Benchmarks' Friday Collection-November 5, 2021

Message from Benchmarks' President/CEO, Karen McLeod, regarding the new vaccines mandates:

Many of our members have reached out concerning the two announcements from the Biden administration mandating vaccines or mask/testing of employees for companies with over 100 employees and certain healthcare workers by January 4, 2022.

We have already contacted the Division of Medicaid to inquire how they are responding to the new Biden rule and let them know our concerns about the impact of this change on provider agencies that are already struggling to recruit and retain staff.

The Division of Medicaid is currently holding internal meetings to discuss the rule and its potential impact on services.

Many states are pushing back on the rule with Attorney Generals in at least 24 states threatening to sue to block the mandate. We will be watching closely as this all plays out and continue to provide the latest information as it unfolds.

See more from CMS/White House and news organizations below.

Biden-Harris Administration Issues Emergency Regulation Requiring COVID-19 Vaccination for Health Care Workers

The Biden-Harris Administration is requiring COVID-19 vaccination of eligible staff at health care facilities that participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The emergency regulation issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today protects those fighting this virus on the front lines while also delivering assurances to individuals and their families that they will be protected when seeking care.

“Ensuring patient safety and protection from COVID-19 has been the focus of our efforts in combatting the pandemic and the constantly evolving challenges we’re seeing,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “Today’s action addresses the risk of unvaccinated health care staff to patient safety and provides stability and uniformity across the nation’s health care system to strengthen the health of people and the providers who care for them.”

New OSHA and CMS Rules Mean Two-Thirds of All Workers Now Covered by Vaccination Rules

Fact Sheet: Biden Administration Announces Details of Two Major Vaccination Policies

Thanks to President Biden’s focus on getting Americans vaccinated, 70 percent of adult Americans are now fully vaccinated—up from less than one percent when the President took office. This is significant progress, made possible by a vaccinations program that made shots free and convenient for months. But more vaccinations are needed to save lives, protect the economy, and accelerate the path out of the pandemic. To that end, in July, President Biden began rolling out vaccination requirements for federal employees and contractors and calling on employers to do the same. Thousands of organizations across the country have answered the President’s call, and vaccination requirements have already helped reduce the number of unvaccinated Americans by approximately 40 percent since July.

The Biden Administration is announcing the details of two policies to fight COVID-19 that will drive even more progress and result in millions of Americans getting vaccinated, protecting workers, preventing hospitalization, saving lives, and strengthening the economy.

First, the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is announcing the details of a requirement for employers with 100 or more employees to ensure each of their workers is fully vaccinated or tests for COVID-19 on at least a weekly basis. The OSHA rule will also require that these employers provide paid-time for employees to get vaccinated, and ensure all unvaccinated workers wear a face mask in the workplace. OSHA has a strong 50-year record of requiring employers to take common sense actions to prevent workers from getting sick or injured on the job. This rule will cover 84 million employees.

Second, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) at the Department of Health and Human Services is announcing the details of its requirement that health care workers at facilities participating in Medicare and Medicaid are fully vaccinated. The rule applies to more than 17 million workers at approximately 76,000 health care facilities, including hospitals and long-term care facilities.

From the NYT: U.S. Sets Jan. 4 Vaccination Deadline for Big Private Employers

The new guidance will cover 84 million workers, who will be required to be fully vaccinated or be tested weekly.

By Lauren Hirsch

Nov. 4, 2021

The Biden administration on Thursday set Jan. 4 as the deadline for large companies to mandate coronavirus vaccinations or start weekly testing of their workers, the government’s biggest effort yet to enlist private businesses in combating the virus.

The new rule, applying to companies with 100 or more employees, is expected to cover 84 million workers, roughly 31 million of whom are unvaccinated. It lays out details of a plan President Biden announced in September, invoking emergency powers over workplace safety.

In a separate measure that will affect 17 million more workers, nursing homes and other health care facilities that receive Medicare and Medicaid funds must ensure all employees are vaccinated by Jan. 4, with no option for testing. The president has previously imposed vaccine requirements on federal workers, a group that totals more than four million people, and companies that have federal contracts. (The latter group’s deadline was pushed to Jan. 4, from early December.)

But the mandate on large private businesses is the most far-reaching and potentially controversial measure in the government’s efforts to fight the pandemic. Attorneys general in at least 24 states have threatened to sue. Republican governors and some industry trade groups have opposed the requirement, and the 20 percent of U.S. adults who remain unvaccinated may take issue as well.

And the administration is considering going even further. The Labor Department said it had opened a 30-day comment period on whether it should extend the rules to smaller companies.

“While I would have much preferred that requirements not become necessary, too many people remain unvaccinated for us to get out of this pandemic for good,” Mr. Biden said in a statement.

Still, with the country facing shipping delays and shortages caused by supply chain problems, the January deadline allows retailers and logistics companies, both in need of employees, to get through the holiday shopping season before instituting the requirements.

The rule does, however, instruct employers to require masks for unvaccinated workers by Dec. 5. Companies must provide paid time off for vaccinations and sick leave for side effects as needed. The requirement does not apply to remote and outdoor workers. Some major companies including Tyson Foods and United Airlines have already embraced vaccine mandates. But for many that have been fearful of resistance, the new requirement provides cover to enforce mandates and clarification on a range of questions, including who will pay for testing and whether it applies to employees who work at home.

With many of those questions now answered by the requirements and detailed guidance published by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, many more businesses are expected to soon announce mandates.

Among those without vaccine requirements are the nation’s largest private employer, Walmart, whose mandates apply mainly for its corporate staff, and JPMorgan Chase, which has over 120,000 employees in offices and bank branches across the United States and is encouraging but not broadly mandating the shots.

In a Mercer poll of 1,088 companies conducted on Oct. 4, roughly 13 percent of respondents said they were requiring all employees to be vaccinated, regardless of work location. Eleven percent said they were requiring shots only of those coming to the office.

According to OSHA’s new requirements, workers are considered fully vaccinated if they have received two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, or another vaccine approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization. Companies can verify a worker’s status by requesting either a vaccination card or proof from a medical provider. Alternatively, employees can provide a signed note pledging that they have been vaccinated.

OSHA will allow exceptions for medical or religious reasons. It estimates that 1 percent of workers who remain hesitant have a medical reason, and 4 percent have a religious objection.

Employers are not required to either pay for or provide tests, though some may still be compelled to do so by other laws or agreements with unions. Forcing unvaccinated employees to pay for tests, the rule notes, “will provide a financial incentive for some employees to be fully vaccinated.”

Companies that fail to comply may be fined. An OSHA penalty is typically $13,653 for every serious violation, but can be up to 10 times that amount if OSHA determines that the violation is willful or repeated.

OSHA approaches enforcement in a number of ways: It can target inspections at high-risk industries, or it can inspect workplaces in response to complaints or news reports about unsafe conditions.

Employers must provide information about the total number of fully vaccinated workers to employees or their unions, which the agency believes will aid compliance. Employees and unions can use this information to pressure companies directly, or as part of the basis for a complaint.

As a practical matter, however, inspectors are likely to play only a small role in enforcement given the agency’s personnel constraints. A 2020 report by the National Employment Law Project, a worker advocacy group, found that the agency had only about 860 inspectors at the beginning of that year, down about 15 percent from 2012.

The relief bill that Mr. Biden signed into law this year provides funding for additional inspectors, but it could be many months before most of them are hired and sent into the field.

Over the past month, the Labor Department received feedback on the rule from trade groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, as well as executives from UPS, the Walt Disney Company, Fidelity Investments and many others. They have voiced concerns about cost, logistics and losing employees.

The National Retail Federation trade group was sharply critical of the move on Thursday.

“Since the president’s announcement of the vaccine mandate for private industry, the seven-day average number of cases in the United States has plummeted by more than half,” it said. “Nevertheless, the Biden administration has chosen to declare an ‘emergency’ and impose burdensome new requirements on retailers during the crucial holiday shopping season.”

Three major retailers — Walmart, Amazon and Target — declined to comment. Gap, the owner of Banana Republic and Old Navy, reiterated that it was offering incentives, including weekly drawings to win $1,000, to encourage employees to get vaccinated. A Macy’s representative said the store was encouraging the vaccines and that it was “studying the most recent government mandate and will implement it as required.”

Many nursing home businesses had pushed to avoid a strict requirement, and the American Health Care Association, a nursing-home trade group, expressed disappointment with the new rule. “We are concerned that the execution will exacerbate an already dire work force crisis in long-term care,” Mark Parkinson, the group’s chief executive, said in a statement.

The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which represents 100,000 workers, applauded the plan. “Too many essential and frontline workers’ lives continue to be on the line in this pandemic, and having a standard to protect workers across the board is critical,” it said.

Companies that have already mandated vaccines, including 3M, Procter & Gamble, IBM and the airlines American, Alaska and JetBlue, have not had large numbers of employees quit as a result, though a small minority of workers have.

United Airlines, one of the first major carriers to require shots for its 67,000 U.S. employees, said in September that more than 99 percent were vaccinated. Tyson Foods, which set a Nov. 1 deadline, said that more than 96 percent of workers had their shots, compared with less than 50 percent before it announced its mandate in August.

Legal experts say that OSHA has the authority to introduce a vaccine mandate, and that its standards pre-empt those of state governments, except in states that have their own OSHA-approved workplace agencies. (About half do.) These agencies, which OSHA monitors, must enact a rule that is at least as effective as the OSHA rule.

The administration drafted the OSHA guidelines with potential challenges in mind. Montana has outlawed employer vaccine mandates. Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas issued an executive order banning private employers from making vaccine mandates.

So far, efforts to challenge vaccine mandates have fallen short. The Supreme Court last Friday refused to block Maine’s requirement that health care workers be vaccinated against the coronavirus notwithstanding their religious objections. A federal judge in Boston denied efforts to overturn a vaccination mandate for 1,600 state executive branch employees.

From MedPage Today: Biden Admin Sets Date for Vaccine Mandates— Rules for facilities taking Medicare/Medicaid dollars, large employers take effect Jan. 4, 2022

Shannon Firth, Washington Correspondent, MedPage Today November 4, 2021

On Thursday, the Biden administration issued two rules it argues will boost COVID-19 vaccination rates among workers -- including healthcare workers -- save lives, and strengthen the economy in the process.

The first rule, issued by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), mandates that all healthcare workers whose organizations receive funding from Medicare or Medicaid be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Jan. 4, 2022. The second rule, issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), calls on business owners with 100 or more employees to require their workers to either get vaccinated or submit to weekly testing by this date.

"Ensuring patient safety and protection from COVID-19 has been the focus of our efforts in combatting the pandemic and the constantly evolving challenges we're seeing," CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, said in a statement. "Today's action addresses the risk of unvaccinated healthcare staff to patient safety and provides stability and uniformity across the nation's healthcare system to strengthen the health of people and the providers who care for them."

Also, in an attempt to simplify the implementation process for employers, officials said the administration has also pushed back the deadline for a previously announced vaccine requirements for federal employees and contractors to the Jan. 4, 2022 date as well.

Under the new Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), as the rule from OSHA is known, employers must write, implement, and enforce either a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy or a policy that lets employees choose between vaccination and weekly COVID-testing plus masking. Healthcare workers will not have the option to submit to weekly testing in lieu of a vaccine.

"We have a higher bar for healthcare workers, given their critical role in ensuring the health and safety of their patients," a senior administration official stated during a background phone call with reporters on Wednesday evening.

The two rules combined, in addition to previous regulations, will extend vaccination requirements to roughly two-thirds of all employees nationwide, including 17 million healthcare workers and 84 million employees, officials said. (Business groups had previously urged the administration to delay a vaccine mandate until after the holidays out of concern that it could worsen supply chain problems and labor shortages.)

The ETS will also call for employers to offer paid time off to allow employees to receive their shots and paid leave to recover from any side effects.

OSHA will also support employers to build their vaccine or testing requirements program by providing "robust compliance assistance" including sample plans, fact sheets, and frequently asked questions, noted officials on the press call.

The penalty for a single citation is approximately $14,000, they noted. For "willful penalties," employers can be fined ten times that amount, roughly $140,000.

As for the agency's legal authority to implement an ETS, a senior administration official said that 745,000 American deaths does indeed meet the criteria for a standard of "grave danger," and the standard is also "necessary" to protect workers.

Experts clashed over whether the standard was indeed necessary, during a congressional hearing last week, and legal challenges are anticipated.

David Zaas, MD, CEO for MUSC Health's Charleston division, who spoke about healthcare workforce issues during a virtual panel discussion hosted by the American Hospital Association on Tuesday, said the vaccine requirements MUSC implemented have helped to alleviate patients' worries, but also served as a recruitment tool.

"I think people were choosing to work at places where they knew their co-workers were vaccinated," Zaas said.

Leonard Hernandez, president and CEO for the Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital in El Dorado, Kansas, said during the panel discussion that his organization would wait for the government to take action, before implementing any sort of mandate.

At least five or six nurses at his rural hospital have said they do not want to get vaccinated, he noted. "That's a big part of our ... nursing staff," he said. "We will prolong ... a decision until CMS says you have to do it."

Vaccination rates have jumped to "well over 90%" among organizations that have implemented requirements voluntarily, an official said on the call.

Soon after the rules were announced on Thursday, the Alliance Defending Freedom and the Dhillon Law Group introduced a challenge to the Biden administration's rules on behalf of the Daily Wire. In addition, attorneys for the conservative news website said they plan to file an emergency motion in order to stay the mandate.

Twenty-four state attorneys general previously threatened to file lawsuits if the Biden administration moved forward with vaccine-or-test rules for private businesses.

Benchmarks' Upcoming Webinars

Benchmarks' Friday Webinar

Dave Richard Joins Karen McLeod

Date: Friday, November 19, 2021 thru December 16, 2022

Time: 8:30 am thru 9:30 am

(This registration is for a recurring meeting)

Benchmarks' Child Welfare Webinar

Lisa Cauley Joins Karen McLeod

Date: Thursday, December 2, 2021

Time: 8:00 am thru 9:00 am

Benchmarks' Collection of Past Updates

New Primary Care Provider Change Request Form for Members in Managed Care

In collaboration with primary care providers (PCPs), the NC Medicaid Managed Care Prepaid Health Plans (PHPs) have created a new standardized PCP Change Request Form for members who wish to change their primary care assignment throughout the year. A link to each health plan’s form can be found here:

As a reminder, beneficiaries can change their PCP/Advanced Medical Home (AMH) without cause twice each year.

Below are the different ways beneficiaries can change their PCP/AMH:

Beneficiaries can select a PCP/AMH at application, recertification or through choice counseling with the Enrollment Broker when they change a health plan.
Once assigned a health plan, beneficiaries should contact their health plan to change their PCP/AMH using this form or by calling each plan’s Member Services directly. Contact information can be found in the Member Handbook on the Health Plan Contacts and Resources Page.
Beneficiaries can change their PCP or health plan at any time over the course of the year if they have care or quality concerns. This is known as a change ‘with cause.’ This PCP Change Request Form should not be utilized to process ‘with cause’ member requested changes. Those ‘with cause’ requests should be processed by calling each plan’s Member Services directly.

DHHS Announces Updates for County Realignments to New LME/MCOs

On July 29, 2021, NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen M.D. approved the Transition, Consolidation, and Dissolution Agreement (the Agreement) to consolidate Cardinal Innovations and Vaya Health, with Vaya Health remaining as the surviving entity.

The Agreement stated that the consolidation would be completed no later than April 1, 2022; the Agreement also indicated that the day-to-day operations of Cardinal Innovations may be assumed by Vaya prior to that date. Cardinal Innovations and Vaya Health agreed that the consolidation will occur on Jan 1, 2022 in order to best ensure the stability of members, providers and staff impacted by the transition.

Over the past several months, DHHS worked with the counties in the Cardinal region to support their decision to remain with Cardinal Innovations and ultimately align with Vaya Health or realign with a different LME/MCO.

The top priority for DHHS and the LME/MCOs during the transition period is to promote the stability of the LME/MCO system and ensure minimal disruption for Cardinal members, the LME/MCOs taking on new counties, and their provider networks.

The following reflects a change in the original transition dates:

Orange and Mecklenburg counties’ transition date to Alliance Health has changed from Dec. 15, 2021 to Dec. 1, 2021. The change was made after taking into consideration a number of operational factors that make the first day of the month preferable to a mid-month transition.
Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Franklin, Granville, Person, Rowan, Stokes and Vance counties will transition to Vaya effective Jan. 1, 2022.

The following counties have no change to their realignment dates:

Forsyth and Davie counties transition to Partners Health Management on Nov. 1, 2021.
Warren County transitions to Eastpointe on Dec. 1, 2021.
Halifax County transitions to Trillium Health Resources on Dec. 1, 2021.
Davidson and Rockingham counties transition to Sandhills Center on Dec. 1, 2021.

Please see the fact sheet DHHS Announces Updates for County Realignments to New LME/MCOs for more information.

Expanding Opportunities for Competitive Integrated Employment and Other Meaningful Day Options for Individuals with Disabilities

The NC Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is committed to transforming its services and systems to support individuals with disabilities as fully included members of their communities. To achieve this vision, the Department intends to maximize opportunities for individuals with disabilities to explore, seek, and maintain Competitive Integrated Employment and benefit from other meaningful day options.

This initiative builds upon historical efforts by DHHS to expand opportunities for North Carolinians with disabilities to achieve their goals for employment and community inclusion and furthers the Department’s mission to improve the health, safety and well-being of all North Carolinians. It aligns closely with the Department’s 2021 – 2023 Strategic Plan, its ongoing work to update the state’s Olmstead Plan, and the integration mandate of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The Department’s commitment to maximize Competitive Integrated Employment and meaningful day options for individuals with disabilities (e.g., Community Living and Supports, Day Supports, Supported Employment) is a comprehensive effort that continues to evolve and improve. The Department will enhance service delivery for individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) by taking key steps over the next five years to align employment services with evidence-informed, current best practices.

Specifically, the Department will undertake the following:

Update and align state and Medicaid-funded Supported Employment (SE), Community Living and Supports (CLS), and Day Supports services to incorporate current best practices in the service delivery system for individuals with IDD and TBI. DHHS remains committed to consistent evaluation regarding the services provided to individuals with mental illness as well.
Engage stakeholders in disability communities to ensure understanding of new services and pathways available to them.
Conduct informed choice awareness campaign with focus on career pathways and related support services that lead to Competitive Integrated Employment and meaningful day options.
Offer trainings for providers, families, and advocates regarding changes in service definitions and best practices.
Develop and promote a comprehensive Transition to Competitive Integrated Employment guide for stakeholders that clearly explains defines the new service array and how to access inclusive educational and employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
Offer enhanced provider training to help inform and enrich employment service delivery.

For more information, please see Expanding Opportunities for Competitive Integrated Employment and Other Meaningful Day Options.

NC Practice Standard Highlight: Communicating

One of the primary tools that every great child welfare worker has in his or her bag is outstanding communication. Effective, open communication with children and families, among colleagues, between supervisors and employees, and with every member of your child welfare team is essential to doing the work well.

In the NC Practice Standards for CWS, communicating is defined as the timely and consistent sharing of spoken and written information so that meaning and intent are understood in the same way by all parties involved. Open and honest communication underpins successful performance of all essential functions in child welfare.

For frontline social workers, supervisors, and leaders, the Practice Standards will reinforce three key areas of effective communication:

Using clear language and checking with others to assure two-way understanding.
Operating with transparency and honesty.
Respecting confidentiality and privacy.

For frontline social workers and supervisors, the Practice Standards also teach best practices in communicating with children, youth and families, including using respectful, non-judgmental and empowering language.

Stay tuned for additional information that will be provided during training about how these core activities for effective communication can be demonstrated in daily behaviors. To learn more, visit ncpracticestandards.pubknow.com and email any questions you might have to [email protected].

Encourage Eligible Families to Apply for Child Tax Credit

NC Departments of Social Services are among those working to move our state beyond the hardships of the pandemic, in part by making sure people receive the services for which they are eligible. To support this effort, please help us spread the word in your communities about the advance Child Tax Credit federal payment, which can provide families with up to half of their total credit and bolster their income to meet immediate needs for children’s health and well-being.

Families can visit GetCTC.org to find out if they are eligible for the payments and sign up to get them. Eligible families who filed a 2019 or 2020 tax return will automatically get the payments. However, the Center on Budget & Policy Priorities estimates more than 100,000 North Carolina children, including newborns, live in families who are likely to need assistance in claiming the Child Tax Credit.

The IRS together with Code for America has created a simplified sign-up tool for families with low incomes who have not filed 2021 income taxes to sign up to receive the credit. Alternatively, families can file a full 2021 income tax return in order to receive additional benefits they may be eligible for, including all three federal stimulus checks and the Earned Income Tax Credit. The simplified sign-up tool is accessible in English and Spanish.

Please consider the following steps to help ensure North Carolina maximizes the benefits from this federal policy for families across the state:

Ensure all staff engaged with clients have information to ask if families have received or filed for the Advance Child Tax Credit. A 6-minute training about using the non-filer portal is available online at www.youtube.com.

Post notices in offices using the flyer and poster on the GetCTC portal (English and Spanish)

Share on social media information and links to GetCTC.org for those who haven’t yet received their payment.

Post more details about the advance Child Tax Credit on your agency website and frequently visited pages.

Include information about the advance Child Tax Credit in mailings to households using the palm cards (English and Spanish) or flyer above.

Families should sign up at GetCTC.org before Nov. 15 to guarantee advance payment arrives as soon as possible. For more information, visit Get Your Child Tax Credit | GetCTC or read North Carolina’s Oct. 14 press release.

NCDSS Recruiting Family Partners for State Council

NCDSS is recruiting Family Partners for the North Carolina Child Welfare Family Advisory Council (CWFAC). This diverse 12-member group is comprised of birth, kinship, foster, and adoptive parents and young adult alumni of the foster care system.

Council members are sponsored by a county child welfare agency and meet twice a month to review and provide feedback on state-level child welfare programs, policies, and plans. NCDSS provides council members training, leadership development opportunities, and an Honorarium for their time.

Eligible council members have experience with the North Carolina child welfare system within the last five years, are three-months post CPS involvement (if applicable), and meet specific criminal background requirements.

If you are interested in sponsoring a Family Partner, learning more about the council, or would like to learn how to strengthen family engagement or family leadership efforts in your county, please e-mail [email protected].

Transition-Aged Youth Payments Update

We thank you again for your tireless efforts in helping to identify and distribute the transitional age youth stimulus benefits. At this time, allocations have been finalized and county reimbursements are in progress.

NCDSS is grateful on behalf of North Carolina’s transition-aged youth to every county for your tremendous efforts in supporting this project. It would not have been possible without your work.

NCDHHS COVID-19 Training Available

Organizations can request a live, interactive COVID 101 Training from the NC Department of Health and Human Services. The training includes up-to-date guidance on vaccinations, including boosters and treatments.

If your organization is interested in hosting an interactive presentation with a speaker from NCDHHS, please complete the online form: share.hsforms.com/1JCCK2MjHSlq9XAMgxa-LvA5bzii. The request form is also available in Spanish.

Thank you for your continued work helping to get reliable COVID-19 vaccination information out to your community.

Trauma-Informed Private Provider Agencies Webinar

Being trauma-informed is important but it can be hard to know what an agency looks like when it is trauma-informed. This 1-hour webinar will define what it means to be a trauma-informed agency and provide concrete resources agencies can use to become more trauma-informed. Resources that will be discussed include strategies to manage secondary traumatic stress; the Resource Parent Curriculum Workshop for kinship, foster and adoptive parents; and collaboration with child welfare staff by understanding the Child Welfare Trauma Screening Tool.

To register for this event please click HERE.

Put the next two events on your calendar and look for more detailed information to come.

Session 2: January 10, 1–2 p.m. Impact of Trauma and Developing Resilience: how to care for yourself when you are in a caring profession.

Session 3: April 12, 11 a.m. – noon. The Importance of Trauma Screening for Youth

NCDSS Hosts Webinar in Support of National Adoption Month

Join us Nov. 18, 9:30 a.m.–noon

November is National Adoption Month, and this year’s theme is Every Conversation Matters.

In support of Adoption month, NCDSS is excited to announce a special webinar, Every Conversation Matters: Child-Focused Recruitment. Engaging youth, families, and key stakeholders in conversations throughout the adoption process, from recruitment to permanency, is key to achieving positive permanency results for children in the foster care system.

We encourage you to join us to learn more about the following initiatives occurring throughout NC to increase permanency for children and youth:

Children’s Home Society of NC will be present to discuss the Permanency Innovations Initiative, including child-specific adoption recruitment, family finding, and training to support the effective delivery of these services.

NC DSS will provide additional information about the NC Kids Child-Specific Recruitment program and Permanency Roundtables. Permanency Roundtables aim to facilitate a targeted approach to permanency while addressing any policy, legal, or financial barriers to achieving permanency in a timely manner.

The webinar event will be held on Thursday, November 18, 2021, from 9:30 a.m.–12 p.m. Please register at attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6284227240794487310.

Thank you for your interest, and should you have any questions regarding the Every Conversation Matters: Child-Focused Recruitment webinar, please contact Kimaree Sanders, Deputy Compact Administrator, at [email protected].

SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #192 and #193 Now Available

The NC Division of Health Benefits (DHB) has recently published new Medicaid Bulletin articles pertaining to COVID-19:

SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #192: Vaccination Outreach Code Reimbursement

Effective Oct. 22, 2021, NC Medicaid-enrolled providers can bill code 99401 with HM modifier for telephone outreach to unvaccinated Medicaid beneficiaries. More Information

SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #193: Public Health Emergency Extended

The federal government has now extended the public health emergency (PHE) through Jan. 16, 2022. More Information

SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #194 and #195 Now Available

The NC Division of Health Benefits (DHB) has recently published new Medicaid Bulletin articles pertaining to COVID-19:

SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #194: Update on Personal Care Services Rates; Increasing Private Duty Nursing Rates

In consideration of the evolving needs for PCS providers, in place of the outbreak rates, NC Medicaid will provide all PCS providers, including CAP/C and CAP/DA, a single, uniform, temporary rate increase that will enable them all to better address the various increased costs associated with staffing during the COVID-19 PHE. More Information.

SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #195: Booster Dose of Pfizer, Moderna and Janssen Vaccines

Update on COVID-19 booster shot recommendations for Pfizer, Moderna and Janssen. More Information.

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

New Medicaid Bulletin Available as of Oct. 22, 2021

The NC Division of Health Benefits (DHB) has recently published new Medicaid Bulletin articles:

· Electronic Visit Verification Hardship Advance Update

· Electronic Visit Verification Soft Launch Ends for PHPs

New Medicaid Bulletins Available as of Nov. 2, 2021

The NC Division of Health Benefits (DHB) has recently published new Medicaid Bulletin articles:

· DHHS Announces Updates to County Realignments to New LME/MCOs

· New Primary Care Provider Change Request Form for Members in Managed Care Prepaid Health Plans

· Paid Live-In Caregiver Electronic Visit Verification Exemption for CAP/C and CAP/DA Waiver Beneficiaries

· Provider Reminders: Individual Provider Affiliation and Keeping NCTracks Records Current – Oct.29, 2021

· NC Medicaid Managed Care Provider Update – Oct. 29, 2021

· Updated Provider Enrollment Training

· NC Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Announcements - Nov. 2, 2021

· Administration of Long Acting Injectable Medications

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

Use of State License Boards Instead of Transcript to Verify Education and Training

Currently, when completing an Enrollment Application or Re-verification Application, NCTracks requests that some providers have their school send transcripts as proof of the highest level of education entered on the application. Effective Nov. 8, 2021, state licensing agencies that primary source verify education and training and display the information on their websites will be used as verification of education and training in lieu of a transcript.

See the table below for a list of state license agencies that can be used as verification of education and training. If the licensing board is not included below, transcripts will still be required. If the licensing board is listed below, NCTracks will verify education and training using that source instead of sending a transcript request to the provider.

For applications submitted prior to Nov. 8, 2021, providers must still have their school send a transcript if one has been requested.

November 2021 Provider Training Now Available

Registration is open for the Nov. 2021 instructor-led provider training courses listed below. Slots are limited. NCTracks Zoom courses can be attended remotely from any location with a computer and internet connection. Please note that as of Jan. 1, 2021, training will be conducted through Zoom; individualized meeting information has been created for each course. Please see the Training Enrollment Instructions section below for registration details.

Ordering, Prescribing and Rendering Provider Enrollment (Zoom)

Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, 10:00 a.m. - Noon

This course will guide the user through the process of submitting Ordering, Prescribing, and Referring (OPR) provider Full and Lite enrollment applications. At the end of this training, you will be able to:

· Understand the differences between a Full provider enrollment and an OPR Lite provider enrollment

· Submit an OPR Lite enrollment application

· Upgrade from an OPR Lite provider to a Full provider via Manage Change Request (MCR)

Meeting Information

Follow the steps below for audio and visual access to the Zoom online training sessions:

1. Dial US Toll Free 833-568-8864

2. Enter meeting ID 161 785 7183#

3. Press the # key

4. Enter meeting passcode 3659314399#

5. From an internet browser, enter the URL https://gdit.zoomgov.com/j/1617857183?pwd=TWk0cUY4UDM1alRKbm5RY1J4Ulg0QT09

· Providers may choose to use the computer audio instead of dialing in

Prior Approval Institutional (Zoom)

Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021, 9:30 a.m. – Noon

This course will cover:

· Submitting Prior Approval requests, to help ensure compliance with Medicaid clinical coverage policy and medical necessity.

· Inquiring about Prior Approval requests to determine their status.

Meeting Information

Follow the steps below for audio and visual access to the Zoom online training sessions:

1. Dial US Toll Free 833-568-8864

2. Enter meeting ID 161 312 7227#

3. Press the # key

4. Enter meeting passcode 4490517179#

5. From an internet browser, enter the URL https://gdit.zoomgov.com/j/1613127227?pwd=WE1GYUhNeDVqL2srNTg3anhGN3c5Zz09

· Providers may choose to use the computer audio instead of dialing in

Submitting an Institutional Claim (Zoom)

Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

At the end of training, authorized users will be able to submit an institutional claim via the NCTracks web portal:

· Initial claim

· Save a claim Draft

· Use Claims Draft Search

· Submit a claim

· View results of a claim submission

· Perform a Claim Status Search

· Copy a claim

· Resubmit a claim

· Void or replace a prior claim

Meeting Information

Follow the steps below for audio and visual access to the Zoom online training sessions:

1. Dial US Toll Free 833-568-8864

2. Enter meeting ID 160 573 6935#

3. Press the # key

4. Enter meeting passcode 7681547335#

5. From an internet browser, enter the URL https://gdit.zoomgov.com/j/1605736935?pwd=ZWlHMnN4QXhnbXBHdEZMUm12cUhJZz09

· Providers may choose to use the computer audio instead of dialing in

Prior Approval Dental/Orthodontic Claim (Zoom)

Friday, Nov. 5, 2021, 9:30 a.m. - Noon

This course will provide instructions regarding how authorized users can submit, inquire, and void Dental Prior Approval requests in NCTracks. Create a dental claim via the NCTracks web portal. At the end of this training, you will be able to:

· Submit Dental Prior Approval requests

· Inquire about Prior Approval requests

· Void a Prior Approval

Meeting Information

Follow the steps below for audio and visual access to the Zoom online training sessions:

1. Dial US Toll Free 833-568-8864

2. Enter meeting ID 161 149 1396#

3. Press the # key

4. Enter meeting passcode 7483529789#

5. From an internet browser, enter the URL https://gdit.zoomgov.com/j/1611491396?pwd=Z3lvMlRHT0hxLzE0clduT01HLzhPUT09

· Providers may choose to use the computer audio instead of dialing in

Submitting a Dental/Orthodontic Claim (Zoom)

Friday, Nov. 5, 2021, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

This course will provide instructions for authorized users to submit dental claims electronically in NCTracks. At the end of this training, authorized users will be able to:

· Create a dental claim via the NCTracks web portal

· Save a claim Draft

· Submit a claim

· Search claim status

· Review claim status

· Copy a claim

· Void or Replace a previous claim

Meeting Information

Follow the steps below for audio and visual access to the Zoom online training sessions:

1. Dial US Toll Free 833-568-8864

2. Enter meeting ID 160 569 1174#

3. Press the # key

4. Enter meeting passcode 5782404293#

5. From an internet browser, enter the URL https://gdit.zoomgov.com/j/1605691174?pwd=d0lUL0o5OTgzYUV5eHdEKy9vMFVzZz09

· Providers may choose to use the computer audio instead of dialing in

New Office Administrator (Zoom)

Monday, November 8, 2021, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

This course describes the process for changing the current Office Administrator (OA) to a new Office Administrator for an Individual Provider or Organization with a National Provider Identification (NPI) number or Atypical Provider. At the completion of training, authorized users will be able to:

· Update the Office Administrator for an

· Individual Provider

· Organization

· Upgrade existing Users to

· Managing Relationships

Meeting Information

Follow the steps below for audio and visual access to the Zoom online training sessions:

1. Dial US Toll Free 833-568-8864

2. Enter meeting ID 160 233 6561#

3. Press the # key

4. Enter meeting passcode 9289903027#

5. From an internet browser, enter the URL https://gdit.zoomgov.com/j/1602336561?pwd=Rkl0S0lYbnB4ZWhzb0ZLNWNxR0dEZz09

· Providers may choose to use the computer audio instead of dialing in

Submitting a NEMT Claim (Zoom)

Monday, Nov. 8, 2021, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

At the end of training, authorized users will be able to perform all aspects of submitting a Professional claim via the NCTracks web portal, including:

· Understand Claims Terminology

· Understand the Payment Authorization Process

· Create a Claim

· Save a Claim Draft

· Use Claims Draft Search

· Submit a Claim

· View Results of a Claim Submission

· Perform a Claim Status Search

· Copy a Claim

· Resubmit a Claim

· Void and Replace Claims

· Understand Your Remittance Advice

· Prior Authorization Inquiry

Meeting Information

Follow the steps below for audio and visual access to the Zoom online training sessions:

1. Dial US Toll Free 833-568-8864

2. Enter meeting ID 160 638 9395#

3. Press the # key

4. Enter meeting passcode 4811606454#

5. From an internet browser, enter the URL https://gdit.zoomgov.com/j/1606389395?pwd=eUI2Z05EYm9vL1lYWk1xWjJMbEZaUT09

· Providers may choose to use the computer audio instead of dialing in

How to Add or Update Credentials (Zoom)

Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

This course shows authorized users how to add or update credentials on a provider’s record in NCTracks. Credentials are as follows:

· Accreditations

· Certifications

· Licensure

Meeting Information

Follow the steps below for audio and visual access to the Zoom online training sessions:

1. Dial US Toll Free 833-568-8864

2. Enter meeting ID 161 067 4411#

3. Press the # key

4. Enter meeting passcode 2762649919#

5. From an internet browser, enter the URL https://gdit.zoomgov.com/j/1610674411?pwd=UVFKNXRxaDVUS2JMSmxsTEN0eWhuUT09

· Providers may choose to use the computer audio instead of dialing in

Provider Web Portal Applications (Zoom)

Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

This course will guide authorized users through an overview of the Enrollment, Re-enrollment, Re-verification, Abbreviated Manage Change Request, Manage Change Request, Maintain Eligibility, and Fingerprinting required application processes. At the end of this training, authorized users will be able to:

· Understand the Provider Enrollment Application process

· Navigate to the NCTracks Provider Portal and understand how to complete the following Provider Enrollment Application processes:

· Provider Enrollment

· Out-of-State (OOS)

· Ordering, Prescribing, and Referring (OPR) Lite

· Re-enrollment

· Re-verification

· Abbreviated Manage Change Request

· Manage Change Request (MCR)

· Maintain Eligibility

· Fingerprinting Required

Meeting Information

Follow the steps below for audio and visual access to the Zoom online training sessions:

1. Dial US Toll Free 833-568-8864

2. Enter meeting ID 161 461 3616#

3. Press the # key

4. Enter meeting passcode 5307303118#

5. From an internet browser, enter the URL https://gdit.zoomgov.com/j/1614613616?pwd=dFVrWHBNaS9rRnpyMjJXU3g4eEUzQT09

· Providers may choose to use the computer audio instead of dialing in

Prior Approval Medical (Zoom)

Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, 9:30 a.m. - Noon.

This course will cover:

· Submitting Prior Approval requests, to help ensure compliance with Medicaid clinical coverage policy and medical necessity

· Inquiring about Prior Approval requests to determine their status

· Voiding a Prior Approval

Meeting Information

Follow the steps below for audio and visual access to the Zoom online training sessions:

1. Dial US Toll Free 833-568-8864

2. Enter meeting ID 161 667 1374#

3. Press the # key

4. Enter meeting passcode 4264536610#

5. From an internet browser, enter the URL https://gdit.zoomgov.com/j/1616671374?pwd=MkdYYmQ1a3R0clFwL2hYVVVTYWI3Zz09

· Providers may choose to use the computer audio instead of dialing in

Submitting a Professional Claim (Zoom)

Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

This course will show authorized users how to electronically submit a Professional claim. At the end of training, authorized users will be able to:

· Submit a Professional claim via the NCTracks web portal

· Create a claim

· Save a claim draft

· Use Claims Draft Search

· Submit a claim

· View results of a claim submission

· Perform a Claim Status Search

· Copy the claim

· Resubmit a claim

· Void or replace prior claims

Meeting Information

Follow the steps below for audio and visual access to the Zoom online training sessions:

1. Dial US Toll Free 833-568-8864

2. Enter meeting ID 160 739 1962#

3. Press the # key

4. Enter meeting passcode 8966645328#

5. From an internet browser, enter the URL https://gdit.zoomgov.com/j/1607391962?pwd=STdsZnd4bEFaSk1hWFhwaVdhMUtVUT09

· Providers may choose to use the computer audio instead of dialing in

Ortho Helpful Hints (Zoom)

Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, 9:00 a.m. – Noon

At the end of this course, authorized users will be able to:

· Identify the three (3) methods of Prior Approval submission.

· Identify how to upload documents when submitting Prior Approvals via NCTracks or to existing Prior Approvals.

· Identify the most common errors when completing the American Dental Association form.

· Identify common errors that require requests for Prior Approval additional information.

· Identify how to request payment for orthodontic records.

· Identify how to submit Prior Approval requests for orthodontic treatment requiring orthognathic surgery.

· Identify how to use the Orthodontic Prior Approval attachment forms.

Meeting Information

Follow the steps below for audio and visual access to the Zoom online training sessions:

1. Dial US Toll Free 833-568-8864

2. Enter meeting ID 160 646 7518#

3. Press the # key

4. Enter meeting passcode 4285919941#

5. From an internet browser, enter the URL https://gdit.zoomgov.com/j/1606467518?pwd=YklVSkRTR2oyWUl1L25vM2Y3Y2JZQT09

· Providers may choose to use the computer audio instead of dialing in

Ordering, Prescribing and Rendering Provider Enrollment (Zoom)

Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

This course will guide authorized users through the process of submitting Ordering, Prescribing, and Referring (OPR) provider Full and Lite enrollment applications. At the end of this training, authorized users will be able to:

· Understand the differences between a Full provider enrollment and an OPR Lite provider enrollment

· Submit an OPR Lite enrollment application

· Upgrade from an OPR Lite provider to a Full provider via Manage Change Request (MCR)

Meeting Information

Follow the steps below for audio and visual access to the Zoom online training sessions:

1. Dial US Toll Free 833-568-8864

2. Enter meeting ID 161 251 8920

3. Press the # key

4. Enter meeting passcode 7388473851#

5. From an internet browser, enter the URL https://gdit.zoomgov.com/j/1612518920?pwd=ZFN1dElsSjNvemc3cWxLTUF1em1OZz09

· Providers may choose to use the computer audio instead of dialing in

ES User Role_Abbr. MCR_Upload Documents (Zoom)

Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, 10:00 a.m. – Noon

This course will guide authorized users through the following enhancements to the provider enrollment application processes:

· Enrollment Specialist user role

· Upload supporting documents

· Abbreviated Manage Change Request (MCR) applications

Meeting Information

Follow the steps below for audio and visual access to the Zoom online training sessions:

1. Dial US Toll Free 833-568-8864

2. Enter meeting ID 160 675 5518#

3. Press the # key

4. Enter meeting passcode 5823413848#

5. From an internet browser, enter the URL https://gdit.zoomgov.com/j/1606755518?pwd=VUhxL1BoR1dyRlgyV1pUNmR4WFhZQT09

· Providers may choose to use the computer audio instead of dialing in

Dental Helpful Hints (Zoom)

Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021, 9:00 a.m. – Noon

At the end of this course, authorized users will be able to:

· Identify the three (3) methods of Prior Approval submission.

· Identify how to upload documents when submitting a Prior Approval via NCTracks and how to upload documents to an existing Prior Approval.

· Identify the most common errors when completing the American Dental Association (ADA) form.

· Identify common errors that require requests for Prior Approval additional information.

· Identify the common mistakes when submitting claims.

Meeting Information

Follow the steps below for audio and visual access to the Zoom online training sessions:

1. Dial US Toll Free 833-568-8864

2. Enter meeting ID 161 376 7013#

3. Press the # key

4. Enter meeting passcode 9646247368#

5. From an internet browser, enter the URL https://gdit.zoomgov.com/j/1613767013?pwd=RWRQbzNFdEtPaVUySXpYNkFYWUgvQT09

· Providers may choose to use the computer audio instead of dialing in

Submitting a NEMT Claim (Zoom)

Wednesday, November 17, 2021, 9:30 a.m. – Noon

At the end of training, authorized users will be able to perform all aspects of submitting a Professional claim via the NCTracks web portal, including:

· Understand Claims Terminology

· Understand the Payment Authorization Process

· Create a Claim

· Save a Claim Draft

· Use Claims Draft Search

· Submit a Claim

· View Results of a Claim Submission

· Perform a Claim Status Search

· Copy a Claim

· Resubmit a Claim

· Void and Replace Claims

· Understand Your Remittance Advice

· Prior Authorization Inquiry

Meeting Information

Follow the steps below for audio and visual access to the Zoom online training sessions:

1. Dial US Toll Free 833-568-8864

2. Enter meeting ID 161 750 0347#

3. Press the # key

4. Enter meeting passcode 7581907223#

5. From an internet browser, enter the URL https://gdit.zoomgov.com/j/1617500347? pwd=ZDljSTZMbTJ2d09iZ0VFcTFBNjMzZz09

· Providers may choose to use the computer audio instead of dialing in

Training Enrollment Instructions

Providers can register for these courses in SkillPort, the NCTracks Learning Management System. Log onto the secure NCTracks Provider Portal and click Provider Training to access SkillPort. Open the folder labeled Provider Computer-Based Training (CBT) and Instructor Led Training (ILT). The courses can be found in the sub-folder labeled ILTs: Remote via WebEx (although this is the sub-folder name, please note that, as previously mentioned, courses will now be conducted via Zoom and not WebEx).

Refer to the Provider User Guides & Training page of the public provider portal for specific instructions on how to use SkillPort. The Provider Training Tool Kits page also includes a quick reference regarding Java, which is required for the use of SkillPort.

Help Share Teen Voices This November

Find tools for promoting National Adoption Month

November is quickly approaching! Start planning now for National Adoption Month with the official outreach materials presented by the Children's Bureau in partnership with Child Welfare Information Gateway and AdoptUSKids.

It's Easy to Spread the Word!

Focus on this year's theme, "Every Conversation Matters," in your marketing and communications plans. Use the National Adoption Month website as a resource to educate the public and professionals about the importance of teens leading conversations about their adoption and permanency options.
Choose from our graphics, email signatures, and messages to encourage your networks to get involved in empowering the voices of teens.

Use our sample social media posts to expand the reach of the initiative. Include the hashtags #NationalAdoptionMonth and #ConversationsMatter to join and grow the conversation!

Share the National Adoption Month Webinar

Teens know what they need and, if given the opportunity, will help professionals know what needs to happen to achieve permanency. Watch the National Adoption Month Webinar that features teens sharing lived experiences and lessons learned.

Challenge and Recognize Your Colleagues!

Participate in the Ask Youth Challenge by using these graphics and the hashtag #AskYouthChallenge to inspire your colleagues and community to learn more about teens waiting for adoption.

By sharing these materials, we can recognize professionals who are making it an everyday practice to listen and learn from teens in every conversation.

Hear My Voice!

Permanency and adoption stories, directly from us

We are the teens of the child welfare system, and we each have a story to tell.

For some of us, foster care has been our entire life, but in just a few years we may be aging out. The conversation of what's next will be key to us living a stable life—and we want to be included in those conversations!

This month we are raising our voices to share stories from our time in care. Although it's not always easy for us to talk about our experiences, we realize they help shape our permanency decisions. We've also learned that staying silent during these decisions can be much worse.

Hear Youth Voices!

Are You Listening?

We are the experts of our lives, and we know what we want and need for our futures. We want to share our experiences to help shine a light on areas where we think engagement and the system can improve.

Catherine Monet, shares things she learned over time after being adopted at age 21. "I think that one way to build this necessary trust is to invite youth to the table. Involve us in decision-making."
When legal permanency wasn't achieved, LilCrystal Dernier determined what permanency beyond a home looked like for her. "These factors all helped me grow in finding permanency in an unconventional way and developing positive self-efficacy."
Finding normal after moving into the eighth foster home at age 15, Annemarie was scared just how long she'd be welcome in her new home. But engaging conversations lead her to "feel comfortable enough to come to them and talk to them about problems."
After spending 19 of her 25 years of life in foster care, Shay House became a child welfare advocate and believes People with First-Hand Experience Should be at the Forefront of Policy Reform. "I firmly believe that true expertise lies within one's own experience."
After her nine siblings were separated into different foster homes and prevented from maintaining family relationships, Aleks was lead on a path away from—and back to—her siblings. "I suffer from individual and shared pain of guilt as I pursue my own life because many of my siblings are unable to do the same."

We'd love for you to share our stories with professionals, other teens in foster care, and prospective adoptive families to draw attention to the importance of conversations and engaging with us.