North Carolina Approves Reimbursement of VR Therapy for Neurodivergent Residents Under NC Innovations Waiver

Under the state's NC Innovations Waiver, eligible families in Alliance Health's seven-county region can now request Floreo's virtual reality therapy platform through their care manager.

CHEVY CHASE, Md., Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- North Carolina has approved Medicaid Waiver reimbursement for virtual reality (VR) services delivered by Floreo – the pioneering developer of VR-based therapy – for neurodivergent youth and adults supported by the NC Innovations Waiver.

The state's NC Innovations Waiver covers a wide range of home and community-based supports for individuals with intellectual or development disabilities— from help with daily living activities and job coaching to assistive technology and caregiver support. The NC Innovations waiver is an NC Medicaid program that "waives" (does not consider) some of the usual Medicaid eligibility requirements, like the family's income. Any North Carolinian with autism or other intellectual and development disabilities can apply regardless of age or insurance status.

"North Carolina has shown a real commitment to practical, access-oriented support for the neurodivergent community, and this expansion of the NC Innovations Waiver is a great example," said Vijay Ravindran, CEO and founder of Floreo. "As a result, many neurodivergent individuals across the state will now have a new, tangible way to build the confidence and independence they need for everyday life."

Floreo's approval as a vendor applies to the seven counties managed by Alliance Health: Cumberland, Durham, Harnett, Johnston, Mecklenburg, Orange, and Wake, the state's most populous county. North Carolina families in this region who are eligible for the NC Innovations Waiver can now request reimbursement for Floreo's VR therapy platform directly through their Care Manager.

Floreo helps neurodivergent youth and adults build social, behavioral, and daily life skills by practicing real-world scenarios — like navigating public transportation, interacting with law enforcement, multi-tasking at work, or raising a hand to answer a question in the classroom — in a safe, immersive virtual environment. North Carolina joins a growing list of states that provide Medicaid waiver reimbursement for Floreo's services, including Tennessee, New York, and Wisconsin.

As the first VR autism technology to receive the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) breakthrough device designation, Floreo is backed by a growing body of research conducted with world-renowned programs like the Center for Autism Research at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the National Institutes of Health. Floreo's VR curriculum augments traditional therapies and improves outcomes for neurodivergent individuals and individuals with developmental disabilities.

Families and care providers in the Alliance Health region interested in incorporating Floreo into a support plan should contact their care manager to learn more.

About Floreo

Floreo's vision is a world that is open and accessible for every neurodiverse person. Through immersive virtual reality experiences, Floreo creates safe, engaging environments where learners can build skills and tools they can apply in their everyday lives. Floreo's virtual reality platform teaches social, behavioral, communication, and life skills for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other neurodiverse conditions. For more information, please visit floreovr.com.

SOURCE Floreo