NC DHHS

State officials outline next steps to spending federal funds to improve care in rural communities as lawmakers raise concerns about equity.

The state reported 63 additional flu deaths this week, bringing the season's total to 134 deaths. That's much higher than last year at this point.

Once sustained on shoestring budgets, peer-run mental health spaces are expanding across North Carolina as state and local leaders invest in programs led by people with lived experience.

Gov. Josh Stein is at odds with legislative Republicans over what he says is a $319 million shortfall for Medicaid.

Parents of 22 children who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder said cutting reimbursement rates for the therapies discriminates against their children.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will offer 50% of typical benefits in November using a reserve fund. North Carolina was one of the states that sued to require it to use that money amid federal shutdown.

The federal program provides food, formula and support to about 262,000 people in North Carolina.

More than 1.4 million NC residents rely on food assistance monthly, state leaders and market advocates warn of rising pressure if federal cuts take hold.

A motion to have states require a prescription for COVID-19 vaccines failed at a CDC panel meeting Friday. Seniors and adults with underlying conditions can still obtain a vaccine without a prescription at local pharmacies in North Carolina. However, CDC advisers now recommend that individuals talk with a doctor before getting the vaccine – a move that could discourage some from receiving it.

A dangerous incident involving at least a dozen patients and employees at Raleigh’s Holly Hill Hospital late last year has reignited scrutiny of the for-profit psychiatric facility, which has a yearslong history of safety violations.