Issued: July 1, 2026
In preparation for the upcoming merger with Vaya Health (Vaya), Partners Health Management (Partners) will hold three information sessions for providers in July. The sessions will be held from 12-1 p.m. on July 13, 20 and 27. Registration links for each session are listed in this alert.
Additionally, Vaya and Partners are working to get provider contracts in place with Vaya Partners to ensure member continuity of care and provider stability. Partners’ contracting team has started outreaching providers who are currently only contracted with Partners to collect important contracting information.
What is happening?
As announced on May 22, 2026, Vaya and Partners will merge to form Vaya Partners, effective Oct. 1, 2026. The merger reflects a shared commitment to strengthening North Carolina’s public system of integrated healthcare for individuals receiving behavioral health, intellectual and developmental disability (I/DD), and traumatic brain injury services (TBI). (You can read the May 22, 2026, announcement by clicking here.)
Why is this happening?
Vaya and Partners believe the merged entity will create a stronger, more sustainable organization and help providers who are operating in a healthcare environment that continues to become more complex.
- Medicaid transformation, Tailored Plan implementation, changing regulatory expectations, workforce pressures, administrative requirements, and financial pressures all affect the public system and the provider community.
- Coming together creates a stronger platform to support long term stability, improve operational capacity, strengthen advocacy, and better position the public system for the future.
What do providers need to know?
- Partners providers can expect to receive contracts from Vaya beginning the week of July 7, 2026.
- Partners will hold merger information sessions for providers on July 13, July 20, and July 27, 2026, from 12-1 p.m.
What should providers expect in the next few weeks?
- Partners Medicaid Providers who do not have an existing Vaya Contracts (Non-Overlapping Medicaid Providers): Starting the week of July 7, 2026, Vaya will send contracts for execution via DocuSign to Partners network providers who are in good standing with Partners as of June 30, 2026 and who are not contracted as a network provider with Vaya, and who were not previously terminated or suspended from the Vaya network.
- Medicaid Providers who have Contracts with both Partners and Vaya (Overlapping Medicaid Providers): Providers who are contracted with both Vaya and Partners and are in good standing with both will receive a contract amendment updating the terms and conditions of the Vaya contract to align with changes to the NC Medicaid program requirements since the network contract was last signed or amended.
- State-Funded Providers: More information will be forthcoming on state-funded contracting plans in the next several weeks. Vaya and Partners will send amendments to ensure continuity of services for recipients and to support network adequacy.
How do providers join Merger Information Sessions?
- July 13, 2026 12 p.m.- 1 p.m.
partnersbhm.zoom.us/meeting/register/iwFb19lOTaWhtQinW6kluA
- July 20, 2026 12 p.m.- 1 p.m.
partnersbhm.zoom.us/meeting/register/iwFb19lOTaWhtQinW6kluA
- July 27, 2026 12 p.m.- 1 p.m.
partnersbhm.zoom.us/meeting/register/iwFb19lOTaWhtQinW6kluA
After registering, providers will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Who can providers contact if they have questions?
- Providers can email BetterTogether@PartnersBHM.org if they have questions about the merger.
- Prior to Oct 1, providers may also go to the current Vaya and Partners websites for additional information. Each organization has a website banner to provide ongoing merger updates, including FAQs, visuals, and timelines.
- Vaya: https://providers.vayahealth.com/
- Partners: https://www.partnersbhm.org