Cardinal Innovations Healthcare

Cardinal Innovations Healthcare was a North Carolina behavioral health managed care organization that coordinated publicly funded services for Medicaid beneficiaries and uninsured individuals with mental illness, substance use disorders, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and related special needs. It operated as an LME/MCO, functioning more like a regional public managed care entity and health plan administrator than a drug-development biotech or pharmaceutical company. The organization served multiple North Carolina counties and managed provider networks, care coordination, crisis services, and related behavioral health benefits. In 2021, North Carolina approved a consolidation under which Vaya Health became the surviving entity, and Cardinal's operations were wound down with consolidation occurring on January 1, 2022. As a result, the entity is not an active standalone organization today.