COVID-19: Catching Up and Sharing

DHHS' COVID-19 Website

Read all about National Ice Cream Month Here

Benchmarks' COVID-19 Updates and Resource Page

Benchmarks Will Be Holding

Our Friday Membership Webinar

This Week!

Topic: Benchmarks' Membership Webinar

Date: Jul 10, 2020

Time: 8:30 AM Eastern Time

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://benchmarks.zoom.us/j/626815379?pwd=WmM4Z3h3TmVjbzE3OTl5R1V2bUdUdz09

Meeting ID: 626 815 379

Password: 081879

One tap mobile

+13126266799,,626815379# US (Chicago)

+19292056099,,626815379# US (New York)

(We will NOT be holding our Thursday Child Welfare Webinar)

Updates and Announcements

Provider Update: NC Medicaid COVID-19

"Provider Update" is a regular communication to Medicaid and NC Health Choice providers to share statewide COVID-19 announcements and information. Please look for future updates to arrive through NCTracks.

NCCARE360

The nation's first statewide infrastructure connecting health care and human services. nccare360.org/resources (read the full press release here)

Improved App for Medicaid and Food & Nutrition Services

Improved, mobile-friendly online application will help support social distancing and beneficiary applications from home.

https://epass.nc.gov/ (read the full press release here)

First Vendors Selected to Expand Testing and Contact Tracing for COVID-19

NCDHHS selected 26 businesses to form its initial pool of qualified vendors to support the state's response to COVID-19.

https://www.ncdhhs.gov/news/press-releases/ncdhhs-selects-first-vendors-expand-testing-and-contact-tracing-covid-19 (read the full press release here)

NEW "When Should I Be Tested?" Resource Added to Farm & Meat Plant Worker Toolkit

https://files.nc.gov/covid/documents/info-for/businesses/Why-Should-I-Be-Tested.pdf

NEW in Spanish: StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit

https://files.nc.gov/covid/documents/guidance/education/Strong-Schools-NC-Public-Health-Toolkit-SPANISH.pdf

NEW Dates Added to Pop-Up Testing Sites

https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/about-covid-19/testing/find-my-testing-place/pop-testing-sites

NCDHHS COVID-19 Dashboard Updates

Numerous valuable resources have been updated or newly-added to NCDHHS's COVID-19 dashboard.

New Clusters in Child Care and School Settings Report is now available
Updated Ongoing Outbreaks in Congregate Living Settings is now available
Updated Risk Factors for Severe Illness Report is now available
New Outbreaks and Clusters page is now available
Updated Weekly Outbreaks in Congregate Settings is now available
Updated Weekly COVID-19 Patients Presumed to be Recovered report is now available

SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #104: Archived Dental Webinars Available

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the NC Area Health Education Center (AHEC) are partnering in a free webinar series, DHHS COVID-19 Guidance for Dental Professionals, designed to support dental providers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A recording, presentation and transcript for each webinar is available under the NC DHHS and NC AHEC Guidance for Dental Professionals Section on the NC AHEC Reoccurring Webinar Series webpage. Dates and more information

New Medicaid Bulletin Available: Billing Code Update

A new Medicaid bulletin regarding billing code updates for services provided by nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs). See the procedure code list

All bulletin articles, including those related to COVID-19, are available on the DHB webpage.

June Pharmacy Newsletter Now Available

The latest Medicaid Pharmacy Newsletter, dated June 2020, is now available on the N.C. Medicaid website. In addition to the July 2020 checkwrite schedule, this edition of the newsletter includes articles such as:

Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems Coverage Transition
Upcoming Preferred Drug List (PDL) Review Panel Public Meeting

Providers are encouraged to review this important information. The 2020 Medicaid Pharmacy Newsletters can be viewed here .

Provider Resources Coming with New Information Required on Applications for Individual Providers Enrolling in Medicaid and NC Health Choice

Training and more information are coming soon related to the previously announced updates to individual provider applications implementing July 26, 2020.

Training classes will be available in July. Dates and times will be announced as soon as they are available. In addition, future articles and new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) will elaborate on these changes.

All information on upcoming training opportunities and resources (e.g., webinars, job aids) regarding these changes will be posted on the NCTracks website and communicated through email updates when available. Further information will be provided closer to the implementation date.

Details on New Information Required on Applications for Individual Providers

It was previously announced that effective July 26, 2020, NCTracks will store, capture and validate the following:

Print, sign and upload an Individual Agreement.
- The office administrator (OA) cannot complete this for the provider.
Any conditions that might impact ability to perform job duties
Malpractice settlement history (past five years)
Work history as a health professional (past five years, if more than six month gap, explanation of gap)
Malpractice insurance (coverage type and amount)
Highest level of education

Additional information providers should note:

If additional information is required for the processing of the application, the application will be in a "returned" status and the provider will be contacted. The Upload Documents page will allow the provider to upload supporting documentation (such as copies of certifications) if necessary.

Providers should NOT upload malpractice judgement/settlement documentation or school transcripts on the Upload Documents page. If applicable, the provider will receive an email with instructions on where to send the documentation.

When entering their work history, if the enrolling provider is currently a resident or intern, he/she should enter the details of that residency/internship such as:

Job Title: Resident

Company Name: Healthcare Facility XYZ

Start Date: Date residency/internship began

End Date: 12/31/9999 if still a resident/intern

In addition to entering required certifications, individual providers are now requested to add all board certifications. Enrollment, re-enrollment and manage change request (MCR) applications will still inform the provider with specific text of what certifications are required for the taxonomy entered on the application.

Please see the chart New Supplemental Data on Provider Application* with further details on application requirements and supporting documentation that may be required.

*This information is ONLY applicable to individual providers submitting an Initial Application, Re-Enrollment Application or Re-verification Application. The exclusion sanction questions will also be added to MCR applications.

Prevent and Protect Campaign

As you continue to work tirelessly to slow the spread of COVID-19 in your communities, I am writing to announce a new social media advertising campaign we've launched to continue to support your efforts as part of our larger Prevent and Protect public outreach campaign.

The baseline social media advertising campaign has been made possible through a grant from Facebook, Inc., which has provided advertising credits and design support. The ads will run in English and Spanish.

We are asking for your help to amplify these Prevent and Protect campaign messages in your communities. The social media ads can be downloaded and shared on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social media and online platforms.

These ads are part of our larger Prevent and Protect

communications campaign, which launched earlier this month.

Prevent and Protect encourages North Carolinians to:

Practice the 3Ws (known as PEL in Spanish) and wear a cloth covering over their nose and mouth; wait six feet apart; and wash their hands often.
Get tested for COVID-19 and use Find My Testing Place to locate a nearby testing site.
Answer the call and participate in the contact tracing process if they may have been exposed to COVID-19.

As you know, data shows that historically marginalized populations across North Carolina are being disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. For that reason, our Prevent and Protect campaign strategy is:

Creating a baseline, statewide focus on reaching historically marginalized populations.
Adding additional focus on reaching:
- people who work in occupations that are being most impacted and have a large representation among those from historically marginalized populations;
- and counties currently seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases.
Relying on community partners (like you!) to amplify the messages on social media.

Prevent and Protect campaign resources (social media ads, infographics, flyers, posters for businesses in your community, and more) are available at covid19.ncdhhs.gov/PreventAndProtect . We encourage you to share these materials and resources through your own communications channels and with your local community partners. Materials are available in English and Spanish.

Important: Clinical Coverage Policy 1H - Public Comment Posting-Re: Telehealth/Telepsychiatry

Note: Benchmarks strongly encourages each member agency that provides telehealth and telespsychiatry services to submit feedback directly to DHHS and participate in the public comment process to ensure that DHHS understands clearly:

what changes, included thru the links below, work well for your agency; and
the items that you believe need to be changed or create unnecessary barriers to service delivery.

Thank you so much in advance for your consideration!

**Clinical Coverage Policy 1H Telehealth, Virtual Patient Communications and Remote Patient Monitoring has been posted for public comment at the following link:

https://medicaid.ncdhhs.gov/meetings-and-notices/proposed-medicaid-and-nc-health-choice-policies

The public comment period ends on 8/15/20. Please share with your staff and network.

Restrictive Intervention Training: LME-MCO Joint Communication Bulletin # J368

Compliance with Alternatives and Restrictive Intervention (Re-certification and Initial Certification) Training Requirements and CPR and First Aid Training Requirements During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The purpose of this bulletin is to provide guidance to providers, instructors, and staff on how to address:

(1) The re-certification and initial certification requirements outlined in Rules 10A NCAC 27E. 0107, Training on Alternatives to Restrictive Interventions and 10A NCAC 27E. 0108, Training in Seclusion, Physical Restraint and Isolation Time-Out, and

(2) State regulatory Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and first aid training requirements pertaining to mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance use disorder services, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More Here.

Community Engagement and Empowerment Team Update

Mental Health Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic Study

Researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) are conducting an online research study to learn about how stressors related to the COVID-19 virus affect mental health over time. We hope to better understand the experiences of participants during this difficult time. Participation involves completing online questionnaires every two weeks, for 6 months.

The questionnaires take about 20 minutes to complete. You must be at least 18 years old to participate. Participation is voluntary, and you may withdraw at any time. Compensation is not provided. Please click here for more information, and to begin participating .

You may call 240-665-0697 or email NIMHResearchVolunteer@nih.gov with any questions you may have.

https://nimhcovidstudy.ctss.nih.gov/

CMS Announces New Office of Burden Reduction and Health Informatics

Recently, CMS announced the development of a new office, the Office of Burden Reduction and Health Informatics. This Office is tasked with reducing administrative costs for providers across Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and the Exchange, proactively engaging with provider communities to assess the impact of CMS actions on health care delivery. Additionally, the Office will develop new analytic tools built upon interoperable health care information systems, with the goal of ensuring patient records are portable and secure. Read More.

CMS Releases Medicare COVID-19 Data Snapshot and Call to Action on SDOH

On June 22, CMS published a snapshot of Medicare COVID-19 data and an associated FAQ. The data includes number of Medicare COVID-19 cases reported between January 1 and May 16, broken down by state, race and ethnicity, age, gender, dually eligible status, and urban/rural locations.

The data reveals significant disparities in hospitalization rates, with black Americans hospitalized at four times the rates of white Americans. In its press release, CMS notes that this information shows a need for a multi-sector response to address social determinants of health. The release states that CMCS is actively developing guidance for addressing social determinants in Medicaid, including duals.

This information will be updated on a monthly basis going forward.

Readout from the First Lady's Roundtable on Foster Care and Strengthening America's Child Welfare System

First Lady Melania Trump held a virtual roundtable to discuss the foster care system in the United States and the Administration's ongoing efforts to support safe, stable and permanent families for children and youth. Those efforts include the June 24, 2020 Executive Order on Strengthening the Child Welfare System for America's Children, which President Trump signed last week with the First Lady in attendance.

The First Lady invited participants who are advocates for foster children and who have been impacted by the foster care system, including young adults who have spent time in foster care, foster parents, and representatives from foster care and adoption organizations. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar; Assistant Secretary Lynn Johnson of the Administration for Children and Families; Kellyanne Conway, Counselor to the President; and Emma Doyle, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy to the First Lady also participated in the roundtable.

First Lady Melania Trump opened the event by highlighting that the first pillar of her Be Best initiative is well-being, including social, emotional, and physical health. Mrs. Trump emphasized the need to increase partnerships, resources, and transparency in the foster care system, particularly given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on America's foster children and families.

Following introductions, the First Lady moderated a discussion with the roundtable participants. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine, Governor Chris Sununu of New Hampshire, First Lady Donna Edwards of Louisiana and State Senator Doug Mastriano of Pennsylvania spoke about their ongoing work on primary prevention and permanent placement. Foster care advocates shared their personal experiences with the system and discussed lessons from the pandemic, innovations in the child placement system, the importance of trauma-informed training, and the intrinsic, lifelong need for each person to have the support of a loving family, both in childhood and beyond.

The First Lady concluded the roundtable by thanking everyone for their advocacy and praising the strength and resilience of several of the participants, noting that children in America are safer today because of their efforts. Mrs. Trump emphasized her commitment to this vital issue and encouraged those in attendance to continue to work with the Administration to ensure all children are able to thrive.

Participants:

Governor Mike DeWine & First Lady Fran DeWine, Ohio
Governor Chris Sununu, New Hampshire
State Senator Doug Mastriano, Pennsylvania
First Lady Donna Edwards, Louisiana
Rita Soronsen, CEO, Wendy's Wonderful Kids
Pam Parishes, Founder and Executive Director, Connection Homes
Thea Ramirez, Founder & CEO of Adoption Share
Lee Vasquez and Kaari Vasquez, Foster Parents
Christina Meredith, Founder, Christina Meredith Foundation
Joshua Christian, Student, Advocate, and Author
Ruby Tucker, UCLA Pritzker Center for Strengthening Children and Families

Provider Relief Fund Medicaid and CHIP Distribution Webcast Follow-Up

Recorded Webcast
A recording of the June 25 webcast is now available at hhs.gov/providerrelief.

Upcoming Webcast
Due to high demand, an additional webcast has also been scheduled for July 8 at 4 p.m. ET. You can register now at https://bit.ly/3dI25KH.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
In order to better address your most important concerns, we have updated our FAQs to address the questions you submitted for the webcast. The FAQs include expanded information on eligibility, application, payment process, and more.

Application Instructions
Medicaid and CHIP Provider Distribution Instructions and the Medicaid and CHIP Provider Distribution Application Form are available at hhs.gov/providerrelief. We recommend downloading and reviewing these documents to help you complete the process through the Enhanced Provider Relief Fund Payment Portal.

Additional Information
For additional information, please call the Provider Support Line at (866) 569-3522; for TTY, dial 711. Hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday. Service staff members are available to provide real-time technical assistance, as well as service and payment support.

Thank you for all you are doing to support and protect the American people during this difficult time.

Results of The Direct Support Workforce and COVID-19 National Survey 2020

The direct support workforce provides an array of critical supports making it possible for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to live, work and thrive in their communities.

These professionals perform multiple tasks, at any given time during the course of their work, which may be similar to those of teachers, nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, counselors, dieticians, chauffeurs, personal trainers, and others. There is no Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational classification for direct support workers and they are often categorized with home health aides, personal care assistants, certified nurse assistants, and others. Providing home and community-based supports for people with IDD, however, requires specialized skills and competencies that are not reflected by the low wages due to underfunded Medicaid-reimbursed rates, limited access to benefits, and lack of respect afforded to this essential workforce.

The shortage of direct support workers is well documented. Over 50% left their positions in 2018 with one-third leaving in the first six months of employment and vacancy rates are near 15% for full-time and 18% for part-time positions (National Core Indicators, 2019). As a result, many direct support workers, supervisors and other staff consistently have to work overtime to provide supports, yet sometimes people with IDD go without supports.

Family members are called upon to provide these supports which affects their availability to maintain employment. With the pandemic, social distancing guidelines and stay-at home orders have negatively affected the lives of people with IDD and the supports they need. As such the University of Minnesota and National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals collaborated to lift up the voice of the direct support workforce. The aim of this study was to gather evidence about the experiences of the direct support workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic and to inform efforts to better prepare for future waves of this pandemic.