Press Releases

MEDIA ADVISORY — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Rural Health is excited to join communities nationwide to celebrate the 15th anniversary of National Rural Health Day on Thursday, Nov. 19. National Rural Health Day takes place on the third Thursday every November and recognizes the "Power of Rural" in honoring the ongoing efforts of rural health care providers, communities and organizations.

PRESS RELEASE — The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) awarded North Carolina a total of $216,824,573.30 dollars in continued Rural Health Transformation Program (NCRHTP) funding. This amount includes the initial $100 million CMS awarded all states last month and brings the total amount funded for North Carolina to more than $429 million since April 2026.

MEDIA ADVISORY — Health Care Affordability Commission Co-chair NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai will host a listening session at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte on Nov. 18, 2026. Health care stakeholders, community leaders, faith leaders, providers, patients and members of the public are encouraged to attend to speak about their experiences with rising health care costs and offer their ideas for making care more affordable in North Carolina.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced it will move forward with a streamlined Healthy Opportunities Pilot (HOP) program, following a $9 million investment from the North Carolina General Assembly in the enacted state budget. Combined with federal matching funds, the total investment of approximately $25 million will support a scaled-down version of the program, focused on NC Medicaid members with the greatest needs.

PRESS RELEASE — Governor Josh Stein today announced an $11.3 million expansion of the Child Care WAGE$ salary supplement program over three years to support the early education workforce in counties affected by Hurricane Helene. This targeted funding will support the early education workforce across 39 counties heavily impacted by the hurricane.

PRESS RELEASE — As North Carolinians prepare for holiday gatherings, celebrations and community events, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is encouraging residents consider food safety before purchasing prepared meals or food items, especially from individuals advertising food for sale through Facebook and other social media platforms. From holiday meals and party platters advertised online to food trucks and temporary vendors at seasonal events, knowing where your food comes from and whether it has been prepared safely can help reduce the risk of foodborne illness.

PRESS RELEASE — The NC Department of Health and Human Services today launched a new dashboard sharing all projects that were awarded Rural Health Transformation Program funds in Year 1, along with the counties served, the amounts committed, and brief descriptions of the work. The announcement comes after the U.S. Centers for Medicare

PRESS RELEASE — Today, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services joined partners at the UNC School of Medicine’s (SOM) Department of Pediatrics in celebrating 50 years of the NC Child Medical Evaluation Program (CMEP), a program established in response to the growing need for county child protective services (CPS) agencies to have access to high-quality, expert medical evaluations for children undergoing CPS assessments. Photos from today’s event are available.

MEDIA ADVISORY – The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a virtual webinar to provide updates on the Transitions to Community Living (TCL) program following the U.S. Department of Justice finding NCDHHS in substantial compliance with the TCL settlement agreement.

MEDIA ADVISORY — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live fireside chat and tele-town hall on Thursday, Oct. 29, from 6 to 7 p.m., to discuss how parents and health care providers who work with young people can support youth tobacco cessation.