Medicaid Transformation Ramping Back Up
|
The
new law,
SL 2020-88
, now gives a date certain, July 1, 2021, by which the Standard Plans will begin. There is a tremendous amount of detail that goes into meeting that implementation date. Of course, NC DHHS is not starting from scratch, but some of the infrastructure built to meet the previous February 2020 implementation date was deconstructed while the budget impasse continued between the Governor and the NC General Assembly. Now that the funding has been authorized and other structural authorities have been provided, NC DHHS will have the additional challenge of balancing the business of addressing a pandemic along with the start-up of Medicaid transformation.
|
Legislative Wrap-Up of Short Session
|
The NC General Assembly has effectively wrapped up the short session of the 2019-2020 biennium. With their adjournment on July 11th, any bill that did not get signed into law will now have to be reintroduced in the long session to be considered. As legislative leaders indicated, there was not one singular budget bill considered during this session. Instead, multiple bills included appropriations in specific areas of the State budget. Public policy was also changed in many areas of State government. Most notably, there is a new law that sets July 1, 2021 as the date certain that the Standard Plans for Medicaid will be implemented, and the authority to transfer the needed funds to make the transformation has been provided.
|
Medicaid Provider Federal Stimulus - Apply by July 20th
|
In June, the U.S. Health and Human Services Administration announced $15 billion in Federal stimulus funding available for providers billing CHIP, Medicaid or an MCO, when the provider had not received funding from the Provider Relief Fund. In NC that would apply to behavioral health and I-DD providers. The funding is to provide relief for those experiencing loss or increased expenses due to COVID-19. It is important to note that the funds flow directly from HHS/CMS to providers, and that
the NC Division of Health Benefits will not be coordinating them.
|
SAMHSA Revises 42 CFR Part 2 to Improve SUD Care Coordination
|
The Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration announced a historic change on July 13th to the rules that govern confidentiality for patients seeking substance abuse services.
The change eases the sharing of information (with the consumers consent) among providers of services.
"This reform will help make it easier for Americans to discuss substance use disorders with their doctors, seek treatment, and find the road to recovery," said HHS Secretary Alex Azar.
|
New Group Focuses on North Carolina Olmstead Plan
|
NC DHHS has established the
Olmstead Plan Stakeholder Advisory (OPSA)
to
advise DHHS in the development of a statewide plan that aligns the public service delivery system with "a contemporary vision and associated values." The Olmstead decision requires that there be a State plan with the intention of encouraging states to make significant system change.
Some of those values include: informed choice, person-centered planning and funding alignment to priorities.
Four State initiatives will be part of the strategy:
|
July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
|
Mental Health Resources for People of Color can be found at:
|
CMS Proposed Rules on Value Based Drug Purchasing
|
The
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the proposed rule Establishing Minimum Standards in Medicaid State Drug Utilization Review (DUR) and Supporting Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) for Drugs Covered in Medicaid, Revising Medicaid Drug Rebate and Third Party Liability (TPL) Requirements (CMS 2482-P).
This proposed rule advances CMS' efforts to support state flexibility to enter innovative value-based purchasing arrangements (VBPs) with drug manufacturers, and to provide manufacturers with regulatory flexibility that will encourage VBP arrangements with payers, including Medicaid. It also proposes minimum standards in state Medicaid Drug Utilization Review (DUR) programs designed to reduce opioid-related fraud, misuse, and abuse.
|
Pinehurst Conference
Going Virtual!
|
Keep December 2-4th marked on your calendar because i2i is taking our famous Pinehurst Conference Virtual!
Expect the same great sessions, networking, exhibits and awards
AND a special package for conference participants who might want to visit Pinehurst at a later date.
We are committed to making this event the premier virtual conference experience of 2020.
We plan to cover topics related to:
- NC's Medicaid managed care transformation
- Successful procedures/practices implemented during COVID-19 that should become standard
- Organizational, business and leadership practice adaptations to ensure success for Providers post 2020...
|
Conference Keynote Presenters Look to the Future
Monica Oss, CEO Open Minds
David Houle, Futurist
|
We are excited to confirm two well-known speakers for our keynote presentations: Monica Oss, CEO of Open Minds and David Houle, Futurist, Speaker and
Author.
Monica Oss is at the top of the list of health and human service experts tracking on the national trends facing our service industry in 2020 and beyond. As CEO of
Open Minds
her articles and presentations target industry leaders offering critical information on strategic planning, industry trends and policies driving our service system. She will delve into COVID-19's impact on our industry, issues of sustainability in the current environment, and where leaders must be focusing efforts their efforts in 2021 and beyond.
David Houle
is often called the "CEOs' futurist" having spoken to or advised 2,500+ CEOs and business owners. In addition he
has authored several books, his latest is a series called
The 2020s: The Most Disruptive Decade in History
Houle will bring his expertise in identifying the trends impacting our world to i2i's Closing Plenary session. He will help us think critically about the future of health and behavioral health care in our country as well as other changes that will affect our lives in the next decade. This will be a live dynamic presentation from an expert with a unique perspective on how to live, work and understand the coming decade. You will not want to miss this!
|
Free Webinar
A - Zs of COVID-19 for Families and Individuals with I-DD
|
The i2i Center, as part of the Cross-System Navigation grant from the NC Council on Developmental Disabilities, will be hosting a
FREE webinar on
July 29th from noon to 1:00 p.m.
The webinar is targeted to individuals and family members with I-DD and will cover: Personal
health & care needs during COVID-19; Wh
at you need to know if you or a family member is hospitalized with COVID-19; Un
derstanding your rights when visiting family members residing in congregate care settings; and
What to do if you are choosing to keep your child or family member at home and not receiving services.
|
Relias and Open Minds Collaborate to Equip Providers
|
North Carolina Providers are preparing for business sustainability post-COVID 19, while simultaneously planning for Medicaid Transformation, executives of specialty provider organizations must embrace a new approach, going beyond their EHR, for strategic management and implementation. This is where PerformWise
can help. PerformWise is the state-of-the-art solution provider organization executive teams need to monitor, manage, and optimize organizational performance.
Executives
need the right information - both financial and clinical - and they need it integrated during the financial disruption of COVID 19 and after. Tracking on service evolutions, such as telehealth during the current COVID 19 disruption while scenario planning for new and evolving services and service definitions, such as the case for the uninsured, requires a longitudinal clinical, quality, and financial dashboard.
|
Commited to Health During COVID-19
|
COVID-19 is profoundly impacting the health and well-being of North Carolinians.
UnitedHealthcare remains committed to helping people live healthier lives in our local communities.
Waiving Member Cost-Sharing through September 30, 2020
- UnitedHealthcare member cost-sharing, including copays, coinsurance and deductibles, for COVID-19 testing and treatment has been waived
- Non COVID-19 telehealth visits with in-network physicians are also covered at no cost to the UnitedHealthcare member
- Member, Providers and Employers can go to our site to obtain additional resources
|
Holly Hill Expands Raleigh Operations
|
|
On July 1, Holly Hill Hospital announced the completion of its 11-bed expansion of its South Campus Children's Hospital in east Raleigh.
In addition, a new CEO was named in April, Kevin Poitinger.
Learn more.
|
Therap Serving over 150 Providers in NC
|
Therap Services, LLC is the nation's leading web-based software solution that provides an integrated, HIPAA secure, HIE Compatible, ONC-HIT Certified system for the documentation, reporting, billing, and communication needs of agencies providing support for I-DD, Behavioral Health, MH, SUD and other long-term care support. It offers an easy and efficient alternative to the immense amount of paperwork that is done manually by support providers. Therap's suite of applications includes Individual Service Plans, Personal Outcomes Tracking, Incident Reporting, Behavior Tracking, Business Analytics, Billing and much more. Visit our virtual Exhibit booth to see why over 7,000 providers nationally and over 150 providers in North Carolina use Therap Services as their EHR solution.
www.TherapServices.net
|
|
|
|
|
i2i Center
Champion Supporters
|
Shop on Amazon?
Support i2i
When You Buy!
i2i has an
AmazonSmile Account. Use this link when you purchase from Amazon and the AmazonSmile foundation automatically donates 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to the i2i Center
!
|
|
|
|
|
|
