ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Getting health care is not always as simple as finding a doctor. For people who are uninsured, live in rural areas or need language support, the path to care can be more difficult — especially when specialty services are involved. This is especially true for individuals in Western Carolina who are still feeling the impact of Hurricane Helene.
A $510,000 investment from UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of North Carolina will help the Western Carolina Medical Society expand programs already serving patients and medical professionals across the region.
The funding will support three WCMS programs: Project Access, which connects uninsured patients with specialty care; the WCMS Interpreter Network, which helps patients communicate with providers in their home language; and the Healthy Healer Program, which provides confidential support for medical professionals.
“Every individual deserves access to high-quality and affordable healthcare. We are proud to support WCMS and its community-centered work,” said Anita Bachmann, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of North Carolina. “This collaboration reflects our commitment to supporting local organizations that understand the communities they serve.”
Connecting uninsured patients with specialty care
For 30 years, Project Access has helped low-income, uninsured residents in Buncombe and Madison counties get connected to specialty health care. Through a network of more than 700 participating providers, the program helps patients access services that can include preventive screenings, laboratory testing, surgery and cancer care.
According to the 2024 Buncombe County health assessment, 12.9% of individuals live in poverty and 13.1% don’t have health insurance. In Madison County, chronic disease remains the most critical health priority for health officials. UnitedHealthcare’s investment will help Project Access reach more people, add providers to its network and connect patients with needed services. For an uninsured patient who needs a specialist, that support can mean getting care sooner and avoiding the added cost and stress that can come with delayed treatment.
Helping patients overcome language barriers
For patients whose first language is not English, language can be another barrier to care. The WCMS Interpreter Network helps patients communicate with providers in their home language. Funding will support interpreter training courses, job shadowing opportunities and recruitment efforts to expand a network that has already supported more than 7,000 appointments in more than 40 languages in 2025 alone.
Supporting Western North Carolina medical professionals
The funding will also support WCMS’ Healthy Healer Program, which offers free, confidential therapy, coaching, educational events and wellness retreats for physicians, residents and physician assistants across Western North Carolina. The program gives medical professionals a place to turn for support as they care for patients in their own communities.
Karen Wallace-Meigs, executive director of WCMS, emphasized the impact of these efforts, saying, “As our lobby fills daily with hardworking individuals trying to access healthcare, I feel profound gratitude for UnitedHealthcare’s belief in WCMS. We are a small nonprofit, but our impact is great.”
In a region where distance, cost and language can all affect access to care, the collaboration is intended to help more patients and providers get support through programs already working in Western North Carolina communities.
