Medicaid Expansion Family Planning

This week, more than 260,000 people will receive a notification that they will get full Medicaid Benefits beginning December 1, 2023 due to Medicaid expansion, bringing us one step closer to NC Medicaid for more people.

NCDHHS has started contacting the approximately 260,000 people who are enrolled in Medicaid’s limited Family Planning program and who are eligible for full NC Medicaid benefits starting December 1, 2023.

Text messages, phone calls and emails will be sent starting today to let those eligible know to look out for a letter from their local Department of Social Services. The letter will look like this example, available on the NCDHHS website.

Not everyone with limited Family Planning Program benefits will be automatically enrolled in full coverage through NC Medicaid. Some people may have income that exceeds the new Medicaid eligibility levels, even though qualifying income levels are higher than the past.

You can read the Department’s full press release for more information.

Please join us in sharing this information with partners and others in the community. Let them know that that they can sign up here to receive NC Medicaid updates, an alert when the application process goes live and other timely resources, there are also opportunities to volunteer.

Additional Resources:

Website

Toolkit

Family Planning Medicaid Flyer

PCS Announcement

11/06/2023 - Extending Beneficiary PAs - The following are the steps taken each month for extending PAs for beneficiaries whose annual assessment is delayed beyond their one-year anniversary.

• At the end of each month, the system checks for beneficiaries who have not had an annual assessment within the past year, and their authorization ends that month. (i.e., PAs ending 11/30/2023)
• If a beneficiary meets this criteria, PA extensions are generated automatically by QiRePort and transmitted to NC Tracks on the last day of the month. (i.e., PAs will transmit on 11/30/2023.)
• Providers should check NC Tracks 2 business days AFTER the last day of each month (not before), to verify the PAs are current for their beneficiaries. (i.e., Check NC Tracks 12/04/2023 for beneficiaries whose authorizations would have expired 11/30/2023.)
• A provider should ONLY contact Medicaid if it is determined that the PA was not extended for a beneficiary whose authorization expired the previous month (i.e., Provider checks PAs in NC Tracks on 12/04/2023 and the last PA in the system is 11/01/2023-11/30/2023). 

Requirements to comply with the 3L Clinical Coverage Policy

Annually, all enrolled Personal Care Services (PCS) providers authorized to render PCS must attest to their compliance with Clinical Coverage Policy 3L, Section 7.7, Internal Quality Improvement Program. Each provider must sign the Quality Improvement Attestation Form titled NC Medicaid 3136 on or before December 31 of each calendar year. Instructional guidance can be accessed using the form NC-Medicaid 3136 I. 

Upon the completion of the attestation form, each provider must upload that form to the QiRePort portal. NC Medicaid will use the QiRePort portal to audit provider compliance with Section 7.7. All providers are required to use that portal to submit their signed attestation. 

As required by Session Law 2013-306, for all beneficiaries seeking additional hours authorized under Session Law 2013-306, the authorized provider must submit a Session Law 2013-306 PCS Training Attestation Form titled NC Medicaid 3085 before serving these beneficiaries. The completion of this attestation form confirms their aide training curriculum has been completed and the provider is qualified to support beneficiaries approved for additional hours. This attestation is only required when additional hours are being requested. Providers meeting this qualification will only need to upload this form once time in the QiRePort Portal. Instructional guidance can be accessed using the form NC Medicaid-3085 I.  

Instructions to electronically upload Forms 3136 and 3085 using the QiRePort Portal

At the PI Setup Menu:

1. Click "Documents" and find your Provider Name/NPI#. (Note: Only providers with administrative rights will have access to the Setup menu to add the forms.)
2. Select the Provider Name hyperlink, then select "Add Document," which will bring up the "Upload Record" screen.
3. From there, select Document Type, Document Year and the Record. (Note: The NC Medicaid 3136 and/or 3085 forms(s) must first be saved to the computer or an external device to complete the upload.)
4. Select "Done" and the system will place the uploaded document into the Provider Documents table for storage.
5. Select "Save" to save the record and complete the upload.

Important information you need to know:

• Only individuals at the provider agency authorized with administrative rights can upload the Forms 3136 and 3085
• Forms 3136 and 3085 are uploaded for each provider and are not beneficiary specific.
• Forms 3136 and 3085 are stored and maintained in the QiRePort portal.

Resource and Technical support:  

For any questions on the administrative rights, documentation upload, or any other issues regarding the QiRePort Portal please contact VieBridge Support at 888-705-0970.

For PCS Questions please contact NC Medicaid at PCS_Program_Questions@dhhs.nc.gov, or 919-855-4360.

PCS webpage: https://medicaid.ncdhhs.gov/providers/programs-and-services/long-term-care/personal-care-services-pcs

NCLIFTSS webpage: https://ncliftss.acentra.kepro.com/.

DHSR 2024 License Memo

RENEWAL APPLICATION STATUS UPDATE effective 11-7-23

• Number of licensed providers with licenses requiring renewals = 3,207
• Number of renewal applications approved = 1,050

To ensure your agency license for 2024 is renewed prior to the end of the calendar year, a completed renewal application, including all the required documents must be in our office prior to 11:59 pm on 12/31/23.  

As per General Statute 122C-23. Licensure:

(e)       Initial licenses issued under this section are valid for not more than 15 months. Licenses shall be renewed annually thereafter and shall expire at the end of the calendar year. The expiration date of a license shall be specified on the license when issued. Renewal of a regular license is contingent upon receipt of information required by the Secretary for renewal and continued compliance with this Article and the rules of the Commission and the Secretary. Licenses for facilities that have not served any clients during the previous 12 months are not eligible for renewal.

We strongly encourage renewal applications be submitted by 11-30-23 to allow for review and to ensure timely processing of the 2024 license prior to 12-31-23 deadline. Applications received after the 12-31-23 deadline are subject to termination of the license to operate.

REMINDERS:

• Enterprise allows for electronic checks as an option for payment, however renewal applications will be held for 11 days pending check clearance.
• Application will not be processed for providers with outstanding penalties that have not been appealed or resolved prior to 12-31-23.
• The person completing the renewal application must have an NCID login account.
• Ensure the Secretary of State Form indicates Current/Active Status. An annual report will not suffice.
• Ensure the Fire Inspection is clear of all violations or violations have been corrected. 
• Ensure Sanitation inspections have less than 20 demerits.
• When completing a renewal application and submitting a change application please note these actions will be handled separately by our support staff after renewal season.
• Renewal applications will be processed through Enterprise.
• Change applications will need to be submitted as a hard copy to DHSR for processing.

 See the link below for how to:

• Access the Enterprise Portal
• Upload Documents in Enterprise
• Accessing Secretary of State Report
• Determine status of application in Enterprise
• How to seek assistance from DHSR Support

https://info.ncdhhs.gov/dhsr/mhlcs/renewals.html

We appreciate your efforts to timely submit and make the renewal process efficient and timely.

NC DHHS Caregiver Workforce Strategic Leadership Council Draft Report

This week, NCDHHS announced recent updates to the NC State Health Improvement Plan (NC SHIP), which include priorities for addressing the full set of factors that impact a person’s health and updates data on the progress of improvement.

The plan addresses other factors that influence health, such as social and economic factors, and suggests interventions that support education, access to healthy food, air and water quality, and access to care. It also recognizes the pressing concerns related to behavioral health, including mental health, substance use disorders and suicide prevention, as part of whole-person health. 

The 2023 NC SHIP places particular importance on Medicaid Expansion as a critical element in improving health care access and reducing disparities. On Dec. 1, 2023, NC will begin Medicaid Expansion, giving 600,000 North Carolinians access to health care.

The plan reflects the insights and contributions of the NC SHIP Community Council, which includes other government agencies, nonprofit organizations, faith-based groups, businesses, community members, philanthropies and academia. If you are interested in joining the council, fill out the NCSHIP Community Council Interest Form. 

Upcoming Webinars & Events

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

How Does the Definition of "Rural" Impact Research?

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Thursday, November 16, 2023

Nicotine Replacement Therapies: How to integrate them & afford them for clients & agencies

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New: Thursday, November 16, 2023

Hospital Consolidation: Mergers, Antitrust & Health Equity

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Friday, November 17, 2023

Benchmarks' Friday Membership Webinar with Karen McLeod & Jay Ludlam

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Friday, November 17, 2023

Rural Community Voices & Medicaid Expansion

Time: 10:00 am thru 11:00 am



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Monday, November 20, 2023

Side by Side with DMH/DD/SUS

Time: 2:00 pm thru 3:00 pm



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Thursday, November 30, 2023

NC Medicaid Managed Care Webinar" Managed Care & Expansion for Advocates

Time: 1:00 pm thru 2:00 pm



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New: Thursday, November 30 2023

The Behavioral Health AI Implementation Playbook

Time: 12:30 pm thru 4:00 pm (In Person & Virtual)

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Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Advancing Hepatitis C Elimination: A Coordinated National Approach

Time: 12:30 pm thru 4:00 pm (In Person & Virtual)

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