North Carolina’s state health plan made a bold move this week. Officials announced that Novant Health has joined the Lantern program, expanding access to no-cost surgical care for hundreds of thousands of state employees and their families.
What Is the Lantern Program?
The Lantern program is a cost-reduction initiative run by a private company called Lantern. Its purpose is straightforward: it connects state health plan members with high-quality surgical providers at zero out-of-pocket cost.
How Lantern Works
Members who choose a Lantern-approved provider skip their deductibles and co-pays entirely. In return, the state steers patients toward facilities that meet high clinical standards. Consequently, both quality and cost savings improve at the same time.
State Treasurer Brad Briner’s office highlighted the program’s appeal. “This will significantly broaden access to no-cost, high-quality surgical care for hundreds of thousands of plan members across the state,” his office said in a release.
Moreover, Briner acknowledged a key challenge at a recent Council of State meeting. “But there simply aren’t enough providers in it,” he said Tuesday. The addition of Novant Health directly addresses that concern.
Novant Health Expands No-Cost Surgery Access
Novant Health is headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It operates dozens of hospitals and medical centers across the state. Therefore, its entry into the Lantern network dramatically increases the geographic reach of the program.
State health plan members can now schedule non-emergency surgeries at any qualifying Novant location. They pay nothing out of pocket at these facilities. Furthermore, this benefit applies to a broad range of surgical specialties, making it relevant to a wide population of members.
A Strategic Win for State Workers
This partnership benefits state employees directly. Workers no longer need to worry about large medical bills for covered surgeries. Instead, they can focus on recovery knowing their costs are covered. That kind of financial protection matters enormously for families on fixed government salaries.
Services Available Under the Partnership
Novant brings a comprehensive menu of surgical services to the Lantern network. Members can access the following procedures at no out-of-pocket cost:
- Orthopedics – joint replacements, sports medicine surgeries
- Spine care – disc procedures and spinal corrections
- Bariatrics – weight-loss surgeries for qualifying members
- General surgery – a wide range of common procedures
- Heart and vascular care – cardiac interventions and vascular repair
- Women’s services – gynecological and reproductive surgeries
Additionally, the breadth of these specialties means members across different health needs can benefit from this partnership.
How Members Enroll and Save
Enrollment in the Lantern program is open to all state health plan members. Since its launch last fall, 1,873 members have enrolled. Of those, 378 have already completed procedures through the program.
Zero Deductibles, Zero Co-Pays
The financial incentive is simple and powerful. Members who choose a Lantern provider face no deductibles or co-pays. Thus, the program turns an ordinary insurance benefit into a full-coverage surgical option for qualifying care.
Lantern CEO John Zutter emphasized the broader significance of this model. “By aligning high clinical standards with a model that reduces out-of-pocket costs for state workers, we’re proving that quality and cost discipline can go hand in hand,” he said in a statement.
More Providers Coming Soon
The Lantern network is not finished growing. State officials expect to announce additional providers joining the program within the next few weeks. Loretta Boniti, spokesperson for Treasurer Briner, confirmed that several providers are currently in discussions.
A Growing Network Across North Carolina
As more hospitals and surgical centers join, the program’s reach will expand further. Members in rural and underserved areas may soon find Lantern-approved options closer to home. Ultimately, a larger network means better access for all eligible members.
Why This Matters for North Carolina
Healthcare costs remain a top concern for state governments nationwide. North Carolina’s Lantern initiative offers a replicable model. It rewards quality, removes financial barriers, and keeps care within a trusted network.
Briner’s office views the program as a template for broader reform. Other state health plans are watching. If North Carolina proves that cost discipline and quality can coexist, similar programs could emerge across the country.
In the meantime, state employees stand to save thousands of dollars on surgical care. Additionally, the state benefits from reduced claims costs when members use high-efficiency Lantern providers.
