family Care, P.A. — based in North Carolina, to continue surging COVID-19 testing capacity in the state.

NCDHHS Encourages WIC Participants to Use Food Benefits During COVID-19

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is encouraging North Carolinians who are enrolled in the federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to use their food benefits during COVID-19 to support good nutrition for their families. All WIC participants are getting monthly food benefits automatically added to their eWIC account because of the pandemic.

NCDHHS Corrects COVID-19 Testing Totals After Identifying LabCorp Reporting Discrepancy; No Impact to Key Metrics

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced corrections to the state’s daily and cumulative completed COVID-19 test counts after discovering a discrepancy between electronic and manual reporting of testing data that had been submitted by LabCorp.

Executive Order Extends School Immunization, Health Assessment Deadlines in Response to COVID-19 Access Disruptions

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper issued Executive Order 156 extending, but not waiving, proof-of-immunization and health assessment documentation deadlines for school and child-care facilities.

North Carolina Offers Expedited Funding to Increase Community Non-Congregate Shelter Options During COVID-19

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced a new, expedited reimbursement program that aims to expand non-congregate sheltering options in communities across the state.

North Carolina Has First Reported SARS-CoV-2 Positive Case in Dog

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has received its first reported case of a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 positive dog in North Carolina. SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes COVID-19 in humans. 
 

NCDHHS Selects Vendors to Supervise 250+ New Community Health Workers in 50 Counties with COVID-19 Hot Spots

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) today announced its selection of seven vendors to hire and manage over 250 Community Health Workers, who will be deployed in 50 targeted counties to connect North Carolinians affected by COVID-19 with needed services and support.

NCDHHS to Pay for Ongoing Testing of Nursing Home Staff; Codifies Requirement for Biweekly Nursing Home Staff Testing

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) today took additional steps to protect nursing home residents and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic by issuing a Secretarial Order requiring biweekly staff testing and announcing continued state funding for staff testing through November. The order mandates the existing recommendation for biweekly testing.

NCDHHS COVID-19 Community Testing Events Continue; No Cost for Testing

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has 38 upcoming community testing events.

COVID-19 Hospitalization Data Correction

As part of ongoing quality control measures, NCDHHS identified an error in our hospitalization data for the Metrolina Healthcare Preparedness Coalition (MHPC) for July 25 through July 31. This data has been corrected.

NCDHHS Announces Annual Participation in USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Nutrition Services Branch announces its annual participation in the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), ensuring children and adults continue to have access to good nutrition. NCDHHS is committed to providing nutritious food especially in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and USDA flexibilities are in place to facilitate meeting participants’ needs during this challenging time.

Heat Illness-Related Emergency Department Visits Rise with High Temperatures in NC

According to the North Carolina Division of Public Health (DPH), there have been 1,205 heat-related hospital emergency department visits reported since May 1, 2020. The NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is encouraging people to take precautions to avoid heat exhaustion and other heat-related illnesses, especially on hot days. 

New Immunization Rule to Protect Students from Meningitis Takes Effect in 2020-21 School Year

Effective Aug. 1, 2020, a booster dose of meningococcal conjugant vaccine (MenACWY) is required for students entering the 12th grade in public, private or religious schools in North Carolina. Students who do not meet this requirement may not be allowed to attend school until they receive the booster dose.

Funding Available to Help North Carolinians with Energy Bills During Hot Summer Months

Funding is now available to help North Carolinians in crisis pay cooling or heating bills or secure cooling or heating resources.