Jaymie Baxley, Author at North Carolina Health News

A Black woman with glasses wearing a white cardigan with pink and teal writing on it looks at a silver laptop. Across from her sits a Black man in a brown jacket, khaki pants and black hat. Behind them are shelves lined with books. The woman is a social worker helping people with Medicaid and food benefits at the High Point Public Library in Guilford County, NC.

Looming Medicaid work rules bring big challenges to NC counties

by Jaymie Baxley and Jennifer Fernandez April 30, 2026April 29, 2026

By Jaymie Baxley and Jennifer Fernandez North Carolina’s county social service offices are scrambling to prepare for new Medicaid work requirements — and most are still waiting for guidance from federal officials. Under H.R. 1, the sweeping federal bill signed last summer by President Donald Trump, the roughly 732,000 North Carolinians who obtained health care […]

A Black woman with glasses wearing a blue shirt and green cardigan and a Black woman with long hair wearing a white sweater over a red shirt sit at a table working on laptop computers. Across from them are a Black man wearing a black shirt and black and tan poncho and a Black man in a black jacket and gray pants. The women are social workers helping people with Medicaid and food assistance at the Tiny House HOPE Center in Greensboro, NC.

NC county social service agencies brace for deluge of work as Medicaid work requirements go into effect

by Jaymie Baxley and Jennifer Fernandez April 29, 2026April 28, 2026

shows two adults providing applied behavior analysis, otherwise known as ABA therapy, with two young people.

NC moves to rein in soaring autism therapy costs amid fraud concerns

by Jaymie Baxley April 27, 2026April 30, 2026

Martin County manager Dexter Batts stands to the left of ECU Health chief operating officer Brian Floyd during the 2026 Rural Summit in Raleigh. Batts is a white man with short brown hair in his early 40s wearing a suit with a solid red necktie. Floyd is a bald, white man wearing eyeglasses and a suit with a patterned red necktie.

ECU Health’s plan to reopen hospital offers hope to Martin County

by Jaymie Baxley April 6, 2026April 6, 2026

Melanie Bush, the interim deputy secretary of NC Medicaid, addresses lawmakers in Raleigh on March 10, 2026.

North Carolina reports early progress in Medicaid plan for foster children

by Jaymie Baxley March 11, 2026March 10, 2026

Shows a white man with a close cropped beard in a jacket and dress shirt.

After transforming and expanding the program, NC Medicaid director steps down

by Jaymie Baxley February 27, 2026February 26, 2026