ActiveAtlas Opportunity Score 98/100
North Carolina PATCH-NC — Perinatal Access to Care and Health in North Carolina
PATCH-NC is accepting applications through September 4, 2026 to expand coordinated prenatal and postpartum care in North Carolina maternity-care desert and low-access counties. The three-year initiative launched with a $2.8 million founding investment and is designed to support 10 rural safety-net provider sites.
Funding$2.8 million founding investment from The Leon Levine Foundation supports the initial three-year initiative and 10 rural safety-net provider sites. NCCHCA's public page does not state a fixed site-level award amount; the overall initiative goal is $6 million, with additional funding being sought.
DeadlineSeptember 4, 2026; the public PATCH-NC page does not state a closing time.
Last verifiedAugust 29, 2026
Required next actionConfirm that the applicant is a North Carolina Community Health Center, Health Center Look-Alike, Rural Health Center or local Health Department serving a county designated by the March of Dimes as a maternity care desert or low-access county. Review the PATCH-NC FAQ and Site Selection and Implementation Readiness Assessment, document current prenatal and postpartum capacity, family-medicine workforce, referral relationships with OB/GYN and maternal-fetal medicine specialists, telehealth/EHR readiness and implementation needs, and submit the application by September 4, 2026.
Broad Eligibility
NCCHCA states that North Carolina Community Health Centers, Health Center Look-Alikes, Rural Health Centers and Health Departments serving populations in counties designated as maternity care deserts or low-access locations are eligible to submit a competitive application while funding is available. The current initiative is limited to organizations and programs in those designated counties unless additional funding broadens the scope.
Atlas Analysis
One of the strongest current North Carolina opportunities for rural safety-net providers. PATCH-NC is built specifically to expand prenatal and postpartum access through community health centers, rural health centers and local health departments, with family physicians delivering local maternity care supported by regional OB/GYN and maternal-fetal medicine specialists. The implementation model expressly includes telehealth and EHR enhancements, workforce pipeline development, practice transformation, technical assistance and patient-focused innovation, creating an unusually strong fit for organizations seeking to expand maternal access without rebuilding full hospital labor-and-delivery capacity.
From Funding to Implementation · Community Health Solution
Pair community-health funding with a scalable virtual-care model.
Dr. Miltie N9+ supports remote physical examination, connected care and patient access strategies that can help FQHCs and community health centers extend clinical reach beyond the traditional exam room.
Source verificationReferenced source · www.ncchca.orgAtlas last verified this record August 29, 2026. Always use the funder's current application materials, amendments and portal instructions as the controlling source.View source and application materials ↗
