News

CON court filing criticizes NC health regulators, Duke

A medical imaging company has filed paperwork in North Carolina’s highest court criticizing state regulators and Duke Health for their legal strategy in a certificate-of-need dispute. Duke and the state Department of Health and Human Services challenge the state Court of Appeals’ September 2023 decision to affirm a CON ruling favoring Pinnacle Health Services. Pinnacle needed the CON to operate a magnetic resonance imaging scanner in Wake Forest.

CJ Staff
News

Kinsley objects to latest request in federal suit over NC foster children’s mental health

The head of North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services urges a federal court not to speed up a lawsuit dealing with foster children’s mental health issues. State lawyers filed a motion Friday objecting to a pretrial conference and scheduling order in the case.

CJ Staff
News

Federal government steps into lawsuit dealing with NC foster children’s mental health

The U.S. attorney in Greensboro has signaled interest in a federal lawsuit challenging North Carolina’s treatment of foster children’s mental health. U.S. Attorney Sandra Hairston’s office filed a statement of interest in the case Friday. The statement arrived one month after N.C. Health and Human Services Secretary Kody Kinsley asked a federal judge to dismiss the suit.

CJ Staff
News

CON regime strikes again, rejecting proposed surgery center

There are plenty of places to eat in your town. There is no wait to speak of, either. But the local eateries just aren’t that appetizing. The food really isn’t that good; the service, less than ideal. Hence, when desiring a good meal out, you, and many of your neighbors, usually elect to make the...

Jeff Moore
News

Cooper announces vaccination pressure campaign, no new mask mandate

Gov. Roy Cooper announced on Thursday, July 29, that, although statewide mask mandates will still expire July 30 according to recent guidance, his administration is launching vaccination verification requirements for Cabinet agencies and a general campaign to pressure other government entities and private businesses toward similar vaccination requirements. “This virus is now much more contagious...

Jeff Moore
News

Audit faults DHHS for lack of oversight involving Medicaid money

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services failed to adequately monitor Medicaid money payouts, potentially putting some $12.1 billion at risk, according to an audit report released Monday. State Auditor Beth Wood also found a lack of oversight of several other federal programs administered by DHHS, even as Gov. Roy Cooper lobbies for the...

Andrew Dunn

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News

Two-thirds of North Carolinians worry about side effects of COVID vaccine

Nearly two-thirds of North Carolinians worry about harmful side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine, even as a growing majority say they’ll take it to get back to normal life. A new public opinion survey released by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reported that more than a quarter of North Carolinians say they...

Andrew Dunn
News

After missing the mark on vaccinations, N.C. trying to hone in on target 

After a slow start, North Carolina is ramping up its COVID-19 vaccinations.   Some 9.2% of residents got the first shot of COVID-19 vaccines by Monday, Feb. 8, when 970,162 people had received a first dose, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. Two days earlier, an average 8.6% of COVID-19 tests came...

Julie Havlak
Opinion

Excess deaths during COVID-19 likely include deaths owing to lockdowns and restrictions

North Carolina continues to grapple with COVID-19. During the early days of the pandemic, the state’s strategy was clear. North Carolina, like other states, needed to restrict movements and interactions to reduce the rate of the spread of the virus. No one seriously thought the virus could be stopped, but by “flattening the curve” at...

Donald van der Vaart
News

Health screenings, social distancing on the school calendar for fall 2020

Every North Carolina student, from kindergarteners to post-graduates, will have new health and safety rules to follow this fall.  COVID-19 has complicated the traditional school day for all students, teachers, and faculty. Schools and universities are finalizing plans to provide an education with the infectious disease in mind. The fall reopening plans are as far-reaching...

Lindsay Marchello
News

N.C.’s obsolete death reporting system keeps public in a fog

As death rates spike across the nation, no one knows how many North Carolinians have died since the COVID-19 pandemic struck.  New York City’s deaths from all causes soared 663% for the week ending April 11, while deaths rose 41% across the U.S. That’s compared to the same period in past years.  North Carolina doesn’t...

Julie Havlak
News

State reveals more info about COVID-19 hospital cases, but large gaps remain

North Carolinians know more about COVID-19 hospitalizations than they did a week ago. But data critical to the fight against COVID-19 remain missing from North Carolina’s dashboard, researchers say.  North Carolina’s new dashboard shows a regional picture of hospital capacity and COVID-19 hospitalizations. The state began breaking down COVID-19 hospitalizations by region and bed type...

Julie Havlak
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