MEDIA ADVISORY — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) will host a live Spanish-language Cafecito and tele-town hall on Tuesday, Aug. 25, from 6 to 7 p.m. to discuss how new federal and state laws will impact NC Medicaid, who will lose coverage under these new rules and how to prepare for upcoming changes to the program.
Topics Related to NC Medicaid
PRESS RELEASE — North Carolina’s innovative Healthy Opportunities Pilots (HOP) reduced health care costs by an average of $164 per month for NC Medicaid beneficiaries, according to the results of a study announced today by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The study, conducted by the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina, found the program led to a significant shift in patient care. HOP participants had fewer emergency department visits and hospital stays and more visits with less-expensive outpatient providers like
PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced Melanie Bush as the next Deputy Secretary of Medicaid for the NCDHHS Division of Health Benefits. In this role, Deputy Secretary Bush will continue to provide leadership, strategic direction, operational oversight, and managed care supervision for NC Medicaid, which serves more than 3 million North Carolinians who rely on these critical services. Deputy Secretary Bush’s appointment remains contingent upon confirmation by the North Carolina General Assembly.
Press Release — NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai and NC Attorney General Jeff Jackson will appear in front of the NC General Assembly House Select Committee on Oversight and Reform this morning. The Committee has invited them to share and respond to questions about NC Medicaid’s work to identify and address fraud, waste, and abuse.
READOUT — North Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai, and NCDHHS Deputy Secretary for Opportunity and Well-Being Michael Leighs, traveled to eastern North Carolina this week to meet with leadership and participate in discussions with the Dare County Department of Health and Human Services, Chowan County Department of Social Services (DSS) and ECU Health Chowan Hospital.
PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is recognizing one year of service for Secretary Dev Sangvai. In 2025, Secretary Sangvai worked to advance key priorities including increasing access to and improving affordability of care, investing in whole-person health by prioritizing mental health and supporting North Carolina’s most vulnerable children.
PRESS RELEASE — The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today awarded North Carolina $213 million through the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). These funds will improve health care access for rural North Carolinians. In November, North Carolina submitted its application for these funds with bipartisan support from the state’s congressional delegation. These funds are awarded for 2026, and North Carolina will be eligible for more funding each year for the next five years.
PRESS RELEASE — Today Governor Stein is directing the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) to restore Medicaid reimbursement rates to September 30, 2025, levels. The legislature’s failure to fully fund Medicaid forced cuts to the program in October, and the months-long budget stalemate between the legislative chambers has resulted in a wave of litigation against the state. Recent court orders have now made it untenable to continue with rate reductions.
PRESS RELEASE — Today Governor Stein and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services celebrate two years since the implementation of Medicaid expansion in North Carolina. More than 690,000 newly eligible North Carolinians have gained access to affordable health care through Medicaid expansion, including veterans and workers in child care, construction, hospitality, home health care, and other industries essential to our state’s success.
PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced the launch of the Children and Families Specialty Plan (CFSP), a first of its kind statewide health plan to ensure access to comprehensive physical and mental health services for Medicaid-enrolled children, youth and young adults currently and formerly served by the child welfare system. With approval from and at the direction of the North Carolina General Assembly and in partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC), the CFSP went live on Dec. 1, 2025. The name of the