We gather on this day to be thankful for what we have, for the family we love, the friends we cherish, and for the blessings that will come. Happy Thanksgiving!

In between your holiday feasting we invite you to check out these updates, as we find helpful resources we will post them here weekly:

1. Community Health Grant SFY22 RFA- Application period opened November 20, 2020
   Application period closes February 15, 2021. For more information, please read the full RFA Announcement
   
2. December episode of this webinar from the Weitzman Institute / Community Health Center of Connecticut features Dr. Mandy Cohen. The Path Forward: The Digital Transformation in Social Determinants of Health on December 10, 2020, 2:00pm - 3:00pm ET / 11:00am – 12:00pm PT. Solving for Social Needs: Context and Perspective A Discussion with Mandy Cohen and Alan Weil. Free to attend - Register Here
3. New Office E/M Codes 2021 per American Academy of Pediatrics - The largest overhaul to the office-based evaluation and management (E/M) services since 1997 will take place on Jan. 1, 2021. The AAP is offering coding tips to help your practice. Find out more here

4. AAP telehealth help: From AAP - As part of the Supporting Providers and Families to Access Telehealth and Distant Care Services for Pediatric Care project, the AAP is offering free technical assistance to pediatric health professionals. Technical assistance services can include connection to tools, resources, and subject matter experts. Send requests to distantcare@aap.org.

5. Update from DHHS on flexibilities to Give Certain Providers More Time to Connect to NC HealthConnex. This information was shared in the latest Medicaid Bulletin - Learn More
6. BCBSNC plans to extend COVID19 reimbursement into 2021 per Triangle Business Journal. In addition, it will continue waiving member cost-sharing for COVID-19 testing and treatment through spring 2021, and will maintain other initiatives put in place to help patients access care during the pandemic. Read More
7. BCBSNC and Telehealth: It will expand its reimbursement policy for physician visits that take place over phone or video. BCBS of North Carolina will continue paying for virtual visits as if they were in-person visits through June 30, 2021. The changes apply to most of BCBS of North Carolina's plans, with employer-sponsored plans given the option to opt out.
8. Extended Deadline to Update Your Billing Info by December 13 for Your APM Incentive Payment, Extended Deadline: Certain Clinicians Need to Update Their Billing Information by December 13, 2020 to Receive Their APM Incentive Payment - Visit QPP Website or see 2020 APM Fact Sheet
9. Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Application & COVID-19: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all clinicians across the United States and territories.  If you have any concerns about the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on your performance data, including cost measures, for the 2020 performance period, submit an application now and be sure to cite COVID-19 as the reason for your application.
10. KEEPING KIDS WELL:
    1. Keeping Kids Well Postcards: To assist your practice in promoting the importance of these visits, North Carolina’s Keeping Kids Well (KKW) initiative would like to offer your practice free post cards to assist you in reminding parents about recommended immunization schedules and visits. Learn More and Sign Up
    2. AAP podcast on getting kids in for flu shot: Listen Here
    3. Process changes to maximize use of existing vaccine supply: To help make sure more children get their flu shots, the NC Division of Public Health has implemented some important changes to the process for bi-directional borrowing with Vaccines for Children. The process for borrowing/replacing virtual inventory in the NCIR has been streamlined. Doses for flu must be replaced within 90 days and before 12/31/20. (Doses for other vaccines need to be replaced within 30 days.) The TYPE of vaccines needs to match, but the BRAND does not.
    4. The Immunization Branch in Division of Public Health resources on new flexibilities to allow bi-directional borrowing with VFC using data from NCIR or your EMR for documentation: View here
    5. Borrowing checklist: View Here
    6. Webinar explaining it all with Beth Meadows at Immunization Branch and Dr. Christoph Diasio and Lisa Delphias from NCPeds’ Board: View Here
11. MEDICAID TRANSFORMATION:
    1. NC’s Move to Medicaid Managed Care: NC Medicaid recently published an update on the state’s move to Managed Care for physicians and PAs serving Medicaid patients. Learn More
    2. 12/3/20 Medicaid Managed Care Fireside Chat Series Webinar- This will cover Member Attribution and Member Attribution. Register Here
    3. 11/19/20 Clinical & Quality Webinar slide deck on Women’s Health is on the NCAHEC website: View Here
    4. Top Three Practice Support Needs Per 11/19/20 women’s health clinical/quality Webinar Polling: 1. Quality metrics (48%), 2. AMH Support (42%), 3. Contracting support (35%), Team Based Care Expansion (33%).
    5. Provider Contracting Deadline for Inclusion in Open Enrollment and Auto-Enrollment: Learn More

TIP SHEETS - Click below for latest tip sheets on these important topics

• FFCRA - Families First Coronavirus Response Act
• Flu & Asthma
• NC Medicaid/Health Choice Managing Primary Care Assignments
• NCMSF Financial Recovery
• Medicaid Enrollment Site
• Cures Act and Information Blocking
• NCMS and state-funded Financial Recovery Program