This month, the State Health Plan has added three major providers to its Lantern program to provide free surgeries to state employees and non-Medicare retirees.

Novant Health, one of the largest hospital systems in the state, joined on March 4, and EmergeOrtho and Ortho Carolina have also signed on to extend the program's reach throughout the state.

Through the Lantern surgical benefit, eligible Plan members are connected with top-performing surgeons and facilities for certain procedures at no cost to them. The program also helps coordinate care from consultation through recovery, improving the patient experience while helping the Plan control rising health care costs.

SEANC Executive Director Ardis Watkins joined State Health Plan Executive Administrator Thomas Friedman on Capital Tonight this week to discuss the expansion of the program.

“Big health care providers have been overpaid by the State Health Plan for too long, while state employees and retirees have had to do without proper funding to do their jobs,” said Watkins. “We are extremely thankful to Treasurer Briner and the team at the State Health Plan for taking a bold and creative approach to bring down these payments while maintaining quality of care to state employees and retirees. The Treasurer’s efforts with Lantern are a huge win for state employees and all taxpayers.”

For more on the Lantern program, click here.