NCDHHS Finalizes Plan to Relaunch Healthy Opportunities Pilot

NCDHHS has finalized its plan to relaunch the Healthy Opportunities Pilot (HOP) program under a streamlined, food-focused model starting in early 2027. Supported by a $9 million investment from the North Carolina General Assembly—which secured federal matching funds for a $25 million total—the scaled-down program will maximize available resources by delivering weekly healthy food boxes to high-need NC Medicaid Managed Care members across the three pilot regions. 

Data from the program's first two years proved that this "food is medicine" model works, successfully shifting patient care away from expensive emergency rooms and hospital stays toward proactive primary care. While funding limits require NC Medicaid to scale back services for now, centering our resources on evidence-based nutritional support allows us to keep improving community health, helping high-risk neighbors manage chronic conditions and prevent acute crises. Our hope remains to expand services in the future as additional funding becomes available. 

Moving forward, care managers will connect eligible members to these vital food services, and community-based Human Services Organizations (HSOs), overseen by Network Leads, will deliver services, with Prepaid Health Plans authorizing and paying for authorized services. NC Medicaid will communicate the official launch date to all partners at least 30 days before services begin. Thank you for your continued dedication as we work together to support healthy communities across North Carolina.