How can healthcare providers check whether they are prepared to support their patients' mental healthcare needs?
The SUN Bucks food program is back for 2025 and is expected to provide benefits to more than one million school children in North Carolina this summer. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction are partnering again to administer the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program known as "SUN Bucks."
SUN Bucks provides a one-time payment of $120 per eligible child on a debit-like card that can be used to buy nutritious food at retailers and farmers markets that accept EBT, including most major grocery stores in North Carolina. SUN Bucks is one of three NC Summer Nutrition (SUN) Programs for Kids that keep children fueled during the summer while schools are out.
Most eligible children will automatically qualify for the program and were auto enrolled by May 2, 2025. Children automatically qualify if they are eligible for any of the following programs:
- Free and reduced-price (FRP) meals at schools by approved FRP application
- Food and Nutrition Services (also called FNS or food stamps)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Cherokee Tribal Food Distribution Program (CTFDP)
- Child is in Foster Care
- Child is enrolled in the McKinney-Vento program (experiencing homelessness or runaway)
- OR if they receive NC Medicaid benefits and have a household income below 185% of the federal poverty level
Families with children who qualify will receive a new 2025 SUN Bucks card in the mail.
Families with questions can visit the website at ncdhhs.gov/sunbucks or call the NC SUN Bucks Call Center at 1-866-719-0141, select a language, then select option 2 to speak with a SUN Bucks representative.
See the full Press Release from NCDHHS to learn more.
Webinar Series
CHW Integration: Strategies for Impact and Sustainability
You're invited to a two-part webinar series, CHW Integration: Strategies for Impact and Sustainability, focused on advancing and sustaining Community Health Worker (CHW) integration across North Carolina’s healthcare system.
Hosted by NC AHEC, the North Carolina Community Health Worker Association (NCCHWA), and Freedmen’s Consulting, this series will explore strategies to strengthen CHW programs, align them with value-based care models, and support long-term sustainability through practical financing approaches.
These sessions are designed for CHWs, community-based organizations, healthcare practices, care management agencies, health system population health teams, and health plans.
This event is sponsored by NC Division of Health Benefits (Medicaid) at no cost to participants.
Part 1: May 19, 2025 | noon - 1 p.m. | REGISTER
Explore how CHWs are driving improvements in population health, enhancing care experiences, and helping to reduce costs. As healthcare moves from fee-for-service to value-based care, CHWs are becoming essential partners in delivering whole-person, community-centered care.
Tim P. McNeill, RN, MPH, will lead this session, highlighting the evolving role of CHWs and sharing promising models of integration from Alabama, New York, and Texas.
Part 2: June 4, 2025 | noon - 1 p.m. | REGISTER
Learn how financing strategies can support and sustain CHW integration across healthcare settings. As value-based care continues to expand, understanding how to fund and grow CHW programs is critical.
Tim P. McNeill, RN, MPH, will review current payment models and discuss their effectiveness in supporting CHW roles. This session includes a care transitions case study and tools to help develop a sustainable CHW integration strategy.
We hope you'll join us for one or both sessions! For questions about NC AHEC CHW Program, please visit our webpage .
From the North Carolina Office of Rural Health:
The Office of Rural Health (ORH) offers qualifying physicians, with educational (student) loan debt, incentive payments to repay their loans tax-free through the Primary Care Physicians Initiative (NC PCPI). With the passage of Session Law 2023-134, incentive payments are awarded to eligible physicians in exchange for providing comprehensive primary care services in outpatient settings at eligible sites serving those with highest need located within Tier 1 and Tier 2 of the North Carolina's County Distress Rankings (Tiers).
Funding is limited and the awards will be based on a first-come, first-served basis for eligible and complete applications. ORH anticipates up to 16 awards in each of the six Medicaid Regions. The application portal will not accept more than 20 applications per Medicaid Region.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the guidelines carefully and gather necessary documentation so that they are prepared to complete the online application in its entirety via the application portal.
MEDICAID MANAGED CARE BACK PORCH CHAT
Key NC Medicaid Updates
Thursday, May 15 | noon-1 p.m.
Please join this month's Back Porch Chat on Thursday, May 15 from 12-1 p.m. This webinar will be hosted by Dr. Janelle White, Chief Medical Officer of NC Medicaid, and will cover important federal updates and NC Medicaid budget priorities.
Additional topics include:
- Clinical Coverage Request Process and Policy Revision Request Process
- 2024 Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Survey Results
- Credentialing Committee Updates
- Justice-Involved Reentry Work
Register by clicking the blue button below. We look forward to connecting with you!
As the seasons change, so do opportunities to expand your knowledge and professional skills! Northwest Area Health Education Center (Northwest AHEC) and the Office of Continuing Medical Education at Wake Forest University School of Medicine are offering a variety of engaging and informative programs this spring, summer, and fall.
Today we share with you a recent communication from North Carolina Medicaid. Your feedback can help shape the 2026 Standardized AMH Performance Incentive Program.
MEMORANDUM
The Advanced Medical Home (AMH) is NC Medicaid’s cornerstone primary care program, serving more than 2 million Medicaid members across the state. Innovative primary care payment is critical to supporting practice improvements that lead to the outcomes that matter to Medicaid enrollees and their families.
Prepaid health plans (PHPs) are currently required to offer performance incentive payment arrangements to AMH practices based on a defined set of AMH quality measures; however, provider feedback and formal PHP reporting indicate that approach to these arrangements varies widely among PHPs. This variability makes it difficult for AMH practices to consistently participate in incentive arrangements across plans and to focus and align their quality improvement efforts for Medicaid members.
To address these challenges, NC Medicaid plans to implement the AMH Standardized Performance Incentive program in 2026. Additional details can be found in the draft AMH Standardized Performance Incentive Program Policy Guide, which is being shared for community partner input.
Standard Plans and Tailored Plans would be required to offer this program to all AMHs. Participation in the program is optional for AMH practices, and PHPs and AMHs may agree to other Value-Based Payment models in addition to or in lieu of this program, if desired.
The AMH Standardized Performance Incentive program was developed as a feature of North Carolina’s participation in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Making Care Primary (MCP) model. CMS recently announced the MCP model will be ending early by Dec. 31, 2025, nine years earlier than planned. While the Medicare MCP model will not be continuing, the Department’s proposed AMH Standardized Performance Incentive program remains an important step to advance NC Medicaid’s goals of reducing provider burden and improving health outcomes.
NC Medicaid is seeking additional feedback from community partners on the design of the AMH Standardized Performance Incentive Program and will continue to meet and collaborate with community partners and CMS in the consideration and design of this proposal.
Community partners are encouraged to provide feedback on the draft AMH Standardized Performance Incentive Program Policy Guide by emailing Medicaid.NCEngagement@dhhs.nc.gov (subject line “AMH Standardized Performance Incentive Program Feedback”) by April 21, 2025.
ADL News for Blog Post
Each April, we come together to celebrate National Public Health Week (NPHW) — a time to recognize the powerful role public health plays in our lives and to honor those working tirelessly to improve the health and well-being of our communities.
