Alliance Health and Cortica Partner to Reform Autism Care in North Carolina

The partnership targets the fragmented nature of current autism services in Raleigh and Charlotte. By integrating medical care, behavioral therapy, and family support under one model, the organizations intend to streamline the patient experience. This initiative aligns with recent federal guidelines from the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which emphasize individualized, physician-led care and fiscal accountability.

Alliance CEO Rob Robinson noted that the contract represents a move toward rewarding quality outcomes rather than simply managing spending through fraud prevention. For families, the change is significant: while national wait times for an autism diagnosis can exceed six months at academic centers, Cortica’s digital-first model aims to provide evaluations within 30 days. State Senator Jim Burgin, co-chair of the Senate Health Care Committee, backed the move, stating that families require coordinated care rather than the disconnected services that have long characterized the sector. As one in 31 children in the U.S. receives an autism diagnosis, both organizations are positioning this integrated approach as a necessary evolution for Medicaid-eligible populations.