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In July, the North Carolina General Assembly (NCGA) passed a “mini budget” that fell $319 million dollars short of the $819 million that was needed to fully fund the NC Medicaid rebase. A Medicaid rebase is an annual budget adjustment used to update the funding allocated to a state's Medicaid program to account for changes in enrollment numbers, healthcare costs, and the rates paid to providers.
In September, the NC House and Senate were not able to come to an agreement that would fully fund the Medicaid rebase, which meant there was still a $319 million dollar shortfall. As a result, NC Medicaid had to cut somewhere, and they decided to make cuts in an area that was easily reversible if and when the NCGA was able to come to an agreement and fully fund Medicaid. Medicaid provider rate reductions were necessary to ensure that the NC Medicaid program remains within the funding level currently appropriated by the NC General Assembly.
See the NC Medicaid provider bulletin webpage for additional information as it becomes available. See the NC Medicaid Covered Codes and Fee Schedules Portal to download fee schedules.
If you have questions regarding the fee schedule changes, please contact the DHB Provider Reimbursement Team at medicaid.providerreimbursement@dhhs.nc.gov.
The NC House and Senate are scheduled to convene on Monday, October 20th. View these events via livestream here: Legislative Calendar - North Carolina General Assembly
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Message From the NC Council on Developmental Disabilities: While we know that the cuts have gone into effect, we do not yet have a clear picture of how the cuts will be implemented and what individuals, families, and providers are hearing and experiencing. This is why we need you to tell us how you are being impacted. You can fill this survey out if you are a person with a developmental disability, a family member, a Direct Support Professional, a Provider, or otherwise someone impacted by the Medicaid cuts.
We want to share your experiences with state leaders and legislators so they understand the impact of the cuts. The responses to this survey will be seen publicly in some form, so please do not share information you wish to be confidential or that needs to remain confidential. We are deeply concerned about these cuts. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. If you want to reach out to state legislators or to Governor Stein about your opinions about the Medicaid cuts, you can find your state legislators here and you can contact the Governor here. - View the Medicaid Rate Reductions
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The Children and Families Specialty Plan (CFSP): CFSP is a new NC Medicaid Managed Care health plan that will launch on December 1, 2025. It is a single, statewide health plan that will be managed by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina under the name Healthy Blue Care Together.
Who is eligible for the Children and Families Specialty Plan? NC Medicaid beneficiaries in foster care, receiving adoption assistance and enrolled in the former foster care eligibility will be eligible for the Children and Families Specialty Plan.
The plan will cover a full range of physical health, behavioral health, pharmacy, Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT), care management, long term services and supports (LTSS) and Intellectual/Developmental Disability (I/DD) services. To learn more about the Children and Families Specialty Plan, visit the CFSP webpage on the NC Medicaid website.
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Aligning SNAP and Medicaid Work Requirements to Support Continuous Access to Benefits: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps more than 22 million low-income households put healthy food on the table. However, the 2025 budget reconciliation bill includes a proposal to cut nearly $187 billion from SNAP over the next decade. It also adds stricter work requirements for people receiving these benefits.
At the same time, the bill would reduce federal Medicaid spending and introduce new Medicaid work requirements. Because many people rely on both SNAP and Medicaid, these changes could make it harder for families to access the food and health care they need.
A recent policy brief looks at how the new work requirements in SNAP and Medicaid compare. It also highlights strategies for state agencies and community organizations to work together. By coordinating their efforts, states can help ensure that people don’t lose their benefits, reduce paperwork for staff, and make both programs run more smoothly for everyone. Read the Brief
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Funding Cuts - Disability Rights NC: Funding cuts and the federal shutdown have impacted our friends over at Disability Rights NC. These cuts have forced DRNC to make reductions in their services. Read more about this and how you can support them in their message to the community: In This Together NC
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October 18 - 9:00-1:00pm.
Tu idioma, tus servicios: cómo acceder a servicio en tu lenguaje (Your Language, Your Services, How to Access Services in Your Language) REGISTER
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October 23 - 12:00-2:00pm
Reducing Barriers: The Impact of Language Access Services in Health Care Delivery and Education. REGISTER
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October 28 - 7:00 - 8:30pm
(Spanish Interpretation Provided)
October 30 - 12:00 - 1:30pm
Top 10 Tips for Special Needs Planning. REGISTER
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| November 13 - 12:00-1:30pm - Providing the Roadmap: How Courageous Parents Network Guides Families of Children with Medical Complexity, REGISTER | | | | |
NCDHHS Launches Pilot Program Implementing an Alternative to Restraint for De-escalating Crises at Child Residential Facilities: The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced the launch of a two-year pilot program in which 22 Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTF) for youth, operated by seven provider agencies, will begin using an innovative system called Ukeru® to de-escalate crises. Ukeru which is Japanese for "to receive," is the first crisis intervention training program in the country to eliminate the use of restraint and seclusion as behavioral management tools. The program is designed to be a safer, more comforting alternative to restraint and seclusion, which can be devastating for youth who have experienced trauma.
| | "For kids who have experienced trauma, adding to that trauma through the use of restraint and seclusion can be devastating and can lead to more aggression and longer destructive cycles," said Kelly Crosbie MSW, LCSW, NCDHHS Director of the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services. Read more HERE. | | |
Continuing Education Credits Now Offered for Courageous Parent Network In The Room Events!
Courageous Parents Network (CPN) has announced that Continuing Education (CME/CE) credit will be available for eligible In The Room events, beginning September 22, 2025 and will be offered at no cost though June 2026. Each webinar is certified by the Stanford Center for Continuing Medical Education (SCCME) in partnership with the Division of Quality of Life and Pediatric Palliative Care.
CPN intends to offer credit to physicians, nurses and nurse practitioners, social workers, psychologists, dieticians, physical therapists, and occupational therapists. To be eligible to receive credit, attendees must complete all fields in the event registration form, attend the entire session during the live webinar, and complete the follow-up survey administered from SCCME. For full CME information and disclosure summary, please visit each event’s registration page. Register for upcoming events here.
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New YouTube videos from Advocates for Medically Fragile Kids NC. The videos include medicaid updates, deep dive into CAP/C Extraordinary Circumstances, and more! Jenny Hobbs presented during ECAC's Tool Time Tuesday on October 7th, and went through the new media channel for Advocates for Medically Fragile Kids NC and other useful resources for parents. Watch the video.
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Upcoming webinars hosted by the Brain Injury Association of America
Caring for the Caregivers of People with Brain Injury: Making It E.A.S.I.E.R. This free caregiver webinar will review research on the health impact of caregiving and interventions that support caregivers. Presenters will share findings from a recent project that co-designed new solutions for caregiver support. Attendees will explore online resources and next steps for implementing E.A.S.I.E.R. recommendations. Hosted by the Brain Injury Association of America. Presenters include Mark Bayley, MD, FRCPC, and Judy Gargaro, M.Ed. Date/Time: Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, 12:00-1:00 p.m. Register for the webinar
Tips for Caregivers: How to Support Common Post-TBI Symptoms - This free caregiver webinar will explore how to recognize and respond to common post-injury symptoms following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Learn practical strategies for offering support and navigating daily challenges while caring for someone with a brain injury. Presenter: David Rothman, Ph.D., ABPP. Date/Time: Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, 3:00-4:00 p.m. Register for the webinar
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Are you passionate about improving healthcare for children and families in your community? Do you want to build advocacy skills and ensure that parents and caregivers have a real voice in shaping state policies? If so, the NC Child Parent Advisory Council (PAC) is looking for you! PAC is a statewide group of parents and caregivers whose children rely on Medicaid for their healthcare needs. The council was formed to elevate the voices of those who understand Medicaid best, the PAC ensures that lived experiences help guide policy decisions that directly affect families.
Program Details: Term: January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026 - Meetings: Hybrid (virtual and in-person) with reimbursement for travel expenses - Stipend: Members receive a flat-rate stipend for participation ($1,000)
Ready to Apply? Submit your application below by November 3, 2025, to take the first step toward becoming a parent advocate! If you have any questions, reach out to Aimee Allen at aimee@ncchild.org. Apply Here!
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Adult/Teen Weekend Retreat Oct. 24-26 - Independent teens, ages 13-22, are invited to spend time at Camp Royall with friends! Friday includes dinner and activities and Saturday is full of leisure and recreational activities at camp. Sunday offers more hangout time before the noon checkout. For more information visit the Camp Royall Programs page (under Teen Retreats). To register, use this link.
Trunk or Trick - Join the gang at Camp Royall on Saturday, Oct. 25 from 3 – 4:30 p.m. for a fun and festive afternoon! Candy provided, costumes are encouraged but not required. To register for the event as an individual or a family, please use this link.
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