American Rescue Plan

North Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Kody Kinsley

Health & Safety

North Carolina government aims to incentivize hospitals to relieve patients of medical debt

1:56pm July 01, 2024

North Carolina state government is seeking to rid potentially billions in medical debt from low- and middle-income residents by offering a financial carrot for hospitals to take unpaid bills off the books. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper unveiled a plan Monday to take away patients' debt and help future patients receive deep discounts or enroll in charity programs. If federal Medicaid regulators approve it, the move would mean roughly 100 hospitals receiving enhanced federal Medicaid reimbursement funds could get even more funds. Other state and local governments have tapped into federal American Rescue Plan funds to cancel debt.

Margaret Davis (left) and Delisa Williams (right) became acquainted when they moved into the Salvation Army Center of Hope shelter, just outside Charlotte, N.C. Both women receive federal benefits, but the monthly amounts aren't high enough for them to be able to rent an apartment.

High rents outpace federal disability payments, leaving many homeless

5:01am September 15, 2022

by Fred Clasen-Kelly

Supplemental Security Income, a federal program meant to be a financial floor for people unable to work, hasn't kept pace with inflation. Many recipients are homeless, unable to save for an apartment.

Education

Biden administration recognizes Guilford County Schools for tutoring program

12:26pm August 26, 2022

by Amy Diaz

The Guilford County School district received national attention from the Biden-Harris administration for its spending of COVID-19 relief funds.

NC lawmakers introduce bill to allow COVID relief funds to be used for affordable housing

10:29am March 18, 2022

by Neal Charnoff

A bipartisan bill introduced by two North Carolina members of Congress would let states apply federal COVID relief money to affordable housing efforts.

The American Rescue Plan Act that President Biden signed into law increased funding to Medicaid, but delays and red tape have kept several states from claiming much of the cash almost a year later.

Why billions in Medicaid funds for people with disabilities are being held up

10:37am March 02, 2022

Almost a year after the American Rescue Plan Act allocated up to $25 billion to home and community-based services run by Medicaid, many states have yet to access the funds due to delays and red tape.

Politics & Government

Guilford County is seeking public input on how to spend federal COVID relief dollars

10:52am February 15, 2022

by Neal Charnoff

Guilford County is seeking community input on how best to allocate federal coronavirus relief funding.

A Biden "I did that!" sticker spotted in the wild.

The Movement To Stick Inflation Blame On Biden

6:30am January 18, 2022

by Greg Rosalsky

It's a bad time to be a world leader. COVID did that.

Laura Sifuentes lives in Rosedale, Miss. The government's Child Tax Credit, a monthly payment for many American parents with kids, helped her financially when she had to give up her job to care of her kids, nieces and nephews during the pandemic.

National

Why many Americans continue to struggle despite trillions of dollars in pandemic aid

11:31am January 15, 2022

by Stephan Bisaha

The government provided Americans with a vital financial lifeline during the pandemic, including through the Child Tax Credit. The help improved lives – but for many it still wasn't enough.

Queue Listen Now

Politics & Government

Winston-Salem City Council approves new $3M grant program for small businesses, nonprofits

10:01am November 16, 2021

by April Laissle

The Winston-Salem City Council unanimously approved a new $3 million program designed to help local nonprofits and small businesses stay afloat.

A doctor stands at a walk-up coronavirus testing site at West County Health Center in San Pablo, Calif., in April 2020. Pandemic burnout has affected thousands of health care workers.

Health & Safety

The federal government pledges $100 million to address health care worker shortages

12:47pm October 15, 2021

by Deepa Shivaram

As health care workers face increased levels of pandemic burnout, the Biden administration is looking to help states recruit and retain clinicians in underserved areas.