July 18, 2023
North Carolina is a year into its implementation of its Healthy Opportunities 1115(b) Medicaid Demonstration Pilot, the first Medicaid program to directly finance the delivery of health-related social needs. In AHLA’s Speaking of Health Law podcast, Leah Mayo, the Interim Assistant Dean of Community Engagement and Health Equity at UNC Wilmington, speaks with Tina Simpson, JD, MSPH, a Principal Consultant at Atrómitos, and Sarah Ridout, the Healthy Opportunities Program Director at Community Care of the Lower Cape Fear, one of the three regional Network Leads responsible for implementing the pilot in North Carolina.
Meet the Speakers
Moderator
Leah Mayo, MPH, MCHES, is the Interim Assistant Dean of Community Engagement and Healthy Equity of the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) of the University of North Carolina Wilmington. CHHS aims to create a positive influence on the health and well-being of individuals in North Carolina and beyond with the primary objective of assisting individuals, families, and communities in leading healthier, more prosperous, and empowered lives. CHHS is dedicated to achieving its goals through exceptional teaching, research, and community engagement.
Guest Speaker
Sarah Ridout is the Healthy Opportunities Pilot (HOP) Program Director for Community Care of the Lower Cape Fear in Eastern North Carolina. She focuses on implementing, planning, and evaluating the HOP program along with an incredibly talented team and network of Human Services Organizations within a six-county region. The Healthy Opportunities Pilot is the nation’s first comprehensive program to test and evaluate the impact of non-medical interventions on high-needs beneficiaries. Community Care of the Lower Cape Fear was one of three organizations awarded as Network Lead.
Main Speaker
Tina Simpson is a Principal Consultant with Atrómitos, a firm committed to creating healthier, more resilient, and more equitable communities. As a Principal Consultant, she assists health providers seeking to adapt to a changing market and regulatory landscape and transform care delivery. Tina began her legal career as an Assistant Attorney General with the North Carolina Department of Justice. She represented the NC Division of Medicaid, the Office of the State Treasurer, and a series of occupational licensing boards, focusing on administrative rule-making, board management, and public procurement.