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

The Northwest AHEC Practice Support team is committed to bringing you up to date COVID-19 information and resources. Please send any questions or updates on blog content to Tamela Yount, MSHAI, PCMH CCE.

COVID-19 Community Readiness Toolkit

The Division of Mental Health Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services in partnership with the NCDHHS Historically Marginalized Populations Behavioral Health Workgroup, recently created the COVID-19 Community Readiness Toolkit to connect North Carolinians to resources for a variety of mental health needs including resources for parents engaging in online-school, family-based needs, resources for those within the I/DD community and others.

Special Bulletin COVID-19 #153 (1/21/21): Temporary Provider Rate Increases and Clinical Policy Changes Extended 

Northwest AHEC is committed helping control the spread of COVID-19, and would like to keep you  informed about how to protect yourself and others. The best way to prevent infection is to continue to practice social distancing, handwashing and wearing a mask at all times. When available, the vaccine will add an important preventive measure. We have some updates below on how to get scheduled for the COVID-19 Vaccine.

Are you planning on administering COVID-19 Vaccines in your office? 

NCDHHS has shared the Medicaid and NC Health Choice billing guidance for both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines in two Special Bulletins (#147 and #148).  Please see some of the billing highlights and links to the bulletins below. 

Deadline Extended Until Monday February 1st, 2021 at 8 p.m. ET 

2021 begins the fifth year of the Quality Payment Program. While much remains the same, CMS is considering changes for the upcoming year that have implications for solo and small group practices. This webinar will discuss updates to the performance category weights and requirements, changes for third party intermediaries, COVID-19 flexibilities, and revisions to the performance threshold. Understanding these changes will enable you to begin preparing so you can succeed in Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) in 2021 and beyond. This event will feature a panel of experts familiar with the Final Rule who can offer advice on how to prepare and answer your questions about how these changes will affect small practices, solo practitioners and practices in rural and medically underserved areas. Join this event to talk with the panelists about any questions you have on the Final Rule.

Participants will learn:

• Key changes in Year 5 of the MIPS program
• Practical tips for how small group practices can successfully respond to these adjustments
• How to access Free technical assistance resources available from CMS and a local Technical Assistance Contractor funded by CMS

This event is designed for:

COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan Update

North Carolina’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan builds on the foundation of the state’s overall goals and
pillars of response to the pandemic: Prevention, Testing, Tracing, Isolation and Quarantine. North
Carolina took early and aggressive action to slow the spread of the virus, built statewide capacity for
testing, PPE supplies and contract tracing, developed hospital surge plans, and promoted aggressive prevention strategies. Check out the full NCDHHS Vaccine Plan