The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today released an analysis of four categories of birth defects in Bladen, Brunswick, Cumberland, New Hanover and Pender counties from 2003-2014 using data from the North Carolina Birth Defects Monitoring Program. The analysis was done to address concerns raised during the state’s ongoing investigation into GenX and other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also referred to as PFAS.
Press Releases
North Carolina’s infant mortality rate decreased to 7.1 deaths per 1,000 births, compared with a 2016 rate of 7.2 and a 2015 rate of 7.3, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services' 2017 infant mortality rates. While the racial disparity between birth outcomes for white infants and African-American infants remains unacceptably high, there was a reduction in the gap in birth outcomes.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed the first death related to an ongoing outbreak of hepatitis A affecting parts of North Carolina. The death occurred in October. To protect the privacy of the family, additional details about the case are not being released.
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 2018-19 flu season, which occurred last week 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.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today released a draft of the state’s Early Childhood Action Plan, following Governor Roy Cooper’s Executive Order in August directing DHHS to spearhead the development of a statewide early childhood plan. The public is encouraged to review and comment on the draft plan by Nov. 30.
Twenty-two local health departments in North Carolina will receive a share of $1.8 million to implement high-impact, community-level strategies to address the opioid crisis based on the NC Opioid Action Plan.
Starting Thursday, residents of Chatham, Durham and Guilford counties impacted by Hurricane Florence will be able to apply for help buying food through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or “D-SNAP.”
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has secured more than $8.5 million in new federal and state funding to support the ongoing behavioral health needs of those impacted by Hurricane Florence. The funds will help make recovery possible for those in the state's disaster declared counties.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is reminding North Carolinians that more than $30 million in funds are available for families who need emergency help heating their homes through the Crisis Intervention Program.
North Carolina today received federal approval to implement the transition to Medicaid managed care and integrate physical health, behavioral health and pharmacy benefits. Receiving approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the amended 1115 Demonstration Waiver application submitted by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services in 2017 is a major milestone in implementing North Carolina’s Medicaid Transformation and in moving the state’s health care system toward further integration and coordination.