NC-PAL is a free telephone consultation program to help health care providers address the behavioral health needs of their patients.

With skill and compassion, these caregivers are an exceptional group of professionals that have the benefit of spending the greatest amount of time with the persons being served. Because they are typically the first to observe changes in status, they have potential to be the source of solutions to a majority of the challenges confronting most care settings. Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs). Certified Medical Assistants (CMAs), Home Care Aides (HCAs) and Personal Support Staff and others are welcome!

As a clinician working in an outpatient setting, are you confident in how and when to appropriately screen patients for falls?  

The Medicaid Managed Care webinars on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month are dedicated to bringing you late breaking information and guidance on NC Medicaid’s transition to Managed Care. Topics will vary, but each session will include an open question and answer period.  

On May 27, 2021, Governor Roy Cooper signed into law House Bill 395 (now NCSL 2021-26) allowing additional time for providers to connect to the state-designated health information exchange NC HealthConnex.  The bill extends the deadline for connecting from October 1, 2021 to January 1, 2023.    

On May 26, 2021, The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) 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.   

Applications are now open for the MIPS Promoting Interoperability Performance Category Hardship Exception and Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Exception for the 2021 Performance Year.  

Application Deadline: Those interested must submit their applications to CMS by December 31, 2021.   

NCDHHS recently released a fact sheet on Panel Management.  We pulled some highlights from the fact sheet for you on the blog today. 

The Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) cost performance category weight is 15% of the final score for the 2020 performance period/2022 MIPS payment year. CMS announced the reweighting the cost performance category from 15% to 0% for the 2020 performance period.  

Advocates and partner agencies can learn more about next steps in the NC Medicaid Managed Care rollout, with a focus on what people with Medicaid should expect next and how the Ombudsman can help. 

Tuesday, May 25, 2021 

12 – 1 p.m.