A Message from NCTracks on Behalf of NC Medicaid COVID-19 NC Medicaid Update

More COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shots Now Available: The FDA authorized and the CDC now recommends Moderna and Johnson & Johnson booster shots to help strengthen and extend protection against COVID-19. The Moderna booster is recommended for individuals who received their second dose at least six months ago and who are at high risk for severe illness or exposure based on their age, profession, living setting or health conditions. The Johnson & Johnson booster is recommended for individuals ages 18 and older who were vaccinated with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago. Individuals are now able to receive any brand of the COVID-19 vaccine for their booster. Individuals should speak with a doctor, nurse or pharmacist if they have questions. More information about COVID-19 boosters is available on NCDHHS’s website.

 

Financial Incentives for COVID-19 Vaccination Are Effective: A published research letter titled “Guaranteed financial incentives for COVID-19 vaccination: A pilot program in North Carolina, US” by authors from NCDHHS, the Advanced Center for COVID-19 Related Disparities (ACCORD) at NCCU, and the Departments of Biostatistics and of Health Behavior at UNC-Chapel Hill indicated that the $25 Summer Card pilot program operated by NCDHHS was successful in encouraging COVID-19 vaccination. The $25 Summer Card program switched to providing $100 cards after this evaluation was conducted, and data on the $100 Summer Card program are not included in the authors’ review.

 

NCDHHS Signs Health Equity Pledge: NCDHHS joined approximately 40 cross-sector health care organizations committing to using and sharing high-level data about race, ethnicity, language and gender to inform best practices to promote health equity. We are proud to be the first government agency to sign on to the pledge. COVID-19 shed new light on the historical and on-going systemic disparities in the U.S. health care system, many of which were worsened because of the pandemic. Throughout the pandemic, NCDHHS has prioritized data transparency to hold ourselves and our partners accountable to promote equity in our COVID-19 prevention and response efforts. Going forward, the Health Evolution Forum will convene executive leadership and subject matter experts to improve review of health disparities data and drive solutions. 

 

Almost All DSOFH Employees Vaccinated: Nearly all 10,000 employees at state-operated healthcare facilities are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and compliant with a mandatory vaccination requirement. Shortly after North Carolina health systems and leading health care organizations announced the need for mandatory COVID-19 vaccination, DHHS Division of State Operated Healthcare Facilities (DSOHF) established its own mandatory vaccination policy, with Sept. 30 as the deadline. DSOHF implemented a supportive disciplinary process to maximize both employee compliance and retention. 

 

COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard Expansion: North Carolina has been nationally recognized for the quality and transparency of its vaccine data dash board.  NCDHHS has expanded the vaccine data dashboard to provide more statewide demographic data for COVID-19 vaccinations. Users will be able to see vaccination rates by race for age groups and ethnicity for age group. The information will be displayed on a new tab named “Additional NC Demographic Data.” Data comes from North Carolina’s COVID-19 Vaccine Management System and does not currently include information on doses administered by providers not reporting to the state.

 

NC Long Term Care Vaccination Impact: As of last week, more than 80% of long-term care facility residents have been fully vaccinated. As COVID-19 cases surged this summer fueled by the Delta variant, hospitalizations and deaths among residents in North Carolina long-term care facilities were significantly lower than during the winter surge. The decrease in cases and severe illness can be attributed to vaccination for residents and staff of long-term care facilities and to the work done by long-term care providers to implement measures to protect staff and residents from COVID-19.Currently, outbreaks in long-term care facilities are smaller in size, shorter in duration, and have fewer associated deaths compared to any other time during the pandemic. 

 

One Year Anniversary of NC HOPE Program: Over 135,000 families were able to stay safe and warm in their homes during the pandemic thanks to N.C. Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Evictions (HOPE) Program. Throughout the past year, more than a half-billion dollars in pandemic relief funds were awarded to NC landlords and utility companies on behalf of vulnerable families. NC HOPE is still accepting applications from both renters and landlords. Applicants can apply online at HOPE.NC.gov or call 888-9ASK-HOPE.

 

Child Tax Credit Funds: This month many families across NC are receiving an installment of the advance Child Tax Credit federal payment. These funds help those experiencing housing insecurity become more financially stable, making it possible to pay past-due rent, put dinner on the table, or move into safe, affordable housing as they work to recover from the pandemic. Anyone who has a child with a Social Security number in their household can receive the credit, even if the child’s parent or parents who are living in the household do not have a Social Security number. Families can visit GetCTC.org to find out if they are eligible for the payments and sign up to get them.  

 

COVID-19 Impacts Overdoses: While North Carolina saw a decline in unintentional overdose deaths in the years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020 this rate surged forward with nearly three thousand overdose deaths across the state. NCDHHS released a funding opportunity that will increase access to high-quality opioid use disorder treatment for people in the criminal justice system. This program is soliciting applications for the NC Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-Based Program, which will reduce opioid-related deaths, improve access to evidence-based treatment and reduce future criminal justice involvement among the people served by these programs. 

 

Share Information about Monoclonal Antibodies Treatment: While vaccines provide the best protection from COVID-19, treatment options such as monoclonal antibodies are available to those who have had symptoms of COVID-19 for 10 days or less or have been exposed to COVID-19. If taken early, they can reduce the risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death. Help spread the word about this potentially lifesaving treatment by sharing the resources below with your networks. 

More information and FAQs: covid19.ncdhhs.gov/treatment

Updated Guidance: