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NCDHHS is celebrating an unprecedented $835 million investment in behavioral health within the state budget, which will make it possible for more North Carolinians to receive care when and where they need it.
"Thanks to the leadership of Gov. Cooper and the General Assembly, we’ve secured one of the largest investments in behavioral health in more than a generation," said NCDHHS Secretary Kody H. Kinsley. "This is a monumental step forward for the people of North Carolina and will assure we better meet their behavioral health needs."
The largest of the legislative investments will go toward increasing the Medicaid reimbursement rates for behavioral health services — the first such increase in a decade. Increasing these rates will strengthen the workforce and increase access to care in the appropriate settings. It will also make Medicaid expansion more impactful for the estimated 600,000 people who will gain access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment.
Other key areas funded include services for people experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, services to help people with behavioral health conditions avoid incarceration and services for children with complex needs, which will support families.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis right now, help is available. Call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. People who speak Spanish can now connect directly to Spanish-speaking crisis counselors by calling 988 and pressing option 2, texting “AYUDA” to 988, or chatting online at 988lineadevida.org or 988Lifeline.org. |
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NC Receives Federal Approval to Launch Medicaid Expansion Dec. 1
Yesterday, Oct. 12, NCDHHS received final federal approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to launch Medicaid Expansion on Dec. 1, 2023. CMS’ approval of the North Carolina State Plan Amendment is a required step forward in implementing expansion to give more than 600,000 new people in North Carolina health care coverage. NCDHHS began the federal authorities process in August and has been working closely with federal partners as timing has adjusted, so the department could be ready to go as soon as possible. When a state makes a change to its Medicaid program, it must send plan amendments to CMS for review and approval. This process assures that a state is following federal rules in order to use federal funds. This state plan amendment will allow North Carolina to provide Medicaid coverage to people eligible through expansion. For more information 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.
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NCDHHS Recognizes Disability Employment Awareness Month
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), and NCDHHS is committed to raising awareness of the contributions made by employees with disabilities through its continued focus on building a strong and inclusive workforce. The purpose of NDEAM is to educate employers and the public about disability employment issues and to honor the contributions, skills and talents of America's workers with disabilities. Annually, North Carolina’s vocational rehabilitation programs serve more than 25,000 clients, including those with physical, sensory, intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as behavioral health and substance use disorders, helping them to overcome disability-related barriers to successful employment. The newly launched Inclusion Works initiative is a key component of the ongoing efforts NCDHHS is making to enhance its services for people with disabilities. During NDEAM, NCDHHS celebrates NC's disability-inclusive employers, as they work to enhance their workforce by hiring people with disabilities. |
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Side-by-Side Webinar with Division of MH/DD/SUS
Join staff from NCDHHS' Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services (MH/DD/SUS) on Oct. 23 at 2 p.m. to learn more about policies and programs that affect the Mental Health, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Substance Use Services, and Traumatic Brain Injury community. The goal of these monthly webinars is to bring everyone together in one (virtual) place to share ideas for public policy that will improve the lives of North Carolinians. This group includes consumers, families, advisory groups, LME/MCOs, community members and partner organizations. Register for the meeting and see a flyer (Spanish) for more information. |
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NCDHHS to Lead Annual NC Crunch Event
In celebration of NC Farm to School and Early Care and Education Month, NCDHHS leaders will join the annual NC Crunch event on Oct. 18 at 2:30 p.m. The event will be held at A Safe Place Child Enrichment Center, 1216 Cross Link Road in Raleigh. NC Crunch recognizes the importance of healthy eating habits in supporting child and family well-being, while promoting North Carolina agriculture, by crunching into locally grown fruits and vegetables. According to the CDC, one in two North Carolina children ages 1-5 do not eat a daily vegetable and one in three do not eat a daily fruit. Farm-to-early care education is shown to increase children’s consumption of fruits and vegetables to one daily serving. The NC Crunch initiative is a fun and healthy way for children, teens and adults to sample locally-grown produce while thanking the professionals who contribute to growing and nourishing communities. Susan Osborne, NCDHHS' Deputy Secretary of Opportunity and Well-Being, and Dr. Kim Mcdonald, Section Chief for the Chronic Disease and Injury Section in NCDHHS' Division of Public Health, will participate in the event. |
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Assistive Technology Event Helps People with Disabilities
NCDHHS hosted an in-person and virtual Assistive Technology (AT) Expo for the first time in three years on Oct. 5 at the McKimmon Conference and Training Center in Raleigh. In that time there’s been a boom in technological innovations designed to assist people with disabilities in their daily activities, communication and recreation. The event, “A Day in the Life with AT,” drew in 349 people in person who were able to attend the day’s speaker series and stroll through the vendor hall, where they had the opportunity to try out some of the latest advancements in assistive technology. More than 200 people attended virtually. This year’s vendors included a host of organizations and companies touting the latest innovations and programs for people with disabilities, from electronic communication devices and mobility devices to athletic programs, such as wheelchair basketball, sled hockey and adaptive rock climbing. Read a newsletter article to find out more about this year's vendors and how they are helping to promote independence for people with disabilities through access to technology.
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Inclusion Works Lunch and Learn
Don't miss a Lunch and Learn about supporting people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Traumatic Brain Injury to gain Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) on Oct. 18 from noon to 1 p.m. This month’s agenda topic is Benefit Counseling. You can register here. Learn more about Inclusion Works on the NCDHHS website.
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