Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Health topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Duplin County health department reports rising respiratory tests, vaccine plans and Medicaid funding concerns
Summary
Dr. Kenege, representing the Duplin County Health Department, reported a rise in respiratory illness indicators, planned vaccines for the 2025–26 season, a back-to-school immunization event tally, new insurer network enrollments and potential Medicaid reimbursement cuts tied to a state budget shortfall.
Dr. Kenege, speaking for the Duplin County Health Department, told the Consolidated Human Services Board that regional respiratory virology surveillance has shown COVID-19 positivity approaching 20 percent in Eastern North Carolina and that weekly increases have been observed since mid-July. "Currently, we do not have any more at home test kits," Kenege said, adding that testing remains available through office visits and employee-wellness programs.
Kenege said COVID-19 and seasonal flu vaccines for the 2025–26 season have been ordered for the county: COVID vaccine doses are available for the department's Medicaid population through the state's inventory, and flu vaccine orders were placed for both state-supplied and private-pay patients with vaccinations expected to begin in September. He also summarized the department’s August 14 back-to-school immunization event: 173 children registered and were reviewed for immunizations; 63 children were vaccinated with a total of 136 doses administered. He noted that last year 184 students participated and that the lower turnout this year was attributed in part to insurer network issues affecting Aetna-covered patients.
Kenege reported administrative and financial items on the commissioners’ agenda. He said the department will present a bad-debt write-off through July 31, 2022, totaling $7,382.30. He also reported county appropriations figures and additional grant awards: an approximately $9,736 increase to WIC funding because of higher participation, and a $60,000 Trillium Integrated Care grant for behavioral-health services for uninsured and underinsured residents.
On Medicaid funding, Kenege said the North Carolina General Assembly passed a mini-budget that left an operational gap estimated at $319 million and that the department is anticipating about an $115,000 reduction tied to primary-care and family-planning fee changes, approximately an 8 percent cut in primary-care Medicaid fees. Kenege said the General Assembly will reconvene later in September and that projections could change.
Kenege also described ongoing audits (100% on the reviewed CDC/STD cases) and accreditation preparations, and he said an opioid-settlement regional stakeholder review is under way. He noted staffing vacancies and upcoming retirements that will require recruitment.
