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This week, Gov. Cooper and NCDHHS Secretary Kody H. Kinsley announced all 99 eligible hospitals in North Carolina have signed on to the state's innovative plan to relieve medical debt for millions of people across the state.
The estimated total impact of the medical debt relief incentive program is approximately $4 billion. Nearly 2 million low- and middle-income North Carolinians will have more than a decade of existing medical debt relieved.
By signing on to the plan, hospitals have committed to relieving medical debt dating back to Jan. 1, 2014, for all Medicaid beneficiaries and medical debt deemed uncollectible for all patients whose income is at or below at least 350% of the federal poverty level. Past medical debt that exceeds 5% of a person’s annual income will also be relieved. Patients do not need to take any action to benefit from the program.
The goal is for eligible North Carolinians to begin to see relief for existing medical debt within the next two years. For additional information, visit the updated Frequently Asked Questions page on North Carolina’s efforts to relieve medical debt. |
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Time to Get Children Up-to-Date on Required and Recommended Vaccines
August is Immunization Awareness Month in North Carolina, and as children head back to school this month, NCDHHS reminds families that vaccinations are important to back-to-school success and overall health and well-being. Vaccine-preventable diseases, such as meningitis, measles, pertussis (whooping cough) and others, are still seen across North Carolina. Keeping children up-to-date on vaccinations is the best way to keep them healthy and reduce severe illness and unnecessary absences from school. Children who are uninsured can be vaccinated at low or no cost through the Vaccines for Children program, which offers free vaccines to eligible children through 18 years of age. NCDHHS encourages all parents to talk with their child’s healthcare provider about recommended vaccinations. During that visit, parents can talk with their physicians about the importance of COVID-19 and flu vaccines for children six months and older. Visit the CDC's website for more information about COVID-19 vaccines. See the list of all vaccines required for school attendance from kindergarten through 12th grade. |
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NC Medicaid Managed Care Children and Families Specialty Plan
This week, NCDHHS announced Blue Cross Blue Shield NC was selected to operate the Children and Families Specialty Plan (CFSP); a first-of-its-kind initiative that will wrap Medicaid-enrolled children, youth and their families in the child welfare system with seamless, integrated and coordinated health care. At launch, the CFSP will operate statewide, offering robust care management to approximately 31,000 current and former foster care children and youth who will be enrolled automatically. The CFSP provides comprehensive coverage for all services provided by the Standard Plan in addition to most Tailored Plan services, such as 1915(i) Home and Community-Based Services, enhanced behavioral health and residential services, and much more. The plan is designed to support children in the child welfare system by following the person and working across multiple systems. |
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Inclusion Works Lunch and Learn
Join NCDHHS to learn about best practices to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) on their path to achieving Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) on Aug. 21 from noon to 1 p.m. via Zoom. This month's webinar focus will be Tailored Care Management and Tailored Plan Launch and will feature guest speaker Gwen Sherrod, program manager, Tailored Care Management, NC Medicaid. Each Lunch and Learn will cover a different topic related to the Inclusion Works Initiative, which helps support individuals to find jobs in the community. Previous Lunch and Learn presentations and recordings can be accessed on the Inclusion Works website. |
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$4.5 Million in Grants Available for Community-Based Mental Health Initiatives
This week, NCDHHS' Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services (DMHDDSUS) announced three grant opportunities totaling $4.5 million to support local partners in developing community-based initiatives to improve equitable access to mental health services, expand peer support, and strengthen family and caregiver support services. Eligible organizations who would like to partner with NCDHHS in developing mental health solutions in their communities are encouraged to submit a proposal or application for funding through the Mental Health Block Grant. To learn more, visit the DMHDDSUS grant opportunities page. Investing in community-based services supports NCDHHS’ goal to ensure every North Carolinian has access to the right care, in the right place, at the right time to meet their mental health needs. The department is investing a historic $835 million to transform behavioral health services and build a system where everyone has someone to contact, someone to respond and a safe place for care whenever needed.
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Federal 988 Director Visits NC Call Center in Greenville
NCDHHS Secretary Kinsley and Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services Director Kelly Crosbie hosted the federal 988 Director, Monica Johnson, on a tour of the 988 call center in Greenville. After the call center visit, the group participated in a roundtable discussion in Durham to learn more about and highlight the success of North Carolina’s 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and Peer Warmline. Call, text, or chat the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for yourself or a loved one who may need crisis support 24 hours a day and seven days a week. You will be connected to a skilled crisis counselor who will listen, provide support, and share resources. Anyone who is depressed, going through a hard time, needs to talk, or is thinking about suicide can access crisis services. Suicide prevention resources are available on the NCDHHS website.
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Sustainable Diversion and Reentry Programs Webinar
NCDHHS' Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services is hosting a webinar on Aug. 29 from 9 to 10 a.m. to share information about an upcoming funding opportunity to support capacity building for diversion and re-entry programs, to promote access to treatment and prevent incarceration for individuals with substance use disorders, mental health disorders, intellectual and developmental disabilities and/or traumatic brain injury. This webinar will explore the rationale and vision for improving the lives of North Carolinians through this initiative and provide details on the next steps. You can register for the webinar via Zoom. This webinar was previously scheduled for Aug. 1 and has been rescheduled to Aug. 29. |
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