North Carolina DHHS News

NC Officials Testify Before Legislature on Medicaid Fraud Prevention

NCDHHS Secretary Dev Sangvai and Attorney General Jeff Jackson testified before the NC General Assembly House Select Committee on Oversight and Reform on April 16, 2026, regarding Medicaid fraud prevention efforts. NC Medicaid covers over 3 million North Carolinians (1 in 4 residents) with a 0.46% eligibility error rate. In 2025, the program reported 158 credible allegations of member fraud and 228 credible allegations of provider fraud among 114,454 enrolled providers. The Attorney General's Medicaid Investigations Division has recovered over $1.2 billion in restitution and penalties for North Carolina.

Governor Stein Recognizes Black Maternal Health Week, Highlights Maternal Health Disparities

Governor Josh Stein joined Senator Natalie Murdock and the North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus to recognize Black Maternal Health Week and raise awareness of racial disparities in maternal health outcomes. According to NCDHHS, Black women in North Carolina are nearly twice as likely as white women to die from pregnancy complications, with 57% of pregnancy-related deaths occurring during pregnancy or within six weeks postpartum and nearly 80% deemed preventable. The Governor highlighted budget investments including $319 million for Medicaid and $213 million through the Rural Health Transformation Program to improve maternal care access.

Robeson County Behavioral Health Urgent Care Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

North Carolina DHHS announces a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new Behavioral Health Urgent Care facility in Robeson County on April 17, 2026. NCDHHS provided $2.2 million in funding as part of a historic mental health investment from the North Carolina General Assembly. This is the eighth of a planned 13 new or expanded BHUCs to open statewide.

NC Injury Data User Toolkit Launch, Virtual Session Apr 15

NCDHHS announced the launch of the North Carolina Injury Data User Toolkit, a new resource from the Injury and Violence Prevention Branch. The toolkit provides data briefs, resource inventory, and educational content on overdose deaths, firearm deaths, and suicide deaths. A virtual media availability is scheduled for April 15, 2026 at 11 a.m.

NC invests $5.7M in substance use services for underserved areas

NCDHHS announced $5.7 million in federal block grant funding to 12 community-based organizations to expand substance use disorder services in underserved North Carolina communities. Awards range from $287,000 to $500,000 per recipient with potential renewal for up to two additional years based on federal fund availability.

Maggie Woods appointed NC Rural Health Director

NCDHHS announced Maggie Woods as the new Rural Health Transformation Program Director to lead North Carolina's $213 million federal initiative supporting rural healthcare delivery. The program will support over 400 rural health facilities across the state serving more than 3.5 million rural residents, addressing workforce shortages, hospital sustainability, and access gaps in mental health and primary care.

Oral Rabies Vaccination Program Resuming for Western NC Raccoons

NCDHHS and USDA Wildlife Services are resuming the oral rabies vaccination program for wild raccoons in western North Carolina. The program was postponed from October 2025 due to the federal government shutdown. Bait distribution runs April 8-25, 2026, covering 16 western NC counties to prevent raccoon rabies from spreading west of the Appalachian Mountains.

Governor Stein Proclaims April Child Abuse Prevention Month

NCDHHS and Positive Childhood Alliance NC recognize April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month following Governor Josh Stein's proclamation. The campaign theme 'Positive Childhoods Start With Us' emphasizes community responsibility to support families. According to the CDC, at least one in seven children in the US experienced abuse or neglect in the past year.

NCDHHS Secretary Visits Eastern North Carolina

North Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai visited eastern North Carolina to discuss Medicaid, SNAP, and the Rural Health Transformation Program. Discussions included the impacts of federal legislation H.R. 1 on the state's Medicaid program, particularly expanded work requirements and eligibility redeterminations.

North Carolina Child Abuse Prevention Month Event

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and Positive Childhood Alliance NC are hosting a free community event on April 1, 2026, to recognize Child Abuse Prevention Month. Governor Josh Stein has proclaimed April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in North Carolina, with the campaign theme 'Positive Childhoods Start With Us.'

NC Announces $1.5M Expansion of Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion Programs

Governor Josh Stein announced a $1.5 million expansion of North Carolina's Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) programs. This initiative will provide funding to six additional law enforcement agencies to connect individuals with substance use issues to treatment and support services, aiming to reduce repeat crime and improve public safety.

NCDHHS and PRN Groundbreaking for New Respite Center

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) announced a groundbreaking event for a new respite center in Cabarrus County, funded with nearly $1 million from NCDHHS. The center, operated by Promise Resource Network (PRN), will provide a peaceful space for residents to manage their mental health.

North Carolina Updates Mental Health Bed Registry to Reduce Wait Times

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has updated its statewide mental health bed registry, BH SCAN, to hourly updates and integrated it with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. These changes aim to reduce wait times for individuals seeking mental health crisis care.

Youth Mental Health Care Partnership for Justice-Involved Youth

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, in partnership with other state agencies and private organizations, is launching a $3.5 million pilot program to improve mental health care for young people involved in the justice system. The initiative will fund a new mental health program at the Dillon Juvenile Detention Center.

NC DHHS Launches Mobile Crisis Dispatch Program

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced a new $1.5 million pilot program, Mobile Crisis Dispatch (MC Dispatch), to improve mental health crisis response. This initiative aims to streamline dispatch processes and expedite mobile crisis team responses to individuals in need, aligning with the Governor's executive order.

NC Health and Human Services Partners with UNC System to Address Social Worker Shortage

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has partnered with the UNC System and the Social Work Coalition on NC Workforce Development to address a reported shortage of social workers in the state. The initiative, launched with a kickoff event on March 2, 2026, aims to strengthen the social work pipeline through programs targeting students from high school to university.

NCDHHS and UNC Host Public Service Leadership Program Kickoff

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and the University of North Carolina System are hosting a kickoff event for a new Public Service Leadership Program. This initiative aims to address the shortage of social workers in North Carolina by increasing awareness and equipping students with necessary skills.