News

Every 4.5 minutes, a baby is born with a major birth defect in the U.S. according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Birth defects include structural changes and disorders present at birth. They are common, costly and can affect any family. They also range from mild to serious and include critical conditions that can cause lifelong health challenges affecting almost any part of the body, such as the heart, brain or limbs.

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced that funding assistance is now available to help with the legal costs of gaining guardianship as a kinship caregiver.

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking public comment from members, providers, tribal partners, stakeholders and other interested individuals on a draft of the 2025-2027 North Dakota Medicaid Quality Strategy.

North Dakota Health and Human Services is seeking public comment on a Medicaid Traditional Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities/Developmental Disabilities (IID/DD) Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) amendment application to the current Traditional IID/DD waiver dated April 1, 2024. The current waiver includes an array of home and community-based services in the least restrictive environment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) is excited to announce that court staff, child welfare professionals and families are coming together in three North Dakota communities to finalize the adoptions of over 30 children in celebration of National Adoption Day on Nov. 23.

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) is raising awareness about lead during National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week from Oct. 20 to26. This year’s theme is “Bright futures begin lead-free.”  

Lead poisoning is preventable, and prevention starts with screening.

As of Oct. 23, North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) has reported 73 cases of pertussis (also known as “whooping cough”) so far in 2024, compared to 17 cases in all of 2023. Cases have occurred in 11 counties, compared to two counties last year. Cases range from infants to adults, and four infants have been hospitalized. HHS has issued a health advisory on pertussis to North Dakota health care providers.

More than 500 North Dakotans are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. In recognition of breast cancer awareness month, North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) reminds women that early detection and screening saves lives, and Women’s Way may provide a way to pay for breast cancer screenings for eligible North Dakotans.

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) has a new quality care initiative aimed at improving overall experiences and outcomes for North Dakotans who are residents of the state’s nursing facilities.  

The Nursing Facility Incentive Program, developed in partnership with the North Dakota Long Term Care Association and nursing facility providers, is an incentive-based quality improvement program. It provides an annual payment to facilities based on their performance in four Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services resident care and facility process measures: urinary tract infections, antipsychotic drugs, pressure ulcers and hospitalizations.

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced that the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will now provide more assistance to qualifying households.

HHS will begin accepting LIHEAP applications on Oct. 1. If approved, program applicants can receive heating assistance from October-May.

In the last year, LIHEAP assisted 14,405 qualifying North Dakota households, providing $11.2 million in support of their home energy costs.