Healthy Opportunities Pilot (HOP) Program
At WNCCHS, we believe in addressing not just the medical needs of our patients but also the social factors that affect their health. That’s why we’re proud to be the only Community Health Center in the region participating in the Healthy Opportunities Pilot (HOP) program, which is designed to help patients overcome challenges like food insecurity, lack of housing, transportation issues, and personal safety concerns.
About HOP
The Health Opportunities Pilot supports patients with a Managed Medicaid plan by providing services that address social determinants of health. This innovative approach helps improve overall well-being by tackling the root causes of health issues.
Services Offered: The program offers a range of services, including referrals for food boxes, transportation assistance and car repairs, home weathering and renovations, home goods, utility assistance, and legal assistance.
Eligibility: To qualify for support through HOP at WNCCHS, you must be an enrolled patient, live in the region, have a Managed Medicaid plan, and complete an assessment with our Care Management team. The assessment will determine your eligibility based on your social and health needs.
How HOP is Changing Health Care
The Healthy Opportunities Pilot (HOP) program is the first in the country to comprehensively test and evaluate how providing specific non-medical services, like help with housing, food, transportation, and personal safety, can impact the health of high-needs Medicaid patients. Implemented by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), the program launched in March 2022 with the goal of seeing how addressing these social factors, which affect 80% of a person’s health, can help people stay healthier and reduce medical costs.
The program covers 33 counties in North Carolina and connects Medicaid patients with community organizations that can help with things like transportation, food, home repairs, and legal aid. By helping with these needs, the HOP program hopes to improve the well-being of low-income North Carolinians, reduce the need for expensive medical treatments, and create a better health care system. If the program is successful, NCDHHS plans to expand these services statewide.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
The Healthy Opportunities Pilots cover three regions in North Carolina, which were selected through a competitive process by the NCDHHS on May 27, 2021:
Access East, Inc.: Beaufort, Bertie, Chowan, Edgecombe, Halifax, Hertford, Martin, Northampton, Pitt
Community Care of the Lower Cape Fear: Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, Onslow, Pender
Dogwood Health Trust: Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Yancey
-
To be eligible for HOP services, you must be enrolled in an NC Medicaid health plan, live in one of the three pilot regions, and have a qualifying physical or behavioral health condition along with a social need or risk factor.
-
The Healthy Opportunities Pilot gives North Carolina a chance to see how Medicaid can be used to provide non-medical services like food, housing, transportation, and safety. These services aim to improve health outcomes and reduce health care costs. If successful, these services may be added to the statewide Medicaid program.
-
Care Managers help Medicaid patients with their physical, behavioral, and non-medical needs. They work with HOP Administrators to identify eligible patients, propose useful services, and manage these services over time.
-
Below are some examples of services you might qualify for through the Healthy Opportunities Pilot:
Food
Healthy food box (delivery and/or pick-up)
Fruit and vegetable prescription
Medically tailored, home-delivered meals
Group nutrition classes
Diabetes prevention program
Housing
One-time security deposit and first month’s rent
Inspection for housing safety and quality
Home remediation services
Home accessibility and safety modifications
Short-term post-hospitalization housing
Linkages to legal support services
Transportation
Transportation to support health needs like the grocery store or fitness center
Taxi and ride-sharing credits where public transportation is unavailable
Reimbursem*nt for gas mileage
Vehicle repairs
Personal Safety and Healthy Relationships
Evidence-based parenting curriculum
Home visiting services
Violence intervention services
Linkages to legal services to support maintaining housing and personal safety
-
If they have Medicaid, WNCCHS patients should ask their provider for a referral or call the main line at 828-285-0622 to speak with someone on the the Care Management team.
-
NCDHHS Healthy Opportunities Pilots Overview: Learn more about the program, its goals, and the services offered on the NCDHHS website.
Impact Health: Find additional details about the HOP program, including eligibility and service areas, on the Impact Health website.
