US-Based Cityblock Partners with Alliance Health to Expand Footprint in North Carolina

This collaboration, which began on July 1, marks a substantial expansion of Cityblock's presence in North Carolina, now reaching three counties, including the populous Wake County.

US-based Cityblock, a Medicaid value-based care provider, has entered into a partnership with Alliance Health, a managed care organization in North Carolina, to enhance services for members with serious mental illness and substance use disorder.

This collaboration, which began on July 1, marks a substantial expansion of Cityblock's presence in North Carolina, now reaching three counties, including the populous Wake County.

The partnership aims to provide comprehensive care to Alliance Health’s 137,000 Medicaid-eligible members across North Carolina.

The integrated behavioral health and intellectual development disability-tailored plan encompasses a broad range of services, including primary care providers, specialists, ancillary health providers, and pharmacies.

Commenting on the importance of the program, Kameron Matthews, MD, chief health officer at Cityblock Health, said, “This expanded access program will ensure that the most vulnerable members of the North Carolina Medicaid system receive timely, quality healthcare for serious conditions like mental illness, substance use, intellectual/developmental disabilities, pharmacy services, physical healthcare, safe housing, and food.”

Expansion in North Carolina

Cityblock’s journey in North Carolina began in 2021 with the launch of clinics catering to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Medicaid and Medicare Advantage members.

Currently, Cityblock serves more than 41,000 members in the state, providing community-based integrated primary care and behavioral health services.

Sean Schreiber, Alliance Health’s COO, said, "Alliance believes that Cityblock's treatment approach of providing community-based integrated primary care, behavioral healthcare, and attention to social supports is an ideal model to address the complex needs of our members."

Impact of Medicaid Expansion

Since the state's Medicaid expansion in December, nearly 480,000 North Carolina residents have enrolled in Medicaid.

Governor Roy Cooper recently highlighted efforts to alleviate medical debt in the state, stating that $4 billion in medical debt for hospitals eligible for payments under the Healthcare Access and Stabilization Program would be eliminated once approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Furthermore, this debt relief, dating back to 2014, will benefit Medicaid enrollees, further enhancing the healthcare landscape in North Carolina.

Cityblock’s initiative with Alliance Health represents a critical step towards improving access to quality healthcare for those most in need in North Carolina.