March 1, 2025 Edition 20

The monthly Provider Insider Newsletter will differ from the Network Communication Bulletins by offering an avenue to highlight community happenings across our catchment area. We will share information on various projects Trillium is working on within our local communities and introduce new skill development/training opportunities available to providers.

• Provider Spotlight: Abound Health
• Welcome New Providers!
• Important Reminder from Trillium
• Provider News
• Community Involvement
• Provider Resources
• New Opportunities
• Provider Knowledge
• In Case You Missed It 

Provider Spotlight

Abound Health

Abound Health is committed to providing services that empower individuals to lead fulfilling lives. We offer various supports to foster independence, promote well-being, and build inclusive communities through our person-centered approach.

Supported Employment Program and Charlotte Training Center: Our Supported Employment (SE) program creates meaningful job opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). We're also excited to announce our new SE Training Center in Charlotte, enhancing job readiness for inclusive employment. Our job coaches provide individualized support, from applications to on-the-job assistance, ensuring success.

Sherrell Gales, SE Manager says: "Our goal is to empower individuals by providing them with the tools and confidence they need to succeed in the workplace. Seeing our clients thrive in their roles is the most rewarding part of what we do."

From securing jobs at local businesses to partnering with inclusive employers, Abound Health positively impacts lives and communities, breaking barriers for a more inclusive workforce.

For more on the Supported Employment program, visit Abound Health.

Address: 3330 Monroe Rd, Charlotte NC, 28205

Phone: 704-536-8888

Email: advocate@aboundhealth.com



If you or a fellow provider are interested in sharing your story, please contact us at info@trilliumnc.org. Thank you for all you do for our members!

There are federal laws like the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 that Trillium must follow. This law requires health plans to treat behavioral health services the same as physical health services. Rules for mental health and substance use services must be like those for medical or surgical services. This includes limitations like copays, visit limits, and prior authorization requirements.

Trillium offers helpful information regarding Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act for our providers and members. Please utilize the resources located on our website to learn more, including the below:

• Frequently Asked Questions
• NCDHHS Mental Health Parity Table
• January 21st Recording and Slide Deck of Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act Kickoff Presentation

We encourage providers to submit their questions on Mental Health Parity to NetworkServicesSupport@TrilliumNC.org.

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and Trillium Health Resources Announce $13.15 Million for New Crisis Centers

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and Trillium Health Resources will award $13.15 million to four providers to open community crisis centers and behavioral health urgent care centers (BHUCs) in Lenoir, New Hanover and Pitt counties. The funding was made possible through a historic $835 million investment in North Carolina’s behavioral health system to ensure people have access to the right mental health services at the right time in their communities.

Community crisis centers (also known as facility-based crisis centers or FBCs) and BHUCs give people experiencing a behavioral health emergency alternatives to emergency departments when seeking the care they need. NCDHHS’ investments in the crisis response system will increase North Carolina’s ability to provide behavioral health urgent care by more than 69% and community crisis stabilization by 32% over the next few years.

NCDHHS partnered with Trillium to select locations for the new centers based on several criteria, including regional data on the number of individuals waiting for mental health and substance use care in emergency departments and the center’s proximity to other community services. Each new facility will help individuals who receive care successfully return home with wrap-around services. The new centers will open in 2025 and join a network of 24 facility-based crisis centers in 22 other counties across the state.

News Release



Trillium Health Resources Providing Funds to Support Child First with Coastal Horizons and Easterseals PORT Health

Trillium Health Resources is providing $1,000,000 to help enhance Child First services in our region. Coastal Horizons and Easterseals PORT Health will use the funds to implement evidence-based practices from Child First in their communities.

Child First is an innovative, home-based, early childhood intervention, embedded in a system of care that works to decrease the incidence of serious emotional disturbance, developmental and learning problems, and abuse and neglect among the most vulnerable young children and families. Child First has been evaluated in a randomized, controlled trial with statistically significant findings showing Child First children were less likely to have aggressive and defiant behavior and less likely to have language problems. Mothers also had lower levels of depression and mental health problems, and families were less likely to be involved with child protective services.

“Early interventions like Child First help improve long-term health outcomes, foster compassionate family relationships, and reduce provider costs. By creating a supportive network for families, they are able to access less intensive services,” shared Joy Futrell, Trillium’s Chief Executive Officer.

Read More Here



DMH/DD/SUS Announces Investments to Expand Services for Justice-Involved Individuals

DMH/DD/SUS is awarding funds to programs that strengthen treatment, recovery, and reintegration pathways for justice-involved individuals who need support with mental health, substance use, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and/or traumatic brain injury. These awards fund law enforcement-assisted diversion (LEAD) programs as well as transitional housing and employment services for people reentering their communities from carceral settings.

These funding priorities are part of the DMH/DD/SUS 2024-2029 Strategic Plan to expand services for individuals in the justice system. LEAD programs, transitional housing, and employment services are crucial interventions to ensure individuals have access to effective services in their own communities.

Housing and employment are two key barriers for individuals reentering their communities. LEAD is a model framework that supports community-based alternatives to jail and incarceration. The program connects individuals with substance use disorder at risk of being arrested with mental health, medical, and social services.  

These awards will be distributed to organizations in the Piedmont and Eastern regions of the state. DMH/DD/SUS intends to release a separate grant application process for Western counties that have been impacted by Hurricane Helene.

Funding will support the following organizations as they implement or expand their services:

1. North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition – LEAD 

2. Coastal Horizons Center, Inc. – LEAD 

3. Jubilee Home – Housing & Employment 

4. Hope Mission of Coastal Carolina – Housing 

5. Vaya Health – Housing & Employment 

6. Hope Restorations, Inc. – Housing & Employment 

With this funding, DMH/DD/SUS aims to further expand the breadth and depth of diversion and reentry services offered to ensure individuals have access to the services they need when they need them.



Community Involvement

One Community Sensory Saturday

One Community welcomes those with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) and their friends, family, or caregivers as well as all community members to join us in creating pinecone bird feeders to take home!

*Allergy note: peanut butter will be used*

March 8, 2025

Walter B. Jones Park

2 Governmental Avenue, Havelock, NC 28532

10:30AM-12:30PM

To RSVP and receive updates regarding event changes, go to our Facebook page and click the event in our featured section.

Please email Isabella Cece with questions.

This is not a drop-off event. Parents or caregivers must remain to supervise their attendee.

Trillium Health Resources Hosts Monthly Provider Forums

Provider Forums share the information most relevant to Trillium’s network. The webinar series takes place on the second Wednesday of each month. A panel of Trillium staff will share information providers identify as vital to their work. Provider feedback, recent updates, and upcoming items will drive monthly topics. Each forum will conclude with a Question and Answer session. 

To register for the next Provider Forum on March 12, 2025 at 10:00AM, please click here.



Register Here



Crystal Coast Run/Walk for Autism

As many as 1 in 36 children may be diagnosed with autism in North Carolina. You can make a difference in the lives of children with autism and their families by registering for the Crystal Coast Run/Walk for Autism.

Proceeds from the Crystal Coast Run/Walk for Autism will fund local programs of the Autism Society of North Carolina (ASNC), the leading statewide resource organization serving kids and adults with autism and their families. Everyone knows someone affected by autism—maybe your brother, cousin, friend at school, neighbor, or co-worker.

Join others on March 15 to make a difference in the life of someone you care about. You can help!

Event Date - March 15, 2025

Event Check In Time - 8:00AM

Event Start Time - 9:00AM

Location - Crystal Coast Civic Center

3505 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557

Send an email with any questions or call 910-232-7485.

Event Details and Registration

Martin-Pitt Partnership for Children Martin County KidsFest Springtacular

Martin-Pitt Partnership for Children's Martin County KidsFest is an opportunity for parents & caregivers of young children to connect with resources and information in a fun and interactive environment. Exhibits will include games, music, art, and hands-on interactive activities from a variety of local organizations. Admission is free!

To become a sponsor or exhibitor, please send an email to asmith@mppfc.org or jtoler@mppfc.org.

Learn More Here



Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT)

Trillium Health Resources is committed to providing preventative health screenings and improving the overall health of children enrolled in our plan. With the high proportion of children in our population, our ability to impact the incidence of Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) screening is vital to the overall health and well-being of our members.

The EPSDT service is a Medicaid mandated program under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989 (OBRA 89) and section 1905(r)(5) of the Social Security Act (the Act). EPSDT includes periodic health (nutritional) and development history, physical exams, immunizations, laboratory tests, health education, vision, dental, and hearing services. The EPSDT program has two primary objectives:

1. Assuring the availability and accessibility of required health care resources; and
2. Helping Medicaid members and their parents or guardians effectively use these resources. It encourages assessment of the child's health needs through initial and periodic examinations and evaluations, and promotes early diagnosis and treatment of problems before they become more complex and costly.

Trillium will cover regular wellness visits to all children enrolled in Medicaid under the age of 21 to allow health care providers to carefully monitor a child's overall health and development and to identify and address health concerns as early as possible, in compliance with the Department's standards for the timely provision of EPSDT services.

Trillium will also cover services, products, or procedures for our Medicaid members under the age of 21 if the service is medically necessary to correct or ameliorate a defect, physical or mental illness, or a condition or health problem identified through a screening examination (includes any evaluation by a physician or other licensed practitioner).



EPSDT Resources

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

In 1987, President Reagan recognized March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month to increase “public awareness of the needs and the potential of Americans with developmental disabilities” and to provide the “encouragement and opportunities they need to lead productive lives and to achieve their full potential.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), developmental disabilities are defined as impairments in physical, learning, language or behavior areas, and include:

• Autism spectrum disorders
• Cerebral palsy
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
• Learning or intellectual disabilities
• Hearing loss
• Vision impairment
• Other developmental delays

Through a campaign each March, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) and National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) join forces to highlight the ways in which people with and without disabilities unite to form strong communities.

Throughout the campaign, individuals with and without disabilities will share their experiences through stories, photos and videos.

For more information on Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, visit https://nacdd.org/ddam/.

Network Communication Bulletins 2024

Click above for more information.

Have Questions/Need Support?

If you have questions, need additional information, or require technical assistance, please contact our Network Management Department at NetworkServicesSupport@TrilliumNC.org or call Provider Support Services at 1-855-250-1539 during the hours of 7 a.m.–6 p.m. EST, Monday–Saturday. 

We appreciate your commitment to helping us achieve this mission by meeting the needs of members!

Provider Insider is a newsletter for the Trillium Health Resources provider community. Please send comments and suggestions about this publication and its contents to NetworkServicesSupport@TrilliumNC.org.