RALEIGH — A state audit released last month found that Community Care of North Carolina, whose network serves Scotland County, saved North Carolina Medicaid nearly $400 million per year over the past two years.
Community Care of North Carolina is a managed primary care program that oversees the delivery of healthcare services to 1.4 million people covered by Medicaid.
The audit, which was requested by the General Assembly, showed that the program saved approximately $78 per quarter per beneficiary. This amounts to a cost savings of $312 per year or nine percent savings based on inflation-adjusted dollars to the residents of North Carolina.
Officials said the largest savings came from the reduction of in-patient hospitalizations by 17.6 percent.
There was a 3.8 decrease in inpatient admissions per 100 Medicaid beneficiaries from 2013 to 2014, as compared to a 2.8 reduction statewide in North Carolina, Additionally, the network reduced emergency room visits by 8.8 visits per 100 Medicaid beneficiaries from 2013 to 2014, officials said.
According to the CCNC, this was a direct result of the program’s emphasis on primary care services being managed through a medical home, and access to specialty care is coordinated through the primary care physician.
CCNC officials said they also encourage preventative care and managing chronic illnesses to reduce the frequency of hospital admissions and emergency room visits. CCNC works in partnership with the Department of Public Health to administer the Care Coordination for Children Program, as well as the Pregnancy Medical Home Program, officials said.
There are 14 regional networks in North Carolina. Scotland County is affiliated with the Community Care of the Sandhills. The CCNC network also serves Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, and Richmond counties.
Copies of the Community Care of North Carolina audit may be obtained from the Office of the State Auditor at 919-807-7500 or from the internet at ncauditor.net.
For information, contact Bengie Hair, Health Director, at Scotland County Health Department, at 910-277-2440.