Benchmarks' Friday Membership Webinar
Featuring Karen McLeod & Dave Richard
June 17, 2022
Links to items mentioned in the webinar:
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Dr. Dowler's Rap (Full Version) |
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Benchmarks' Upcoming Webinars
Benchmarks' Friday Membership Webinar with Dave Richard & Karen McLeod
Date: Friday, July 15, 2022
Time: 8:30 am thru 9:30 am
Benchmarks' Child Welfare Webinar with Lisa Cauley & Karen McLeod
Date: Thursday, July 21, 2022
(Delayed due to the 4th of July)
Time: 8:00 am thru 9:00 am
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Tailored Plan Webinar Series
NC Medicaid is hosting a Provider webinar series, Tailored Plan 101: Ready, Set, Launch. This webinar series occurs the third Thursday of each month and is designed to support all Medicaid providers, practice managers, quality improvement professionals, care coordinators and other leaders within practices to help them prepare for the launch of Tailored Plans in December, 2022. Providers may register for the series here.
The next webinar will be held Thursday, July 21, 2022 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
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Additional Healthy Opportunities Services Now Available
Healthy Opportunities is a groundbreaking pilot program that works in conjunction with the state’s transition to NC Medicaid Managed Care to test and evaluate the use of Medicaid to pay for a select set of evidence-based interventions designed to address non-medical factors that drive health outcomes and costs.
Qualifying Medicaid Standard Plan members in Healthy Opportunities Pilot regions may receive Evidence-Based Parenting Classes or Home Visiting Services as part of the pilots program that addresses toxic stress and Medical Respite which addresses multiple non-medical needs.
The following new services are:
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Evidence-Based Parenting Classes, including the Incredible Years curriculum, which provide group and one-on-one instruction, often in a classroom setting, over 18-20 sessions by a trained facilitator
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Home Visiting Services, including the Parents as Teachers curriculum, which provide families one-on-one observation, instruction, and support from a trained case manager who may be a licensed clinician, and typically involve at least 12-24 home visits annually depending on the family’s need.
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Medical Respite, which addresses multiple non-medical needs, is a short-term, specialized program focused on individuals who are homeless or imminently homeless, have recently been discharged from a hospital setting and require continuous access to medical care. Services include comprehensive residential care that provides the enrollee the opportunity to rest in a stable setting while enabling access to hospital, medical, and non-medical services that assist in completing their recuperation. Medical respite services should include, at a minimum, short-term post-hospitalization housing, medically-tailored meals and transportation services.
Healthy Opportunities Pilot services are available in three regions of the state on the following timelines, overseen by the following Network Lead organizations:
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Access East Inc.: Beaufort, Bertie, Chowan, Edgecombe, Halifax, Hertford, Martin, Northampton, Pitt
- All services available by July 26.
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Community Care of the Lower Cape Fear: Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, Onslow, Pender
- Evidence-Based Parenting Classes and Home Visiting Services available by June 20.
- Medical Respite will be available by July 11, 2022.
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Impact Health/Dogwood Health Trust: Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Yancey
- All services are available as of June 15.
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Current Grant Opportunities
There are currently 5 grant opportunities with the NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services, which can be found here.
They are listed in the table below.
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Medical Care Advisory Committee (MCAC) Meeting Handouts from June 17, 2022
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From NC DSS: Quarterly Private Agency Meeting
August 18,2022 from 1:00-2:30pm
We invite you to attend the 4th Quarterly Private Provider Meeting currently scheduled on Thursday, August 18, 2022 from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Our topics for this meeting will be:
- Collaboration between DSS, Private Agencies, and Regulatory and Licensing – CPS and CIR Reports
- An Overview of NCDHHS Child Welfare Design Teams
- Respite and Temporary Placements
- Updates from NCDHHS Child Welfare Division (standing agenda item)
- Provider Announcements (standing agenda item)
Please register for Quarterly Private Agency Meeting on Aug 18, 2022 1:00 PM EDT at:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
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DSS Related: From the Western Area Foster Care Association (WAFCA): (Hat tip to Leslie Kellenberger!)
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Joint Communication Bulletins
JCB #420-Individual Placement/Support State-funded Telehealth Flexibility Extension
On March 26, 2020, Joint Communication Bulletin #J358 informed the LME/MCOs that the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services (DMH/DD/SAS) was applying the same flexibilities to state-funded behavioral health services as those allowed under the NC Medicaid behavioral
health flexibilities due to the declared North Carolina State of Emergency related to COVID-19.
Among the flexibilities was the ability to bill two-way, real-time audio and visual and telephonic contacts for the (b)(3) Supported Employment service for individuals with mental health needs (Individual Placement and Support).
established:
- an end-date of June 30, 2022 for some of the behavioral health flexibilities, including telehealth billing for IPS and
- that the (b)(3) service will follow the State definition thereafter.
JCB #421-Update to Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Validation Process and Timeline
This bulletin replaces Joint Communication Bulletin #J411 which provided an updated HCBS validation process and timeline to Local Management Entity-Managed Care Organizations (LME-MCO’s).
This bulletin changes the dates for re-posting the Statewide Transition Plan for public comment and resubmission of the Statewide Transition Plan to the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for final approval. The North Carolina Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services (DMH/DD/SAS) and the Division of Health Benefits (DHB) are providing the following guidance to support the continuation of North Carolina’s HCBS Validation processes amidst response to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Effective March 8, 2022, the NC HCBS Statewide Transition Plan outlines the use of telehealth for Care Coordination monitoring as an allowable method of HCBS validation.
It remains critical that person-centered planning, individual choice and efforts to comply with the HCBS Final Rule continue to be at the forefront of our service delivery system and this flexibility will ensure that North Carolina demonstrates that the state’s existing HCBS settings comply with the HCBS Final Rule by March 17, 2023. The DHHS has adjusted the following HCBS timelines accordingly:
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SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #250: Planning for the Transition out of the Appendix K Public Health Emergency for CAP/C and CAP/DA Waivers
DHB will be initiating a dialogue with CAP stakeholders on the transition back to normal business operations as a proactive approach to winding down of some of the CAP flexibilities. During these dialogues, risk mitigation strategies for health, safety, and well-being will be addressed. More information
SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #251: Sunsetting of Temporary COVID-19 Flexibilities Tied to the NC State of Emergency
As communicated previously in SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #237: Extension of NC State of Emergency Temporary Flexibilities, multiple COVID-related flexibilities are set to sunset on June 30, 2022. 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.
The NC Division of Health Benefits (DHB) has recently published a new Medicaid Bulletin article:
Providers are encouraged to review this information. All bulletin articles, including those related to COVID-19, are available on DHB's Medicaid Bulletin webpage.
Reminder: Call Center and Checkwrite Schedule for Juneteenth Independence Day
Both the NCTracks Call Center and Pharmacy Prior Approval Unit will be open regular hours on Monday, June 20, 2022.
In keeping with the published approved 2022 checkwrite schedule, because of the federal holiday, the checkwrite date on the week of the holiday will be on Wednesday, June 22. 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 (6/23/2022). 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 (6/24/2022) afternoon. (Some may post sooner.)
Reminder: No Checkwrite for the Week of June 27, 2022
As stated in the published approved 2022 checkwrite schedules, "NCTracks will issue 50 checkwrites per fiscal year. The payment cycle will be weekly, exceptions being the last week of June (end of State fiscal year) and the last week of the calendar year."
The last checkwrite date for the State fiscal year is on June 22. There will be no checkwrite on June 28. The first checkwrite for the new State fiscal year will be on July 6, 2022.
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Notice of Funding Opportunity: Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Medication-Assisted Treatment Access
Application Deadline: Friday, July 29, 2022
The Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) will be making approximately 10 awards of up to $1,000,000 per year (3-year period of performance) for the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Access. The goal of this program is to improve health care in rural areas by establishing new MAT access points and increasing the capacity for sustainable MAT service provision in rural areas.
FORHP will host a webinar for interested applicants on Thursday, June 23, 2022 at 2:00 pm ET, via Zoom. A recording will be made available for those who cannot attend. You can also join the webinar via phone: Call-In Number: 1-833-568-8864; Participant Code: 160 096 3647.
Note: Registration is not required for this webinar.
Applicants can be any domestic public or private, non-profit or for-profit, entity, but the proposed MAT access points must be located in HRSA-designated rural areas and cannot currently provide MAT as a clinical service.
* Please note: HRSA requires that applicants partner with at least two other entities to implement project activities, and has a particular interest in projects that propose to include correctional facilities and/or emergency departments to enhance discharge coordination. Award recipients will also be expected to participate in a Learning Collaborative, to facilitate peer-to-peer mentorship, and to sustain services after the period of performance ends.
If you have any questions about the program, please contact Anna Swanson: [email protected] or 301.443.2398.
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Funding Opportunity: Regional Partnership Grants to Increase the Well-Being of, and to Improve the Permanency Outcomes for, Children and Families Affected by Opioids and Other Substance Abuse - HHS-2022-ACF-ACYF-CU-0094
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is for regional partnership grants to provide, through interagency collaboration and integration of programs and services, activities and services that are designed to increase the well-being of, improve permanency outcomes for, and enhance the safety of children who are in out-of-home placements or are at risk of entering out-of-home placements because of a parent's or caretaker's substance use.
Applicants are expected to have a collaborative structure in place that is capable of building a region’s capacity to meet a broad range of needs for families involved with both substance use treatment and the child welfare system.
Partnerships will do the following:
- Use specific, well-defined, and evidence-based programs that are also trauma informed and targeted to the identified population
- Conduct a rigorous evaluation to contribute to the evidence base on service delivery, outcomes, and costs associated with the project's chosen interventions
- Participate in the national cross-site evaluation, which includes, but is not limited to, an implementation and outcomes study
Application Due Date: July 08, 2022
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Funding Opportunity: NIH Researching Social Connectedness for SUD Treatment – Due August 15
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will fund exploratory/
developmental research to better understand the role of social connectedness and/or loneliness in prevention, treatment, and recovery from substance use disorders (SUD).
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Drumming Improves Behavior In Young People With Autism, Study Finds
Learning to play the drums could make a big difference for adolescents with autism, with new research finding that acquiring the skill leads to better emotional control and fewer behavior issues.
Researchers looked at 36 people with autism between the ages of 16 and 20 with no drumming experience. Nineteen of them received 45-minute drum lessons twice each week for eight weeks while the rest took no lessons. All of the participants were given a drumming assessment and an MRI scan at the beginning and end of the study and their guardians were asked about their behavior.
At the conclusion of the intervention, those who improved their drumming abilities showed a reduction in hyperactivity, inattention and repetitive behaviors and they displayed better control of their emotions, according to findings published recently in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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New: Tuesday, June 21, 2022
Rural-Urban Differences in Adverse Childhood Experiences
Time: 1:00 pm thru 2:00 pm
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New: Wednesday, June 22, 2022
The Current State of the Human Service Workforce
Time: 12:00 pm thru 2:00 pm
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New: Wednesday, June 22, 2022
Stakeholder Engagement Behavioral Health Clinical Coverage Policy Update: 1915i Option Individual and Transitional Support Service Draft Policy
Time: 2:00 pm thru 3:00 pm
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Wednesday, June 22, 2022
Engaging Dads in Services for Families Affected by Substance Use Disorders: A Virtual Conversation
Time: 2:00 pm thru 3:00 pm
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New: Thursday, June 23, 2022
Stability Now! Getting Proactive About The Child Welfare Workforce
Time: 1:00 pm thru 2:00 pm
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New: Thursday, June 23, 2022
Introducing: Vaya Residential Roundtable
Time: 2:00 pm thru 4:00 pm
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New: Friday, June 24, 2022
Stakeholder Engagement Behavioral Health Clinical Coverage Policy Update: 1915i Option Individual and Transitional Support Service Draft Policy
Time: 2:00 pm thru 3:00 pm
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New: Tuesday, June 28, 2022
"Risk and Safety Assessment 101"
Time: 2:00 pm thru 3:00 pm
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Tuesday, June 28, 2022
Clinically Managed Residential- Adult (ASAM 3.5) Stakeholder Engagement-Flyer
Time: 3:00 pm thru 4:00 pm
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Wednesday, June 29, 2022
TREC Learning Series: Adverse Childhood Experiences and the Justice System
Time: 12:45 pm thru 2:00 pm
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Friday, July 15, 2022
Benchmarks' Friday Membership Webinar with Dave Richard & Karen McLeod
Time: 8:30 am thru 9:30 am
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New: Wednesday, July 20, 2022
Competitive Integrated Employment Series
Time: 12:00 pm thru 1:00 pm
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Thursday, July 21, 2022
Benchmarks' Child Welfare Webinar with Lisa Cauley & Karen McLeod (Delayed Due to the 4th of July)
Time: 8:00 am thru 9:00 am
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New: Thursday, July 21, 2022
Tailored Plan 101 Webinar Series-Part 2
Time: 5:30 pm thru 6:30 pm
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New: NC DSS: Thursday, August 18, 2022
4th Quarterly Private Provider Meeting
Time: 1:30 pm thru 2:30 pm
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Tailored Care Management Educational Offerings
Ongoing Webinar Sessions and Trainings: Some are free, some require a fee, and some are for CMA organizations that have passed the desk review only.
NC AHEC has partnered with the NC Department of Health and Human Services and Division of Health Benefits to equip Tailored Care Management (TCM) candidates with the tools and knowledge to effectively provide care management services to North Carolina’s Tailored Plan beneficiaries through Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities. Find a list of monthly offerings below and join us for one or for all!
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