Medicaid work requirements will likely be a priority in Congress and NC legislature

By Jaymie Baxley North Carolina Health News With President Donald Trump back in power, a Republican-led push for work requirements for Medicaid is gaining momentum. In recent days, Republican governors in South Carolina, Arkansas and Ohio have sought permission from the federal government to kick jobless beneficiaries off their states’ rolls. Russell T. Vought, nominated by Trump to lead the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, expressed support for making coverage …Read more Continue reading Medicaid work requirements will likely be a priority in Congress and NC legislature

Robeson County leads North Carolina in solar farms. How many are too many?

By Ben Rappaport benrappaport@borderbelt.org  A shallow thrum can be heard along U.S. 74 in western Robeson County near a 40-acre solar farm that generates enough electricity to power more than 1,000 homes each year. It’s a familiar sound in Robeson, which has 41 solar farms, more than any other North Carolina county. With mild winters, consistent sunshine and relatively cheap land, the southeastern corner of …Read more Continue reading Robeson County leads North Carolina in solar farms. How many are too many?

UNC Health Southeastern updates maternity ward with a focus on comfort

By Heidi Perez-Moreno heidiperez-moreno@borderbelt.org When Mary Campbell gave birth to her first daughter in 2021, her maternity room at UNC Health Southeastern was cramped and loud. The hospital’s thin walls did little to muffle the sounds of crying babies and foot traffic in the hallways, and Campbell could barely nap during her 36-hour stay.  But when Campbell, who works as an emergency room nurse at …Read more Continue reading UNC Health Southeastern updates maternity ward with a focus on comfort

Whooping cough cases spike in North Carolina

By Jennifer Fernandez North Carolina Health News Whooping cough cases in North Carolina have risen sharply in 2024. There have been close to 600 reported cases — 6.4 times more than last year at this time.  Nationally, cases are 4.8 times higher, federal data shows. The highly contagious respiratory illness tends to rise and fall in cycles as vaccines wear off and new children are born without immunity, experts …Read more Continue reading Whooping cough cases spike in North Carolina

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CDC unveils strategic plan aimed at combating rural health issues

By Rachel Baldauf rachelbaldauf@borderbelt.org  The Office of Rural Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention unveiled a new strategic plan last week aimed at combating health issues in rural areas across the country. The new plan, which was developed alongside local partners like the N.C. Office of Rural Health, outlines a vision for the next five years to combat health issues like obesity, …Read more Continue reading CDC unveils strategic plan aimed at combating rural health issues

Rural North Carolina hospitals say recruiting surgeons is key to long-term success

By Rachel Baldauf rachelbaldauf@borderbelt.org  Rural hospitals across the country often struggle to recruit doctors. Recruiting surgeons is even tougher.  In southeastern North Carolina, the hospitals in Scotland and Robeson counties are investing in surgical programs that health care experts say are vital to the survival of rural hospitals.  Scotland Health in Laurinburg built new operating rooms and renovated the hospital’s surgical services department as part …Read more Continue reading Rural North Carolina hospitals say recruiting surgeons is key to long-term success

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HIV and syphilis are on the rise in Robeson County

By Rachel Baldauf rachelbaldauf@borderbelt.org  When Brenda Hunt helped start the Borderbelt AIDS Resources Team in 1996, the small nonprofit was the only place in Robeson County for people living with HIV or AIDS to get support and connect to resources. Hunt, who now serves as the BART director, would drive clients to Laurinburg or Chapel Hill to receive a cocktail of medications. She would deliver …Read more Continue reading HIV and syphilis are on the rise in Robeson County

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Fighting back against prostate cancer in Scotland County

By Ben Rappaport benrappaport@borderbelt.org  Greg McMillan’s barber shop in the northeast corner of Scotland County is more than a place to get a fresh lineup and a clean shave. It’s a community space where people share everything from tall tales to heart-to-hearts. McMillan’s shop in Wagram, Next Cuts, hosted Cuts and Conversations on Saturday in partnership with the Prostate Cancer Coalition of North Carolina. The …Read more Continue reading Fighting back against prostate cancer in Scotland County

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UNC Health Southeastern improves safety grade. What about other local hospitals?

By Rachel Baldauf rachelbaldauf@borderbelt.org  UNC Health Southeastern in Lumberton improved its safety grade to a B in the latest report from a nonprofit group that advocates for patient safety at medical centers across the country. “This grade marks tremendous improvements the health system continues to make, not only in safety and quality, but also in the overall availability of expert medical care not available elsewhere …Read more Continue reading UNC Health Southeastern improves safety grade. What about other local hospitals?

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Robeson County is doling out opioid settlement money. But the process isn’t always easy

By Rachel Baldauf rachelbaldauf@borderbelt.org  When Tamiko Murphy first heard that Robeson County would get millions of dollars from opioid settlement cases, she was excited about what it could mean for her nonprofit, Tae’s Pathway, which serves children who use drugs. Since she founded the organization, which she named for her son who died in a car accident 2013, Murphy says she has paid most expenses …Read more Continue reading Robeson County is doling out opioid settlement money. But the process isn’t always easy