WILMINGTON — Bladen is among three counties to be supported by UNC Wilmington as part of a grant through the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation.
UNCW’s College of Health and Human Services will support rural health departments in navigating the state’s Medicaid transformation plan with the gift of $583,000. Leah Mayo is leading the project as the coordinator on behalf of the Center for Healthy Communities.
In addition to Bladen, the counties of Robeson and Columbus will also transition into a value-based model of care. This means a model “in which providers are paid based on services provided and rewarded for improved patient outcomes. This model incentivizes providers to provide quality care to reduce chronic disease and improve quality of life for patients,” a news release said.
In the project, health departments will assess their capacity and resource needs for the implementation of new policies and procedures related to Medicaid and value-based care.
“This project will be instrumental in surfacing what we know and don’t know about how health departments will be impacted by these changes,” Mayo said in the release. “Collaborative learning environments across counties will work to assess and identify what is needed to achieve success and continue providing quality care to our underserved, rural populations.”
Dr. Ashley Wells is the assistant dean for community engagement in UNCW’s College of Health and Human Services. She emphasized the critical role played by health departments in communities.
“Creating the conditions for health department staff and their community partners to learn, plan and adapt to the transitioning health-care system will benefit all residents in this region of the state,” Wells said.
Katie Eyes is the senior program officer for the foundation. She said the impacts will be far-reaching.
“We’re excited to be partnering with the Center and local health departments as they are on the frontlines of this transition, leading efforts in service of the health of those living in Bladen, Columbus and Robeson counties,” Eyes said.
The faculty team at UNCW collaborating with the Center for Healthy Communities includes Dr. Kristin Bolton, social work; Dr. Sabrina Cherry, public health; and Dr. Kristen Devall, sociology.
UNCW’s Center for Healthy Communities was founded in 2013, and its College of Health and Human Services in 2010. The Reynolds Trust is one of the largest in North Carolina and traces its roots to 1947. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation has been around since 2000, investing more than $136 million through more than 1,000 grants.