Dear Benchmarks' Members, 

See below for important information that has been released.

Take care of each other and stay safe and healthy!

The Benchmarks' Team

NC DHHS has collaborated with Evelyn Cook RN,CIC, Associate Director of the  North Carolina Statewide Program for Infection Control (SPICE) to provide a one-hour "refresher" overview on infection prevention in congregate settings on Thursday, April 9, 2020.   Review the webinar times and target settings.

The   Scopes of Work for the Provider Financial Stabilization Program for Child MH/SUD Residential and PRTF Services are now posted and can be found at the bottom under COVID-19 Services and Codes. These are in effect April 1. Please read carefully as you will be responsible for adhering to these if billing the allowable enhanced rate.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, providers are expected to make efforts to meet all staff training requirements, document those efforts in the employee record and identify the pandemic as a barrier when applicable. When the pandemic is identified as a barrier to training, providers are expected to arrange training without delay when the pandemic has ended.


Due to the COVID outbreak, Alliance Health is committed to providing financial support for our Medicaid funded Child Residential Services.  The rates are specifically to support direct care staff and families, increased expenses to meet children's' education and nutrition needs during extended school closure and COVID related supplies. Each level of service will have Scopes of Work to clarify those expectations.

Rates will be increased with an effective date of April 1, 2020 through May 31, 2020. The table below outlines the rate increase per level of care along with the associated procedure codes. Please hold billing until April 13 to allow time for the rate increases to be entered into the Alliance claim system. If any billing occurs prior to the rate change for applicable dates of service, provider will be responsible for re-submission of claims to pay at the higher rate. Alliance will not re-adjudicate any claims.
There are some specialized services that will not be included in this stabilization plan. Individual agencies impacted by those exceptions will be notified.

CODE TABLE
Level of Care Procedure Code COVID 60 Day Rate Increase
PRTF RC 911 15%
Therapeutic Foster Care, IAFT, Enhanced TFC, IDD/MH TFC S5145
S5145 22 HA
S5145 22 Z1
S5145 22 Z2
20%
Level II H2020 20%
Level III & IV H0019 HK
H0019 HQ
H0019 TJ
20%
Rapid Response S5145 22 Z3 30%


Due to the COVID outbreak, Alliance Health is committed to providing financial support for our  Medicaid funded Intermediate Care Facilities (ICF). Below is a 30-day plan with the details and guidelines Alliance will follow to distribute and account for financial stabilization payments. Please note that a provider must be set up on Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) to be eligible for these payments.
  1. Alliance will complete a month-end review of bed days billed for April. The review will be completed by May 8, 2020.
  2. Alliance will make a payment to all ICFs that billed in the month of April equivalent to 15% over every unit billed.
    • For example, if a claim paid for member 12345 at $300.00 for April 1, 2020, Alliance will make an additional payment of $45.00. If that rate was paid for 30 days of claims, payment for that member would be $1,350.00 above the current rate.
  3. Payment will be issued by May 19, 2020, to all providers that billed for April by May 7, 2020.
  4. Additional reviews of April claims will be done by May 14 and May 21 to be paid out by May 26 and June 2, respectively.
  5. This plan will be reviewed again on May 1, 2020, as this situation continues to evolve.
 Consensus statement on the use of clozapine during the COVID-19 pandemic
A consensus statement on the use of Clozapine during the COVID-19 outbreak developed by an expert advisory subgroup of the Treatment Response and Resistance in Psychosis working group may help providers and pharmacists understand the benefits and risks of reduced ANC blood monitoring during the current pandemic.   Read the statement.


 


April 7, 2020:  Notice regarding Sandhills Center Board of Directors meeting and Board subcommittee meetings
Taking into consideration the March 27, 2020 NC Governor's "Stay-At-Home" Executive Order due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sandhills Center Board of Directors and Board subcommittee meetings scheduled for April 14, 2020, will be held electronically.

Board packets will be distributed via email to all Board members, and a conference call line will be opened for participation and discussion. The conference call line is posted, below, to allow for public participation. Board meeting materials will be emailed to members of the public who usually attend. Others may request materials by sending an email to the  Clerk to the Board in advance of the meeting.

Please review the instructions for joining the Board meeting, which will be held at 7 p.m. on April 14, 2020:
  • Using your telephone, please dial 1-888-363-4734, and then enter access code 6217146#.
  • To improve audio quality for all participants, please mute your phone when you are not speaking.
Please be aware that this guidance could change as this is a rapidly-evolving national and local health emergency.


Q&A Webinar for Vaya Health Providers
(Note: Date/Time Change)
Thursday, April 9, 2020, 3 - 3:45 p.m. Registration is not required. 
There is no limit to the number of attendees who can join. Please note this will be a live broadcast. All attendees will be muted throughout the broadcast. Attendees will be able to submit questions for the presenters through the Q&A feature.

Let's Talk about COVID-19. Live event 
Thursday, April 9, 2020, 4 p.m.

BENCHMARKS' Friday Membership Webinar
Friday Mornings at 8:30 am

Please update the information in your calendar for
Benchmarks' Friday Morning Call with Members 
with the following information!
Topic: Benchmarks' Membership Webinar
Time: Apr 10, 2020 08:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Every week on Fri, until May 15, 2020, 6 occurrence(s)
Apr 10, 2020 08:30 AM
Apr 17, 2020 08:30 AM
Apr 24, 2020 08:30 AM
May 1, 2020 08:30 AM
May 8, 2020 08:30 AM
May 15, 2020 08:30 AM
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 626 815 379
Password: 081879

One tap mobile
+19292056099,,626815379# US (New York)
Meeting ID: 626 815 379