Data on Medicaid and NC Health Choice Beneficiary Eligibility for Behavioral Health I/DD Tailored Plans and Tailored Care Management
In response to stakeholder requests and feedback, the Department of Health and Human Services (the Department) is releasing data on the number of Medicaid and NC Health Choice beneficiaries, as of April 2021, who currently meet the eligibility criteria to enroll in Behavioral Health and Intellectual/Developmental Disability (I/DD) Tailored Plans and receive Tailored Care Management scheduled to launch in July 2022.
NC Medicaid Managed Care Health Plan Assignments Completed for Beneficiaries
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) today announced that all Medicaid beneficiaries currently eligible to transition to managed care have selected or been assigned a health plan with 97% enrolled in a plan that includes their current primary care provider (PCP) in network.
As a result, nearly all current beneficiaries will keep the same health care provider that they have today when managed care launches on July 1. That means more families can continue to visit the practices and doctors who know them best and are familiar with their specific health care needs.
Beneficiaries who did not select a health plan during open enrollment, which ended on May 21, were auto-enrolled in a plan. NCDHHS’ auto-enrollment process prioritized existing relationships between beneficiaries and their primary care provider and, where possible, a plan that has contracted with that provider was selected for the beneficiary. A summary of NC Medicaid Managed Care enrollment by plans and regions can be found here. Confirmation notices and health plan welcome packets will be mailed to beneficiaries through June 12. Beneficiaries have until Sept. 30, 2021 to change plans for any reason.
For more information, please see the press release here.
DHHS Announces Three Regions for Medicaid Healthy Opportunities Pilots
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced the selection of organizations to serve three regions of the state, marking a major milestone towards launching the nation’s first comprehensive program to test evidence-based, non-medical interventions designed to reduce costs and improve the health of Medicaid beneficiaries. The groundbreaking program will create a systematic approach to integrating and financing non-medical services that address housing stability, transportation access, food security, and interpersonal safety into the delivery of healthcare.
Following a competitive selection process, the three organizations will reach three regions, two in eastern North Carolina and one in western North Carolina.
- Access East, Inc.: Beaufort, Bertie, Chowan, Edgecombe, Halifax, Hertford, Martin, Northampton, Pitt
- Community Care of the Lower Cape Fear: Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, Onslow, Pender
- Dogwood Health Trust: Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Yancey
To be eligible for and receive Pilot services, NC Medicaid Managed Care members must live in one of the three selected regions, have at least one qualifying physical or behavioral health condition, and have one qualifying social risk factor.
Read more detail about the LPEs and the Pilot program in today’s press release.
REMINDER: Mental Health/IDD Training Needs Assessment.....CLOSES JUNE 14TH
In continued partnership and coordination with state and community stakeholders, the NC Division of Mental Health Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services (DMHDDSAS) seeks your assistance in identifying current needs for training across our system servicing children, youth, and young adults dually diagnosed with a mental illness and an intellectual or developmental disability (to include Autism Spectrum Disorder). DMHDDSAS and Behavioral Health Springboard-UNC Chapel Hill School of Social Work have collaborated to develop a needs assessment to gain more insight on how to best support the workforce.
Currently, we are expanding our training and workforce development efforts and would like your feedback on the subject areas needed for targeted training. We are requesting information from Mental Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disability provider agencies, LME-MCO staff, consumers, families, and DHHS staff to accomplish this task.
The assessment will take approximately 5 minutes to complete and is completely voluntary. All responses will be recorded anonymously. We would like as many responses as possible and encourage multiple individuals within organizations and families to complete the needs assessment. If you are a provider agency with multiple sites; we encourage multiple staff from each local site to complete.
Please also share this training needs assessment with others list below in order to help us obtain a wide range of responses. Thank you!
- Mental Health Community-based providers
- Mental Health Residential providers (all levels)
- IDD Community-based providers
- IDD Residential providers (all levels)
- Consumers receiving services for youth with dual, MH/IDD, diagnosis
- Family Members who have youth with dual, MH/IDD, diagnosis receiving services
- Family Advocates and other community supporters
Thank you for your time and participation! Your responses will help craft the training and workforce development efforts to strengthen a highly qualified child serving behavioral health system.
The needs assessment will close to participation on Monday, June 14, 2021 at 5pm.
If you have questions regarding this training needs assessment please contact Alexis Barnes-CWCN Program Specialist ([email protected]).
Joint Communication Bulletin #J394: Revision to Joint Communication Bulletin #J345 – Clarification Regarding Expansion of High Fidelity Wraparound Teams and Provider Expectations
This communication bulletin will provide additional guidance to providers and local managed entities managed care organizations (LME-MCOs) for the expansion of High Fidelity Wraparound (HFW) teams across the State or the initiation of HFW Teams in a new county. This bulletin will also address the expectations of
providers when the coach position is vacant.
HFW is an evidenced-informed and standardized supportive care coordination service for youth (3-20 years old) with serious emotional disturbance or youth with serious emotional disturbance and a co-occurring substance use disorder and/or intellectual/developmental disability. “In lieu of service definitions” have been developed to promote the use of HFW services across the State.
It is the expectation of the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services (DMH/DD/SAS) that providers of HFW services ensure that HFW coaches, facilitators, Family Support Partners, and Youth Support Partners complete the North Carolina High Fidelity Wraparound Training Program (NC HFWTP) training and credentialing requirements. The NC HFWTP operates out of UNC Greensboro (UNCG).
All HFW team members must successfully complete skill and competency-based training to become credentialed to provide HFW. Successful credentialing of HFW coach, facilitators, Family Support Partners, and Youth Support Partners within 9-12 months is required. Certification of HFW Family Support Partners by
the National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health within 18 months of employment is also required.
New Teams or Expansion:
The provider must obtain via an application process written approval from the NC HFWTP and LME-MCO to open a new HFW team. Prior to approval, the NC HFWTP will work with the provider to complete a readiness assessment. Should a provider wish to open additional teams, written approval must be obtained from both the
LME-MCO and the NC HFWTP. Should an LME-MCO or provider agency apply for funding through a grant, the NC HFWTP will be notified of the application and once the award has been granted.
New County Expansion Revision:
An LME-MCO and/or provider agency that wishes to expand beyond the county or counties in which an existing HFW team currently serves must submit a letter of intent to the NC HFWTP. The letter will need to include the name of the provider agency that will deliver HFW in the identified county or counties and a justification for expansion that includes:
• Why the identified county was selected for expansion;
• A plan describing how the site will ensure an adequate referral stream; and
• Identify established partnerships that are essential for HFW success.
After receiving the letter of intent, the NC HFWTP Project Manager will arrange a meeting between the LMEMCO, provider agency and the NC HFWTP to discuss timelines and any additional technical assistance that will be needed during the expansion. The NC HFWTP Project Manager will provide a letter to the LME-MCO, copying the provider, acknowledging the addition of the new county or counties that will be served by the HFW team.
Staff Hiring:
- Providers will coordinate with and include the NC HFWTP Implementation Specialist in the interview process for coaches and facilitators.
- Providers and coaches will coordinate and include NC Families United in the interview process for Family Support Partners and Youth Support Partners.
- Youth Support Partners hired cannot exceed the age as set forth by the NC HFWTP.
Staff Training and Coaching/Supervision Requirements:
1. Training, monitoring, and credentialing tracks:
a. There is one training and monitoring track provided by the NC
HFWTP.
b. There are two credentialing tracks:
i. HFWTP provides credentialing for new teams and non-
credentialed coaches
ii. HFWTP allows credentialed coaches to credential team
members
2. All HFW staff, including coaches, must complete NC HFWTP foundational training with a NC HFWTP approved trainer.
3. The HFW coach must complete HFW coach credentialing within 9-12 months of employment.
4. The HFW facilitator, Family Support Partner, and Youth Support Partner must complete their role-specific credentialing within 9-12 months of employment.
5. The Family Support Partner will complete the Federation of Families National Credentialing for Parent Family Peers as a Certified Parent Support Provider (CPSP) within 18 months of employment.
6. The NC HFWTP will observe and engage in coaching calls with coaches based on the schedule for coaching credentialing and as needed for fidelity purposes.
7. Coaches will adhere to the expectations and requirements of coaching and supervision as prescribed by the NC HFWTP guidelines.
Dear Director Letter: COVID-19 Vaccination Guidance for Local Departments of Social Services 5-25-2021
Stanly County Disengagement and Realignment
