Innovations in Mental Health: A Conversation with Kody Kinsley, North Carolina’s Secretary of Health & Human Services

Bright Spots in Healthcare

Kody Kinsley, Secretary of North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services, joins Eric to discuss how his state is improving the lives of families and children by expanding Medicaid and improving the mental health system.

Secretary Kinsley shares strategies for improving behavioral healthcare access and benefit design for North Carolina’s Medicaid and Medicare members, including peer support programs, mental health crisis lines, and data systems to track the availability of beds and individuals in need.

The conversation also explores the importance of improving healthcare infrastructure through Medicaid, focusing on preventative measures and addressing social determinants of health.

About Secretary Kinsley

Kody Kinsley serves as North Carolina’s Secretary of Health & Human Services, overseeing a department with over 18,000 staff and a $38 billion budget.

With experience centered on health policy and operations, Kinsley worked on digital healthcare transformation, national education, and labor policies and served as the COO and CFO of the U.S. Treasury.

Secretary Kinsley’s three priorities for the department include Investing in behavioral health and resilience, improving child and family well-being, and building a solid and inclusive workforce. Under his leadership, North Carolina expanded Medicaid and received the most significant investment to bolster the mental health system in over a decade.

Kinsley grew up in Wilmington, earning his bachelor’s degree from Brevard College and his master’s in Public Policy from the University of California at Berkeley.