Trillium Health Resources told the Craven County Board of Commissioners that it served thousands of residents with severe behavioral health needs and outlined changes tied to Medicaid transformation.

"We are committed to transform their lives and strengthening community well-being," Victoria Jackson said, identifying herself as regional vice president for Trillium's South Central Region. Jackson gave commissioners a brief overview of Trillium's coverage area, member counts and local programs in Craven County.

Jackson said Trillium covers 46 North Carolina counties and, for July'December 2024, served more than 80,000 unique individuals with severe behavioral health needs; she said 63% of that care related to mental health, 17% to substance use and 20% to intellectual and developmental disability services. Trillium reported $802 million spent on services during that timeframe and said it serves about 2,643 members in Craven County (unduplicated count).

Jackson described the July 1, 2024 launch of the tailored plan, a Medicaid model that manages behavioral and certain physical health services, pharmacy, long-term supports and non-emergency medical transportation. She said Trillium had lessons learned from the tailored plan rollout, including higher call volume, early transportation broker issues and a need for provider flexibilities to reduce disruption; Jackson said the organization is working with providers and the state to address those issues.

Commissioners asked whether foster children would move between plans; Jackson and county social services staff discussed an upcoming statewide children and family specialty plan. Jackson said the Department of Health and Human Services awarded that plan to Blue Cross Blue Shield (marketed as Healthy Blue Care Together); she said roughly 11% of Trillium's children were expected to move to the statewide plan and that Trillium has an internal transition team working with the state to avoid interruptions of care.

Jackson highlighted local programs funded or supported by Trillium, including naloxone kit distribution (Craven County had received kits and test strips), substance-use prevention work in schools, a recovery-focused app (CHESS Health) that provides 24/7 peer support, small-business funding for people with IDD, an "empower" summer camp for school-age children with IDD, and a technology program called Tula (Trillium Ultimate Living Assistant) that uses enabling devices to promote independence.

Jackson provided contact information to commissioners and said she and other Trillium staff would attend an upcoming North Carolina Association of County Commissioners conference; she said the Trillium CEO would appear on a panel about the tailored plan. The board did not take action on the presentation; Jackson responded to commissioners' questions about transitions and local representation on Trillium advisory bodies.