The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced the launch of the Children and Families Specialty Plan (CFSP), a statewide health plan to ensure access to comprehensive physical and mental health services for Medicaid-enrolled children, youth, and young adults currently and formerly served by the child welfare system. With approval from, and at the direction of, the North Carolina General Assembly, and in partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC), the CFSP went live on December 1, 2025. The name of the plan is Healthy Blue Care Together.
Supporting children and families served by the child welfare system requires close coordination across multiple systems and partners to ensure that family preservation is actively prioritized through permanency planning and reunification efforts. As a single, statewide health plan, the CFSP is designed to support this population by providing seamless, coordinated access to a full range of physical health, mental health, pharmacy, non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT), long term services and supports (LTSS), and other value-added benefits regardless of their geographic location.
Upon launch, approximately 32,000 current and former children in foster care, youth, and young adults under age 26, as well as their minor children were automatically enrolled in the CFSP. The CFSP provides comprehensive coverage for all services provided by the Standard Plan in addition to most Tailored Plan specialty services, such as 1915(i) Home and Community-Based Services and enhanced behavioral health and residential services. It also includes a broad range of mental health services such as outpatient therapy, inpatient treatment, and crisis and therapeutic residential options for children. Additionally, the CFSP is responsible for addressing unmet health-related resource needs, including housing, food, transportation, and interpersonal violence.
This was reported by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services on December 1, 2025 (accessed February 3, 2026).
Contact information: Office of Communications, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, 1915 Health Services Way, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607; 919-855-4840; Email: news@dhhs.nc.gov; Website: https://www.healthybluenc.com/children-families-specialty-plan
March 2026 00US26EUA0007