ASHEVILLE, NC – Vaya Health announced it has been selected by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) as the NC Rural Organizations Orchestrating Transformation for Sustainability (ROOTS) Hub Lead for Region 3 as part of the North Carolina Rural Health Transformation Program (NCRHTP).
As the Region 3 Hub Lead, Vaya will work with Appalachian State University (ASU) and Partners Health Management to serve communities across Alexander, Anson, Cabarrus, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly, and Union counties. In this role, Vaya will coordinate a regional network of healthcare providers, behavioral health specialists, and community-based organizations to improve access to care and strengthen the overall health system.
“This investment marks a transformative step forward for rural health across North Carolina. Through the NC ROOTS Hub, we have a unique opportunity to strengthen collaboration among providers, community organizations, and support services to better meet people where they are,” said Tracy Hayes, Area Director and Chief Executive Officer for Vaya Health. “The impact will extend beyond improved access to care to support healthier, more resilient communities throughout the state.”
Over the next five years, Vaya will support rural communities across Region 3 by:
- Improving behavioral health and substance use services
- Enhancing care coordination across regions
- Leveraging digital tools to improve outcomes
- Expanding access to primary care
- Strengthening health care through workforce development
The statewide initiative led by NCDHHS will support more than 400 rural health facilities by improving health outcomes, supporting sustainable access to care, and advancing healthcare delivery to rural communities. Additionally, the program is expected to bring hundreds of millions of dollars in federal investment to North Carolina over the next five years.
“For the communities we serve, this program means more coordinated care, more resources, and more support where it’s needed most. With the help of partners like Appalachian State University and Partners Health Management, we’ll be able to address challenges more holistically and create lasting improvements in health outcomes for rural North Carolinians,” said Rhonda Cox, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Vaya Health.
Vaya is one of five locally governed networks selected as NC ROOTS Hub Leads:
- Impact Health – Region 1
- Trillium Health Resources – Region 2 and 5
- Vaya Health – Region 3
- University of North Carolina Hospitals – Region 4
- Access East, Inc. – Region 6
Funded through a $213 Million investment from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the RHTP is a statewide initiative led by NCDHHS designed to improve health outcomes, support sustainable access to care, and advance health care delivery for rural communities. The program will support more than 400 rural health facilities and bring hundreds of millions of dollars in federal investment to the state over the next five years.
To learn more, visit the North Carolina Rural Health Transformation Program website.
About Vaya Health
Vaya Health is a specialty managed care organization and local government agency that oversees publicly funded health care services across a 32-county region of North Carolina for people with significant behavioral health needs, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and traumatic brain injuries. Vaya manages Medicaid, federal, state, and local funding to meet member and community needs while advancing whole-person health. Together with members, contracted providers, and local partners, we’re moving forward to a healthier North Carolina. Vaya Health can be found online at vayahealth.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/VayaHealth/, on X (formerly known as Twitter) @VayaHealth, on Instagram at instagram.com/vaya.health, and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/vaya-health.
About Appalachian State University
As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, cost-effective education. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.
About Partners Health Management
Partners Health Management plays a critical role in ensuring access to comprehensive, high-quality care for Medicaid beneficiaries and uninsured/underinsured individuals across 15 North Carolina counties. We strategically manage Medicaid, state, and local funds to support whole-person, integrated physical and behavioral health care for individuals receiving mental health, intellectual and other developmental disability, substance use disorder and traumatic brain injury services. Partners is widely recognized across North Carolina for our innovative Partners Community Model, which is rooted in localized, person-centered care shaped by the voices of the individuals and families we serve. Our enduring partnerships with providers, community organizations, and stakeholders reflect our unwavering commitment to fostering collaboration and delivering measurable results. Together, we are advancing our mission of Improving Lives and Strengthening Communities, one member at a time. Partners can be found online at partnersbhm.org, on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and on YouTube.
Stevens Amendment Disclosure: $39,252,177 or 100% of the total costs of the North Carolina Rural Health Transformation Program in budget period 1 are funded with Federal funds, including awards anticipated under this RFA; $0 or 0% of the total cost of this program is funded by non-governmental sources. This disclosure is provided in accordance with the Stevens Amendment (Section 505, Division H of Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Public Law 116-260).
