Support Our Direct Care Workforce
Advocacy and Rally Day
Wednesday, June 9, 2021
North Carolina General Assembly

Once again we are on for a rally day for HB 914 Support our Direct Care Workforce, and this time it is for June 9th at the legislature (assuming no more gas pipeline shutdowns, locust swarms, killer bees or whatever else is potentially on the 2021 horizon)!!!

We are also confirmed for a press conference on June 9th at 9:30 in the Legislative Building on 16 West Jones Street in the press room located in the 1300 quadrant. Attached is an advocacy alert for you to use or change as it suits you. We have also attached the talking point sheet.

We really need each of you to reach out to your team to ask them to either come to Raleigh or call/email legislators on Wednesday so they hear an overwhelming number of voices telling them the importance of this funding for DSWs. To our LME/MCO partners, we would appreciate if you would send this out through your provider network list serves.

Any questions or suggestions you have, please let us know!

Thank you all for your patience as we went through the process to have the event rescheduled!!!
Vaya Health and Cardinal Innovations Consolidation
Many of you have likely seen the attached announcement from Vaya and Cardinal LME-MCOs. We appreciate the boards of both Vaya and Cardinal working quickly to identify a solution to stabilize Cardinal after additional counties voted to disengage from Cardinal. We believe this action will provide stabilization for the overall North Carolina Public Behavioral Health and I/DD system.
 
While there are a number of details still to be finalized, DHHS wants to update you of the following:
  • Beneficiaries will continue to receive their services and supports. Medicaid In lieu of services and DMH alternative services currently in place will continue to be provided and we anticipate those services will be approved to be available in the entire new Vaya catchment area.  
  • Providers will not see any changes to their rates during this transition and all providers in good standing currently in network will continue to be in network in the consolidated entity.
  • The counties that have been approved to disengage will continue in that process. Counties that have voted to disengage will have their request reviewed in accordance with the disengagement rules. Any other county served by Cardinal that would request disengagement in light of the consolidation announcement may do so. Vaya is already planning immediate outreach activities to counties in the Cardinal catchment area, though counties are welcome to have conversations with other LME-MCOs. We ask counties that these conversations happen rapidly.
  • DHHS will work closely with the leadership of each organization to execute this consolidation. Although the final consolidation may take up to a year, the transition to Vaya oversight will happen over a shorter period. We will continue to keep you informed about the progress of the consolidation during the weeks and months to come. Vaya and Cardinal are also committed to providing information and communication rapidly and consistently.
 
Below is a statement that DHHS provided to the press in response to inquiries about the consolidation.
 
“DHHS has been actively engaged to ensure the thousands of consumers currently served by Cardinal Innovations continue to receive needed supports and services. The decision of Mecklenburg County to vote to request disengagement from Cardinal Innovations and the recent vote by Forsyth County to disengage from Cardinal introduced uncertainty and instability for the Cardinal organization and those they serve. We appreciate the boards of Vaya and Cardinal working rapidly to reach an agreement to consolidate to provide stability for beneficiaries and families. We will work closely with the boards and staff of each organization to better understand and work through the details of this transition.
 
There is still much work to be done. DHHS will continue to work with the counties who have requested disengagement and work with the NCACC to determine if additional counties are considering disengagement and the best process for moving forward. Throughout the process we will actively engage consumers, families, and providers for input.“

Electronic Visit Verification Guidance Document
Please see attached Joint Communication Bulletin J395 titled, “Electronic Visit Verification Guidance Document” with the attachment “North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Electronic Visit Verification Guidance”.

If you have any questions, please contact Kenneth Bausell at [email protected].


Specialized Foster Care Plan Webinar
The NC Department of Health and Human Services will hold a webinar on June 4, 2021, from 12:00 noon to 1 p.m. to update the public and interested stakeholders on the development of the NC Medicaid Specialized Foster Care Plan. We will review planning efforts underway for the Specialized Foster Care Plan and allow time for questions and answers. The webinar is open to the public and all interested stakeholders. 
 
To register for the webinar simply click the link below. Feel free to share the webinar invitation and registration link with others who may be interested in attending. 
 
Update on North Carolina’s Specialized Foster Care Plan
Noon – 1 p.m., June 4, 2021
 
For more information visit the Specialized Foster Care Plan page or contact [email protected]. 

NC Innovations Clinical Coverage 8P is currently posted for public comment through July 2, 2021

NC Medicaid to Sunset CARES Act Funding for Nursing Facility Staff COVID-19 Testing
NC Medicaid will sunset its CARES Act-funded reimbursement of nursing facility staff COVID-19 testing in June 2021. COVID-19 Special Medicaid Bulletin #166 provides an update on processing timelines for previously submitted cases and additional guidance for final payments under this initiative. Additional context and information is provided in COVID-19 Bulletins #164, #146 and #129 on the NC Medicaid COVID-19 Bulletin webpage. 
Reminder: Functionality to Display Future Eligibility Status Added to NCTracks 
Effective April 25, 2021, NCTracks offers the capability within the Provider Portal, Recipient Portal and Eligibility Verification System (EVS) to display a beneficiary’s eligibility and managed care enrollment details for the month following the current month when a beneficiary eligibility inquiry is submitted (previously eligibility/enrollment details were only available through the current month). This eligibility and enrollment information includes the Benefit Plan ID and, as applicable, the Managed Care Entity ID. 
 
For example, if eligibility details are requested for the following time spans and the current month is April:
 
·   Request is for January-April – January, February, March, April, and May eligibility will be returned
·   Request is for January-May – January, February, March, April, and May eligibility will be returned
·   Request is for January-March – January, February, and March eligibility will be returned
·   Request is for April – April and May eligibility will be returned
·   Request is for May – May eligibility will be returned 
 
New Medicaid Bulletin Available as of June 3, 2021
The NC Division of Health Benefits (DHB) has recently published new Medicaid Bulletin articles:
 
·   Prior Approval Requirement for High Tech Imaging Terminating July 1, 2021
·   Reminder: Providers Required to Update Expiring Credentials (June 2, 2021)

Providers are encouraged to review this information. All bulletin articles, including those related to COVID-19, are available on DHB's Medicaid Bulletin webpage

Help More North Carolinians Receive $335 in COVID-19 Relief
Most North Carolina families with children received a $335 coronavirus relief payment last fall to help with virtual schooling and childcare costs. Eligible families who did not receive the $335 check have another chance to apply through July 1, 2021.
 
The $335 payments are for individuals with a dependent child who was 16 or younger at the end of 2019.
 
If you did not file a 2019 state return because your gross income for 2019 did not exceed the state’s filing requirements for your filing status (generally $10,000 per year if you are single and $20,000 per year if you are married), you may still be eligible for the $335 payment if you apply by May 31. If you have already received the $335 grant, you are not eligible under the new law. 

New Medicaid Bulletins Available as of June 1, 2021
The NC Division of Health Benefits (DHB) has recently published new Medicaid Bulletin articles:
 
·   Paid Live-In Caregiver Electronic Visit Verification Exemption for CAP/C and CAP/DA Waiver Beneficiaries
·   NC Medicaid Specialized Foster Care Plan Update Webinar

Go the North Carolina Department of Revenue website at NCDOR.gov for details and to apply.
Upcoming Events
Monday, June 7, 2021
Foster Care Plan Workgroup (Listen Only)

Time: 3:00 pm thru 4:30 pm
Thursday, June 10, 2021
Benchmarks' Thursday Child Welfare Webinar
Lisa Cauley Joins Karen McLeod

Time: 8:00 am thru 9:00 am
  
Thursday, June 10, 2021
Child Welfare Agencies and Captives with Mark Renske

Time: 12:00 pm thru 1:00 pm
  
Thursday, June 17, 2021 (Every 3rd Thursday)
Hot Topics in Medicaid Transformation

Time: 5:30 pm thru 6:30 pm
Monday, June 21, 2021
Foster Care Plan Workgroup (Listen Only)

Time: 3:00 pm thru 4:30 pm
Friday, June 25, 2021
Benchmarks' Friday Membership Webinar
Dave Richard Joins Karen McLeod

Time: 8:30 am thru 9:30 am
  
Monday, July 12, 2021
Foster Care Plan Workgroup (Listen Only)

Time: 3:00 pm thru 4:30 pm
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.