North Carolina Budget Fully Funds Medicaid, Provides $25 Million To Restart Healthy Opportunities Pilot

North Carolina's fiscal year (FY) 2027 budget fully funds the state Medicaid program and provides $25 million for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) to restart the Healthy Opportunities Pilot (HOP), which has been suspended since July 2025. HOP provided eligible Medicaid beneficiaries in rural areas with services addressing health-related social needs (HRSNs). Governor Josh Stein signed the budget on July 7, 2026. As of July 16, NCDHHS had not released details about when or how the pilot would resume.

HOP launched on March 15, 2022, and was suspended on July 1, 2025 after . . .