Dear Benchmarks BH/IDD providers,
In this rapidly evolving environment, we continue to receive information that is important to your agency, staff and the people you serve. Please see the email below from Kody Kinsley regarding a call being held TODAY to update us on the latest information regarding recent changes to Medicaid and State policies. We hope you will be able to join the call outlined below!
The Benchmarks' Team
From Kody:
Yesterday, we shared our first documented case of community spread, meaning this person didn't have contact with someone who had tested positive or traveled to highly impacted area. Confirmed community spread is a signal that we need to further accelerate the next phase of the work.
North Carolina has already been taking actions as if we already had community spread to get ahead of the virus. Governor Roy Cooper has taken aggressive actions to limit large gathers, close restaurants and bars with the goal of flattening the curve - the idea is to lessen the number of people who get sick at the same time and avoid overwhelming our hospitals and health care system.
And as we move into this next phase, we need to continue to reduce the chances for further spread and exposure and protect our healthcare system, so it is there when you need it.
Today, Dave Richard and I will be co-hosting a call with Behavioral Health and IDD providers at 3:00 p.m. We hope you can join . We'll be discussing very recent changes to Medicaid and State policies that will assist providers with flexibility at this time. We need everyone coming together to support all North Carolinians in ensuring excellent, albeit potentially modified, access to Behavioral Health services and IDD supports at this trying time.
We will be having a call tailored for Behavioral Health and IDD Consumers on Monday. More information to come. (Benchmarks' note: you should have received information on Monday's call earlier today)
Protecting our health care workforce and making sure they have the protective equipment they need is paramount. We are asking hospitals to stop elective surgeries. Testing for people with mild illness will also become less important as we transition to this next phase. We want to reduce the chances that people will be exposed to the virus or expose others. We will begin to deploy other surveillance methods to understand the spread of the virus and drive our decision-making.
We know this a challenging time. But it is important to remember that the vast majority of people who get COVID-19 will have mild illness and will recover at home.
There are several resources to help you navigate these challenging times.
- NC 2-1-1 by United Way of North Carolina is now available for people to call for assistance related to the COVID-19 coronavirus
- COVID-19 text information and updates are available. To sign up, text COVIDNC to 898211.
- Our website, ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus publishes regular updates, including new guidance that is developed, information about Executive Orders and other important information.
