Add your voice to help protect programs that help our neighbors and strengthen our communities.

Protect the Healthy Opportunities Program

Healthy Opportunities is a program of Medicaid that allows organizations like ours to help our neighbors live healthier lives by addressing root causes of negative health outcomes, such as hunger, inadequate housing, and interpersonal violence issues.

BOTH the NC Senate and the NC House have cut all funding for HOP in their most recent budget proposals. It is imperative that our legislators hear that this is not ok!

All the Facts

HOP has the potential to transform healthcare in our area, reducing negative health outcomes, cutting healthcare costs, and helping our friends and family live healthier lives.

The facts are that:

  • NC Counties involved in HOP saw a reduction in ER Visits during the pilot period.

  • Medicaid saw a SAVINGS of $1,020 per person per year for people enrolled in HOP. That would be over $2 billion in savings in HOP was expanded to include every single medicaid recipient in NC.

  • HCM has been able to invest well over $500,000 in local businesses for purchases such as healthy food and healthy home goods.

  • HCM has invested almost $1 million dollars in just over a year in health and safety remediations in peoples homes.

  • If North Carolina does not provide the funding needed for HOP, we will be turning down over $200 million dollars in federal funds that could transform lives, families, and communities.

Call to Action

Over the next 2-3 weeks our legislators need to hear an outpouring of support for the Healthy Opportunities program and encouragement to continue funding these life-saving programs.

Call your representatives

For Haywood County, call Mark Pless at 919-733-5732
For Transylvania, Swain and Jackson County, call Mike Clampitt at 919-733-5654
For the Senate, call Kevin Corbin at 919-733-5875

Recommended phone script:

Hi, my name is [NAME] and I am a resident of [TOWN], NC. I am calling to ask [Representative’s Name] to restore funding for the Healthy Opportunities Program in the NC Budget.

Not only does this program create life-changing improvements in people’s overall health, but does so through millions of dollars in local investments, while saving the state $34 million dollars every year.

Please vote to protect and fully fund this program! Thank you.”

Email your representatives

Immediately after calling, copy and paste the message below into an email to your representatives as well to ensure your voice is heard.

For Haywood County - mark.pless@ncleg.gov
For Transylvania, Swain and Jackson County - mike.clampitt@ncleg.gov
For Senator Corbin - kevin.corbin@ncleg.gov

Template:

Dear [Representative/Senator + Last Name]:

I am a constituent of yours living in [Town name, NC and ZIP]. I am contacting you to urge you to restore full funding for the Healthy Opportunities Program in the NC Budget.

The Healthy Opportunities Pilot Program is a life-giving program that has helped thousands of residents of North Carolina lead healthier lives while saving North Carolina taxpayers $34 million dollars every year!

By not funding this program, we are turning away hundreds of millions of dollars of federal support, increasing costs for North Carolina taxpayers, and adding unneeded stress to our friends, families, and the overall healthcare system.

Please add your support and vote to fully fund the Healthy Opportunities Program.

Sincerely,

[NAME]

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