Press Releases

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is moving forward with Medicaid expansion and announcing the anticipated start date of Oct. 1, 2023. This announcement is part of a compromise agreement NCDHHS obtained from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that will allow the department to move forward with the required public notices for beneficiaries, counties and providers while still awaiting authority from the NC General Assembly.

On July 16, 2023, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services celebrated the one-year anniversary of 988, the three-digit suicide and crisis lifeline. 988 connects North Carolinians via call, chat or text to a trained counselor who will listen, offer support and provide community resources 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services' Radon Program is offering 12 free, four-hour classes for licensed real estate brokers so they can ensure their clients understand the importance of radon testing of the homes or other buildings they may purchase.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is recommending limits on consumption of certain freshwater fish from the middle and lower Cape Fear River based on concerns about exposure to perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) found in fish sampled from that area.

As part of the ongoing focus on behavioral health and resilience, changes promoted by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services are improving health and saving lives among people in the state with mental health conditions and/or substance use disorders. New state level data is showing the lowest rate of tobacco use in more than a decade for people in North Carolina who struggle with their mental health or heavy drinking.

The Department of Health and Human Services is delaying implementation of the Behavioral Health and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Tailored Plans. Tailored Plan launch was scheduled for Oct. 1, 2023, but will now go forward at a date still to be determined.

Access to nutritious food is foundational for overall health and well-being. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services offers several programs to support individuals’ access to healthy food, including Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Changes are coming to these two programs due to the end of the federal public health emergency on May 11, 2023.

As summer activities heat up and North Carolinians flock to recreational waters to beat the higher temperatures, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is urging residents to prioritize safety and adopt best practices for enjoying water activities with their pets. When swimming in lakes and rivers, it is crucial to ensure the well-being of both humans and their pets.

This year marks the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was signed into law on July 26, 1990, to ensure people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. During two Accessibility for All events, the state of North Carolina will honor the passage of this landmark civil rights law by highlighting how assistive technology helps the more than 1.3 million North Carolinians who have a disability gain access to these rights and opportunities, independent living and economic self-sufficiency.

Public health officials with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services are advising North Carolinians take precautions to protect themselves, their children and their pets from heat-related illness as temperatures across the state rise and remain high throughout the summer.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live Cafecito and Spanish-language tele-town hall on Thursday, June 8, from 6 to 7 p.m., to discuss the importance of talking about health for men and the LGBTQ+ community and provide resources and guidance to support health and well-being.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Public Health is proud to announce its accreditation from the prestigious Public Health Accreditation Board. This achievement recognizes DPH's commitment to meeting the highest standards of public health practice and demonstrates its dedication to improving the health and well-being of the residents of North Carolina.

With summer just around the corner, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services encourages the use of safe swimming and grilling practices to minimize the risk of illness, injury and death.

The North Carolina Sickle Cell Syndrome Program within the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services celebrates its 50th anniversary with an event Tuesday, May 23, 2023, at 6 p.m. at the NC Museum of Art – West Building, 2110 Blue Ridge Road in Raleigh.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is launching the Take Pride Now campaign to encourage sexual health. This campaign promotes safer sex practices, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs) prevention, testing and treatment.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration finalized its recommendations to expand eligibility for blood donation to include gender-inclusive, individual risk-based questions to reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted HIV.

The U.S. public health emergency that was declared to respond to COVID-19 ends today. North Carolina will continue to distribute the federally funded COVID-19 vaccines and tests for free to individuals who are uninsured while supplies last.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live fireside chat and tele-town hall on Tuesday, May 9, from 6 to 7 p.m., to discuss maternal health in North Carolina and provide guidance and resources to support well-being before, during and after pregnancy.

The Pender Emergency Medical Services team of McKenzie Shipp and Owen Feest claimed top honors at the 31st Annual Paramedic Competition held this week in Greensboro, earning the title for the first time in the county’s history.

As temperatures begin rising, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Aging and Adult Services is partnering with the N.C. Area Agencies on Aging and local service providers to distribute fans to eligible recipients through Operation Fan Heat Relief May 1–Oct. 31to help older adults at risk stay safe this summer.