What Access East does

Access East, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit healthcare organization founded in 1994 and headquartered in Greenville, North Carolina, that delivers care management, insurance navigation, and free clinical services to vulnerable populations across 34 Eastern North Carolina counties. The organization operates three primary service lines: (1) Access East Medicaid Care Management, an NCQA-accredited (August 2024) care coordination program serving roughly 75,000–97,000 Medicaid enrollees through a network of approximately 140 patient-centered medical homes including FQHCs, health departments, and ECU Health; (2) HealthAssist Uninsured Network, an integrated system of donated and reduced-fee healthcare for uninsured residents of six counties (Beaufort, Greene, Edgecombe, Hertford, Martin, Pitt) that also houses the grant-funded ACA Navigators program and the bilingual Access East Farmworker Health Program serving H-2A workers; and (3) the Healthy Opportunities Pilot, a non-medical services program (food, housing, transportation, toxic stress) that was one of only three in North Carolina before its funding was discontinued by the NC General Assembly effective July 1, 2025.

The organization runs on care management software and telephonic care coordination systems organized into three care-management teams (nurse care managers, licensed clinical social workers, community coordinators) and supplements this with in-person delivery through free clinics (MEND, Dr. Irons HealthAssist Clinic at JOY Community Center, Pitt County Care Clinic) and on-site farmworker camp outreach. The technology footprint is operational rather than platform-oriented: there is no public API, no SDK, and no disclosed AI/ML capability.

Access East's business model is entirely non-commercial on the patient side — all services are provided free to recipients, with no premiums, fees, or commissions collected. The organization is funded through a mix of North Carolina Division of Health Benefits contracts, NC Department of Health and Human Services program funding, federal ACA Navigator grants, private charitable foundations, and individual donations. The combined yearly budget across service lines is approximately $26 million. Governance is provided by a board drawn from ECU Health, regional hospitals, FQHCs, public health departments, and social services; the President of Access East concurrently serves as Vice President of ECU Health Population Health, creating a tightly integrated but legally independent operating relationship with the region's largest health system.

Name

Access East

Legal name

Access East, Inc.

Website

https://accesseast.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Access East is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Greenville, NC that provides NCQA-accredited Medicaid care management, free healthcare for the uninsured, ACA navigation, and farmworker health services across 34 Eastern North Carolina counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medicaid Care Management and Healthcare Access Services

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Patient Advocacy, Navigation & Access to Care (BPAGACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Healthcare-Linked Social Benefits Administration (e.g., Medicaid/Means-Tested Health Coverage) (BPAIAKAH), Health & Support Communities (BPAMABAL), Primary Care for Underserved Populations (e.g., migrant, homeless, refugee clinics) (HLAFAGAN)

Keywords

• Medicaid care management
• Uninsured health network
• ACA marketplace navigation
• Community health services
• Nonprofit healthcare access

Headquarters

HQ city

Greenville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and State Funding: Primary funding from the North Carolina Division of Health Benefits (NCDHB) and NC Department of Health and Human Services for Medicaid care management programs. Funding also from state budget for Healthy Opportunities Pilot (HOP) program, which was discontinued in July 2025.
2. Private Charitable Foundations and Donations: Funding from multiple private charitable organizations and foundations, plus individual donations. The Service League of Greenville provided a $20,000 endowment specifically for HealthAssist diabetes patient assistance.
3. Grant-Funded Navigator Programs: ACA Navigators program is fully grant-funded through federal grants. Navigators receive no commissions for helping with enrollments.
4. Combined Annual Budget: Access East's three main service lines have a combined yearly budget of approximately $26 million.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Access East is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers coordinated healthcare access services across 34 Eastern North Carolina counties. It operates Medicaid Care Management for roughly 75,000–97,000 enrollees, the HealthAssist Uninsured Network providing donated and reduced-fee care for low-income uninsured residents in six counties, ACA Navigators offering free marketplace enrollment assistance, and the Farmworker Health Program serving H-2A workers with bilingual outreach and on-site health services.

Product overview

Access East is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit healthcare organization providing comprehensive care management and health access services across 34 Eastern North Carolina counties. The organization operates three main service lines: (1) Access East Medicaid Care Management, the largest service line providing coordinated care to roughly 75,000 Medicaid enrollees through patient-centered medical homes; (2) HealthAssist Uninsured Network, which includes the HealthAssist program providing donated/reduced-fee healthcare services, ACA Navigators for marketplace enrollment assistance, and the Farmworker Health Program for H-2A workers; and (3) Healthy Opportunities Pilot (HOP), one of only three such programs in North Carolina delivering non-medical services (food, housing, transportation, toxic stress) to Medicaid enrollees. Additional programs include MEND free clinics, a Medication Assistance Program (MAP), Diabetes Supply Initiative, and the Dr. Irons HealthAssist Clinic. The organization has a combined yearly budget of approximately $26 million and serves roughly 97,000 Medicaid enrollees plus about 40,000 Medicare beneficiaries through its ECU Health partnership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Community Care Plan of Eastern Carolina (CCPEC): Care management services for Medicaid recipients across 34 Eastern North Carolina counties
• HealthAssist
• ACA Navigators
• Healthy Opportunities Pilot (HOP)
• Access East Farmworker Health Program
• MEND
• The Dr. Irons HealthAssist Clinic
• Pitt County Care Clinic (PCCC)

Products and services

• Access East Medicaid Care Management The largest service line providing coordinated, cost-effective, NCQA-accredited care to Medicaid enrollees across 34 Eastern North Carolina counties through a network of patient-centered medical homes.
• HealthAssist An integrated, coordinated system of donated or reduced-fee healthcare services with participating specialists, for low-income uninsured residents of Beaufort, Greene, Edgecombe, Hertford, Martin, and Pitt counties who qualify.
• ACA Navigators Grant-funded Certified Marketplace Navigators providing free, unbiased, expert in-person assistance across most of Eastern North Carolina to consumers seeking Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance options.
• Access East Farmworker Health Program Bilingual staff helping Eastern North Carolina H-2A farmworkers and their families with health needs, including COVID testing, vaccinations, emergency wound care training, CPR training, skin-cancer testing, dental cleanings, and mental health support.
• Healthy Opportunities Pilot (HOP) One of only three programs in North Carolina providing vital non-emergency, non-medical services to eligible Medicaid Managed Care enrollees in northeastern North Carolina, focusing on food, housing, interpersonal violence/toxic stress, and transportation services.
• MEND (Medical, Education, Nutrition, Development) A working partnership providing free health clinics in Pitt County, coordinating care for uninsured residents with non-emergent health care needs and helping establish primary-care practices.
• Medication Assistance Program (MAP) A partnership with NC MedAssist designed to help uninsured and underinsured individuals obtain needed medications they might otherwise not be able to afford.
• Diabetes Supply Initiative Provides eligible uninsured or underinsured patients with diabetes-treatment supplies including lancets, glucose test strips, alcohol prep pads, and cotton balls.
• Dr. Irons HealthAssist Clinic A free clinic at the JOY Community Center & Soup Kitchen in west Greenville, NC, providing treatment of acute non-emergency issues and chronic-disease management for uninsured patients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Trained over 5,000 people in CPR since December 2024, with 90% being farmworkers
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• ECU HealthflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerECU Health is Access East's primary strategic partner for population health initiatives. ECU Health Medical Center is the region's largest hospital. Access East President also serves as VP of ECU Health Population Health. Partnership serves approximately 40,000 Medicare beneficiaries. Both organizations share staff leadership positions and collaborate on care management programs.
• East Carolina University Brody School of MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic medical partner providing medical and pre-med student volunteers for MEND free clinics. Dr. Thomas Irons serves as both CMO of Access East and Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry at ECU. Partnership supports MEND program and provides physician supervision for free clinics.
• NC Division of Health Benefits (NCDHB)flagshipOthersState agency, part of NC Department of Health and Human Services, that manages NC Medicaid and provides primary government funding for Access East's Medicaid Care Management program. Funding relationship subject to state budget decisions.
• NC Department of Health and Human ServicesflagshipOthersState government department overseeing Healthy Opportunities Pilot (HOP) program funding and Medicaid expansion. Access East's HOP program was one of only three such programs in North Carolina before funding was discontinued.
• NC MedAssistcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide nonprofit providing medications for HealthAssist's Medication Assistance Program (MAP) and over-the-counter medications. Partnership enables qualifying patients to obtain medications for free or at greatly reduced costs through pharmaceutical company patient assistance programs.
• Contentnea HealthcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFQHC network operating multiple clinics including James D. Bernstein Community Health Center (whose building is owned by Access East), Snow Hill Medical Center, and Walstonburg Medical Center. Key partner in serving uninsured Greene County residents.
• Pitt County Health DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment health agency partner in MEND program providing community health resources and referrals for uninsured patients. Hosts the Pitt County Care Clinic at its facility.
• Agape Health ServicesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFQHC partner operating clinics in Washington, NC (Beaufort County) and Williamston, NC (Martin County). Receives referrals from HealthAssist for specialty care beyond MEND clinic capabilities.
• Rural Health GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFQHC network operating multiple locations across Halifax, Northampton, Nash, and Edgecombe counties. Partnership provides healthcare access for Medicaid and uninsured patients in northeastern ENC.
• Greene County Health Care, Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFQHC operator managing James D. Bernstein Community Health Center facilities (building owned by Access East). Provides staffing for Bernstein facilities and operates mobile health services for farmworkers.
• NC Farmworker Health ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency within NC DHHS providing specialized health services to farmworkers. Collaborated with Access East on COVID testing and vaccination clinics at temporary farmworker camps.
• NC Growers AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVass-N.C.-based agricultural association representing farmers who employ H-2A temporary workers. Partnered with Access East during COVID to coordinate testing and vaccination clinics at farmworker camps.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rural Health Group: A North Carolina FQHC network operating clinics across Halifax, Northampton, Nash, and Edgecombe counties. Active Channel Partner to Access East and the most direct peer in delivering primary care to Medicaid and uninsured patients in rural ENC.
• Patient Advocate Foundation: A national 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing case management, healthcare navigation, and access-to-care services to chronically ill and underserved patients. Closest national peer to Access East's patient-advocacy and care-coordination operating model.
• WellCare of North Carolina: A Centene-affiliated Medicaid managed-care plan operating in North Carolina with overlapping ENC coverage. Directly comparable as a government-program care-coordination competitor serving similar Medicaid populations.
• NC MedAssist: A statewide North Carolina nonprofit providing free medications and over-the-counter pharmacy products to uninsured and underinsured residents — including a direct partnership with Access East. Closest peer in mission and target population to the HealthAssist Uninsured Network.
• AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina: A Pennsylvania-based managed-care company that operates a North Carolina Medicaid plan, including ENC service areas. Comparable in delivering Medicaid care coordination to vulnerable populations in the same geography.
• Carolina Complete Health: A Centene-led North Carolina Medicaid managed-care plan serving Medicaid beneficiaries statewide, including ENC. Closest direct peer in NC Medicaid care management contracting and is a primary counterpart for care-management referral relationships similar to Access East's role.
• Healthy Blue (Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Medicaid): BCBS NC's Medicaid managed-care plan covering Eastern NC including the regions where Access East operates. Competes for the same Medicaid members and contracts with overlapping provider networks, making it a direct NC Medicaid peer.
• UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of North Carolina: UnitedHealth Group's NC Medicaid managed-care plan, with significant ENC membership. Largest-scale NC Medicaid peer and a primary counterpart for care-management partnerships similar to those Access East negotiates.

Regional players

• Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC): A Western North Carolina-based health-professionals education and care-management organization that historically operated as a Community Care of NC affiliate — direct functional peer to Access East's care-management role, but serving the opposite end of the state.

Emerging players

• Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation: A North Carolina nonprofit addressing health access, equity, and innovation — operates programs like NCCARE360 (a statewide referral platform similar to the care-coordination infrastructure Access East runs). Adjacent peer in NC community-health navigation and SDOH coordination.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/1424444267859593
• Xx.com/AccessEastInc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Access East