Updates and Announcements

Your Update from NCTracks
 
Advance Notice of Annual Provider Survey Opening and Exclusive Survey Access
Provider associations and societies: This email is being sent to you as an advance notice of the opening of the NCTracks Annual Provider Survey for 2020. This year, we would like to extend the exclusive offer for your members to have first access to the provider survey before it is open to the public Monday, June 1, 2020.
 
NCTracks appreciates your partnership and would like to request that you include notification of this exclusive advance survey opening in your upcoming provider newsletters, updates and/or communications so that NCTracks may reach as many providers as possible to collect comprehensive feedback.
 
Providers may click the button below or use this link to take the survey now:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2DD8PC5

The email below will be sent to providers on June 1, 2020, when the survey opens to all providers.
 
The NCTracks Annual Provider Survey for 2020 is now available. This survey focuses on the aspects of NCTracks that involve direct customer interaction, such as the Call Center, Provider Relations, Training and Communications, as well as Functional Areas, such as Pharmacy Prior Approval and Provider Enrollment. Unless otherwise noted, the time period for which this survey applies is from July 1, 2019 to present. The survey is anonymous unless you choose to identify yourself.
 
The survey is open to all NCTracks providers and is newly designed to take less than 10 minutes to complete. This survey is authorized by the NC Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and will be open for responses until June 15, 2020.
 
We appreciate your participation as we strive to continue to improve our service to providers. Your feedback is valuable to us! Click the button below to start the survey now.
NC Medicaid COVID-19 Bulletin #90 Available
 
The NC Division of Health Benefits (DHB) has recently published another Medicaid Bulletin article related to COVID-19. 
 
In   SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #90: Telehealth and Virtual Patient Communications Clinical Policy Modifications - Smoking and Tobacco Cessation Counseling, NC Medicaid has temporarily modified its Telemedicine and Telepsychiatry Clinical Coverage Policy to better enable the delivery of remote care to Medicaid and Health Choice beneficiaries. 
 
All Medicaid Bulletin articles, including those related to COVID-19, may be found on the   DHB website.
COVID-19 NC Update-May 26, 2020

North Carolina Enters Phase 2 of Lifting COVID-19 Restrictions
On Friday, May 22 at 5 p.m., North Carolina moved into Phase 2 of the plan to slowly ease certain COVID-19 restrictions. The Stay at Home Order is replaced by a Safer at Home Order.  Learn more about Phase 2. 

North Carolina is taking a phased approach - based on data from testing, tracing and trends - to responsibly lift restrictions while continuing to slow the spread of COVID-19 and save lives. After two weeks in Phase 1, the state's overall key indicators remain stable but the continued increases in daily case counts signal a need to take a more modest step forward in Phase 2 than originally envisioned.

Some businesses remain closed while others are open at limited capacity and with other safety precautions in place.  Read NCDHHS' guidance for businesses and organizations, restaurants, places of worship and more. Additional guidance will be posted as it becomes available.

People who are sick or at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19 should continue to remain at home as much as possible. More information is included in a  list of frequently asked questions  about  Executive Order No. 141.

Below is a general overview of what Phase 2 means for North Carolina. (The graphic also is available in Spanish.) 


Protect Yourself, Family, Neighbors by Practicing 3 Ws: Wear, Wait, Wash 
By working together, North Carolinians can continue to slow the spread of COVID-19 and flatten the curve. If you leave home, practice your Ws: Wear, Wait, Wash:  
  • Wear a cloth face covering if you will be with other people. 
  • Wait 6 feet apart. Avoid close contact.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer. 
Businesses, organizations and individuals are asked to post materials  and  social media in English and Spanish encouraging people to remember their 3 Ws: Wear, Wait, Wash. 

Watch NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen, M.D. on the importance of the 3 Ws in slowing the spread of COVID-19 and saving lives. 


Secretary Cohen: Wear, Wait, Wash.
Secretary Cohen: Wear, Wait, Wash.

NC 2-1-1
For general information or to request assistance with human services needs including food, shelter, energy assistance, housing, parenting resources, health care, employment, substance abuse treatment, resources for older adults and people with disabilities and more, call 2-1-1 or 888-892-1162.  


More Resources
For more information about how to find assistance
or manage your overall health
during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit the NCDHHS website at  ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus. To find the most up-to-date information about the COVID-19 response in North Carolina, visit   nc.gov/covid19. 

Virtual Schedule Through May 31st


Complimentary Webinar:
COVID-19 Q&A Webinar for Behavioral Health Care

Please join us as we host a live question and answer session, covering topics relevant to COVID-19, including infection control practices, environment of care/life safety, the impact of CMS 1135 Waivers on Joint Commission standards, and Joint Commission's recovery efforts.

Date: May 29, 2020
Time: 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM EST 



Person-Centered Planning
COVID-19 One-Pager & Health Passport Instructions

TLCPCP/SDA COVID-19 One-Pager & Health Passport Instructions 04/24/20



Updates
Edition 2.0, 2020 NEW
You should do everything you can to stay out of a hospital, but if you have no choice, these tips help you prepare for what you may face.  It will NOT be business as usual.

ADA Compliance with Visitations in Healthcare Facilities:  Coronavirus Pandemic Guidance for AdvocatesEdition 1, 2020 NEW
Offers tips for advocating for visitations and working with healthcare facilities and state governments during current pandemic crisis about how to ensure healthcare facilities comply with Americans with Disabilities Act.

And more....
Upcoming Events
Wednesday:  May 27, 2020 
QUESTION, PERSUADE, REFER (QPR) - SUICIDE PREVENTION WEB-BASED TRAINING

Time:  2:00 to 4:00 pm (7 Slots Available)

Cancelled:  Thursday:  May 28, 2020
Benchmarks' Child Welfare Webinar

Time:  8:00 am
Thursday:  May 28, 2020
Let's Talk w Dave Hingsburger; Human Trafficking and People with an Intellectual Disability-Staying 'As Safe As Possible'

Time:  2:00 pm

New:  Thursday:  May 28, 2020
Navigating Provider Transformation 'As Safe As Possible'

Time:  3:00 pm to 4:30 pm

Thursday:  May 28, 2020  (Repeats Each Thursday)
NC DHHS COVID-19 Healthcare Professional Webinar Series, in partnership with CCNC and AHEC

Time: 5:30 pm
Thursday:  May 28, 2020
Focus Webinars: Children with Complex Behavioral Health & IDD Needs 

Time:  7:00 pm to 8:00 pm

New:  Friday:  May 29, 2020 
Benchmarks' Membership Webinar

Time:   8:30 am to 9:30 am

Friday:  May 29, 2020 
Trillium Call with Day Treatment and Psychosocial Rehabilitation Providers: Reopening Requirements

Time:   10:00 am to 11:30 am

Friday:  May 29, 2020 
COVID-19 Q&A Webinar for Behavioral Health Care

Time:   1:30 pm to 2:30 pm 

Monday:  June 1, 2020 
Statewide Developmental Disabilities Council Launches Virtual Road Tour to "Meet" Communities

Times:  
  • 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm 
  • 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm 
New:  Tuesday, June 2, 2020
Weekly Q&A Sessions

Time:  10:00 am to 11:00  


Submit Questions in Advance  (due the Friday before the meeting)
Monday:  June 15, 2020 
Connecting Expertise to Communities to Support Comprehensive Care for People with I/DD: Building on North Carolina's Assets 

Time:  11:00 am to 12:00 pm

Monday:  July 20, 2020 
PCIT Information Calls

Time:  10:00 am
 
Meeting number: 730 385 489
You can also dial 173.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number. Or, join by phone: 1-650-479-3207 Access code: 730 385 489 
Thursday:  July 23, 2020 
PCIT Information Calls

Time:  10:00 am
 
Meeting number: 730 385 489
You can also dial 173.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number. Or, join by phone: 1-650-479-3207 Access code: 730 385 489 
Benchmarks' 
News & Observer Campaign
TODAY
Please take a moment to save the following pictures and share across each of your social media platforms as we celebrate and thank our frontline heroes, DHHS and our NC Legislature!

#FacesOfTheFrontlines 
#NCHeroes 
#CareforNC 
#TogetherOnTheFrontLine