Public health officials update state plan to outline community best practices

North Carolina officials have announced updates to the state’s Health Improvement Plan. The goal is to encompass the full set of factors impacting a person’s health.

The 2023 North Carolina State Health Improvement Plan, or NC SHIP, incorporates insights from numerous contributors including government agencies, nonprofits, faith-based groups, and academia, among others. Dr. Susan Kansagra, the state assistant secretary for public health, released a statement saying the plan outlines best practices for communities to address health and well-being.

Recent updates to the plan focus on priorities that encompass a range of factors driving health, including social and economic status, clinical care, and physical environment. It recommends interventions supporting education, access to healthy food, air and water quality, and access to care.

The report acknowledges a number of pressing concerns related to mental health, substance use disorders and suicide prevention.

The 2023 NC SHIP also highlights the importance of Medicaid Expansion, which is set to take effect in December. According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, about 600,000 North Carolinians will gain access to health care through the expansion.