DURHAM, N.C. - Building on and strengthening the company’s 92-year commitment to serving North Carolinians, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) announced the creation of CuraCor Solutions (CuraCor)™, a North Carolina not-for-profit parent holding company whose subsidiaries will include Blue Cross NC.

As a not-for-profit company, Blue Cross NC’s purpose is to improve health for all, and the new structure enables the company to carry out this work faster and more effectively. The holding company structure will include Blue Cross NC and other fully owned companies. This approach allows CuraCor and its family of companies to quickly partner and invest in new health programs and technologies to benefit customers — driving better and more affordable care for Blue Cross NC members and all North Carolinians. Strategic investments by CuraCor will support Blue Cross NC’s purpose to improve the health and well-being of customers and communities across the state.

Blue Cross NC members will experience no changes to their coverage, services or the open enrollment process as a result of this modernized structure. Insurance cards, provider networks and Medicaid and Medicare offerings remain the same.

“Our health care system is too expensive, too confusing and access remains a challenge across the nation. Consumers insist on a better experience, and we must evolve to meet the demands of today’s health care environment.” said Dr. Tunde Sotunde, President and CEO of Blue Cross NC and CuraCor. “CuraCor enables Blue Cross NC and its family of purpose-driven companies to ramp up solutions that respond quickly to these challenges, while bringing care for our customers and communities to the center of everything we do.”

North Carolina’s critical health care challenges include primary care shortages, access to care in rural communities and the need to advance health technologies — all areas where Blue Cross NC has a history of successful investment. Under the new structure, Blue Cross NC can direct more resources to address these challenges. Modernizing to form a diversified family of companies allows Blue Cross NC to serve its not-for-profit mission while remaining competitive in a dynamic market.

CuraCor will have the ability to more quickly partner and invest to drive better and more affordable care. Existing partnerships have resulted in:

• Addressing gaps in quality health care access, such as Blue Cross NC’s acquisition of all North Carolina- based FastMed locations. Since the acquisition, FastMed has added primary care offerings and brought clinics to pre-pandemic staffing levels and hours. This investment addresses critical gaps in access to urgent care in small towns and helps prevent unnecessary ER visits across North Carolina.
• Developing and deploying innovative technologies to meet consumer expectations in convenience, access and ease of use. For example, an investment in capabilities to better serve large employers through customized benefits and flexible provider networks.

Legislation passed and signed into law in 2023, with strong bipartisan support, paved the way for Blue Cross NC to modernize its structure.