Benchmarks' Friday Membership Webinar with
Dave Richard & Karen McLeod: January 21, 2022
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Benchmarks' Upcoming Webinars
Registration is Live: Benchmarks' Friday Membership Webinar with United Healthcare/Optum PHP & Karen McLeod
Date: February 4, 2022
Time: 8:30 am thru 9:30 am
Benchmarks' Child Welfare Webinar
Lisa Cauley Joins Karen McLeod
Date: Thursday, February 10, 2022
Time: 8:00 am thru 9:00 am
Benchmarks' Friday Webinar
Dave Richard Joins Karen McLeod
Date: Friday, February 18, 2021 thru December 16, 2022
Time: 8:30 am thru 9:30 am
(This registration is for a recurring meeting)
Benchmarks' Foster, Adoption, & Residential (FAR) Committee Meeting: Legislative Agenda Development
Date: Tuesday, March 1, 2022
Time: 9:00 am thru 10:30 am
Benchmarks' Medicaid Forum: Legislative Agenda Development
Date: Thursday, March 3, 2022
Time: 9:00 am thru 10:30 am
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SAVE THE DATE
Benchmarks' Public/Private Behavioral Health Forum (PPBH) Face to Face Meeting
Friday, June 10, 2022
10:30 am thru 2:30 pm
Royal Center, Raleigh NC
Benchmarks is super excited to share that we are scheduled to host our PPBH meeting, for the first time in years, THIS JUNE, with Dave Richard & Debra Farrington (and more)!
Please mark your calendars and keep your eyes peeled for additional meeting details and registration information as we get closer to the meeting date.
We look forward to getting a chance to see each of you again, in person!
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ICF/IID Direct Care Worker Wage
Increase Webinar Recording
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Competitive Integrated Employment
Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) means working in the community alongside other employees without disabilities. It also means earning at least minimum wage and getting the same workplace benefits and opportunities as other employees doing the same job.
Over the past decade, North Carolina has worked to transform services and systems to support individuals with disabilities as fully included members of their communities, but in North Carolina, as in the nation, these individuals remain less likely to work in CIE and more likely to live in poverty. Mirroring national trends, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in our state are among the least likely to work in CIE.
CIE is critical to achieving equal opportunity, full participation, and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities. It helps people with disabilities access and participate in the broader community, develop meaningful relationships with peers with and without disabilities, build new skills and self-esteem, and offers a pathway leading to more informed choices and greater economic independence. We are excited to announce that DHHS is taking important new steps to help North Carolinians with I/DD achieve their goals for CIE.
Over the next five years, as part of our Strategic Plan to Promote and Expand CIE for Individuals with I/DD (CIE I/DD Plan), DHHS will enhance employment services and supports for individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities, including Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), by aligning them with evidence-based and promising practices to promote informed choice towards a successful transition to CIE.
Information and resources related to the CIE I/DD Plan will be made available on this website and will expand over time, so please check back frequently. If you have a question or comment for our team, please use this contact form.
Additional Information
NCDHHS Outlines Priorities to Strengthen the State’s System of Community-Based Services and Supports for People with Disabilities in the 2022-23 Olmstead Plan
HCBS Stakeholder Workgroup- Quarterly Updates
County Transitions
- The DHHS HCBS Internal Team continues to support with transitioning counties within the HCBS Database for HCBS Provider Self-Assessments per the DHHS approved county transition date.
- Within the HCBS Database for HCBS Provider Self-Assessments, the DHHS HCBS Internal Team facilitated the merge of sites from Cardinal to Vaya effective 1/1/2022.
HCBS Database
- Additional updates are continually being made to support overall functionality for the LME/MCO and CAP-DA reviewing entities. This quarter, these updates included:
- The ability to complete a mass archive of assessments (i.e. provider acquisition, termination of contract, etc.).
- Updates in process:
- The ability to track HCBS setting demographic information changes when an HCBS Residential setting changes from unlicensed status to licensed
- System notification when a provider submits an HCBS Provider Self-Assessment with duplicate demographic information previously submitted on an HCBS Provider Self-Assessment.
HCBS Validation
- North Carolina is currently 75.45% validated statewide.
- Due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the DHHS amended the Statewide Transition Plan to include a virtual telehealth monitoring option to support North Carolina reaching 100% validation by March 17, 2023. As requested, a draft of the amended Statewide Transition Plan was submitted to CMS prior to posting for public comment.
- The DHHS HCBS Internal Team met with CMS on 9/29/21 to discuss options.
- The DHHS HCBS Internal Team submitted the update to the Statewide Transition Plan to CMS for approval on 10/28/2021.
- CMS provided feedback and request for follow-up on 12/02/21. The HCBS Internal Team is working to address CMS’ feedback.
- The DHHS HCBS Internal Team is currently reconciling updated Quarterly Validation Reports from all LME/MCOs and CAP-DA in response to DHHS’ request for updated reports in order to level-set and assess North Carolina’s progress toward 100% compliance.
DHHS HCBS Validation Look-Behind
- Quarter 1: CLOSED
- Quarter 2: In process
- 4 LME-MCOs CLOSED
- 2 LME-MCOs OPEN
- 1 LME-MCO and CAP-DA N/A (no sample sites selected)
- Quarter 3: In process
- 7 LME-MCOs OPEN
- CAP-DA OPEN
- Quarter 4: List of sample sites as well as needed replacements sites will be generated following the close of Quarter 2 and Quarter 3.
DSS: Second Private Provider Quarterly Meeting
We invite you to attend the 2nd Quarterly Private Provider Meeting currently scheduled on Thursday, February 17, 2022 from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Our topics for this meeting will be:
- Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) – implementation and planning updates
- MAPP Training Overview and updates
- Adoption Promotion Program updates
Please register for Private Agency Quarterly Update on February 17, 2022 1:00 PM EST at:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
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SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #212: Direct Care Worker and Support Staff One-Time Bonus
Eligible direct care workers to receive one-time bonus from eligible providers. Read More
SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #213: Direct Care Worker ICF-IID Wage Increase
Eligible direct care workers to receive wage increase from eligible ICF-IID providers. Read More
SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #214: Direct Care Worker HCBS Wage Increase
Eligible direct care workers to receive wage increase from eligible HCBS providers. Read More
SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #215: NC Medicaid COVID-19 Omicron Surge Flexibilities
This bulletin provides additional information regarding SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #210, which outlines many COVID-19 surge response flexibilities enacted by NC Medicaid. Additional Information
SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #216: Pharmacies Will Cover Oral Tablets (Paxlovid and Molnupiravir)
Effective Jan. 1, 2022, NC Medicaid-enrolled pharmacies may bill for FDA/EUA-approved COVID-19 oral tablets (Paxlovid and/or Molnupiravir) dispensed for use to NC Medicaid beneficiaries in a home setting, with a prescription issued by an NC Medicaid-enrolled provider. More Information
SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #217: Third Dose of Pfizer-BioN Tech Vaccine for Children Ages 5-11
On Jan. 3, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to allow for a third dose in the primary series for certain immunocompromised children ages 5 through 11. Read More
SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #218: Direct Care Worker Eligibility Portal
NC Medicaid established the Direct Care Worker Eligibility Portal for purposes of the direct care workers and support staff one-time bonus and the ICF-IID direct care worker wage increase announced in Special Bulletins COVID-19 #212 and #213. The Eligibility Portal is now available for registration and submission.
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 Bulletins
The NC Division of Health Benefits (DHB) has recently published new Medicaid Bulletin articles:
- Ranibizumab Injection for Intravitreal Use Via Ocular Implant (Susvimo™) HCPCS Code J3590: Billing Guidelines
- Quarterly HCPCS Code Update Jan. 1, 2022
- Quality Measurement Technical Specifications Manual
- Closure of Tear Duct Using Plug; CPT Code 68761: Billing Guidelines
Providers are encouraged to review this information. All bulletin articles, including those related to COVID-19, are available on DHB's Medicaid Bulletin webpage.
Jan. Pharmacy Newsletter Available
The latest Medicaid Pharmacy Newsletter, dated Jan. 2022, is now available on the N.C. Medicaid website. In addition to the Feb. 2022 checkwrite schedule, this edition of the newsletter includes the articles:
- Over-the-Counter COVID-19 Tests for Home Use
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Preferred Brands with Non-Preferred Generics on the Preferred Drug List (PDL)
Providers are encouraged to review this important information. The 2021 Medicaid Pharmacy Newsletters can be viewed here.
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Guidance for the Interim Final Rule - Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination
CMS is committed to ensuring America’s healthcare facilities respond effectively in an evidence-based way to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency (PHE).
On November 05, 2021, CMS published an interim final rule with comment period (IFC). This rule establishes requirements regarding COVID-19 vaccine immunization of staff among Medicare- and Medicaid-certified providers and suppliers.
CMS is providing guidance and survey procedures for assessing and maintaining compliance with these regulatory requirements. • The guidance in this memorandum specifically applies to the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming.
The guidance in this memorandum does not apply to the following state at this time: Texas. Surveyors in Texas should not undertake any efforts to implement or enforce the IFC.
States that are not identified above are expected to continue under the timeframes and parameters identified in the December 28, 2021 memorandum (QSO-22-07-ALL).
HIPAA Covered Entity Decision Tool
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North Carolina Tax Legislation Update: Taxpayers May Now Deduct PPP Expenses
**Huge THANKS to Tom and Laurie Hibbert for the Heads Up! :-)
Taxpayers and tax professionals have been in limbo for many months awaiting legislation that would finally answer the question “Are expenses related to forgiven PPP loan proceeds going to be deductible for North Carolina tax purposes?” And after much anticipation and several reiterations of the law, the Current Operations Appropriations Act of 2021 (COAA, 2021), which contains the answer, has been signed into law by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper.
So, what is the answer? The answer is yes, for tax years beginning before January 1, 2023 (i.e., tax years 2020, 2021 and 2022) taxpayers are allowed to deduct such expenses.
Prior to this recent legislation, North Carolina law required taxpayers to addback any such expenses that were deducted on their federal income tax return. Taxpayers and tax professionals were hopeful that this law would be overturned prior to the filing deadlines for the 2020 tax returns; however, as both the business and individual deadlines came and passed the law remained unchanged. Therefore, many North Carolina taxpayers properly filed their 2020 tax returns including the required addback of these expenses.
So, now what? Now that these expenses are deductible for 2020, many taxpayers will be eligible to file an amended return to claim a refund of taxes they paid as a result of the required addback. However, due to the significant amount of returns that will be impacted by this law change, we recommend waiting to see if the North Carolina Department of Revenue (NCDOR) publishes guidance that may help simplify the amended return process.
It is important to note that this provision also applies to other expenses incurred related to tax-exempt income such as Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) grants, EIDL loan subsidy payments and Shuttered Venue and Restaurant Revitalization grants. Expenses associated with these tax-exempt funds are also deductible for tax years 2020, 2021 and 2022 and North Carolina tax returns previously filed adding back these types of expense may also be amended.
As always, please reach out to your trusted BRC tax advisor if you have any questions regarding this or any of the other tax provisions included in the latest legislation.
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Supreme Court Enjoins OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard; Keeps CMS Rule Alive
On January 13, 2022, the Supreme Court reinstated the nationwide injunction of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS).
(Technically, the Court overturned the Sixth Circuit’s decision dissolving the 5th Circuit’s injunction, discussed in the OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard Survival Guide.)
This means the OSHA ETS is no longer in force, and businesses, regardless of size, need not comply with the OSHA ETS vaccine/test mandate.
At the same time, in a companion decision, the Court stayed the preliminary injunctions issued by the Eastern District of Missouri and Western District of Louisiana, effectively reactivating the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) vaccine mandate in all states except Texas.
Neither Court decision impacts Executive Order 14042 — at least not officially. But more on that below.
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NC CTP Spring 2022 Learning Collaborative Applications are now open!
TF-CBT
Cohort 27
Starting April 2022
Learning Collaborative in Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP)
The NC Child Treatment Program is now accepting applications for the 2022-2023 Learning Collaborative in Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP). Applications are due by February 11, 2022 at 5pm. This cohort will commence training in May 2022.
Interested in learning more about CPP? Join our upcoming Information Call to hear from our faculty and trainers in CPP about the model, learning collaborative expectations, and more. It is also a great opportunity to ask us any questions you have before applying. Details for our upcoming Information Call are below:
Monday January 24, 2022 from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
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8 Essential Publications on the Direct Care Workforce
The COVID-19 pandemic and the potential for large-scale federal investment in the care economy have raised significant interest in direct care workers to an unprecedented level.
These two developments underscore a clear reality: though millions of direct care workers provide critical daily support to older adults and people with disabilities, their jobs are often unfairly characterized by low compensation, inadequate training, insufficient advancement opportunities, and other challenges rooted in poor job quality. As a result, workers can’t make ends meet and often leave this sector, threatening consumers’ access to care.
For 30 years, PHI’s research and analysis have helped policy and practice leaders better understand this workforce, including the types of interventions that will help address this growing workforce crisis. Here are eight of our essential publications from recent years.
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New Resource Guide:
Contingency Management for Stimulant Use Disorder
The opioid crisis has brought evidence-based treatment into focus. When the crisis hit, it was a tipping point for taking action and increasing the availability of medications for treatment. Stimulants, on the other hand, don’t have a medication-based treatment. At the same time, use of cocaine and methamphetamine is rising across the country, especially in rural communities. Contingency management (CM) has shown to be the most effective treatment for stimulant use disorder. It is an evidence-based treatment approach centered on providing incentives to support positive behavior change.
UVM CORA is pleased to present a new guide that lists resources for health and behavioral health professionals who want to learn about contingency management for stimulant use disorder. It includes research, an online course, webinar recordings, treatment guides, a podcast and access to a contingency management pilot project. We hope you find it useful!
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PARENTS & CAREGIVERS CAN HELP PREVENT CHILD TRAFFICKING
This one-hour webinar is focused on recognizing red flags and helping youth find a safe adult. It will shed light on tactics traffickers use to groom and recruit children, and discuss steps adults and caregivers can take to address the issue.
This resource guide includes information to help you understand the reality of human trafficking, and most importantly, what you can do to safeguard your youth and others in your community.
Traffickers often recruit and sell online. This is more true than ever since the pandemic has increased screen time. This web-based guide keeps it simple, and is designed specifically for you to be able to share directly with youth.
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Monday, January 24, 2022
HCBS Direct Care Worker Wage Increase: Behavioral Health Webinar
Time: 1:00 pm thru 1:30 pm
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New: Monday, January 24, 2022
DHHS Update Call for BH/IDD Consumers, Family Members and Community Stakeholders
Time: 2:00 pm thru 3:00 pm
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Tuesday, January 25, 2022
HCBS Direct Care Worker Wage Increase: Physical Health Webinar
Time: 2:30 pm thru 3:00 pm
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Wednesday, January 26, 2022
A National Discussion on Supporting Child Welfare: Innovation & Technology
Time: 2:00 pm thru 3:00 pm
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Thursday, January 27, 2022
NC START Annual Meeting
Time: 9:30 am thru 1:00 pm
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New: Thursday, January 27, 2022
The Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Settings Regulation: Where Are We Now and Where Are We Going
Time: 4:00 pm thru 5:30 pm
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Thursday, January 27, 2022
Why Compassion is the Key to Well-being at Work in 2022
Time: 1:00 pm thru 2:00 pm
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Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Tools for Your Trade: Brain Injury and Behavioral Health
Time: 1:00 pm thru 2:00 pm
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New: Wednesday, February 3, 2022
Asking Styles: A Revolutionary Concept in Fundraising
Time: 3:00 pm thru 3:45 pm
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New: Friday, February 4, 2022
Benchmarks' Friday Membership Webinar with United Healthcare/Optum PHP & Karen McLeod
Time: 8:30 am thru 9:30 am
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Thursday, February 10, 2022
Benchmarks' Child Welfare Webinar with Karen McLeod and Lisa Cauley
Time: 8:00 am thru 9:00 am
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New: Thursday, February 17, 2022
DSS 2nd Private Provider Quarterly Meeting
Time: 1:00 pm thru 2:30 pm
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Friday, February 18, 2022
Benchmarks' Friday Membership Webinar: Dave Richard Joins Karen McLeod
Time: 8:30 am thru 9:30 am
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Tuesday, March 1, 2022
Benchmarks' Foster, Adoption, Residential (FAR) Meeting: Legislative Agenda Development
Time: 9:00 am thru 10:30 am
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Thursday, March 3, 2022
Benchmarks' Medicaid Forum: Legislative Agenda Development
Time: 9:00 am thru 10:30 am
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