Raleigh health brief: Measles totals updated, UNC Health Rex settlement, and Blue Cross NC coverage changes

ByWeence

Raleigh, NC – March 3, 2026 – State measles totals were updated, UNC Health Rex reached an EEOC settlement, and Blue Cross NC outlined April coverage changes.

Measles update: state reports 24 cases; Raleigh exposures still under review

North Carolina health officials reported Tuesday that the state has confirmed 24 measles cases since December 2025, according to a WRAL update posted March 3. The report said no measles cases have been confirmed in Wake County so far, though Wake County previously issued a notice tied to a contagious visitor’s stops at five Raleigh locations in the Brier Creek area in early February.

WRAL reported that state epidemiologists have linked cases to multiple exposure settings, including households and community gatherings, with many infections occurring in children who were unvaccinated or not yet fully vaccinated. State updates are released around noon each Tuesday and Friday, the report noted.

Hospital update: UNC Health Rex settlement outlines new workplace accommodation steps

UNC Health Rex Healthcare will pay $150,000 and provide additional relief to settle a federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lawsuit involving a remote employee who sought a religious accommodation from a mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policy, the EEOC announced March 2. The agency said the two-year consent decree also requires the Raleigh provider to adopt a policy addressing religious accommodation requests and provide training for staff involved in reviewing those requests, along with managers and supervisors.

WRAL reported that the settlement terms include a timeline for creating a stand-alone policy and documenting accommodation decisions. UNC Health Rex said it complies with federal law and agreed to resolve the matter, according to the report.

Health insurance: Blue Cross NC posts April 1 utilization management changes

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina posted a Feb. 26 notice detailing updates to its medical drug utilization management requirements that are scheduled to take effect April 1, 2026. The insurer said the changes apply to commercial members with medical benefit coverage through Blue Cross NC, and do not apply to the State Health Plan, Federal Employee Program, or Medicare members.

The notice lists multiple updates, including changes to prior-authorization requirements for certain injectable antiemetic drugs. Blue Cross NC said it is making updates as part of its ongoing review of medical research, medication costs, and utilization management policies.

Sources

https://www.wral.com/lifestyles/health/measles-north-carolina-polk-feb-17-2026/

https://www.eeoc.gov/newsroom/rex-healthcare-pay-150000-eeoc-covid-19-vaccine-religious-accommodation-suit

https://www.wral.com/news/local/rex-healthcare-eeoc-settlement-religious-accommodation-raleigh-nc-march-2026/

https://www.bluecrossnc.com/providers/provider-news/2026/commercial-medical-drug-policy-um-updates-effective-04-01-2026

If you have urgent symptoms, seek medical care. For general questions, talk with a licensed clinician.

Brian 'Weence' Bateman is a seasoned medical and health writer with over a decade of experience in web development, search optimization, and social media for dentists and healthcare providers. His in-depth knowledge and dedication to the field are evident in the meticulously researched and informative content he produces.

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