Press Releases

Several western North Carolina communities were selected for a United States Postal Service pilot program to increase access to COVID-19 tests. People living in zip codes that begin with 287, 288 and 289 can order free, self-swab PCR test kits by visiting ineedacovid19test.com between now and Jan. 15, 2023.

With food prices rising, more North Carolina families with young children are using benefits from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to access healthy, nutritious food.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live fireside chat and tele-town hall on Tuesday, Oct. 18, from 6 to 7 p.m. to discuss updated COVID-19 boosters for children 5 to 11, as well as testing and treatment options and annual flu shots.

Children and teens 5 and older can now receive the updated COVID-19 booster, specifically made to protect against the latest COVID-19 variants. The new booster is becoming available in North Carolina following the Food and Drug Administration’s emergency use authorization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation.

Public health officials with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services see a decrease in flu vaccinations compared to previous years and urge North Carolinians 6 months and older to get their flu shot before the end of October, as flu season in the state typically peaks in the winter.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live Spanish-language Cafecito and tele-town hall on Thursday, Oct. 6, from 7 to 8 p.m. to discuss updated COVID-19 boosters, testing and treatments, as well as the flu and monkeypox vaccines.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is working collectively with more than 100 statewide partners to improve the health of all people of reproductive age, with a focus on infant mortality, maternal health and maternal mortality.

It will now be easier for parents to pay child support payments. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced payments can now be accepted through Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo and PayPal, by credit card or debit card via phone at 1-855-702-2268, as well as by cash or debit card at local Walmart stores.

Eight organizations across the state will now be able to increase their recovery services, supports and accessibility for individuals with substance use disorders.

North Carolina has been awarded a $13.8 million federal grant to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities access inclusive jobs with competitive wages and benefits. As part of the project, three regional sites will provide intensive support and training to increase access to jobs in growing employment sectors — green jobs, essential workers and travel/hospitality.

Health officials from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced the state’s first death this year associated with West Nile virus. To protect the family's privacy, no other information regarding the deceased will be provided.

The Child and Adult Care Food Program helps eligible children and adults access healthy, nutritious food by reimbursing qualified child care programs, adult day programs and other non-residential care programs for meals and snacks served to participants. CACFP is administered federally by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and at the state level by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

To ensure beneficiaries can seamlessly receive care on day one, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will delay the implementation of the NC Medicaid Managed Care Behavioral Health and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Tailored Plans until April 1, 2023.

As North Carolinians begin to feel the impacts, including power outages and flooding, from the remnants of Hurricane Ian, officials from the NC Department of Health and Human Services are urging residents to properly prepare for impacts from the storm.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help prevent the spread of rabies. Starting next week, Wildlife Services will be distributing oral rabies vaccine for wild raccoons in Western North Carolina.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live fireside chat and tele-town hall on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 6-7 p.m., to discuss updated COVID-19 boosters, testing and treatments, as well as the flu and monkeypox vaccines.

Public health officials from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services are encouraging residents and visitors to take precautions to prevent mosquito-borne illness following recent cases of West Nile virus in several parts of the state.

North Carolina’s Medicaid program received a 2022 Medicaid Innovation Award presented by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the National Academy for State Health Policy. The nonpartisan award recognizes states for demonstrating creativity, leadership and progress in their Medicaid programs despite significant public health challenges in recent years.

Suicide is among the top five leading causes of death for people ages 10 to 65 in North Carolina. To address this complex and serious health problem, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today released a coordinated state action plan to reduce injury and death by suicide.

Grant support to boost compensation for North Carolina’s early care and learning teachers and staff will continue through December 2023, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced today.