RALEIGH, N.C. — On Friday, May 30, state leaders, health care professionals, and researchers will gather at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences for a symposium exploring the transformative impact of Medicaid expansion and the state’s pioneering Healthy Opportunities Pilots program.
Hosted by the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina, the event will unveil new data on how these initiatives are improving rural health outcomes, reducing medical costs, and boosting local economies across North Carolina.
Since Medicaid expansion began in 2023, over 650,000 newly eligible North Carolinians—including veterans and workers in critical industries like child care, hospitality, and home health—have gained access to affordable health care. In total, more than 3 million North Carolinians, or roughly 1 in 4 residents, now receive coverage through NC Medicaid.
The Healthy Opportunities Pilots, the first initiative of its kind in the nation, addresses social drivers of health by providing services such as food, housing support, transportation, and assistance with interpersonal violence and toxic stress. The program has not only been called a “life changer” for families but is also delivering measurable outcomes—$1,020 in annual healthcare cost savings per enrollee, along with increased support for local economies and small businesses.
Event Details:
What:
Medicaid Expansion and Healthy Opportunities Pilots Symposium
When:
Friday, May 30
9 a.m. – noon
Opening Remarks from 9 – 9:30 a.m.
Presentations from 9:30 – 11:15 a.m.
Audience and Media Q&A from 11:30 – 11:45 a.m.
NC Legislators Reflection from 11:45 a.m. – noon
Closing Remarks at noon
Where:
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences – Nature Research Center
121 W. Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27601
Speakers Include:
- Dr. Dev Sangvai, Secretary, NCDHHS
- Jay Ludlam, Deputy Secretary for NC Medicaid, NCDHHS
- Mark Holmes, PhD, Director, Cecil G. Sheps Center, UNC
- Seth Berkowitz, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, UNC
- Sandra Greene, PhD, Professor of Health Policy and Management, UNC
- Marisa Domino, PhD, Executive Director, Center for Health Information and Research, ASU
- Valerie Lewis, PhD, Professor of Health Policy and Management, UNC
- Nancy Messonnier, MD, Dean, Gillings School of Global Public Health, UNC
- Christopher Shea, PhD, Professor of Health Policy and Management, UNC
- Jim Burgin, NC State Senator, R-District 12
- Sarah Crawford, NC State Representative, D-District 66
The symposium offers an opportunity for media, policymakers, and stakeholders to hear firsthand how these groundbreaking programs are improving lives and shaping the future of health care in North Carolina.
Credentialed media are invited to attend. RSVPs can be sent to news@dhhs.nc.gov.
