What to know about NCDHHS’ Medicaid rule-change town hall
State health officials are planning a Spanish-language event on Aug. 25 to explain upcoming Medicaid rule changes, including eligibility changes for some noncitizens.
RALEIGH — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is preparing a Spanish-language livestream and tele-town hall to explain upcoming changes to NC Medicaid rules.
The event is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 25, from 6 to 7 p.m. NCDHHS said the discussion will focus on how new federal and state laws will affect NC Medicaid, who may lose coverage and how people can prepare for changes to the program.
The department said the discussion will include guidance on work and community engagement requirements, information about people who may lose coverage, including some noncitizens, and Spanish-language resources for residents seeking help.
NCDHHS said federal changes mean many noncitizens will no longer be able to have Medicaid coverage as of Oct. 1, 2026. The agency is directing residents to NC Medicaid’s online information about eligibility and renewal changes and to local departments of social services for help understanding health coverage options.
The event is also expected to preview a new toolkit in English and Spanish. NCDHHS said the toolkit will include bilingual materials that people can share with their communities. The materials are expected to be posted at Medicaid.nc.gov/changes and Medicaid.nc.gov/cambios.
The Medicaid program covers more than 3 million North Carolinians, including children, older adults, people with disabilities, veterans and working residents, according to NCDHHS. The agency says Medicaid covers one in four people in the state.
The Aug. 25 event is scheduled to stream on NCDHHS’ Facebook, X and YouTube accounts, where viewers may submit questions. A tele-town hall option will also be available by phone.
The issue is a policy story because Medicaid eligibility and renewal rules are shaped by state and federal law, and the changes could affect access to public health coverage. The state’s outreach effort also gives residents and local agencies a timeline for preparing before the Oct. 1 coverage change cited by NCDHHS.
Editor note: This article was drafted with the assistance of artificial intelligence and was reviewed and fact-checked by a member of the NC Political News editorial team before publication.
