Special Health Programs

What is asthma?

Asthma is a long-term illness that makes the airways to your lungs narrow, swollen, or blocked. It is important to do everything you can to keep your asthma under control.

Uncontrolled asthma:

• Makes it hard for you to breathe
• Keeps you from playing sports or doing physical activities
• Can cause you to miss work or school

You can control asthma if you:

• Know your triggers and how to avoid them.
• Take your daily medicine as directed by your provider.
• Use your rescue inhaler as directed by your provider.

What can the asthma program do for me?

The asthma program is open to any ACNC members age 18 and under. We can help you:

• Understand what triggers your asthma.
• Make an asthma action plan.
• Understand your daily and rescue medications.
• Learn the early warning signs of an asthma attack.

Eligible ACNC members age 18 or younger may receive in-home visit services. Asthma navigators can help work with you and your child to teach you how to help control asthma, avoid triggers and provide supplies to control allergies.

Join the asthma program

To join the asthma program, please call Member Services at 1-855-375-8811 (TTY 1-866-209-6421). If you are a part of but no longer want to be in the asthma program, call 1-855-375-8811 (TTY 1-866-209-6421). Leaving the program will not change your benefits. It also will not change the way ACNC or the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) treats you.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease that affects how your body breaks down sugar. It causes your body to have too much sugar in the blood. It could also be that you do not have enough insulin. Insulin helps your body break down the sugar in the food you eat to give you energy.

If you do not have control of your diabetes, it can:

• Cause you to go blind, get kidney disease, and have foot problems.
• Make it easier to get infections and/or wounds that will not heal.
• Put you at a higher risk of getting heart disease or having a stroke.
• Cause you to have nerve damage.
• Make you feel tired and thirsty and cause you to go to the bathroom much more than usual.

What can the diabetes program do for me?

The diabetes program can help members with diabetes:

• Understand the medications they are taking.
• Know the importance of the foods they eat.
• Know why it is so important to test their blood sugar as often as their provider suggests.
• Understand why exercise and weight control are so important.

Join the diabetes program

To join the diabetes program, please call 1-855-375-8811 (TTY 1-866-209-6421). If you are a part of but no longer want to be in the diabetes program, call 1-855-375-8811 (TTY 1-866-209-6421). Leaving the program will not change your benefits. It will also not change the way ACNC or the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) treats you.

What is a chronic condition?

Chronic conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, usually last one or more years and require ongoing medical attention.

What can the Complex Care Management program do for me?

If you have one or more chronic conditions, the Complex Care Management program can help you:

• Understand and manage your chronic health conditions.
• Identify your medical and non-medical needs.
• Understand your medications.
• Set goals to improve your health.
• Find the right doctors and specialists to manage your care.
• Connect to available resources in your community.

In this program, you will work with a Care Manager who will help you get the services and information you need to improve your health.

Join the Complex Care Management program

To join the Complex Care Management program, please call 1-855-375-8811 (TTY 1-866-209-6421). A care manager may contact you directly if you need complex care management. If you are a part of but no longer want to be in the Complex Care Management program, call 1-855-375-8811 (TTY 1-866-209-6421). Leaving the program will not change your benefits. It will also not change the way ACNC or the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) treats you.

What is Bright Start?

ACNC helps moms-to-be and new moms make healthy choices for themselves and their babies through the Bright Start program. Early and complete health care before your child's birth is the key to having a healthy baby.

What can the Bright Start program do for me?

The Bright Start program helps support our members during their pregnancies. Each member enrolled in Bright Start will receive educational materials. Members can get information and resources to help you have a safe pregnancy and a healthy baby.

Members that are at-risk for pregnancy complications will be contacted by a Care Manager who is located within the community's local health department. By partnering with our local health departments, our goal is to provide coordinated and complete care throughout your pregnancy.

Join the Bright Start program

Find out more about Bright Start and how to join the program. If you are a part of but no longer want to be in Bright Start, call 1-833-475-2262 (TTY 1-866-209-6421). Leaving the program will not change your benefits. It will also not change the way ACNC or your local health department treats you.

Why is tobacco cessation important?

Tobacco products can harm your body. These include cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, e-cigarettes and vapes. Using these products exposes your body to chemicals that can cause cancer and other harmful diseases. Secondhand smoke is also unsafe to those around you, including infants and children.

There are many reasons to quit using tobacco products:

• Reduce your risk of certain types of cancer.
• Reduce your risk of heart disease.
• Improve blood circulation.
• Improve lung function.
• Lower your blood pressure.
• Cough less.
• Save money. (Check out our Cost of Smoking CalculatorOpens a new window.)

What can the tobacco cessation program do for me?

Quitting isn’t easy, but you can do it. With the support of the Quit for Life® program, ACNC members can get the tools and support they need to quit.

Quit for Life can provide:

• A personal quit plan created by you and a Quit Coach
• A quit guide to help you during your journey to becoming tobacco-free
• Access to a web portal to help you track your progress and connect with others
• Access to tobacco cessation medicines like nicotine gum or patches
• Text message reminders and support from Text2QuitSM*
• Access to a secure mobile app to help prepare to quit, track urges and contact a Quit Coach

Join the Quit for Life program

To join the Quit for Life program, visit www.myquitforlife.com/amerihealthcaritasnc or call 1-866-784-8454 (TTY 1-877-777-6543). You can get services to help you quit at no cost to you.

If you were a part of but no longer want to be in the tobacco program, call 1-855-375-8811 (TTY 1-866-209-6421). Leaving the program will not change your benefits. It will also not change the way ACNC or the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) treats you.

What is NC InCK?

The NC Integrated Care for Kids (NC InCK) program aims to improve how children and families receive care and support services. Children insured by Medicaid from birth through age 20 in Alamance, Durham, Granville, Orange and Vance counties are automatically enrolled in NC InCK. Children enrolled in NC InCK are eligible for free care management services.

What can NC InCK do for me?

NC InCK Care Managers work with families to meet children’s health and well-being goals. Care Managers also collaborate with children’s health care and support providers to share responsibilities, resources and knowledge. NC InCK care managers use a whole-person approach to understand and address children's and families’ needs, including:

• Early education and care
• Food
• Housing
• Title V maternal and child services
• Juvenile justice
• Child welfare
• Legal aid
• Schools

How do I join?

Enrollment is automatic. If you are eligible for NC InCK, you will receive a call from an ACNC Care Manager. The NC InCK model covers children enrolled in Medicaid who live in Alamance, Durham, Granville, Orange and Vance counties. The model will operate through December 31, 2026. If you are a part of but no longer want to be in the NC InCK program, call 1-855-375-8811 (TTY 1-866-209-6421). Leaving the program will not change your benefits. It will also not change the way ACNC or the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) treats you

If you would like to learn more about NC InCK, visit ncinck.org. Results will be used to evaluate care quality, utilization and costs.