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Benchmarks' Updates & Resource Page

Benchmarks' Friday Membership Webinar Recording: April 30, 2021

Press Conference Alert May 11, 2021 9:30 am Dear Benchmarks' Members, We are excited to share with you that the Foster Parents Bill of Rights was introduced this week in House Bill 769 and we will be holding a press conference regarding the bill on Tuesday, May 11th at 9:30 am. We hope that you will be able to join us and bring along your foster parents and children! If you are able to attend, we ask that you arrive by 9 am so you have time to park and go through security to enter the building. We have posted below the locations of parking lots/decks near the building - the closest is Visitor’s lot 1. We realize some of you are very familiar with the legislature and don’t need these details but you can use this email with others you contact to encourage them to attend the press conference who may need it.   Visitor's lot 1 Located at the corner of Jones and Wilmington streets Address:  140 E. Jones St Raleigh, NC 27601 Entrances: Jones and Edenton Streets   Visitor's lot 2 Located in the 300 block of North Salisbury Street in the ground Level of parking deck 75 and can also be accessed from the 300 block of North McDowell Street Address:  329 N. Salisbury St Raleigh, NC 27603 Entrances: McDowell and Salisbury Streets   Visitor's lot 3 Located at the corner of Edenton and McDowell streets in the 2nd and 3rd level of parking deck 77 Address:  120 W Edenton St, Raleigh, NC 27603 Entrance: Edenton Street The press conference will take place in the press room located in the Legislative Building on 16 West Jones Street, Raleigh, NC. When you come through security, you can ask them to direct you to the quadrant where the press room is located. Karen McLeod will be available and we encourage you to text or call her if you have any difficulty finding the location at (919) 244-8414.   We hope to see you there! Upcoming Benchmarks' Webinars Benchmarks' Child Welfare Webinar Lisa Cauley Joins Karen McLeod Date: May 13, 2021 Time: 8:00 am thru 9:00 am Register Here NEW!!! Benchmarks' Special Topic Webinar: Benchmarks/DHHS CMA Leadership Team Presentation & Discussion Please join Benchmarks and NC DHHS' CMA Team-Kelly Crosbie, Keith McCoy, and Krystal Hilton-as they share the latest details regarding the Care Management Model for Tailored Plans and upcoming white papers. The discussion will include, but is not limited to: -Rate Modeling -Capacity Building Funding -Data FAQs -Data Decision Tree -Letter of Interest for CINs & Tech Partners -Certification Desk Review Tool -Numbers of Eligible Beneficiaries Date: May 21, 2021 Time: 8:30 am thru 10:00 am Register Here Benchmarks' Friday Membership Webinar Dave Richard Joins Karen McLeod Date: Friday, May 28, 2021 Time:  8:30 am thru 9:30 am Register Here Benchmarks' Legislative Bill Report

Invitation to Attend Specialized Foster Care Plan Workgroup - Listen-Only Thank you for your interest in joining the FC Plan Workgroup. In order to allow sufficient time for robust discussion and feedback on the FC Plan, the Department limited participation to 22 “active” participants who will be allowed to provide questions, comments, and recommendations during each session. Stakeholders who are not members of the FC Plan Workgroup may join the session in ‘listen-only’ mode and submit written feedback through all the regular channels on an on-going basis. A list of working sessions and topics are outlined in the table below. Add this link to your calendar for each of the following dates in order to join the meeting in "listen-only" mode: https://manatt.zoom.us/j/96962274547

Download Slidedeck from the April 19, 2021 FC Plan Meeting COVID and Trauma-Informed Care Dear Private Provider Directors, In recognition that the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in unprecedented challenges for child welfare agencies, the Division of Social Services has consulted with the Center for Child and Family Health to develop the 2021 Fact and Resource Sheet (attached) for North Carolina Child Welfare Professionals: COVID, Child Trauma, and Trauma-Informed Care. This resource was created to provide factual information related to COVID 19 from accredited sources, such as the CDC and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN). Information contained in the document will support providers of child welfare services by providing the information and resources necessary to provide ongoing support to their staff and the children, youth, and families who receive child welfare services.    Sincerely,    Heather McAllister, MSW, LCSW, LCAS, CBIS Child Health and Development Coordinator   Changes to Provider Verification Process in NCTracks Begin May 9, 2021 NC Medicaid is taking additional steps to ensure providers meet their contractual obligation to keep credentials current on their NCTracks enrollment effective May 9, 2021. NCTracks will generate a notification to providers at 60, 30 and 14 calendar days prior to the expiration date of the credential; and will begin a process of suspension if a provider fails to update their credential. Read more detail in the Provider Bulletin posted April 26, 2021.   EVV - CAP/C and CAP/DA Paid Live-In Caregivers Survey In compliance with Section 12006 of the 21st Century Cures Act, NC Medicaid has implemented an Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) system to monitor visits of personal care services. Paid live-in caregivers who are authorized to perform Medicaid personal care-type services, and who participate in a 1915 (c) Home- and Community-Based Service waiver, are excluded from the EVV reporting requirements. NC Medicaid is seeking your input to assist with managing claims adjudication for CAP/C and CAP/DA paid-live in caregivers as it relates to the capture of EVV data. Please provide your responses to the two questions below using this survey link by May 7.  The questions will be: How many employed by your organization or through consumer direction are hired to provide attendant care/in-home aide/pediatric nurse aide/personal care assistance services to a CAP/C or CAP/DA waiver participant and continuously live in the same home/share the same address?  What is your NPI? Please answer questions HERE   Or by clicking on this link: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=3IF2etC5mkSFw-zCbNftGWTrqvmRiXdDt2nveYwEevxUOTlSQldPR0FaMTRSMzNKTEZZNjg2NUcyVy4u Only one response is needed for the total count of paid live-in caregivers hired/supported by your agency.  State-Funded Community Living and Support Service Definition FAQ Download the Fact Sheet Here Long-Term Care Vaccine and Visitation Slidedeck Download the Slidedeck Here Managed Care Fact Sheet: “Do I Need to Choose a Health Plan?” With NC Medicaid Managed Care Open Enrollment ending May 14, you may hear from beneficiaries who are unsure if they need to choose a managed care health plan. To help answer this question, NC Medicaid has added a “Do I Need to Choose a Health Plan?” fact sheet (attached and also in Medicaid County and Provider Playbooks at medicaid.ncdhhs.gov/transformation). The fact sheet outlines the groups of beneficiaries that must, may or cannot choose a managed care health plan during Open Enrollment. It also includes contact information for the NC Medicaid Enrollment Broker Call Center (833-870-5500 or ncmedicaidplans.gov) if beneficiaries have additional questions. For more information about NC Medicaid Managed Care, visit the Medicaid Transformation website at medicaid.ncdhhs.gov/transformation or the NC Medicaid Enrollment Broker website at ncmedicaidplans.gov.  Want to learn more about Medicaid Managed Care? We'll come to you. Want to learn more about North Carolina’s transition to Medicaid Managed Care and how the NC Medicaid Ombudsman can help?   Good news! NC Medicaid Ombudsman is available to present to your staff/clients/patients/consumers on the new Medicaid Managed Care model and the Ombudsman’s role in the process.   If you are interested in a stakeholder-focused information session, please complete the form linked below.   If you are a beneficiary seeking information or education on Medicaid Managed Care or have general questions, please contact the NC Medicaid Ombudsman toll-free at 877-201-3750 or visit ncmedicaidombudsman.org.   Questions? Please contact Natalie Marles, Outreach Coordinator, at [email protected]. Request Information Session Here COVID-19 Stakeholder Updates PRESS RELEASES since the last update include: NC Federally Supported COVID-19 Vaccination Center Administers 100,000 Doses  NCDHHS, NC Counts Anuncian $500 mil en becas para apoyar la respuesta equitativa al COVID-19 NCDHHS Announces Summer Community Get-out-the-Vaccine Campaign  CDC and FDA Lift Recommended Pause of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine Following Safety Review  North Carolina Expands Eligibility for Food Assistance Benefits to College Students During Pandemic to Purchase Food and Stay in School  NCDHHS Creates Pathway for Temporary Nursing Home Staff to Receive Higher Credentialing  NCDHHS Reaches Milestone with P-EBT; $1 Billion Dollars Issued to Children and Families for Food Assistance  From the Governor’s Office: Governor Cooper Outlines Timeline for Lifting State’s COVID-19 Restrictions Gov. Cooper Issues Executive Order to Relax State’s Outdoor Mask Mandate and Ease Mass Gathering Limits   NEW resources since the last update include: Updated NCDHHS Symptom Screening Checklist (Spanish) NEW PSA and related materials added in English and Spanish NEW Bring Summer Back webpage in English and Spanish NEW J&J Questions and Answers Fact Sheet NEW in Vaccines: How to View Your Vaccine Record Updated Bilingual COVID-19 Vaccine and Pregnancy Flyer UPDATED guidance since the last update includes: Updated Face Covering Guidance and FAQs Updated Day and Overnight Camp Guidance NEW NCDHHS Interim Guidance for Using and Requesting Antigen Tests in High-Density Critical Infrastructure and Workplaces Updated Standing Orders for Vaccines UPDATED reports since the last update include: ·        County Alert System ·        Vaccinations Dashboard ·        COVID-19 Clusters in North Carolina Report ·        Outbreaks and Clusters Reports ·        Patients Presumed to be Recovered Report ·        Risk Factors for Severe Illness Report ·        CLI Surveillance Report NEW EVENTS ADDED to the community testing events page   UPDATED Contact Tracing numbers Medicaid Communication Access Pilot Initiative The Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DSDHH) has partnered with the Division of Health Benefits to establish a pilot initiative for communication access services for patients (and companions) who have Medicaid and Health Choice. The goal of this initiative is to improve communication access for individuals who are Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing in approved healthcare settings.  Through this initiative, healthcare providers can register to be reimbursed for communication access services such as American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters and Communication Access Real-time Translation (CART). To learn more about this pilot service you can also view an ASL/captioned video introduction (included below) produced by DSDHH. Please reach out to the Medicaid Communication Access Coordinator at [email protected] or (984) 884-1093 for additional information and/or questions.

New Medicaid Bulletins Available  The NC Division of Health Benefits (DHB) has recently published new Medicaid Bulletin articles:   Advanced Medical Home Tier 3 Glidepath Attestation Payment Updates – April 21, 2021 Healthy Opportunities Screening, Assessment and Referrals Claims Issue Update NC Medicaid Managed Care Provider Update - April 22, 2021 REMINDER: NCTracks Changes to Provider Verification Process Begin May 9, 2021 AMH NC Medicaid Direct/Managed Care PCP Enrollee Report – How to Read & Use Your Enrollee Report REMINDER: Changes to Provider Verification Process in NCTracks Begin May 9, 2021 Trilaciclib for Injection, for Intravenous Use (Cosela™) HCPCS Code J3490: Billing Guidelines New Health Management System Provider Portal NC Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Announcements - May 4, 2021 Naxitamab-gqgk Injection, for Intravenous Use (Danyelza®) HCPCS Code J9999: Billing Guidelines Margetuximab-cmkb Injection, for Intravenous Use (Margenza™) HCPCS Code J9999: Billing Guidelines ICD-10 Annual Update Reminder Evinacumab-dgnb Injection, for Intravenous Use (Evkeeza™) HCPCS Code J3590: Billing Guidelines Care Management Updates – May 4, 2021 REMINDER: NCTracks Changes to Provider Verification Process Effective May 9, 2021 Electronic Visit Verification Implementation: Claim Adjudication Based on EVV Data Begins June 1, 2021    May Pharmacy Newsletter Now Available   The latest Medicaid Pharmacy Newsletter, dated May 2021, is now available on the N.C. Medicaid website. In addition to the June 2021 checkwrite schedule, this edition of the newsletter includes the articles:   Medicaid Managed Care Pharmacy Billing and Contracting Information Reminder Regarding the Naloxone Standing Order New Preferred Drug List (PDL) Begins 6/1/2021   Providers are encouraged to review this important information. The 2021 Medicaid Pharmacy Newsletters can be viewed here.     New Q&A Added to License and Accreditation FAQs page   New Q&A on updating provider credentials in NCTracks (such as a license, accreditation or certification) have been added to the License and Accreditation FAQs page. Providers are encouraged to review these new FAQs (#3-14) to find answers to some of the most common credentialing questions NCTracks receives from providers.   Providers are encouraged to review this information. All bulletin articles, including those related to COVID-19, are available on DHB's Medicaid Bulletin webpage. NCTracks Unable to Accept Secure or Encrypted Emails Please note that the NCTracks Contact Center is unable to receive emails sent encrypted via secure email (such as Zixmail) to the email address [email protected]. Providers must send emails unencrypted when emailing NCTracks in order for the emails to be received and addressed. If the provider needs to share confidential information, they should provide their contact information for the representative to reach out to them. When responding, the representative may go over the confidential information with the provider if necessary.    Providers Must Enter Only Highest Level of Education on Applications When completing an application, providers are reminded to only make one entry under the Highest Level of Education section and to ensure that it is the highest level they have completed. For instance, if a provider had completed high school a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree, they should enter only their master’s degree under the Highest Level of Education.    Call Center and Checkwrite Schedule for Memorial Day Holiday   The NCTracks Call Center will be closed Monday, May 31, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. (The Pharmacy Prior Approval Unit will be open holiday hours from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.)   In keeping with the published approved 2021 checkwrite schedule, because of the federal holiday, the checkwrite date will be on Wednesday, June 2. The posting and availability of funds to provider bank accounts will depend on the provider's financial institution. Bank of America customers should see their payments in their accounts on the day that the EFT is processed, which will be Thursday (6/3/2021). Providers who bank at other financial institutions should see payments the business day following the date that the EFT is processed, which will be Friday (6/4/2021) afternoon. (Some may post sooner.)   The 2021 checkwrite schedules can be found under Quick Links on the NCTracks provider portal home page. NC Medicaid Managed Care Fact Sheet: “Do I Need to Choose a Health Plan?”   With NC Medicaid Managed Care Open Enrollment ending May 14, you may hear from beneficiaries who are unsure if they need to choose a managed care health plan. To help answer this question, NC Medicaid has added the Do I Need to Choose a Health Plan? fact sheet in Medicaid County and Provider Playbooks at medicaid.ncdhhs.gov/transformation.   The fact sheet outlines the groups of beneficiaries that must, may or cannot choose a managed care health plan during Open Enrollment. It also includes contact information for the NC Medicaid Enrollment Broker Call Center (833-870-5500 or ncmedicaidplans.gov) if beneficiaries have additional questions.   For more information about NC Medicaid Managed Care, visit the Medicaid Transformation website or the NC Medicaid Enrollment Broker website.

Technical Assistance & More for Potential Providers Interested in Servicing Unaccompanied Minors If you missed the webinar on April 23rd, Building a Foundation: An Overview for Providers Interested in Contracting with ORR to Serve Unaccompanied Children, no worries. The webinar was recorded and you can find it HERE (scroll down to “Technical Assistance”). Continue to visit these UC landing pages for updated information. Speaking of technical assistance, as promised there are multiple ways to continue to get provider questions answered:   OPEN OFFICE HOURS – starting Wednesday, May 5th! Technical assistance office hours begin this week! Open Office Hours will take place on Wednesdays noon-1:00 pm ET and Fridays 1:00-2:00 pm ET from May 5th through June 11th. You can join the zoom call HERE or dial (301) 715-8592 Meeting ID: 582 513 4317. Feel free to come and go within the hour, you do not need to register. There will be a UC provider subject matter expert on each call from Bethany Christian Services, Board of Child Care, or Lutheran Refugee and Immigrant Service (LIRS).   SAVE THE DATE – UPCOMING TA WEBINAR Due to the number of questions related to the RFQ and Grant Proposal process, we are hosting a webinar specifically to address considerations as you craft your proposal. Please note that last week ACF announced a change, and the single source application process, initially listed in the pathways as a “multi-year” option, is only available as an option for up to one year. The government has no preference regarding whether you apply via the RFQ or the grant application process. Key Elements of a Proposal: Live Q&A for Providers Applying to Contract with ORR DATE: Monday, May 10th TIME: 3:00-4:30 pm ET *Registration Link Forthcoming (we will email you the link to register)

Vaccine Hesitancy Survey Among Adults with Disabilities - Reports now Available The American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD) has released two research products that resulted from the AAHD Vaccine Hesitancy Survey Among Adults with Disabilities, a rapid, real-time online study of the perspectives of adults with disabilities on the COVID-19 Vaccine. Please visit the Vaccine Hesitancy Summary of Findings Report and the COVID-19 Vaccine and Disability Survey Vaccine Hesitancy Among Adults with Disabilities Research Report. Read More

What Patients Want from Substance Use Treatment More than 20 million Americans have substance use disorders, and during COVID, overdose deaths are increasing and demand for treatment is higher. We need more effective and equitable addiction services that meet peoples’ individual goals and needs. Today we are taking an important step in that direction. We are releasing the first national study of what outcomes people with substance use disorders want from their treatment. Overall, people prioritized survival and improving their quality of life and placed less priority on completely stopping all drug and alcohol use. As a result of treatment and recovery services they also want to reduce harmful substance use, improve mental health, be able to meet their basic needs, increase self-confidence, and connect to ongoing services. To address the national epidemic of substance use disorders, we need to focus on achieving these priority outcomes, while also tailoring services to meet individual needs. Our study also found differences in priority outcomes across race and gender. To achieve these outcomes and address the continuing criminalization of addiction, especially among Black and brown communities, we need to improve cultural effectiveness of services and address systemic racism.  We encourage you to share these findings with your networks and incorporate our recommendations, detailed in the report, into your advocacy. The more we can research and invest in a holistic system of treatment and recovery supports for substances use disorders, the more individuals will be able to achieve the outcomes important to them, and thrive in their recovery.    This research was conducted by Community Catalyst, Faces & Voices of Recovery and the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) and guided by a National Peer Council of people with lived experience of substance use disorders. It was funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute.

Upcoming Events

NEW: Monday, May 10, 2021 Money Follows the Person Lunch & Learn Topic: People Are Waiting...What Are We Doing?? An Overview of the Registry of Unmet Needs Time: 12:00 pm thru 1:00 pm Register Here

NEW: Monday, May 10, 2021 The Role for Medicaid in Improving Outcomes for Children and Youth in Foster Care Time: 2:30 pm thru 3:30 pm Register Here

Tuesday, May 11, 2021 Both Sides of the Coin: Protecting Your Own Workforce and Trade Secrets from Potential Raiders, and Minimizing Litigation Risk When Hiring from a Competitor Time: 1:00 pm thru 2:00 pm Register Here

Tuesday, May 11, 2021 COVID-19 and the Future of Behavioral Health Care Delivery Time: 2:30 pm thru 3:30 pm Register Here

Thursday, May 13, 2021 Benchmarks' Child Welfare Webinar: Lisa Cauley Joins Karen McLeod Time: 8:00 am thru 9:00 am    Register Here

NEW: Thursday, May 13, 2021 The Future of HCBS Waivers as a New Administration Takes Shape Time: 2:00 pm thru 3:00 pm    Register Here

NEW: Friday, May 14, 2021 Improving Timely Health Care for Children and Youth in Foster Care: Affinity Group Q&A Time: 1:00 pm thru 2:00 pm Register Here

Thursday, May 20, 2021 (Every 3rd Thursday) Hot Topics in Medicaid Transformation Time: 5:30 pm thru 6:30 pm Register Here

NEW: Friday, May 21, 2021 Benchmarks' Special Topics Webinar: DHHS/Benchmarks' CMA Discussion Time: 8:30 am thru 9:30 am    Register Here

NEW: Monday, May 24, 2021 Establishing and Using Bidirectional Data Sharing Time: 2:00 pm thru 3:00 pm Register Here

NEW: Tuesday, May 25, 2021 NC Medicaid Ombudsman: NC Medicaid Managed Care: What comes next Time: 12:00 pm thru 1:00 pm Register Here

Wednesday, May 26, 2021 Developing New VBP Services That Increase Quality & Decrease Service Costs  Time:  10:00 am thru 11:15 am   Register Here

NEW: Thursday, May 27, 2021 COVID-19 Q&A Webinar for Behavioral Health Care and Human Services Accreditation  Time: 1:30 pm thru 3:00 pm    Register Here

Registration Link Updated: Friday, May 28, 2021 Benchmarks' Friday Membership Webinar Time: 8:30 am thru 9:30 am    Register Here

Thursday, June 3, 2021 (Every 1st Thursday) Hot Topics in Medicaid Transformation Time: 5:30 pm thru 6:30 pm Register Here

Tuesday, June 8, 2021 Cooperative Pain Education and Self-Management (COPES): A Technology-Assisted Intervention for Pain Time: 12:00 pm thru 1:00 pm Register Here

Thursday, June 17, 2021 (Every 3rd Thursday) Hot Topics in Medicaid Transformation Time: 5:30 pm thru 6:30 pm Register Here

Monday, July 12, 2021 thru Friday, July 24, 2021 North Carolina Youth Leadership Forum The North Carolina Youth Leadership Forum (NCYLF) will be a free two-week web series in July that will model online college life for youth with disabilities. Participants will be treated like college students. Register Here