[{"innerBlocks":[],"name":"core\/freeform","postId":264,"blockType":{"name":"core\/freeform","keywords":[],"attributes":{"content":{"type":"string","source":"raw"},"lock":{"type":"object"}},"providesContext":[],"usesContext":[],"selectors":[],"supports":{"className":false,"customClassName":false,"reusable":false},"styles":[],"variations":[],"apiVersion":3,"title":"Classic","description":"Use the classic WordPress editor.","category":"text"},"originalContent":"Health plan Eastpointe and Altruista Health are teaming up to help ease a massive transition in the North Carolina Medicaid program.Altruista, a Washington-based health IT company, will support Eastpointe during North Carolina\u2019s move to a fully integrated Medicaid managed care program, which state officials contend is the largest change to North Carolina\u2019s Medicaid program in more than 40 years.The partnership follows the passage of a North Carolina law in June 2018, authorizing the carve-in of behavioral health services into standard benefit plans and the creation of specialized managed care products targeted toward individuals with significant behavioral health needs. Passage of the bill will effectively put the majority of the North Carolina\u2019s Medicaid population into integrated managed care products over the next several years.For the venture, Eastpointe\u2014 a managed care organization in eastern North Carolina\u2014brings to the table coordination of public behavioral healthcare for Medicaid beneficiaries with mental health challenges, including substance use issues, and intellectual and developmental disabilities.Eastpointe currently works in partnership with 247 agencies, 47 licensed independent practitioners and 41 hospitals in 10 counties in North Carolina to help families get the comprehensive services they need.Through a suite of web applications, Altruista\u2019s GuidingCare technology platform will provide the integrated care management, care coordination and quality improvement programs for North Carolina\u2019s Medicaid overhaul. \u201cGuidingCare helps health plans and providers transform their processes, reduce avoidable expenses and improve patient health outcomes,\u201d Altruista says. Sarah Stroud, Eastpointe\u2019s CEO, says the plan chose to partner with Altruista because the IT firm has \u201cstrong experience\u201d in clinical health plan operations, behavioral health and the social determinants of health (SDOH). \u201cThis experience makes it the best choice for us to improve our member services,\u201d she says. \u201cWe\u2019ve been focused on behavioral health and delivering whole person care. Adding physical healthcare and pharmacy requires us to have a comprehensive foundation in technology to continue to serve our members with excellence.\u201d

Mike McKitterick, Altruista\u2019s executive vice president of clinical services, says Eastpointe \u201chas all of the fundamentals to translate its expertise in behavioral health to a broader health plan paradigm because the biopsychosocial approach also works well in chronic care management. We are well-positioned to support them from a technology and people standpoint because we have tools and expertise in both realms,\u201d he says. \u201cOur blended perspectives can enable a smoother transformation for Eastpointe.\u201d Altruista\u2019s GuidingCare was the first care management platform to directly integrate SDOH into the member care plan, providing real-time access to social services search-and-referral tools, according to Altruista. The new partnership will have Eastpointe using Altruista\u2019s Mobile Clinician app, which extends GuidingCare functionality into remote and rural areas that may have unreliable internet connectivity, the company says.","saveContent":"Health plan Eastpointe and Altruista Health are teaming up to help ease a massive transition in the North Carolina Medicaid program.Altruista, a Washington-based health IT company, will support Eastpointe during North Carolina\u2019s move to a fully integrated Medicaid managed care program, which state officials contend is the largest change to North Carolina\u2019s Medicaid program in more than 40 years.The partnership follows the passage of a North Carolina law in June 2018, authorizing the carve-in of behavioral health services into standard benefit plans and the creation of specialized managed care products targeted toward individuals with significant behavioral health needs. Passage of the bill will effectively put the majority of the North Carolina\u2019s Medicaid population into integrated managed care products over the next several years.For the venture, Eastpointe\u2014 a managed care organization in eastern North Carolina\u2014brings to the table coordination of public behavioral healthcare for Medicaid beneficiaries with mental health challenges, including substance use issues, and intellectual and developmental disabilities.Eastpointe currently works in partnership with 247 agencies, 47 licensed independent practitioners and 41 hospitals in 10 counties in North Carolina to help families get the comprehensive services they need.Through a suite of web applications, Altruista\u2019s GuidingCare technology platform will provide the integrated care management, care coordination and quality improvement programs for North Carolina\u2019s Medicaid overhaul. \u201cGuidingCare helps health plans and providers transform their processes, reduce avoidable expenses and improve patient health outcomes,\u201d Altruista says. Sarah Stroud, Eastpointe\u2019s CEO, says the plan chose to partner with Altruista because the IT firm has \u201cstrong experience\u201d in clinical health plan operations, behavioral health and the social determinants of health (SDOH). \u201cThis experience makes it the best choice for us to improve our member services,\u201d she says. \u201cWe\u2019ve been focused on behavioral health and delivering whole person care. Adding physical healthcare and pharmacy requires us to have a comprehensive foundation in technology to continue to serve our members with excellence.\u201d

Eastpointe, Altruista partner to ease NC’s Medicaid overhaul

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