Press Releases

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. 

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 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.

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.

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.

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, 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.

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. 

Health officials with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services are encouraging North Carolina residents to protect themselves, their families and other people around them by getting vaccinated against Influenza as the state enters flu season.

Open enrollment for Medicaid Managed Care begins statewide today. Most people who receive Medicaid can choose a health plan and primary care provider to deliver their Medicaid services as part of the state’s transformation to managed care. Today’s announcement expands open enrollment from the initial 27 counties that launched mid-July to all 100 counties and an additional 860,000 people. Open enrollment ends for everyone on Dec. 13, 2019, and coverage is scheduled to begin Feb. 1, 2020.

Officials with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Public Health today released an interim report and FAQ related to the investigation into the Legionnaire’s disease outbreak associated with the NC Mountain State Fair.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has expanded the regions awarded to Carolina Complete Health Inc. to serve as a prepaid health plan under the state's transition to Medicaid managed care. In addition to serving regions 3 and 5 in the state, the provider-led health plan will also serve region 4.

A team from Mecklenburg Emergency Medical Services Agency took top honors in the 29th Annual Paramedic Competition, held Sunday in Greensboro during the North Carolina EMS Expo, a conference that brings together North Carolina paramedics, emergency medical technicians and county emergency services directors.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is encouraging all North Carolinians to make sure they are up to date on their vaccines in light of recent mumps cases at two Triad area universities.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced that over 200,000 people impacted by Hurricane Florence have been served through the Hope 4 NC behavioral health crisis counseling program since September 2018.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has received federal funding that will support a key goal of the state's Early Childhood Action Plan and the Perinatal Health Strategic Plan, reducing maternal mortality. A total of $10 million was awarded through the State Maternal Health Innovation Program from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration.

The NC Office of Rural Health (ORH) has received a one-time $1 million grant from Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust to support health care providers in 34 FEMA-identified counties affected by Hurricane Florence.

State health officials are encouraging residents and visitors to take precautions to prevent mosquito-borne illnesses this fall.

Last year the NC Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS) helped more than 5,000 individuals with disabilities find competitive, integrated employment.