Fifteenth year of community sharing continues to bring holiday meals to local families in need

In her new role as president of the Blue Cross NC Foundation, Colleen Briggs outlines a bold strategy to improve health outcomes and affordability for North Carolina.

In communities across North Carolina, too many young people are quietly battling stress, anxiety and depression, challenges that can disrupt friendships and affect their ability to focus on school and hobbies - or even dream about the future.

For more than a decade, Blue Cross NC has partnered with Charlotte Motor Speedway to use racing as a platform for community impact. This year, the company is building on its commitment by broadening its focus to serve additional North Carolina communities — addressing issues such as food insecurity while continuing to champion cancer prevention and survivor support.

Western North Carolina is more than just a place on the map; it is part of my story. The mountains, the people, and the sense of community have shaped my perspective in ways that continue to influence how I approach my work with our Medicaid managed care plan, Healthy Blue.

We are honored to be recognized in USA TODAY’s Food as Medicine Special Edition for our work advancing nutrition-based care. As Colleen Briggs, VP of Corporate Responsibility, shared: “We have 50,000 deaths per year around chronic conditions in our state… It’s a huge issue impacting not only individuals, but the whole health care system.”

Health care can be complex and challenging to navigate. Now, Greenville community members have a new place to go for support and answers. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) held the official grand opening of its new Beyond Blue Neighborhood Center last week to provide members with in-person support to understand and make the most of their health plans.

Consumers are frustrated — and they’re right to be. Health care is broken, and it’s about to get a lot worse. Last week, I noted the severity of the cost problem, outlining where people’s premium dollars go and why health care is so expensive. This week, my goal is to show, with urgency, that the system isn’t just strained, it’s undergoing a seismic shift. Two big forces drive the reckoning we face.

Health care in the United States is a study in contradictions. We spend nearly $5 trillion a year on care – almost 20 percent of our national economy — yet our health outcomes trail nearly every other wealthy nation. Last year, North Carolina spent approximately $94.5 billion in health care costs. That’s equivalent to 16 percent of our state’s GDP. Despite spending this much, North Carolinians aren’t getting healthier or spending less. The system isn’t just expensive, it’s buckling and failing to deliver.