Food insecurity is a significant health-related social need that disproportionately impacts individuals enrolled in Medicaid. Limited access to nutritious food is closely linked to poor health outcomes, greater risk of diet-related conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, and increased health care costs.
North Carolina's Healthy Opportunities Pilots (HOP), launched in March 2022 under the state's Medicaid 1115 waiver, offers a promising state-based approach to addressing members’ health-related social needs, including food insecurity. The program provides a range of nutrition services, including medically tailored meals, food boxes, produce prescriptions, and nutrition case management. A recent evaluation found that HOP—which also includes services to address other health-related social needs, such as housing, transportation, interpersonal safety, and toxic stress—has reduced emergency department utilization, hospital admissions, and overall health care costs among participants.
This Better Care Playbook webinar highlighted North Carolina's approach to integrating nutrition services into Medicaid, featuring insights from the program's lead evaluator and on-the-ground implementers. Speakers discussed core program elements — such as eligibility, types of services provided, and access points — and explored how partnerships among Medicaid, health plans, regional coordinating organizations, and community-based organizations support service delivery. The session also highlighted implementation strategies and participant experiences, presented early evidence of impact, and offered practical lessons for other states and communities implementing similar initiatives.
Presenters included:
- Seth Berkowitz, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Medicine and Section Chief for Research, Division of General Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
- Sarah Ridout, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, Healthy Opportunities Program Director, Community Care of the Lower Cape Fear
- Christopher Crooks, MBA, PMP, Executive Director, Onslow Community Outreach
This webinar is part of the Better Care Playbook Implementation Lab series. These sessions explore implementation strategies for specific models or tools with demonstrated evidence. Ample opportunities will be available for participants to ask questions to help further their understanding of moving evidence to practice.