Kody H. Kinsley (born July 3,1985) is an American public servant and public health official. He is currently a senior policy advisor at the Institute for Policy Solutions at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing.[1] He previously served as the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and was the first openly gay cabinet secretary in North Carolina history.[2]
Kinsley then returned to North Carolina to serve as the Deputy Secretary for Behavioral Health at the NCDHHS. He was later promoted to the Chief Deputy Secretary for Health. During the COVID-19 pandemic,he served as the Operations Lead for North Carolina's COVID-19 response team.[7]
Secretary of North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Governor Roy Cooper appointed Kinsley health secretary of the NCDHHS,an organization with nearly 18,000 employees and an annual budget of $38 billion.[8] He was unanimously confirmed by the North Carolina Senate on June 29,2022.[9] During his tenure,Kinsley led the state's expansion of Medicaid,brokered a deal that relieved nearly $4 billion in medical debt,raised charity care standards,and secured $835 million in new behavioral health funding.[10][11][12][13] His tenure ended on January 12,2025.[14] He was succeeded by Devdutta Sangvai.[15]
Medicaid expansion and healthcare access
Kinsley led the expansion of Medicaid in North Carolina.[16] This effort,aimed at extending healthcare access to more than 600,000 uninsured residents,involved extensive collaboration with state legislators and healthcare stakeholders. The expansion reduced barriers to care and improved health outcomes for vulnerable populations. The state reached its two-year enrollment goal of 600,000 in just over a year.[17][18][19][20]
Kinsley emphasized the importance of Medicaid expansion in tackling health disparities,particularly in rural communities where access to healthcare services is limited.[21] Kinsley's work as secretary broadened insurance coverage and enhanced investments in both preventive care and behavioral health services.[22][23]
Medical debt relief
Kinsley negotiated with both the federal government and state hospitals to develop create a comprehensive Medical Debt Relief and Reform Incentive Program. The final plan gives hospitals significantly more money through federal state directed payments,and in exchange,the hospitals agree to eliminating outstanding debts of low-income North Carolinians,updating their financial aid policies,and increasing medical billing transparency.[24][25] The plan received pushback from the state's hospitals and industry lobbying groups. However,in the end,all 99 hospitals in the state agreed to the terms by the August 9,2024,deadline.[26][27][28]
Behavioral health funding
North Carolina received $1.8 billion in "incentive payments" for expanding Medicaid as part of the American Rescue Plan.[29] Kinsley led negotiations with the Republican-led legislature to leverage this new funding for behavioral health,resulting in an $835 million investment in behavioral health care. This funding increased reimbursement rates for behavioral health services,enhanced crisis intervention systems,bolstered behavioral health services in schools,and expanded care for people involved with the justice system.[12][13]
LGBTQ+ health
Kinsley led a coalition of state health secretaries to call on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to update blood donation rules to allow sexually active gay and bisexual men to donate blood.[30] He donated blood in August 2023 after the FDA rules were changed and the American Red Cross updated their processes.[31]
He also led the state's efforts during the 2022-2023 mpox outbreak,which disproportionately affected the LGBTQ+ community. He publicly pushed for a more coordinated response to the epidemic.[32]
Hurricane Helene relief
Responding to Hurricane Helene,Kinsley coordinated healthcare and human services relief across the state. These initiatives included deploying mobile health clinics to affected areas,ensuring the continuity of Medicaid services,and addressing food insecurity for displaced families.[33][non-primary source needed]
Awards
The State Employees Association of North Carolina (SEANC) awarded Kinsley the inaugural Unsung Hero Award in July 2020. The association said it recognized Kinsley because he prioritized the safety of employees during the COVID-19 pandemic,maintained clear and frequent communication with staff,and ensured employee concerns were integral to the decision-making process.[34]
Kinsley received the MPP Distinguished Award from the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California,Berkeley. The school celebrated Kinsley for his leadership in public health and his role in advancing Medicaid expansion and mental health funding in North Carolina. The award was presented at the Alumni Awards Banquet on September 13,2024.[35]
The North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) gave Kinsley its first-ever Kerri Eaker Mountain Mover Award in November 2024. The award,celebrating the legacy of Kerri Eaker,is given to individuals who have driven transformative systems change for the state's intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) community.[36]
Personal life
Kinsley is openly gay and has been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion.[37]
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