Dr. Kenege, a representative of the county health department, told the Consolidated Human Services Board the region's respiratory virus surveillance has shown increasing COVID activity and that "COVID numbers are pushing close to 20 percent through Eastern North Carolina" with an upward trend since mid-July. "Currently, we do not have any more at home test kits," he said, adding that testing is available through office visits and employee wellness services.
The health department reported it held a back-to-school immunization and resource event on Aug. 14 that registered 173 children; 63 of those children were vaccinated with a total of 136 doses administered. Dr. Kenege said that figure is slightly lower than last year's 184 registrants and attributed part of the change to the department not yet accepting Aetna insurance; he said enrollment with Aetna's network becomes effective Oct. 15, 2025.
Dr. Kenege described program- and finance-related items on the commissioners' agenda: a bad-debt write-off through July 31, 2022 totaling $7,382.30; a WIC participation adjustment of $9,736; and a $60,000 Trillium Integrated Care Network grant for behavioral health services for uninsured or underinsured residents. He also said the department completed a CD/STD audit on Aug. 11 with 100% of reviewed cases reported and followed up, and that an annual TB audit is scheduled for Sept. 18.
On budgeting, Dr. Kenege said the North Carolina General Assembly passed a recent "mini budget" that left North Carolina Medicaid with an operational gap he stated as $319,000,000 and that cuts tied to that gap will take effect Oct. 1. He said the health department is "looking at a $115,000" reduction in Medicaid primary care and family-planning fees, describing that as about an 8% reduction to those payments.
The report also covered staffing and program work: the early-intervention "Too Good for Drugs" curriculum will start next week for certain grades in Duplin County Schools; a contingent offer is out for an opioid response program coordinator; the department will submit accreditation documentation by Nov. 1 and has dates for a hybrid site visit in February and March; and several community outreach events are scheduled in September.
All items were presented as informational updates to the board; the transcript contains no recorded vote on the departmental budget impacts or program grants.