FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 3, 2025
Preliminary data indicate that the pilots improve health outcomes and save the state money.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA – The Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation (FHLI) expresses concern about the decision to discontinue funding for the Healthy Opportunities Pilots (HOP). HOP is designed to improve health outcomes for Medicaid recipients with complex social needs and reduce financial burden on the health care system.
Current budget proposals from both chambers of the North Carolina General Assembly do not include funding for HOP after June 30, 2025. As a result, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) announced that HOP services are scheduled to end on July 1, 2025.
Preliminary data indicate that HOP services result in an average savings of $85 per Medicaid enrollee per month.
HOP operates on the NCCARE360 platform. Administered by FHLI, NCCARE360 is the nation’s first and only statewide coordinated network that connects health and human service providers throughout North Carolina to improve care coordination and service delivery.
“The discontinuation of a program like HOP, which shows evidence of cost savings, raises significant concerns,” said Rachel Marquez, MPH, senior program director for NCCARE360. “The decision will reduce access to care for individuals with the greatest needs and result in higher costs to the state.”
FHLI remains committed to supporting programs that address the social drivers of health and improve outcomes for all North Carolinians. NCCARE360 will continue to connect health and human service providers, regardless of HOP funding, enabling them to coordinate care and deliver essential services more effectively and efficiently.
About NCCARE360
NCCARE360 is a public-private partnership between the NC Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation (FHLI). NCCARE360 is integral to NCDHHS’s mission to improve the health, safety, and well-being of all North Carolinians. The NCCARE360 implementation team includes United Way of North Carolina, NC 211, and Unite Us.