Orange County's request to disengage with Cardinal Innovations and align with Alliance Health as its Local Management Entity/Managed Care Organization (LME/MCO) has been approved by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS). Orange County’s transition to Alliance will occur on Dec. 15, 2021, according to a timetable established by NCDHHS.
LME/MCOs are local political subdivisions of the state that manage mental health, traumatic brain injury, substance use and intellectual/developmental disability services for individuals who are insured by Medicaid or who have no health insurance. Alliance currently manages these services for residents in Durham, Wake, Cumberland and Johnston counties. Mecklenburg County will also be transitioning from Cardinal to Alliance.
On Nov. 5, 2020, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved moving forward with disengagement from Cardinal and joining Alliance Health. After a lengthy public process to allow for feedback and input from community stakeholders and clients, the BOCC voted to align with Alliance Health.
“We believe that combining with Alliance Health will provide an effective system for our residents by allowing Orange County to connect with the other counties and resources in the Research Triangle, namely Durham and Wake Counties,” said Renee Price, Chair of the Orange County Board of Commissioners. “Alliance shares Orange County’s goal and priority of ensuring a network of mental and physical health care services and an infrastructure that maintains, protects and promotes the well-being of all members of our community.”
“We are excited about the opportunity to manage the public behavioral health, I/DD, and other healthcare services and supports for our neighbors in Orange County, and we look forward to developing the same strong and productive community partnerships that we enjoy in the other counties we serve,” said Alliance CEO Rob Robinson. “We will be working closely with Cardinal as well as NCDHHS to ensure a smooth transition of care for the residents of Orange County, as well as the providers who supply that care.”
More information about this transition is available at www.alliancehealthplan.org/about-alliance/orange-county-lme-mco-disengagement/, and additional questions can be directed to Alliance Health at (800) 510-9132.