New report features HOP milestones and annual savings of nearly $12 million
According to Impact Health’s newly released 2024 Impact Report, the Healthy Opportunities Pilot’s (HOP’s) innovative approach to addressing nonmedical drivers of health has improved the lives of more than 10,000 Western North Carolinians, while saving the state nearly $12 million annually. Impact Health is the regional network lead for the North Carolina HOP program, supporting the work of more than 60 human services organizations (HSOs) in the 18 westernmost counties.
“We know – through data, evaluation, and client feedback – that our work over the last three years has achieved proof of concept and a measurable return on investment for the state of North Carolina,” said Impact Health CEO Laurie Stradley. “By meeting Medicaid members’ critical social needs here in Western North Carolina, HOP is helping create healthier communities and reducing the need for costly medical interventions.”
HOP’s groundbreaking program uses Medicaid funds to improve access to nutritious food, safe housing, reliable transportation, and services that support safe relationships. Research indicates that these factors influence up to 80% of a person’s wellbeing. Since its 2022 launch, Impact Health’s network of human service organizations has expanded to over 60 partners across Western North Carolina, providing more than 330,300 transformative services to 12,295 HOP participants—35% of whom are children. The program has also created 312 full- and part-time jobs for community-based nonprofit organizations in underserved areas of the region. These impacts have continued to grow in the first few months of 2025.
HOP’s measurable fiscal returns to date are notable. The Sheps Center at the University of North Carolina estimates North Carolina saves $1,020 annually for each Medicaid member who participates in HOP—a savings expected to grow over time. In Western North Carolina, this translates to $11.9 million in annual savings through participants’ improved health and reduced hospital and emergency room use—savings that are expected to grow over time.
“The momentum we’ve gained over the last three years is drawing national attention. North Carolina is proving every day that investing in health is good for our people, our local economies, and our healthcare system. It’s a win in every sense of the word,” Stradley said.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved North Carolina’s second Medicaid 1115 waiver request in December 2024, authorizing HOP for another five years.
