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| North Carolina Secretary of Health and Human Services | |
|---|---|
| Post | Secretary of Health and Human Services |
| Body | North Carolina |
| Incumbent | ??? |
North Carolina Secretary of Health and Human Services is a state cabinet-level official charged with oversight of public health, social services, and medical programs within Raleigh, North Carolina. The office coordinates statewide efforts involving Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Medicaid administration, and interactions with federal entities such as the Social Security Administration and Food and Drug Administration. The secretary works alongside the Governor of North Carolina, state agencies, county officials, and nonprofit organizations including the American Red Cross, United Way, and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association on policy, emergency response, and program implementation.
The secretary serves as principal advisor to the Governor of North Carolina on health and human services matters, coordinating policy across agencies like the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Medical Assistance, and the Division of Public Health. Duties include administering Medicaid, managing responses to public health incidents such as Hurricane Florence, pandemics like the COVID-19 pandemic, and collaborating with research institutions such as University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University, and Wake Forest University. The office liaises with federal programs like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and the Children's Health Insurance Program while interacting with professional bodies like the American Medical Association, American Nurses Association, and National Association of Social Workers.
The position evolved during the 20th century as states expanded public health systems, influenced by federal initiatives including the Social Security Act (1935), the creation of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965, and subsequent reforms like the Affordable Care Act. North Carolina’s administrative structure has been shaped by state statutes, actions of the North Carolina General Assembly, and executive orders from governors including Jim Hunt, Pat McCrory, and Roy Cooper. Historical public health milestones that affected the office include the response to the 1918 influenza pandemic, the development of state hospitals, and modern crises such as Hurricane Matthew and the Opioid epidemic in the United States.
The secretary is appointed by the Governor of North Carolina and typically serves at the governor’s pleasure, subject to any confirmation or oversight processes by the North Carolina General Assembly or relevant committees such as the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services. Appointment practice connects the office to political figures like Bev Perdue, Pat McCrory, Roy Cooper, and policy stakeholders including advocacy groups like AARP, Families USA, and Kaiser Family Foundation. The term length aligns with gubernatorial administration cycles and can be affected by political transitions, resignations, or legislative changes.
The secretary oversees agencies including the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the Division of Health Service Regulation, the Division of Aging and Adult Services, and the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services. The office coordinates with state institutions such as North Carolina Department of Public Instruction when programs intersect with school health, and with county health departments like Wake County Human Services and Mecklenburg County Health Department. Partnerships extend to federal regional offices like the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, academic partners East Carolina University, and nonprofit providers including Catholic Charities USA and YMCA of the USA.
Major initiatives overseen include Medicaid expansion discussions, behavioral health reform responding to the National Institute of Mental Health guidance, pandemic preparedness in line with World Health Organization recommendations, substance use disorder programs tied to the Drug Enforcement Administration data, and maternal-child health strategies informed by the March of Dimes. Programs incorporate collaborations with Community Care of North Carolina, rural health networks, telehealth efforts paralleling initiatives by Microsoft and Telehealth Association, and immunization campaigns coordinated with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and vaccine manufacturers like Pfizer and Moderna.
Funding flows from state appropriations by the North Carolina General Assembly, federal matching funds from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, grants from the Health Resources and Services Administration, and philanthropy from entities like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The secretary manages budgets for programs including SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid managed care contracts with insurers such as Humana, UnitedHealth Group, and Centene Corporation. Fiscal oversight engages the North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management and auditors like the North Carolina State Auditor.
Notable officeholders have engaged with crises and reforms, working with figures such as Laphonza Butler-style public leaders, policy experts from Kaiser Family Foundation, and academic advisors from Johns Hopkins University and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Secretaries have shaped responses to events like the COVID-19 pandemic in North Carolina, opioid litigation settlements, and long-term care regulation, affecting institutions such as North Carolina State University medical programs and rural hospitals. Their legacies include changes to Medicaid policy, behavioral health systems, and emergency preparedness frameworks aligned with national standards from the Institute of Medicine and National Academy of Medicine.
Category:State cabinet secretaries of North Carolina