The AHEC Standardized Onboarding and Credentialing program aims to improve the process of placing health science students in clinical placements through partnerships as well as onboarding and credentialing tools.

These tools help reduce the time and resources needed to onboard and credential students to clinical rotations. These tools, as well as support and guidance from AHEC and other partners, can make it easier for small practices to host students, helping to increase opportunities for training, and ultimately increasing clinical capacity. To get started or for more information, please contact Aubrey Delaney, Associate Director Onboarding and Credentialing at Audelaney@wakeahec.org. 

Learn more: Standardized Student Onboarding and Credentialing.

WEBINAR OPPORTUNITY

Remote Patient Monitoring Optimization for FQHCs

June 25, 2025 | noon-1 p.m.

Join us for an exclusive training webinar hosted by NC AHEC Practice Support in collaboration with the NC Community Health Center Association. The training is designed specifically for federally qualified health center staff interested in optimizing or starting remote patient monitoring (RPM) as a solution for improved patient care. RPM is a new healthcare practice that uses digital devices to collect and transmit patient health data to healthcare providers. It allows for continuous monitoring and management of patient’s conditions from a distance. This healthcare practice can work successfully if implemented correctly. 

This session will provide an overview of the latest trends, how to implement in your workflows, and appropriate Medicare/Medicaid billing codes to ensure financial sustainability and accuracy. Register now and take the first step in learning more.  

Register for the RPM Webinar

Complete one or both of the interactive, self-paced eLearning modules on your computer or mobile device. Earn free contact hours!

PART 1 - About 1 in 10 Americans have diabetes, with 90-95% of those having Type 2 Diabetes. (CDC) The majority of these people receive health care in the primary care setting (Pilla et. al). Physiologically, diabetes affects multiple organ systems, as well as the emotional well-being of the affected person. Medicine regimens can be complex, especially for an older person with other chronic conditions. To enable the practice staff to support the person with Type 2 Diabetes, this course uses case studies of familiar patients seen in primary care. Practical office-based clinical assessment and patient education concepts are presented. Basic pharmacology of diabetes drugs, laboratory tests used to assess and monitor the disease and common physical exam findings are covered. Register online at www.nwahec.org/75805

PART 2 - Managing diabetes requires much more than taking medicines and visiting the primary care provider’s office---lifestyle changes at the heart of a person’s very self are needed. People with diabetes are 2-3 times more likely to have depression than those without diabetes (CDC). Typically considered a lifelong chronic condition, Type 2 diabetes requires the affected person to incorporate it into their self-image and work every day on difficult behavior changes. Mood disturbances may also be the result of physiologic changes caused by the illness, or from medication side effects. Building on the foundation of Part 1 of this series, this module focuses on the impact a diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes can have on the mental health of patients they see in primary care. Register online at www.nwahec.org/75808

Part 2 builds on the case study presented in Part 1, so you are encouraged (but not required) to take both modules.

There is no charge for either online course. Course registration is generously supported by the Division of Health Benefits.

From NC Medicaid:

Some private and commercial insurers already require these codes, so providers should check with their billing team to review relevant protocol. These F codes are required by NC Medicaid’s clinical policy and apply to all delivery claims (not just those that are globally billed).

NC Medicaid urges providers to begin using the new codes as soon as possible. After July 1, 2025, Medicaid claims for delivery will deny if 0500F is not in the patient's history. This change will apply to both NC Medicaid Managed Care and NC Medicaid Direct claims.

Details and Source: New F Codes: Capturing Prenatal and Postpartum Care Services

Most eligible children will automatically qualify for the program and were auto enrolled by May 2, 2025. Children automatically qualify if they are eligible for any of the following programs: 

• Free and reduced-price (FRP) meals at schools by approved FRP application
• Food and Nutrition Services (also called FNS or food stamps)
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Cherokee Tribal Food Distribution Program (CTFDP)
• Child is in Foster Care
• Child is enrolled in the McKinney-Vento program (experiencing homelessness or runaway)
• OR if they receive NC Medicaid benefits and have a household income below 185% of the federal poverty level

Families with children who qualify will receive a new 2025 SUN Bucks card in the mail.  

Families with questions can visit the website at ncdhhs.gov/sunbucks or call the NC SUN Bucks Call Center at 1-866-719-0141, select a language, then select option 2 to speak with a SUN Bucks representative.

See the full Press Release from NCDHHS to learn more.

From the North Carolina Office of Rural Health:

The Office of Rural Health (ORH) offers qualifying physicians, with educational (student) loan debt, incentive payments to repay their loans tax-free through the Primary Care Physicians Initiative (NC PCPI). With the passage of Session Law 2023-134, incentive payments are awarded to eligible physicians in exchange for providing comprehensive primary care services in outpatient settings at eligible sites serving those with highest need located within Tier 1 and Tier 2 of the North Carolina's County Distress Rankings (Tiers).

Funding is limited and the awards will be based on a first-come, first-served basis for eligible and complete applications. ORH anticipates up to 16 awards in each of the six Medicaid Regions. The application portal will not accept more than 20 applications per Medicaid Region. 

Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the guidelines carefully and gather necessary documentation so that they are prepared to complete the online application in its entirety via the application portal.

MEDICAID MANAGED CARE BACK PORCH CHAT

Key NC Medicaid Updates

Thursday, May 15 | noon-1 p.m.

Please join this month's Back Porch Chat on Thursday, May 15 from 12-1 p.m. This webinar will be hosted by Dr. Janelle White, Chief Medical Officer of NC Medicaid, and will cover important federal updates and NC Medicaid budget priorities.

Additional topics include:

• Clinical Coverage Request Process and Policy Revision Request Process
• 2024 Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Survey Results
• Credentialing Committee Updates
• Justice-Involved Reentry Work

Register by clicking the blue button below. We look forward to connecting with you!

It's National Kidney Month!

Chronic kidney disease affects nearly 37 MILLION people in the country (more than 1 in 7 adults). 

Chronic kidney disease often causes no symptoms until it is more advanced.

Chronic kidney disease is progressive.

Chronic kidney disease puts people at risk for other serious health problems like heart attack, stroke and kidney failure.

One in three adults with diabetes (and one in five with hypertension) may have chronic kidney disease (CKD).

90% of people with it DO NOT KNOW THEY HAVE kidney disease!

Back to our title, "it takes two to make a thing go right": Two tests should be done to look for CKD. Fewer than half of patients at high risk for CKD are screened appropriately.

How to screen?

• Spot urine ACR (albumin-to-creatinine ratio)

AND

• eGFR (estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate)

Get started now to help make this thing go right!

With funding from NCDHHS, Project AWARE is able to offer SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) training via Appalachian State University at no cost to the first 300 applicants!

SBIRT

• is brief
• is comprehensive
• decreases the severity of drug and alcohol use (early intervention with SBIRT saves lives and money and is consistent with overall support for patient/client wellness)
• reduces health care costs
• is used in various settings (by doctors, nurses, social workers, psychologists, counselors and other service providers)

Users of this technique employ a variety of tools including AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test), DAST (Drug Abuse Screening Test) and CRAFFT (Adolescent Screening Tool). Motivational Interviewing is at the core of SBIRT training.

There are two components to this free training; online asynchronous modules and a synchronous workshop. 

You can also register here.