July 14, 2020
NC DHHS has established the Olmstead Plan Stakeholder Advisory (OPSA) to advise DHHS in the development of a statewide plan that aligns the public service delivery system with “a contemporary vision and associated values”. The Olmstead decision requires that there be a State plan with the intention of encouraging states to make significant system change. …
June 5, 2020
Due to the continued pandemic, certain legal and regulatory changes around long-term care facilities (hospitals, group homes, mental health hospitals, etc.) have been made. It is important to remember that all of these changes are temporary, and are only happening because of COVID-19. The new rules are outlined in Executive Order 139 (https://files.nc.gov/governor/documents/files/EO139-DHHS2.pdf). To summarize,…
NC DHHS recently announced that they have formed the Carolina Community Tracing Collaborative, a new partnership with Community Care of North Carolina and the North Carolina Area Health Education Centers to expand contact tracing. According to the state, “Contact tracing is the process of supporting patients and notifying contacts of exposure in order to stop…
Due to the need for health and human service organizations to focus their available resources on the COVID-19 crisis, NC DHHS has announced the suspension of the start of the Healthy Opportunities Pilot program. A new award date for the Lead Pilot Entities has not been determined. The Healthy Opportunities Pilot Program would utilize Medicaid…
NC Governor Roy Cooper issued Executive Order 143 on June 4th addressing the racial disparities in the spread of COVID-19. The Executive Order notes among other things: “WHEREAS, environmental justice refers to the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation,…
April 27, 2020
Governor Roy Cooper released his $1.4 billion spending proposal for North Carolina to address COVID-19 through July 30, 2020. In the proposal, the Governor recommends using every federal dollar available, starting with the CARES Act funding, before using State dollars. There are similarities in the categories the Governor identifies and the work group recommendations of…
Governor Cooper has extended the stay at home order through May 8th using his Executive Order authority to direct citizens in non-essential positions to stay-at-home and to direct specific government agencies to waive certain requirements and develop policies during the pandemic. Governors have the authority to make such proclamations, particularly in emergencies such as the…
The State, and particularly the Department of Health and Human Services, continues to add to its pool of resources for individuals and organizations to use during the COVID-19 pandemic. To find community resources, including housing, food, health care, mental health and substance use disorder services: Text COVIDNC to 898211 Call 211, access the website or…