Oct. 6, 2023
 
Beginning Dec. 1, 2023, more than 600,000 people in North Carolina will be able to apply for health care coverage through NC Medicaid. To ensure people know about the expanded eligibility for NC Medicaid, NCDHHS launched a new website with a toolkit of resources for organizations to spread the word to their communities.

Medicaid expansion will cover people ages 19 through 64 years with higher incomes, closing the coverage gap for North Carolinians. Medicaid pays for doctor visits, yearly check-ups, emergency care, mental health and more — at little or no cost to participants.

The toolkit includes new English and Spanish language resources to help educate North Carolinians on eligibility and how to apply. Bilingual resources include a new website that features a sign-up form for NC Medicaid updates; a toolkit with flyers, social media content, FAQs, a presentation and other materials to help community leaders spread the word; as well as a step-by-step video on how to apply online through ePass, a secure, self-service online platform.
 
NCDHHS held a tele-town hall on Oct. 5 to discuss how aging adults, particularly those living in rural communities, can support their health and access the care they need. Topics included resources and services for older adults in rural communities, the importance of routine health visits and care, and mental health services.
 
$14.8 Million Grant to Support Mental Health for Children and Families
NCDHHS has received a four-year grant totaling $14.8 million from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to support the mental health of children and families in North Carolina. The grant comes at a time when children and youth are facing an urgent mental health crisis. During the pandemic, the rate of children in North Carolina discharged from an emergency department with a behavioral health condition increased by 70%. In 2021, about one in five North Carolina adolescents seriously considered taking their own lives. The $14.8 million SAMHSA grant enhances the NC System of Care to ensure more children have access to High-Fidelity Wraparound services, which help children and families before, during and after a crisis. The money will be used to bolster the efforts of county departments of social services, the NC Department of Public Safety-Division of Juvenile Justice, local schools and community groups. More information on the NC System of Care can be found on the NCDHHS website.
 
Rabies Vaccination Program Begins to Protect People and Pets 
NCDHHS is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help prevent the spread of rabies. On Oct. 4, Wildlife Services started distributing oral rabies vaccine for wild raccoons in Western North Carolina. Baits containing the oral rabies vaccine will be aerially distributed in Alleghany, Ashe, Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Madison, Macon, Mitchell, Swain, Transylvania, Wilkes and Yancey Counties. The baits consist of a sachet, or plastic packet, containing the oral rabies vaccine. To make the baits attractive to raccoons, the packets are sprinkled with a fishmeal coating or encased inside hard fishmeal–polymer blocks about the size of a matchbox. Anyone who comes in contact with the liquid vaccine should wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water and call the phone number listed on the bait for further instructions and referral. Baiting should be completed by late October. For more information on rabies prevention or the oral rabies vaccine program, call the USDA Wildlife Services toll-free rabies line at 1-866-487-3297 or the NCDHHS Division of Public Health at 919-733-3419.
 
 
Newborn Screening Program Awarded Federal Grant
NCDHHS' Newborn Screening Program has been awarded a $1.7 million federal grant over five years that will support enhancements to the state's newborn screening system. This funding is intended to improve health outcomes for newborns and children with disorders identified through newborn screening and will improve access to treatment and follow-up care for babies born in North Carolina. Each year, more than 200 babies in North Carolina are identified with rare genetic or biochemical disorders through newborn screening, which is done through a blood test performed on samples taken from each newborn infant in North Carolina. Studies have shown the importance of early identification and treatment, which can be lifesaving for the most severe cases. The Newborn Screening Follow-up Program, in partnership with the UNC Division of Genetics & Metabolism, ensures babies identified with abnormal newborn screening results receive follow-up care and referrals to the appropriate medical specialists.
 
 
October is Protect Your Hearing Month
We often see children attending events wearing hearing protection accompanied by their parents wearing none. The truth is that noise-induced hearing loss is a risk factor at any age. October is National Protect Your Hearing Month, which is a great opportunity to raise awareness on how to prevent noise-induced hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss may be immediate or may be gradual over time and go unnoticed. The good thing about noise-induced hearing loss is that it is preventable. Some ways to prevent this type of hearing loss include avoiding noisy places when possible, turning down the volume when watching TV or listening to music, using hearing protection such as earplugs or protective earmuffs, and asking your doctor for a hearing screening and how to protect your hearing. If you have concerns about your hearing, ask your personal healthcare provider about having a comprehensive hearing evaluation. If you have hearing loss and would like to learn more about how NCDHHS' Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing can help, contact one of our regional centers
 
            
You're receiving this email because you subscribed to receive updates from
the NC Department of Health and Human Services