WakeMed Joins Statewide Effort to Provide Medical and Mental Health Care for Children in Foster Care, Served by Child Welfare

RALEIGH, N.C. (February 17, 2026) – WakeMed has signed an agreement to join the statewide network for North Carolina’s Children and Families Specialty Plan (CFSP) for the covered services that WakeMed provides.

A first-of-its-kind initiative, the CFSP is a single, statewide NC Medicaid Managed Care plan that wraps Medicaid-enrolled children, youth and young adults currently and formerly served by child welfare with seamless, integrated and coordinated health care. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) manages the CFSP under the name Healthy Blue Care Together.

“We are proud to work alongside Blue Cross NC on this initiative to support the health and well-being of children and families,” said Donald Gintzig, WakeMed president & CEO. “At WakeMed, we focus on whole-person care—addressing medical needs and mental health needs as well as the challenges that may present barriers to achieving optimal health and wellness. Healthy Blue Care Together aligns with our work to close gaps in care impacting our community’s most vulnerable patients.”

Healthy Blue Care Together is part of North Carolina’s commitment to improving the long-term health and well-being of children experiencing child welfare services and to strengthen and support families. While informed by local needs and coordination, Healthy Blue Care Together operates in all 100 counties, ensuring members can access the health care services they need, including behavioral health, and continue to work with their doctors as placements may move them across the state.

“We are thankful to have WakeMed join us in this critical work to improve the health and well-being of children, youth and families currently and formerly served by child welfare services,” said Angela Boykin, CEO of Blue Cross NC’s Medicaid Managed Care plans, Healthy Blue and Healthy Blue Care Together. “WakeMed once again has shown its commitment to our state and supporting a strong and healthy future for our state’s children and families.”

Healthy Blue Care Together serves approximately 32,000 children, youth and young adults currently and formerly served by child welfare. Eight of the state’s major hospital systems  -- Advocate Health, Cape Fear Valley Health, Cone Health, Duke Health, ECU Health, HCA Healthcare, Novant Health and WakeMed – have contracted with Healthy Blue Care Together.

More information on the plan is available on the Healthy Blue Care Together website. 

About WakeMed Health & Hospitals

Serving the community since 1961, WakeMed is a not-for-profit health care system founded and based in Raleigh, N.C. WakeMed exists to improve the health and well-being of our community by providing outstanding and compassionate care to all. WakeMed’s 973-bed system comprises a network of facilities throughout the Triangle area, including three full-service hospitals, a mental health & well-being hospital, eight emergency departments, a dedicated Children’s Hospital and Rehabilitation Hospital, two exceptional Trauma Centers—a Level I Trauma Center in Raleigh and a Level III Trauma Center in Cary, and more than 175 physician and physical therapy practice offices. WakeMed’s mission-driven team includes more than 12,500 employees, 1,200 volunteers, and 1,300 affiliated physicians along with a network of 900+ primary care and specialty providers with WakeMed Physician Practices—all representing the best minds and the biggest hearts and the finest quality in health care and community health. For more information, visit www.wakemed.org or follow WakeMed on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina 

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC), the leading not-for-profit health plan in North Carolina, is committed to improving the health and well-being of its customers and communities. Since 1933, the company has developed programs and initiatives that give North Carolinians the opportunity to live healthier lives. Blue Cross NC serves more than 5.3 million members, including approximately 1.2 million on behalf of other Blue Plans. Blue Cross NC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Visit Blue Cross NC online at http://www.bluecrossnc.com.

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