Malveaux Argues NC Should Permanently Fund Social Needs Pilots
In a commentary, economist Julianne Malveaux argues that North Carolina's rural health efforts should extend beyond hospital funding to permanently support programs addressing social determinants of health like food, housing, and transportation. She cites the state's Healthy Opportunities pilot programs, which connect healthcare providers with community organizations and recently resumed operations with new state budget funding, as evidence of what's possible: one western North Carolina pilot tied to food insecurity produced a 67% drop in hospital readmission risk and $164 in monthly Medicaid savings per participant. Malveaux contends state leaders should treat these pilots as permanent infrastructure rather than temporary experiments, particularly given disparities facing rural and Black communities, and should view the Rural Health Transformation Program as a broader opportunity rather than a hospital-only investment.