In the Appalachian Highlands, like many rural regions, going without insurance often means going without care. Not because people don’t need it, but because the path to getting it can be unclear, unaffordable, or too difficult to navigate alone. Ballad Health’s Appalachian Highlands Care Network was built to change that, connecting uninsured patients to medical care, social services, and support. This work is now earning national recognition as one of Modern Healthcare’s 2026 Innovators Awards honorees. 

Launched in 2021, the Appalachian Highlands Care Network spans all 20 Ballad Health hospitals and a growing group of community partners across Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. Built around the idea that care should not depend on whether someone can afford it, the program uses a community health worker model to reach patients where they are, helping them enroll and connecting them to medical care, dental services, and other essential support at reduced or no cost. 

Through partnerships with local organizations, community health navigators work directly with patients to help them move through a system that can otherwise be difficult to access without coverage or support, often serving as a bridge between patients and the care they need. In some settings, that support is embedded within care teams, with navigators working side-by-side with providers to coordinate services, schedule follow-ups, and connect patients to additional resources. Rather than ending after a single visit, that support continues over time, helping patients stay engaged in their care.  

Trey Darnell, executive director of Friends in Need Health Center, said the Appalachian Highlands Care Network “has bridged critical gaps in care for the underinsured and uninsured patients served by Friends in Need Health Center.” 

He said the support from the Ballad Health network has helped strengthen the clinic’s ability to serve patients and expand access to care. 

“With the support of this Ballad Health network, our clinic serves as a true healthcare home, providing medical and dental services and enabling more than 7,000 visits in 2025.”  

For a region where many patients face coverage gaps, that kind of coordination can change how and when care happens. It can look like getting help before a condition worsens, finding a provider who will see them, or staying connected to care over time. In some communities, that support is helping clinics serve thousands of patients each year, including more than 7,000 visits across eight counties in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. 

The same pattern holds across the network. A formal evaluation of nearly 5,000 participants shows a 28 percent reduction in preventable inpatient visits and a 56 percent increase in medically appropriate care, pointing to a different experience for patients, with care starting earlier, more consistent follow-up, and fewer people falling through the cracks. 

That reach is part of what makes the recognition from Modern Healthcare notable. The Appalachian Highlands Care Network now stands alongside programs from some of the nation’s largest health systems, a reflection of how rural providers are building solutions that meet patients where they are. 

For Ballad Health and its partners, the work continues with a clear focus: connecting patients to care, supporting them along the way, and showing up when it matters most, for every step forward. 

Read more here.