OOOOO! Next Friday!
Benchmarks' Public/Private Behavioral
Health Forum (PPBH) IS BACK!!!!
When: Friday, June 10, 2022
From: 10:30 am thru 2:30 pm (Lunch is included)
Where: The Royal Center, 3801 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh
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Benchmarks' Upcoming Webinars
Benchmarks' Child Welfare Webinar with Lisa Cauley & Karen McLeod
Date: Thursday, June 9, 2022
Time: 8:00 am thru 9:00 am
Benchmarks' Friday Membership Webinar with Dave Richard & Karen McLeod
Date: Friday, June 17, 2022
Time: 8:30 am thru 9:30 am
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**Special Message from Dave: Provider and Tailored Plan Contract Deadlines**
In preparation for the December 2022 launch of NC Medicaid Tailored Plans, provider contracts are due to the Tailored Plans in a series of recommended contract deadlines for inclusion in the beneficiary choice period and auto-assignment.
Thank you for your assistance.
- Dave
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Reminder: Clinical Coverage Policy 8C- Outpatient Behavioral Health Services-Public Comment
Clinical Coverage Policy 8C- Outpatient Behavioral Health Services, has posted for 45 day public comment. It will post through 7/2/2022.
Please share with all pertinent stakeholders.
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Joint Communication Bulletins
JCB #417-Revisions to the State-Funded Community Living and Support, Day Supports, Supported Living Periodic and Residential Supports Services and Delivery of State-Funded Meaningful Day Services for Tailored Plans.
A revision has been made to the State-Funded I/DD and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) service definitions based on feedback from providers and LME/MCOs: Community Living and Support (CLS), Day Supports (DS), Supported Living Periodic (SLP) and Residential Supports (RS).
This bulletin explains changes in the service definition which become effective on the dates listed below.
This bulletin also provides information regarding the delivery of state-funded meaningful day services for
Tailored Plans.
JCB #418-Expectations for Transitions to Community Living (TCL) Successful Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Enrollments
Successfully connecting Transitions to Community Living (TCL) members to supported employment services is vital to meeting substantial compliance with the Settlement Agreement and ensuring that individuals who reside in congregate living facilities or are at risk of congregate living placement are receiving necessary supports for transitioning into the community and pursuing individualized life
goals.
Monitoring data continues to show that the number of TCL members and people who meet criteria for In-At Risk being successfully enrolled in the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) service remains extremely low. The data is a result of ongoing monitoring efforts completed by the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services (DMH/DD/SAS) staff and feedback from the Independent Reviewer.
It is the expectation that all TCL members are referred to the IPS service to explore employment and education opportunities. Exploring employment and education with an IPS provider will provide necessary benefits counseling, engagement and motivation strategies to breakdown internalized and external stigma and doubts and identify individualized needs to be successful.
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Watch a recording of the latest tele-town hall on COVID-19 recovery, treatments and first-hand experiences |
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Q&A with Debra Farrington: NCDHHS' Chief Health Equity Officer
Debra Farrington has stepped into a new role at NCDHHS, becoming its next Chief Health Equity Officer. She previously served as chief of staff for NC Medicaid, where she received the 2022 John R. Larkins Award for her commitment to justice and equality in the workplace and the community.
In a NCDHHS newsletter article, she shares more about her background and some of the insights she’s gained from working in public health and observing challenges to receiving health care.
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The NC Division of Health Benefits (DHB) has recently published a new Medicaid Bulletin article pertaining to COVID-19:
SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #249: Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine Booster Dose for Children Age 5 through 11
Effective May 19, 2022, Medicaid and NC Health Choice will cover the use of a single booster dose for administration to children age 5 through 11 at least five months after completion of a primary series with the Pfizer Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine. More information
SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #248: Telehealth Flexibilities for Occupational and Physical Therapies
Beginning July 1, 2022, providers may request prior authorization (PA) for telehealth delivery of OT and PT services for Medicaid Direct beneficiaries ages 0-20 only as an EPSDT exception. Details
This bulletin has been updated to add and correct information on Behavioral Health, Community Alternatives Program, Hospice and Pharmacy flexibilities.
New Medicaid Bulletins Available
The NC Division of Health Benefits (DHB) has recently published new Medicaid Bulletin articles:
Providers are encouraged to review this information. All bulletin articles, including those related to COVID-19, are available on DHB's Medicaid Bulletin webpage.
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New Funding Opportunity Announcement: Promoting Equitable Access to Language Services in Health and Human Services
The Office of Minority Health (OMH) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services administers grant programs to support projects that implement innovative models to improve minority health and reduce health disparities.
OMH has released the following funding opportunity announcement (FOA) for which applications are now being accepted:
- Announcement Number: MP-CPI-22-005
- Opportunity Title: Promoting Equitable Access to Language Services in Health and Human Services
- Award Amount: $300,000 to $375,000
- Estimated Total: $3,000,000
- Application Due Date: July 15, 2022 by 6:00 p.m. ET
The initiative will support the implementation of effective policies, programs, and processes to increase the use of prevention services through enhanced language access resources for individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP). OMH expects recipients/awardees to address health disparities among racial and ethnic minority populations and to demonstrate the impact of those efforts on outcomes and the overarching goal of advancing health equity. Project target population(s) must be based on health disparities. Project activities may not involve the selection or exclusion of participants based on race/ethnicity.
This initiative seeks to advance the implementation of policies, tools, resources, training, and practices that have been researched and have demonstrated effectiveness in informing individuals of limited English proficiency (LEP) of their rights to language services across the nation.
Populations with LEP experience significant barriers to accessing health care services and understanding health information. They are more likely than populations whose primary language is English to have no source of care, report lower self-rated health, and lack health insurance. Limited literacy is associated with difficulties in proper medication use, utilization of health services, and communication with providers. Federal laws and regulations, like Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, require meaningful access for people with LEP to federally funded programs and activities.
Technical Assistance Webinar for potential applicants:
June 24, 2022 at 3:30 pm
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HRSA's National Telehealth Conference Now On Demand
If you missed the Health Resource and Service Administration’s (HRSA) National Telehealth Conference, you can now view the presentations and slides. Speakers included U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) leadership, over eight federal agencies, and 20 interest groups and health systems who examined the evolution of telehealth and expectations for the future.
View recorded sessions including:
- HHS leadership from HRSA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) discussing priorities and efforts to expand telehealth access.
- Federal agencies sharing efforts and resources to improve access to broadband, a key component to the delivery of telehealth services.
Breakout sessions highlighting key telehealth topics such as licensure portability, improving quality of telehealth, telehealth during COVID-19, ensuring access to telehealth beyond the pandemic, workforce issues, telehealth technology, and technical assistance provided by HRSA-supported Telehealth Resource Centers.
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Tuesday, June 7, 2022
Enhancing Access to Pediatric Behavioral Health
Time: 12:00 pm thru 1:00 pm
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New: Wednesday, June 8, 2022
Ensure EVV compliance with Netsmart Homecare
Time: 2:00 pm thru 3:00 pm
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New: Wednesday, June 8, 2022
Bridges to Better Care: Integrating Data Systems to Streamline Care Coordination
Time: 2:00 pm thru 3:00 pm
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Thursday, June 9, 2022
Benchmarks' Child Welfare Webinar with Lisa Cauley & Karen McLeod
Time: 8:00 am thru 9:00 am
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New: Monday, June 13, 2022
MFP Lunch and Learn: North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA)
Time: 12:00 pm thru 1:00 pm
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Tuesday, June 14, 2022
Achieving Broad Participation in Meaningful Clinical Research at the Point of Care
Time: 2:00 pm thru 5:15 pm
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Wednesday, June 15, 2022
Competitive Integrated Employment Series
Time: 12:00 pm thru 1:00 pm
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New: Wednesday, June 15, 2022
Interactive Monthly Update
Time: 2:00 pm thru 3:00 pm
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New: Thursday, June 16, 2022
Combating Burnout: Improving Employee Wellbeing and Creating a Culture of Health
Time: 1:00 pm thru 2:00 pm
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Friday, June 17, 2022
Benchmarks' Friday Membership Webinar with Dave Richard & Karen McLeod
Time: 8:30 am thru 9:30 am
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Webinar Series: Learn to Write Policy Information That Is Easy to Understand
Tuesday, June 7, 2022
Session 3: Easy Read Text
Time: 4:00 pm thru 5:00 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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