Community Care of North Carolina

12/15/2025

North Carolina has officially launched the Children and Families Specialty Plan (CFSP), the first Medicaid plan in the state tailored for children, youth, and young adults involved in the foster care system. As of Dec. 1, about 32,000 people were automatically enrolled.

The CFSP ensures seamless, coordinated care no matter where a child or youth is placed. It helps prevent gaps during treatment transitions, adoption, adulthood, or changes in Medicaid eligibility. All members receive care management to support whole-person care.

If your CCPN practice is interested in participating, reach out to your provider relations representative.

More information is available here: https://bit.ly/3E6d9V5

NC Medicaid Children and Families Specialty Plan (CFSP) is a statewide plan for children in foster care. Also know as North Carolina's Specialized Foster Care Plan or FC Plan. This page includes fact sheets and policy papers on the NC Medicaid Children and Families Specialty Plan.

12/12/2025

With food prices climbing and the recent federal shutdown affecting families across the state, many local food banks are seeing a significant increase in demand. As you plan for the holidays, please consider adding your local food pantry to your giving list.

This month, CCNC will make contributions to:
• Manna Food Bank in Western North Carolina
• Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina in the Triad
• Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina in Charlotte
• Urban Ministries in the Triangle
• The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina

Will your CCPN practice volunteer this season? We would love to highlight your efforts. Share a team photo and a brief description of your activity for a chance to be featured in our newsletter.

Send submissions to CCNCcommunications@communitycarenc.org.

12/10/2025

Medicaid rate cuts continue to be a big concern for medical practices across North Carolina. Read more here: https://bit.ly/4a4R2MM

CCNC and CCPN remain aligned with provider groups across the state in urging policymakers to reverse these reductions. Watch for updates in our member newsletter.

“These practices in rural areas — after a while, they may not be able to survive if this goes on,” said Gregory K. Griggs, NC Academy of Family Physicians CEO. “And once they’re gone, they’re not opening back up."

12/09/2025

The 2026 CCPN Clinician Conference returns to the Sheraton Greensboro at Four Seasons Friday, May 29-Saturday, May 30, 2026. The program will feature timely educational topics, focused breakout sessions, and valuable opportunities to connect and collaborate with primary care and behavioral health peers from across North Carolina.

CCPN practices, mark your calendar and plan to join us in Greensboro. Registration opens in January 2026.

12/05/2025

We are proud to recognize Marie Polanco of Hodges Family Practice in Asheboro for her ongoing leadership with CCNC’s Dyad Team.
Marie partnered with Daima Mosiori, then an MHA candidate at the UNC Gillings School of Public Health, to strengthen patient engagement through new community partnerships, public events, and outreach materials that raised awareness of the clinic’s services. The results were felt across both the practice and the community.

Marie’s support extends statewide. She regularly contributes to practice perfect meetings and workgroups, provides feedback that helps improve ART system upgrades, and shares best practices through office hours and the practice manager open forums.

Marie continues to set the standard for what it means to support patients, peers, and practices across North Carolina.

12/03/2025

Medicare telehealth flexibilities have been extended through Jan. 30, 2026 under the new funding law passed after the government shutdown. This restores key pandemic-era policies, including expanded provider eligibility and the removal of geographic restrictions for virtual care.

The law also retroactively covers telehealth services back to Oct. 1, 2025, addressing the lapse created during the shutdown.
CCNC coding and billing specialists will keep practices updated as new guidance becomes available.

12/01/2025

During November’s CONNECTED meeting, Jessica Young, MD, MPH, shared guidance on how healthcare providers can support immigrant members facing stress related to immigration enforcement in their communities.

Young noted that trauma and uncertainty may affect whether members can attend appointments, making flexible options like telehealth or phone visits especially valuable. Provider groups have also created "Know Your Rights" resources to help practices educate patients and update staff policies for interactions with enforcement officials.

11/27/2025

This Thanksgiving, we want to recognize the hard work of our member practices, physicians, and staff throughout North Carolina. Your commitment to caring for patients and supporting each other makes a real difference every day. We hope you have a safe and joyful holiday with those you value most.

11/26/2025

CCNC brings whole-person care management to all 100 counties across North Carolina. Our model focuses on solving problems close to home and spreading effective solutions statewide.

Care Manager Terri White, RN, CCM, recently worked with a member who had relocated to North Carolina and was living without electricity, food, transportation, or medical support. Terri arranged his first CCPN primary care visit, coordinated dental and vision care, restored basic utilities, and connected him to daily nutrition and transportation services.

With regular primary care and home-delivery pharmacy services now established, he is receiving the ongoing support he needs.

Learn how to refer a patient: https://bit.ly/47ZAXXh

11/24/2025

A new resource from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) is now available to help clinicians and practices support patients facing social needs. The Neighborhood Navigator lists more than 40,000 agencies that provide food, housing, transportation, and related services.

Some patients may still feel the effects of delays or changes to SNAP benefits after the recent federal shutdown, and this tool can make it easier to connect them with immediate help. A video on the site walks through how to use the resource effectively: https://bit.ly/43PDpgq

Thanks to the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians for sharing this update.

11/21/2025

To support practices affected by Medicaid rate cuts, CCNC is advancing 2024 earnings across all five prepaid health plans. Although these health plans have not all provided final settlements, we are confident in the numbers and hope that this will provide immediate financial assistance for practices through Quality Incentive payments and shared savings.

In total, $19 million in new funds are being distributed to CCPN Advanced Practice Medical Home practices for their strong 2024 performance, bringing this year’s total to over $24 million in payments.

CCNC and CCPN will continue to stand with our members and advocate for North Carolina’s independent primary care providers.

11/19/2025

Congratulations to Seven Peaks Family Medicine in West Jefferson for being featured in the October issue of Business North Carolina !

Drs. Victoria Knox, Jason Karimy, and Jessica Stevens met during residency in Boone and decided to open a new practice together, choosing rural Ashe County over big-city medicine.

With guidance from CCNC, they secured financing, developed a business plan, and built a 5,000-square-foot clinic. The team is now providing full-spectrum, lifelong care for families in their community.

Read more about their inspiring journey: https://bit.ly/4pfNWd5

Three young doctors choose community over bustle at their practice in a small mountain county. Prospective students to UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine sometimes stress their interest in practicing medicine in the state’s small towns during the admissions process, says, Dr. Jessica Stevens. “A...