NC Medicaid expands syphilis treatment as cases rise statewide

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Between 2022 and 2023, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services says cases of congenital syphilis increased by 26%.

Congenital syphilis occurs when a pregnant mother with syphilis passes the infection on to her baby during pregnancy. While the disease is preventable, cases are on the rise.

NCDHHS says a review of cases between 2016 and 2022 found infants often end up with congenital syphilis when:

• There is no or late entry of pregnant women into prenatal care.
• There was prenatal care but incomplete syphilis testing during pregnancy.
• Mother received delayed, no, or inadequate treatment for her stage of syphilis infection.
• The exposed newborn was not appropriately evaluated or treated at birth for congenital syphilis.

NCDHHS announced on Monday that NC Medicaid will now cover an additional treatment for syphilis and congenital syphilis, Extencilline. The new coverage is being added to address the ongoing national shortage of Penicillin G Benzathine (Bicillin L-A), the first-line treatment for syphilis.

In a statement, State Health Director and NCDHHS Chief Medical Officer Dr. Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson said congenital syphilis infections are the highest they have been in almost 20 years, leading to lifelong health impacts and infant deaths.

“The action by NC Medicaid to now cover this additional treatment is another example of our commitment to reverse this concerning trend. We want to ensure our providers have as many tools as possible to care for their patients. We will all need to continue to work together to protect our people through early detection and rapid treatment of infection,” Tilson said.