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Tomorrow: Benchmarks' Upcoming Webinar
Benchmarks' Thursday Child Welfare Webinar w/Lisa Cauley
Date: December 10, 2020
Time: 8:00 am
Note: Benchmarks has suspended our Friday Membership Webinars for the next few weeks and will resume our meetings on January 8th with Dave Richard joining Karen McLeod!
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COVID-19 Updates
PRESS RELEASES since the last update include: NEW resources since the last update include: UPDATED guidance since the last update include: UPDATED reports since the last update include:
Postponed: Electronic Visit Verification Requirement
H/T Vaya
Section 12006(a) of the 21st Century Cures Act mandates that states implement Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) for all Medicaid personal care services (PCS) and home health services (HHCS) that require an in-home visit by a provider. EVV uses technology to record the times, dates and specific services to make sure that people who should receive services, in fact, receive them. This applies to certain services provided under the North Carolina 1915(c) HCBS Innovations Waiver. In general, states must require EVV use for all Medicaid-funded PCS by Jan. 1, 2020, unless the state has both made a "good faith effort" to comply and has encountered "unavoidable delays."
EVV for Innovations Waiver and other NC Medicaid services was originally scheduled to be implemented on Jan. 1, 2021. On Friday, Dec. 4, 2020, NC Medicaid notified the state's LME/MCOs that implementation of this requirement has been delayed for at least three months. A formal communication from NC Medicaid will be available this week.
DHHS Healthcare Coalition Webinar Follow-Up
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| | NC DHHS COVID-19 Healthcare Coalition Webinar (Oct-Dec) December 2, 2020 |
DHSR: Important Updates - Vaccine Distribution - Renewal Applications - Fingerprint Checks
From Michiele Elliot:
Vaccine Distribution
Many of you have reached out in the last 24 hours with further questions and concerns about vaccine distribution. I appreciate your attention to this and desire to obtain this important protection for your clients. The Division of Public Health staff are working tirelessly to plan and prioritize distribution. It is a massive effort and all hands are on deck to ensure a rapid and equitable distribution. DMH/DD/SAS, DHB and DHSR have been involved and the needs of each disability group have been carefully considered. Unfortunately, many of your questions regarding when distribution will take place and details concerning logistics are not available to me to share with you at this point. Please know I will share any information I receive as soon as I can.
Licensure Renewal Applications
Thank you to all of you who have completed your online renewal applications in our Enterprise system. We are currently in the process of renewing over 3,300 licenses. It is a busy time and there are ways you can help us serve you efficiently if you are having issues in the Enterprise system.
When your renewal is processed, or if additional documentation is needed, you will receive an email with further instructions. Please take note of the instructions in the comment section. They will specify what is needed to complete your renewal.
- your NCID username
- mental health license number
- Issues you are having with enterprise
Please, please do not call us and ask about the status of your renewal. We currently have a four person team to handle the volume of renewals and cannot check the system for updates without slowing down the processing of applications.
Finger Print Checks
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) participated in a national Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) grant program to implement an online automated background check management system (ABCMS). The system is currently available to providers licensed by the Division of Health Service Regulation. Many of our child residential and other mental health providers are already using this system.
NC DHHS currently manages two background check management systems. At this time, NC DHHS is in the process of transitioning from Scantron sheets to the ABCMS. If you are a provider that has not used ABCMS, then you will need to activate your account.
Joint Communication Bulletins
H/T Eastpointe
LME-MCO Joint Communication Bulletin # J382
State-Funded Respite During Remote Learning
The Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services (DMH/DD/SAS) continues to coordinate with the Division of Health Benefits (DHB) to support flexibility in service delivery, the continuation of quality, medically necessary services and supports for behavioral health consumers and stabilizing and sustaining provider networks.
In September, NC Medicaid received federal approval of additional flexibilities during the COVID-19 public health emergency for the NC Innovations Waiver, for individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). In an effort to apply the same flexibilities to the state-funded IDD services as those allowed under the NC Medicaid Innovations Waiver, DMH/DD/SAS will allow the use of respite during school hours during the public health emergency that necessitates remote learning as funding is available and approved by the LME-MCO. It is important to note that:
- Respite cannot be used to assist with academic work. Examples include, but are not limited to, educational instruction, completion of educational activities, etc.
- Respite can be utilized to support with logging on to remote learning and school-related teletherapy sessions, asking for technical assistance and managing the individual's nonacademic support needs. This may include paying attention to the task at hand, behavior management, personal care needs, etc.
- State-funded respite services require prior approval by the LME-MCO. The LME-MCO may request documentation that includes:
- The individual's school schedule;
- The hours that Respite will be used to support the member during the remote learning; and
- The individual's needs that are being supported during remote learning.
LME-MCO Joint Communication Bulletin # J383 Home and Community Based Services Validation Update
On July 14, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced an extended timeframe for states to demonstrate compliance with Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) settings requirements due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This extension allows states an additional year, through March 17, 2023, to demonstrate that their existing HCBS settings comply with the Settings Rule.
The NC Innovation and NC TBI Waiver Medicaid 1915(c) Appendix K Waiver Flexibilities allow for telehealth to be used for Care Coordination monitoring. However, the requirement within the NC HCBS Statewide Transition Plan for in-person monitoring has caused delays to the state's HCBS Validation processes. DHHS has adjusted the following applicable timelines:
- May 31, 2021 - Validation Quarterly Reporting Tool (Final Submission) due to DHHS HCBS Internal Team
- July 30, 2021 - Extended due date for HCBS Validation concluding all LME-MCO/CAP-DA HCBS activities (i.e., technical assistance for providers of non-compliant HCBS sites)
- Oct. 1, 2021 - Re-posting of Statewide Transition Plan for 30-day public comment
- Dec. 1, 2021- Re-submit Statewide Transition Plan for final approval to CMS
It is critical that person-centered planning, individual choice and efforts to comply with the HCB settings rule continue to be at the forefront of our service delivery system. The decision has been made to uphold the current HCBS Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) timelines. DHHS continues to assess overarching HCBS compliance timelines. DHHS recognizes the impact of COVID-19 response efforts and will honor timeline extension requests established within the HCBS SOP: Manual & Guidance.
Cardinal Innovations/Mecklenburg County Updated Story WSOCTV New plan to fix problems mental health care in Mecklenburg County
There's a new plan to fix major problems and get people mental and behavioral help they need in Mecklenburg County to include anything.
Anchor Allison Latos has been investigating Cardinal Innovations, the company that gets tax money to coordinate the care.
Latos requested all emails and documents sent between Cardinal, Mecklenburg County and the state.
Includes an interview with Dave Richard, DHHS.
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Person-Centered Planning: 5 Staff Competency Domains
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| | Ethical Storytelling for Nonprofits and Philanthropy |
In this webinar, NPQ's Senior Correspondent and Investigations Editor, Amy Costello, takes viewers on a behind-the-scenes exploration regarding ethical storytelling and effective nonprofit communications. In a conversational format, Amy and her long-time producer, Freddie Boswell, discuss the ethical challenges they have confronted while covering nonprofits, philanthropy and international aid in their podcast, Tiny Spark.
Communications staff and nonprofit leaders will be challenged to wrestle with myriad ethical considerations when portraying the lives of those their organizations seek to help, whether these individuals live in the US or abroad; many of whom are in crisis or have experienced trauma, including sexual assault. Using examples from their own journalistic work, this webinar includes practical discussions on topics such as:
- How to meaningfully interview and portray people who have experienced trauma
- Questions to ask yourself before writing about vulnerable communities
- The importance of conducting prior research before engaging in interviews
- How to think about "expertise" and the need to balance academic expertise with the expertise that comes from lived experience in community
- The need to continually interrogate one's own prejudices in the course of journalistic work
- The importance of pushing back against funder demands that undermine the communities on which you are reporting
- Why good intentions are never enough
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Addressing Loneliness & Social Isolation During the Pandemic: Infographic
The Science of Happiness - Webinar & Infographic
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| | The Science of Happiness, Health & Well-being during COVID-19 |
Employee & Workplace Mental Health - Webinar & Infographic
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| | COVID-19 and Mental Health in the Workplace: Solutions for Employers and Employees |
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Upcoming Events
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Thursday, December 10, 2020
Benchmarks' Child Welfare Webinar with Lisa Cauley, NC-DSS
Time: 8:00 am thru 9:00 am
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New: Thursday, December 10, 2020
LTC Vaccination & IP Best Practices Webinar
Join NC DHHS Officials as they share the latest update on vaccines, vaccination planning, and infection prevention best practices. The webinar will include a 30 mins Q&A session at the end of the call.
Time: 12:30 pm thru 2:00 pm
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Thursday, December 10, 2020
Medicare Update & Education Webinar
Time: 1:00 pm thru 2:30 pm
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Thursday, December 10, 2020
Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule: Understanding 4 Key Topics Call
The calendar year 2021 Physician Fee Schedule final rule provisions reduce burden, recognize clinicians for the time they spend taking care of patients, remove unnecessary quality measures, and make it easier for clinicians move toward value-based care:
- Extending telehealth and licensing flexibilities beyond the public health emergency
- Updating Evaluation and Management (E/M) coding guidance
- Updating the Quality Payment Program and Merit-based Incentive Payment System Value Pathways
- Updating opioid use disorder and substance use disorder provisions
Time: 1:30 pm thru 3:00 pm
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Thursday, December 10, 2020
Joint NC DMHDDSAS and DHB COVID 19 Update for NC Providers
Time: 3:00 pm thru 4:00 pm
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Thursday, December 10, 2020
Advanced Medical Home Webinar Series Kickoff
Time: 5:30 pm thru 6:30 pm
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Friday, December 11, 2020
Medical Care Advisory Committee (MCAC) Quarterly Meeting
Time: 10:30 am thru 12:30 pm
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Friday, December 11, 2020
Using Medicaid to Support Parents with Disabilities
Time: 12:30 pm thru 2:00 pm
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Friday, December 11, 2020
NCDHHS Supported Living Level 2 & 3 STAKEHOLDERS MEETING
Time: 1:00 pm thru 3:00 pm
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Friday, December 11, 2020
Ethics, COVID-19 & Telehealth: Part 1
Time: 2:00 pm thru 3:30 pm
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Thursday, December 13, 2020
Medicaid Managed Care Fireside Chat Webinar Series-Beneficiary Attribution
Time: 5:30 pm thru 6:30 pm
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New: Monday, December 14, 2020
Joint DMHDDSAS and DHB (NC Medicaid) COVID-19 Update Call For BH/IDD Consumers, Family Members and Community Stakeholders
Time: 2:00 pm thru 3:00 pm
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Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Post-Election: What Can Employers Expect in 2021?
Time: 11:00 am
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Thursday, December 17, 2020
Behavioral Health: This series features Medicaid Managed Care topics specific to clinical quality on the third Thursday of every month.
Time: 5:30 pm thru 6:30 pm
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Tuesday, December 22, 2020
CMS COVID-19 Office Hours Calls
Office Hour Calls provide an opportunity for hospitals, health systems, and providers to ask questions of agency officials regarding CMS's temporary actions that empower local hospitals and healthcare systems to:
- Increase Hospital Capacity - CMS Hospitals Without Walls;
- Rapidly Expand the Healthcare Workforce;
- Put Patients Over Paperwork; and
- Further Promote Telehealth in Medicare
Time: 5:00 pm thru 6:00 pm
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Thursday, December 17, 2020
COVID-19 Q&A Webinar for Behavioral Health Care Accreditation
Time: 1:30 pm thru 3:00 pm
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Thursday, December 17, 2020
Social Connections Using Technology for People with IDD & Autism
Times Available:
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Thursday, December 17, 2020
Clinical Quality Webinar Series-Behavioral Health
Time: 5:30 pm thru 6:30 pm
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Thursday, January 7, 2021
Medicaid Managed Care Fireside Chat Webinar Series-Policy Approvals, Process Changes & Appeals
Time: 5:30 pm thru 6:30 pm
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Friday: January 8, 2021
Dave Richard Joins Benchmarks' Friday Membership Webinar
Time: 8:30 am thru 9:30 am
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Thursday, January 21, 2021
Clinical Quality Webinar Series-TBD
Time: 5:30 pm thru 6:30 pm
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Please click on each of the following links to view details sent out from each LME/MCO.
Benchmarks' wants to be sure to make the following list handy for our members to visit and suggests a peek at least once per week to find information that may be pertinent to your agency and contracts.
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