Benchmarks' PHP Membership Webinar with
Carolina Complete Health & Karen McLeod
August 5, 2022
Items from the meeting:
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Benchmarks' Upcoming Webinars
Benchmarks' Child Welfare Webinar with Lisa Cauley & Karen McLeod
Date: Thursday, August 11, 2022
Time: 8:00 am thru 9:00 am
Benchmarks' Friday Membership Webinar with Dave Richard & Karen McLeod
Date: Friday, August 19, 2022
Time: 8:30 am thru 9:30 am
New: Benchmarks' Membership Webinar: Standardized Referral Form Discussion with Benchmarks/Cansler Team
(Read more about this webinar below)
Date: Thursday, August 25, 2022
Time: 9:00 am thru 11:00 am
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Benchmarks' Membership Webinar: Standardized Referral Form Discussion with Benchmarks/Cansler Team
We strongly encourage all members agencies that provide behavioral health services to children (both in and outside of the foster care system) for LME/MCOs to attend this important meeting!
LME/MCOs have responded to the most significant issues raised by members of the General Assembly, county Departments of Social Services, providers and families, about youth having access to behavioral healthcare through the creation of the NC Child and Family Improvement Initiative.
The initiative is intended to create ease of movement for children who relocate throughout the state to continue to receive services without delay or interruption and alleviate any administrative burden on providers who are involved in those inter-county movements.
To make referrals seamless, the LME/MCOs are in the process of developing a standardized referral form that all of them would honor.
They have asked us to gather feedback from our members about the fields and components most important to collect for the referral form (included here).
Cansler Collaborative Resources (CCR) has been contracted by the LME/MCOs to provide the project management for the NC Child and Family Improvement Initiative and Jamie Bazemore is the staff person for CCR who is supporting the development of the standardized referral form. She will be joining us for the webinar with Benchmarks membership on Thursday, August 25, 2022 at 9:00 am to walk us through the form and gather feedback. We have set aside 2 hours for this webinar to ensure adequate time for this important work.
We STRONGLY encourage you to review this excel spreadsheet prior to the meeting so that you can be prepared to discuss, ask questions, and provide recommendations about this form. The adoption of the standardized referral form will have a significant impact on all agencies providing behavioral health services for LME/MCOs.
The primary objective and description for the focus of our webinar includes:
- The development a statewide referral system, beginning with a standardized referral form for all residential and TFC providers, with the same intake requirements.
- LME/MCOs, county Department of Social Services offices, and provider offices work together to ensure that youth in foster care receive the services that they need. However, each LME/MCO and office may have a different administrative process and forms that they use for the same purpose of finding the most appropriate residential care for a youth in foster care. The LME/MCOs are creating a shared form that includes a combination of the important pieces of information that are collected when a youth needs a residential placement. The LME/MCOs are going to ask provider agencies that work in child welfare to review and respond to the referral form’s design before they finalize it.
We are also including the primary goals for the NC Child and Family Improvement Initiative:
The LME/MCOs have developed nine critical objectives for a statewide model to support seamless access to quality care behavioral healthcare for children.
- Establish a statewide provider network to ensure access to residential treatment and the other services these youth need.
- Ensure a standardized, seamless process for children moving from one LME/MCO region to another or changing custody to a new DSS.
- Establish rapid access to care by reducing authorization barriers for residential treatment.
- Increase capacity for crisis care across the state.
- Co-locate LME/MCO care managers across North Carolina’s county and regional DSS offices, tailoring the approach to the unique needs of each county DSS
- Establish a standardized reimbursement rate at 100% of the rate floor for out-of-network community-based providers.
- Adopt standardized child-specific In Lieu Of Services across all LME/MCOs
- Develop a standardized, statewide referral system for all residential and Therapeutic Foster Care providers.
We hope to see you there!
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NC Medicaid Resources in Preparation for End of the Federal PHE
Since it began in January 2020, the COVID-19 federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) helped prevent NC Medicaid beneficiaries from losing their health coverage during the pandemic, even if someone’s eligibility changed. The PHE also helped health care providers keep their practices running so they could deliver care to Medicaid beneficiaries.
The federal PHE currently extends through Oct. 13, 2022. While we do not know when the PHE will end, NC Medicaid wants to help beneficiaries, providers and community stakeholders understand any potential impacts and steps they can take to be ready.
NC Medicaid has launched a new webpage to help provide guidance on preparing for the end of the PHE. The webpage offers information and resources including a communication toolkit for community partners who work closely with beneficiaries as we work together to ensure consistent access to care. We encourage you to share this information with your partners and stakeholders.
Thanks for your support in this important effort.
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Pharmacy Point of Sale Process at Tailored Plan Launch
I am writing to share an update regarding pharmacy claims processing under Behavioral Health and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DDs) Tailored Plans. Pharmacy Point of Sale (POS) claims for members enrolled in Tailored Plans will be temporarily managed by NCTracks when the plans launch on Dec. 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023. Beginning on April 1, 2023, these claims will be managed by the Tailored Plans. This change was made as a result of a key Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) unexpectedly leaving the NC Medicaid market in late 2021, which required some Tailored Plans to procure another PBM.
There will be no impact to members’ pharmacy benefits during this transition period. From Dec. 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023, member ID cards will not include pharmacy information. A new card will be issued for April 1, 2023, indicating the new RxBin and PCN numbers for the Tailored Plans.
Thank you very much for your assistance and support.
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Time to Get Children Up-to-Date on Vaccinations
As many children across North Carolina head back to school this month, NCDHHS reminds families that vaccinations are an important part of back-to-school success and overall health and well-being.
Vaccine-preventable diseases, such as chicken pox, meningitis, measles, pertussis (whooping cough) and others are still seen across North Carolina. Keeping children up to date on vaccinations is the best way to keep them healthy and reduce unnecessary absences from school. Children who are uninsured can still be vaccinated at low or no cost through the Vaccines for Children program which offers free vaccines to children through 19 years of age.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognizes August as National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM), which highlights the importance of getting recommended vaccines throughout your life. Gov. Roy Cooper has also proclaimed August as Immunization Awareness Month in North Carolina. NCDHHS has created a NIAM toolkit that includes flyers and social media graphics to help ensure school-age children are protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.
All parents should talk with their child’s healthcare provider about recommended vaccinations. During that same visit, parents can talk with their physician about the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine for their children ages 6 months and older. Visit MySpot.nc.gov for more information about COVID-19 vaccines.
Additional information on vaccine-preventable diseases and immunizations for North Carolina families is available at immunize.nc.gov/family.
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August is National Breastfeeding Month
This year, the theme for National Breastfeeding Month is Together We Can Do Great Things, which celebrates the power and impact of our collective efforts. The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee’s vision of thriving families and communities cannot be achieved by any one person, or by just one organization. It happens with daily effort by us all, and by working together to make change. We look forward to celebrating all efforts in service to babies, families, and human milk feeding during August.
National Breastfeeding Month 2022 Weekly Observances:
Lactation Support for LGBTQ+ Families Presentation on Aug. 18
Join NCDHHS' Breastfeeding Coordination Team on Aug. 18 from 10 to 11 am for a presentation entitled Inclusive Lactation Support for LGBTQ+ Families to learn about providing more inclusive lactation support for LGBTQ+ families in NC. Together, we will begin to examine our own biases about breastfeeding, understand the importance of inclusive language in lactation care and identify ways to use more inclusive language in culturally appropriate patient care and healthcare promotion.
This presentation is appropriate for state and local health department staff working in perinatal, infant and child/adolescent health programs. The target audience includes Nurses, Family Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, physicians working in Maternal and Child Health clinics CMHRP, and CMARC Care Managers (0-5 year old’s), Nutritionists, Health Educators, WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselors, Lay Leaders, Home Visitors, Community Health Workers.
1.25 NCPD contact hours and up to 1.25 Recertification Credits may be earned upon successful completion. Participants must attend 100% of the educational activity and complete the online course evaluation. The Public Health Nursing Institute for Continuing Excellence is approved as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the North Carolina Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
To register for the presentation on Aug. 18, go to the Zoom link.
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Home Health Electronic Visit Verification Stakeholder Engagement Meeting
A Message from NCTracks on Behalf of NC Medicaid
NC Medicaid’s Home Health (HH) Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) team has planned our next EVV Stakeholder Meeting on Aug. 23, 2022, from 10 –11:30 am. Stakeholders will receive an email with registration information. More details.
Reminders:
The previously announced system changes scheduled to occur July 31, 2022 have been completed. Providers are reminded of these important updates.
Addition of Rehabilitation/Substance Use Taxonomy 261QR0405X
On July 31, 2022, behavioral health providers will be able to enroll with taxonomy 261QR0405X (Rehabilitation/Substance Use) for North Carolina Medicaid and NC Health Choice participation in addition to providers enrolling through Division of Mental Health (DMH) programs. This taxonomy is being enacted retroactively for Medicaid and NC Health Choice providers; providers may back-date their applications for this taxonomy to as early as July 31, 2021, for coverage of services previously rendered under this taxonomy.
The taxonomy is valid for participation by in-state, out-of-state and border area providers. To qualify for participation, a provider must be actively enrolled in Medicare as confirmed through Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS) using the current Medicare verification process. If a provider is not actively participating with Medicare, verification of active Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) certification from Oct. 23, 2018, and later must be provided.
This taxonomy will be covered only for Health Care Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code H0020 through the following Benefit Service Groups (BSGs):
- NCXIX – North Carolina Title XIX
- SCHIP – State's Children's Health Insurance Program
- MCSTD – Medicaid Standard
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HCSTD – Health Choice Standard
Designation Form No Longer Required for Current DEA Certifications
Effective July 31, 2022, functionality will be added to NCTracks to allow Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Certifications to be automatically loaded into the NCTracks system. Providers completing an initial enrollment, re-enrollment or manage change request (MCR) application with their DEA Certification will no longer be required to submit their DEA license as described in the previous workaround process; instead, providers will only need to enter their DEA Certification number on the application for NCTracks to verify.
For existing providers enrolled with their DEA Certification, NCTracks will automatically update their DEA Certification expiration date going forward. However, if the DEA number changes, an MCR is required to report the change to the NCTracks provider record so the credential update will occur as intended.
If a provider designated as a prescriber on the Provider Permission Matrix (PPM)* does not have a DEA certification, they must still complete the DEA Designation Form as described in the previous announcement.
Additional Electronic Visit Verification Data Capture
Effective July 31, 2022, NCTracks will capture additional Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) data from NC Medicaid’s EVV vendor, Sandata. EVV data capture will be expanded to include Bill Time and Pay Time for applicable claims to determine the applicable Personal Care Services (PCS) code units. NCTracks will capture and store these additional fields.
Endoscopy Code Family Updated in NCTracks
NC Medicaid has updated endoscopy codes, aligning base codes with related procedures in the same family as well as creating one new endoscopy family. These updates are effective in NCTracks on July 31, 2022. The newly created endoscopy family may be found here.
SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #263: New NC Medicaid Webpage to Help Prepare for End of the Federal Public Health Emergency
NC Medicaid has launched a new webpage to help provide guidance on preparing for the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE). The webpage offers information and resources, including a communications toolkit for community partners who work closely with beneficiaries, as we work together to ensure consistent access to care. We encourage providers to use the webpage and resources to assist in your communications with beneficiaries. More details.
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.
August Provider Training Schedule Now Available
Registration is open for the August 2022 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.
Submitting a Professional Claim
Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
This course will guide users through the process of submitting a professional claim. At the end of training, authorized users will be able to:
- Save a draft
- Use claims draft search
- Submit a claim
- View the results of a claim submission
Meeting Information
Follow the steps below for audio and visual access to the Zoom online training session:
1. Dial US Toll-Free: 833-568-8864
2. Enter meeting ID: 160 421 7948
3. Press the # key
4. Enter meeting passcode: 3788537152
Providers may choose to use the computer audio instead of dialing in.
Provider Web Portal Applications
Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
This course will guide authorized users through an overview of the enrollment, re-enrollment, re-verification, maintain eligibility and manage change request (MCR) application processes. Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Providers are encouraged to attend this training session. 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 provider enrollment application processes:
- Provider enrollment - MCR
- Re-enrollment
- Re-verification
- Maintain eligibility
Meeting Information
Follow the steps below for audio and visual access to the Zoom online training session:
1. Dial US Toll-Free: 833-568-8864
2. Enter meeting ID: 160 983 2659
3. Press the # key
4. Enter meeting passcode: 7492209125
Providers may choose to use the computer audio instead of dialing in.
Provider Web Portal Applications
Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022, 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
This course will guide users through an overview of the enrollment, re-enrollment, re-verification, maintain eligibility and manage change request (MCR) application processes. Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Providers are encouraged to attend this training session. 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 provider enrollment application processes:
- Provider enrollment- MCR
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Re-enrollment
- Re-verification
- Maintain eligibility
Meeting Information
Follow the steps below for audio and visual access to the Zoom online training session:
1. Dial US Toll-Free: 833-568-8864
2. Enter meeting ID: 160 755 8063
3. Press the # key
4. Enter meeting passcode: 0761616965
Providers may choose to use the computer audio instead of dialing in.
Provider Re-Credentialing/Re-Verification
Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
This course serves as a refresher for the steps taken by the provider to complete the re-verification process through NCTracks. At the end of training, authorized users will be able to:
- Explain why provider re-verification is requested and what the process entails
- Complete the re-verification process in NCTracks
- Update owners and managing relationships if necessary while completing the re-verification application process
Meeting Information
Follow the steps below for audio and visual access to the Zoom online training session:
1. Dial US Toll-Free: 833-568-8864
2. Enter meeting ID: 161 211 3503
3. Press the # key
4. Enter meeting passcode: 8355583375
Providers may choose to use the computer audio instead of dialing in.
Prior Approval Institutional
Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
This course guides authorized users through the process of submitting prior approval (PA) requests and inquiring about the status of previously submitted requests to ensure nursing facilities maintain compliance with Medicaid clinical coverage policy and medical necessity. After completing this course, authorized users will be able to:
- Submit PA requests
- Inquire about PA requests
Meeting Information
Follow the steps below for audio and visual access to the Zoom online training session:
1. Dial US Toll-Free: 833-568-8864
2. Enter meeting ID: 160 731 3504
3. Press the # key
4. Enter meeting passcode: 8228284928
Providers may choose to use the computer audio instead of dialing in.
Submitting an Institutional Claim
Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
The NCTracks provider portal uses the NCID username and password to gain access to a secure online environment for submitting claims. This course guides users through the institutional claims process with an emphasis on Long-Term Care and secondary claims. After completing this course, authorized users will be able to:
- Enter an institutional claim
- Save a draft
- Use the claims draft search tool
- Submit a claim
- View the results of a claim submission
Meeting Information
Follow the steps below for audio and visual access to the Zoom online training session:
1. Dial US Toll-Free: 833-568-8864
2. Enter meeting ID: 161 741 2139
3. Press the # key
4. Enter meeting passcode: 4064037341
Providers may choose to use the computer audio instead of dialing in.
Submitting a Professional Claim NEMT
Monday, Aug. 29, 2022, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
This course will guide users through the process of submitting Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) claims through NCTracks. At the end of training, users will be able to:
- Understand claims terminology
- Understand the PA Process
- Create a professional claim via NCTracks
- Save a draft
- Use the claims draft search tool
- Submit a claim
- View results of a claim submission
- Claim status and claim copy
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Resubmit a claim
- Void a prior claim or replacement prior claims
- Understand how to read remittance advice
- Complete a PA inquiry
Meeting Information
Follow the steps below for audio and visual access to the Zoom online training session:
1. Dial US Toll-Free: 833-568-8864
2. Enter meeting ID: 160 855 1660
3. Press the # key
4. Enter meeting passcode: 9739167665
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).
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Provider Alert Statewide Network: N.C. Child and Family Improvement Initiative Formalizes a Statewide Network for Child Treatment Providers
What is happening?
North Carolina’s six Local Management Entities/Managed Care Organizations (LME/MCOs) launched the NC Child and Family Improvement Initiative on May 1, 2022 to create a statewide solution to the current pressing challenges of the service delivery system for youth in foster care.
Building on the early successes of the NC Child and Family Improvement Initiative, the LME/MCOs are moving forward to formalize a statewide network of child treatment providers to ensure that youth in the foster care system have continuity of care without delay when moving from one area of North Carolina to another.
When is this happening? Aug 1, 2022
How is this affecting providers?
From August 1, 2022 through August 30, 2022, all LME/MCOs are offering an open enrollment period for child Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF), Level IV, Level III, Level II group and family, and Facility-Based Crisis (FBC) providers to ensure that children and adolescents have access to the services they need statewide.
Provider Action Required:
We encourage you to contract with each LME/MCO to maximize statewide resources and service access for children and adolescents. For more information about becoming an in-network provider, please use the following links:
Alliance Health (Cumberland, Durham, Johnston, Mecklenburg, Orange, and Wake counties)
Eastpointe (Duplin, Edgecombe, Greene, Lenoir, Robeson, Sampson, Scotland, Warren, Wayne, and Wilson counties)
Partners Health Management (Burke, Cabarrus, Catawba, Cleveland, Davie, Forsyth, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Rutherford, Stanly, Surry, Union, and Yadkin counties)
Sandhills Center (Anson, Davidson, Guilford, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Randolph, Richmond, and Rockingham counties)
Trillium Health Resources (Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Columbus, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Jones, Martin, Nash, New Hanover, Northampton, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrrell, and Washington counties)
Vaya Health (Alamance, Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Caldwell, Caswell, Chatham, Cherokee, Clay, Franklin, Graham, Granville, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Person, Polk, Rowan, Stokes, Swain, Transylvania, Vance, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey counties)
What if a provider does not want to join an LME/MCO network at this time?
For providers who do not want to join an LME/MCO network, all LME/MCOs are offering out-of-network agreements for community-based and non-hospital services. While the NC DHHS directs reimbursement for these services to be 90% of the Medicaid rate, the LME/MCOs have agreed to pay at least 100% of the Medicaid rate for these services to strengthen statewide network and service capacity.
To learn more about the NC Child and Family Improvement Initiative, click here.
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Community Supports in Crisis: No Staff, No Services
The system of services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) has come a long way in the last 30 years — from segregated care in remote institutions to a robust and varied network of community supports. This progress took decades and was not inevitable. It was achieved through persistent advocacy on multiple levels.
It took lifting the voices of people with disabilities and family members, litigation and legal action to secure rights, federal legislation that codified the values of inclusion and access, and building a body of research and evidence-based best practices. All the progress toward community living that has been made in services for people with IDD over decades is now in jeopardy — because of catastrophic labor shortages and pervasive high turnover rates in the workforce that supports them, direct support professionals (DSPs).
This white paper from ICI and its partners at HSRI and NASDDDS provides an overview of the depth of the crisis in the workforce and the impact on people with IDD and sounds the alarm about the nature and scope of the workforce crisis in the IDD service system.
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HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce recently released a data dashboard that allows users to find detailed demographic information for nearly 40 health care occupations. Its visualizations will also give users new insights on the diversity of the U.S. health workforce. The information comes from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey that provides five-year estimates on a number of demographic variables, and adds to a growing list of data tools about U.S. health care workforce.
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Center on Rural Innovation Explains the Many Definitions of Rural
The national nonprofit describes differences in the two definitions (out of more than a dozen) that affect the way the federal government, private industry, banks, and philanthropies make investment decisions: the U.S. Census and the Office of Management and Budget. These differences often mean different social and economic outcomes. You can get more insight into the definitions that affect health care investments, including the definition used by FORHP, at the Rural Health Information Hub.
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The Latest from BPC’s Paid Family Leave Initiative
Working parents face unprecedented challenges trying to balance their caregiving responsibilities and their work. As lawmakers search for solutions to provide relief and support careers, BPC continues to advance bipartisan solutions. Recently, BPC released a poll taking an in-depth look at the challenges facing working moms, outlined options to modernize the Family and Medical Leave Act, and explained an important tax credit for businesses offering paid family leave. BPC has also been taking its findings to the American people in national media appearances. Keep reading below for more details.
Today’s labor market is one of transition: What was once seen as a Great Resignation is turning out to be the Great Reshuffle. With labor supply restricted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and firms seeking millions of employees, many workers are using their leverage to obtain new roles at higher wages. But BPC-Morning Consult poll finds that many working mothers are not in this empowering position. Instead, working moms face conditions that are quite the opposite. To find out why, read the poll summary here. And view the poll infographic here.
Nearly 30 years after Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) became law, over 40% of workers are unable to take leave from work to care for their family or themselves without fear of losing their jobs. Meanwhile, parts of the law are overly cumbersome for employers to administer. Job protection is critical to any family or personal leave benefit, whether paid or unpaid, and so the law is due for an update. A new BPC report analyzes several FMLA reform options. Read out those options here.
New Law Protects Science Researchers Who Take Leave
Last week Congress passed, and the President signed into law, the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act. Among many provisions in the law that will increase America’s global competitiveness, one will require the Office of Science and Technology Policy to prohibit discrimination in the awarding and administering of research grants due to a researcher taking family leave. Read more about this anti-discrimination provision here.
As businesses seek ways to compete for workers in a tight labor market and counter the “she-cession,” a business tax credit that helps employers provide paid family and medical leave can bolster benefits packages for working parents and caregivers. Passed in 2017, this credit covers up to 25% of the cost to employers of providing paid family and medical leave.
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CMS Includes CQL’s Personal Outcome Measures® In HCBS Quality Measure Set
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is acknowledging the Personal Outcome Measures® (POM), created by CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership, as a nationally-recognized quality measure. Released in July 2022, the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Quality Measure Set intends to help states and the disability service system evaluate and improve quality for those receiving home and community-based services. In the guidance, CMS has included specific indicators of the POM as measures that the disability services system should use in their efforts to monitor and enhance quality.
“The Personal Outcome Measures® have been used for decades by human service providers and state systems to drive person-centered discovery and improve individual quality of life,” says Mary Kay Rizzolo, President and CEO of CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership. “The inclusion of the POM in CMS’ measure set is a validation of the transformative impact that the tool has on people and the services that they receive.”
As stated in the CMS guidance, the HCBS Quality Measure Set is “intended to promote more common and consistent use, within and across states, of nationally standardized quality measures in HCBS programs and to create opportunities for CMS and states to have comparative quality data on HCBS programs.” The HCBS Quality Measure Set details CMS-recognized measurement tools, the method for collecting data, the associated assurance and subassurances, as well as some broad considerations for implementation.
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"Fall Semester—A Time for Parents to Discuss the Risks of College Drinking": Factsheet Available in English & Spanish
As college students arrive on campus this fall, it is typically a time of new experiences, new friendships, and making memories that will last a lifetime. Unfortunately for many, it is also a time of harmful and underage drinking and dealing with its aftermath—from vandalism, sexual assault, and other forms of violence to injuries and death.
An often-overlooked protective factor involves the continuing influence of parents during the college years. Research shows that students who abstain from drinking often do so because their parents discussed alcohol use and its adverse consequences with them. Parents can do a number of things to stay involved.
Download Factsheet
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Carrie Hanger Wins Pro Bono Case for Neglected Children
On July 5, 2022, the North Carolina Court of Appeals issued a published favorable opinion in Winston-Salem partner Carrie Hanger’s pro bono representation of neglected children through the NC Guardian ad Litem (GAL) appellate advocacy program of the NC Administrative Office of the Courts.
The GAL appellate advocates represent the best interests of abused, neglected, and dependent children in appeals following the termination of parental rights, placement in guardianship, and other juvenile matters.
The appeal arose from the termination of parental rights on the grounds of (1) neglect under N.C.G.S. § 7B-1111(a)(1) and (2) willful failure to leave the children in foster care or placement outside the home for more than 12 months without showing reasonable progress of correcting the conditions that led to removal pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 7B-1111(a)(2). The children had been removed from their mother’s care due to neglect on three separate occasions. After arguing that she made reasonable progress in correcting the conditions of neglect which led to her children’s removal and the record lacked convincing evidence of a likelihood of future neglect, the court affirmed the original order of the trial court. In the opinion, the Court of Appeals once again clarified that making reasonable progress requires more than making only “some progress” and “some efforts” without real improvement or sustained efforts.
"While the termination of parental rights is heartbreaking, it allows the children to have the stable childhood they deserve and would otherwise not have,” said Hanger.
Hanger is a seasoned healthcare law, biosciences, and antitrust attorney. In her healthcare law and biosciences practice, she assists healthcare systems, surgical centers, physician groups, long–term care facilities, hospices, home health providers, and entities engaged in the clinical research across the State of North Carolina and beyond. Her antitrust experience covers a variety of industries with a particular focus on healthcare antitrust matters.
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New: Monday, August 8, 2022
MFP-Money Follows the Person- Lunch and Learn (Waivers, Residential, Supports and Housing - Connecting the Dots)
Time: 12:00 pm thru 1:00 pm
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Monday, August 8, 2022
Making Every Leadership Moment Matter
Time: 1:00 pm thru 2:30 pm
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New: Wednesday, August 10, 2022
State Consumer and Family Advisory Committee Meeting
Time: 9:00 am thru 2:45 pm
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Wednesday, August 10, 2022
CMS August Public Webinars on the Strategic Roadmap for Advancing Digital Quality Measurement
Time: 3:00 pm thru 4:00 pm
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Thursday, August 11, 2022
Benchmarks' Child Welfare Webinar: Lisa Cauley Joins Karen McLeod
Time: 8:00 am thru 9:00 am
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Thursday, August 11, 2022
CMS August Public Webinars on the Strategic Roadmap for Advancing Digital Quality Measurement
Time: 12:00 pm thru 1:00 pm
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Wednesday, August 17, 2022
Competitive Integrated Employment Series
Time: 12:00 pm thru 1:00 pm
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New: Wednesday, August 17, 2022
Interactive Monthly Update
Time: 2:00 pm thru 3:00 pm
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NC DSS: Thursday, August 18, 2022
4th Quarterly Private Provider Meeting
Time: 1:30 pm thru 2:30 pm
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Friday, August 19, 2022
Dave Richard Joins Benchmarks' Friday Membership Webinar
Time: 8:30 am thru 9:30 am
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New: Tuesday, August 23, 2022
Home Health Electronic Visit Verification Stakeholder Engagement Meeting
Time: 10:00 am thru 11:30 am
Stakeholders will receive an email with registration information.
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New: Tuesday, August 23, 2022
Children Under Stress: Preventing ACEs and Supporting Childhood Well-Being
Time: 2:00 pm thru 3:00 pm
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New: Thursday, August 25, 2022
Benchmarks' Membership Webinar: Standardized Referral Form Discussion with Benchmarks/Cansler Team
Time: 9:00 am thru 11:00 am
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Tuesday, August 30, 2022
Family Treatment Court Practice Academy: Beyond Counting: Strategies to Collect and (Actually) Use Your FTC Data
Time: 2:00 pm thru 3:30 pm
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New: Thursday, September 1, 2022
Spectrum Disorder: Prevalence, Relevance, and Action NCFASD Informed Virtual Conference
All professionals, stakeholders, and parents are invited.
Time: 9:00 am thru 4:45 pm
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New: Tuesday, September 13, 2022
Dual Diagnosis Lunchbox Series: Considerations when Supporting Youth with Complex Needs in Foster Care
Session 1: Trauma Informed Care Using a Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual Approach When Working with Youth in Foster Care who have ID and Mental Health Conditions
Time: 12:00 pm thru 1:00 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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