On March 19, 2021 the North Carolina Division of Health Benefits posted a bulletin outlining their Health Equity Payment Initiative. To support the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) goals to achieve health equity, NC Medicaid is introducing an enhanced payment to Carolina Access primary care practices serving beneficiaries from areas of the state with high poverty rates. 

The Practice Support Team at Northwest AHEC has gathered topics and resources for you for the week. Check them out below. Let us know if you need more information!

NC Medicaid Division of Health Benefits posted a Medicaid Managed Care Provider Update on March 16, 2021.  Below are some important highlights. 

On Monday March 15, 2021, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that the Medicare reimbursement for administration of the COVID-19 vaccine would nearly double. 

The NC Medicaid Provider Services team is partnering with NC AHEC to host virtual Health Plan Meet and Greet sessions.  NC Medicaid consultants and health plan representatives will be available to address your concerns and questions about the transition from Medicaid fee-for-service to Medicaid Managed Care.  Virtual Meet and Greet sessions are structured as conversations between providers and Managed Care Health Plan staff with a Q&A for participants.  

Online module available to the public for statewide use

Medicaid Transformation Provider Services and North Carolina AHEC are conducting a series of Virtual Office Hours for providers beginning in March 2021. These sessions offer an interactive format for providers to have their questions answered.  

As a result of the 21st Century Cures Act Information Blocking provisions, the NC HIEA is updating its User Access, Privacy and Security policies which will become effective April 5, 2021. Most changes are reflected in Section 15 & 16 of the Privacy and Security Policies. 

12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. EST | THURSDAYS 

Advanced Medical Homes Tier 3 “Glidepath” Payments Update   

In February, NC Medicaid announced that effective April 1, 2021, NC Medicaid will offer time-limited payments to practices that have attested as an AMH Tier 3 provider as part of the transition to Medicaid Managed Care.