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VIA Health warns county of Healthy Opportunities pilot halt, outlines Medicaid caseloads
Summary
VIA Health told Alleghany County commissioners that state budget proposals would halt its Healthy Opportunities pilot and could cut other program funding while describing current county caseloads and regional services.
Zach Shepherd, community relations director for VIA Health, told the Alleghany County Board of Commissioners that state budget proposals would stop new enrollments and suspend delivery of services under the Healthy Opportunities pilot and could reduce other program slots and single-stream funding.
Shepherd said VIA Health currently serves 468 people in the county through its Medicaid Direct plan and 220 people through its tailored plan, for a total of 688 individuals served in Alleghany County. He said the company manages federal, state and local funding and operates several plan types, including a tailored plan for members with serious behavioral health or developmental needs.
The main concern Shepherd flagged was the state general assembly budget proposals. He said the current proposals include no funding for the Healthy Opportunities pilot, no new innovation-waiver slots and no traumatic-brain-injury waiver slots for proposed expansion. He also said one House proposal would cut single-stream funding statewide by $30 million, while the Senate proposal would cut $15 million; VIA’s county share of a $30 million cut would be roughly $6 million.
Shepherd said, as a result of the funding shortfall and direction from the Department of Health and Human Services, VIA stopped accepting new Healthy Opportunities pilot enrollments and authorization requests after 5 p.m. on June 6, and existing pilot services were stopped effective July 1. He stressed that no other Medicaid benefits were affected by that change.
Shepherd also noted regional updates: Daymark Recovery Services has taken over operation of the Shirley B. Randleman facility in North Wilkesboro; VIA is continuing its Hope for NC free grant program for people affected by Hurricane Helene; and the statewide child and family specialty plan operated by Blue Cross and Blue Shield is scheduled to go live Dec. 1 and will primarily serve foster youth and families.
Why it matters: Commissioners heard that the loss of Healthy Opportunities funding would immediately stop those social-determinant services — such as transportation, food and housing supports — for both new and existing enrollees unless the budget picture changes. Board members thanked Shepherd and offered no action at the meeting.
Shepherd concluded the presentation by offering to answer questions and providing contact information for the helpline for Hope for NC.
The presentation occurred during the board’s regular meeting and was informational; no vote or formal board action on VIA Health programs was recorded.
