NCCARE360 has long exemplified North Carolina’s leadership as a nationally recognized model for statewide resource navigation and coordinated care. Through the platform, health care providers and community-based organizations across North Carolina have worked together to connect individuals and families to critical social care resources such as food, housing, transportation, and other essential supports.
As community needs continue to evolve, North Carolina has an opportunity to build upon the strong foundation and lessons learned through the NCCARE360 infrastructure. At the same time, recent funding challenges have required difficult decisions that impact how these services are delivered.
Why Resource Navigation Services Are Paused
In recent years, NCCARE360 has been primarily funded through state allocations from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services associated with the Healthy Opportunities Pilots. However, the Senate and House budgets of the North Carolina General Assembly did not include funding for the Healthy Opportunities Pilots for the current state fiscal year. As a result, Healthy Opportunities Pilots services ended on July 1, 2025.
The absence of continued funding created an immediate need to identify new resources to sustain the NCCARE360 infrastructure, including closed-loop referrals and resource navigation services available to communities statewide, regardless of insurance status. Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation and NCDHHS remain actively engaged in developing strategies to address this funding gap.
What This Means for NCCARE360 Users
Due to these funding challenges, the NCCARE360 Resource Navigators program is currently paused, and there are no funded navigation teams available at this time to follow up with individuals referred through the platform. Organizations may see navigator programs listed as “Not Accepting Referrals” within NCCARE360.
While navigator-led care coordination services are paused, NCCARE360 licensing and platform access remain in place. Organizations are encouraged to continue using the platform for peer-to-peer collaboration and electronic referrals with other network partners. Health care providers should continue to refer Medicaid members to their managed care plans for care management support, and organizations may connect individuals directly with NCCARE360 network partners when appropriate.
Support Options for Individuals and Families
Individuals who need additional assistance finding resources are encouraged to contact NC 211, a free and confidential information and referral service provided by United Way of North Carolina and powered by local United Ways across the state. Families and individuals can call 2-1-1 or 1-888-892-1162 to receive information about health and human services available in their community, or visit NC211.org for more information.
Looking Ahead
We recognize that this pause may create challenges for partners, providers, and communities who rely on resource navigation services. These decisions were not made lightly, and work is ongoing to identify sustainable solutions that allow NCCARE360 to continue supporting coordinated care efforts across North Carolina.
We are grateful for the continued collaboration, flexibility, and commitment of our partners as we navigate this period and work toward future opportunities to strengthen and expand access to care.
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 platform is powered by Unite Us.