NC DHHS Technology Center

Mission

The NC DHHS Technology Center is actively engaged in the digital transformation of health and human services across the state through strategic partnerships with divisions, agencies, and external stakeholders aiding DHHS leadership in fostering essential services to improve the health, safety and well-being of all North Carolinians.

We will deliver on this through the following four pillars:

  • Training and Education
  • Partnership and Consultancy
  • New and Emerging Technology Expertise
  • Guardrails and Frameworks

Vision

We are a team dedicated to digital transformation by providing technical expertise and frameworks for standardization across NC DHHS.

We provide:

  • Expertise in designing and solutioning technology services
  • Oversight for ensuring standards and frameworks are followed
  • Consultation, needs assessments, prototyping
  • Workshops and training
  • Central repository of health IT resources  

Technology Center Initiatives 

Non-COVID related initiatives

COVID-related initiatives

  • Business Intelligence Data Platform (BIDP) (2021 StateScoop IT Innovation Award)
  • Telehealth
  • Remote Clinician Partnering PoC
  • COVID-19 Hospital Medical Surge Daily Survey (2020 DHHS Team Recognition Award)
  • Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) Gateway PoC
  • North Carolina COVID-19 Vaccine Management System (CVMS) Direct
  • Robotic Process Automation
  • Vaccine Recipient Eligibility and Finder service
  • CVMS Backup service
  • SMS Text Messaging Service - Twilio
     

The NC DHHS Technology Center was a sponsor for the following conferences:

November 17-18, 2020: The North Carolina Chapter of HIMSS: Embrace & Engage: Transforming Healthcare from the Mountains to the Sea

NC HIMSS hosted their annual conference virtually. The NC HIMSS conference featured the latest health information and technology-based content from expert speakers—all online. Participants had the opportunity to earn CME, CNE and/or CPE credits during the virtual event.

The NC DHHS Technology Center introduced the session Bridging the Home/Hospital Divide: Utilizing Technology to Care for the Whole Patient presented by Ginny Bass with Atrium Health. This session highlighted Atrium Health's Connection Nurse Program and how they have leveraged technology to maintain personal connections for their patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

September 16-17, 2019: NCHICA 25th Annual Conference & Exhibition

NCCARE360 was a featured speaker in the following sessions:

Connecting the Clinical and Community Networks through NCCARE360

North Carolina, through NCCARE360, is the first state in the country to create a shared statewide technology infrastructure and coordinated community networks uniting health care and human services, enabling providers to connect North Carolinians to the resources they need to be healthy, safe and well. Through a public-private partnership between NC DHHS and the Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation, and a novel collaboration between NC 2-1-1, Expound, and Unite Us, NCCARE360 is a groundbreaking tool that has the power to transform lives and impact communities across North Carolina.

NCCARE360: Lessons Learned from Early Adopters

NCCARE360, the first statewide coordinated network with a shared technology infrastructure, began implementation in January 2019. The panel included members of the NCCARE360 team, health care providers and community organizations who shared their experiences and lessons learned using the platform to unite health care and human services.

Per NCHICA, “this podcast features Dr. Betsey Tilson, State Health Director and Chief Medical Officer at the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS). Betsey discusses NCCARE360, the first statewide coordinated network that unites healthcare and human services organizations with a shared technology platform allowing for a coordinated, community-oriented, person-centered approach for delivering care in North Carolina. NCCARE360 is a public-private partnership led by NC DHHS and the Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation, along with partners United Way of NC, Expound Decision Systems and Unite Us. It launched in January 2019 and is now live in 15 counties, with 17 more currently in process. Their goal is to have it operating statewide by the end of 2020.”

NOTE: As of June 2020, NCCARE360 is available in every county in North Carolina.

November 13, 2019: 2019 DHIT Summit – Digital Health 360 – Accelerating the Future of Health

The DHIT Summit convened internationally recognized thought leaders and key stakeholders from across the US and Canada to dig deep into how Digital Health can pervasively be used to transform health.

Corey Mercy, former NC DHHS Deputy Chief Technology Officer, presented.

Resources

NC Office of Health Information Technology

NC DHHS Cloud Computing Strategy

NC State Medicaid Health Information Technology Plan (SMHP)

NCCARE360

NC Medicaid EHR Incentive Program 

Public Health and Meaningful Use

Health Information Technology Annual Report, January 2016

Health Information Exchange Authority

NC HealthConnex Connection Deadlines Extended to January 2023
Governor Roy Cooper signed House Bill 395 (now NCSL 2021-26) into law on May 27, 2021, to allow additional time for providers to connect to the state-designated health information exchange NC HealthConnex, among other things.

The North Carolina Health Information Exchange Authority (NC HIEA) Advisory Board and the North Carolina Department of Information Technology led a collaborative effort to bring additional relief to health care providers who have been on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Extending the deadline until January 2023 will allow additional time for health care providers to complete their technical onboarding process without being out of compliance with the HIE Act. Please note that there are more than 5,000 facilities in onboarding at this time. Providers should continue to connect as we have no guarantees of additional extensions and, as noted below, the General Assembly is requiring compliance reports by March 1, 2022.

Among other changes to the HIE Act, the NC HIEA Advisory Board has been tasked with developing final recommendations regarding appropriate features or actions to support the Statewide Health Information Exchange Act and to report on the status of entities and providers not connected to the HIE Network as identified under subsection (b) of this section, to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services on or before March 1, 2022. Additionally, the NC HIEA has been directed to work with the State Health Plan Division, Department of State Treasurer, and the Division of Health Benefits, Department of Health and Human Services, to identify providers and entities who have not connected to the HIE in accordance with G.S. 90-414.4 and to contact each entity or provider to ascertain their connection status and to inform them of the connection requirements. By November 1, 2021, the Department of State Treasurer, Department of Health and Human Services, and licensing boards, shall assist the NC HIEA with contact information and addresses for providers and entities. 

Additional Changes and Additions to the HIE Act Per NSCL 2021-26 (HB395 Bill Analysis):
Section 1 provides that the N.C. Department of Information Technology; Department of State Treasurer, State Health Plan Division; and N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Benefits; have an affirmative duty to facilitate and support participation by covered entities in the Statewide Health Information Exchange Network.

Section 2 allows the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, if authorized by the NC HIEA, to submit data on behalf of Prepaid Health Plans and local management entities/managed care organizations (LME/MCOs). The section also extends connection deadlines as follows:

  • Extends the connection deadline for most providers of Medicaid and State-funded health care services, and affiliated entities, until January 1, 2023 (currently October 1, 2021). 
  • Extends the connection deadline for physicians who perform procedures at ambulatory surgical centers, dentists, psychiatrists, and the State Laboratory of Public Health until January 1, 2023 (currently June 1, 2021). 
  • Extends the connection deadline for pharmacies and State health care facilities operated under the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (State psychiatric hospitals, developmental centers, alcohol and drug treatment centers, neuro-medical treatment center, and residential programs) until January 1, 2023 (currently June 1, 2021). 

Sections 2 and 4 remove ambulatory surgical centers, as defined in G.S. 131E-146, from the requirements to submit demographic and clinical data but require a physician who performs a procedure at the ambulatory surgical center to be connected to the HIE Network and to submit the data.

Section 5 prohibits balance billing when an in-network provider or entity with the State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees does not connect to the HIE Network. The section specifically provides that under the State Health Plan an in-network provider or entity who renders health care services, including prescription drugs and durable medical equipment, and who is not connected to the HIE Network, is prohibited from billing the State Health Plan or a Plan member more than either party would be billed if the provider was connected to the HIE Network. Note: Providers participating in the State Health Plan network should reach out to the State Health Plan with questions regarding this provision at BCBSNC Provider Services at 1-800-777-1643 or providerupdates@BCBSNC.com. 

Section 6 prohibits the NC HIEA from fulfilling requests for electronic health information from an individual, individual's personal representative, or an individual or entity purporting to act on an individual's behalf and requires the Authority to provide educational materials on accessing this information from other sources.

Section 7(a) requires the Health Information Exchange Advisory Board to submit recommendations regarding appropriate features or actions to support the Statewide Health Information Exchange Act and to report on the status of entities and providers not connected to the HIE Network as identified under subsection (b) of this section, to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services on or before March 1, 2022. Section 7(b) requires the HIE Authority to work with the State Health Plan Division, Department of State Treasurer, and the Division of Health Benefits, Department of Health and Human Services, to identify providers and entities who have not connected to the HIE in accordance with G.S. 90-414.4 and to contact each entity or provider to ascertain their connection status and to inform them of the connection requirements. By November 1, 2021, the Department of State Treasurer, Department of Health and Human Services, and licensing boards shall assist the NC HIEA with contact information and addresses for providers and entities. 

For information on who is currently connected to NC HealthConnex, visit the NC HealthConnex Participant Map.

For providers who would like to inquire about their organization’s connection status, please email HIESupport@sas.com. 

For questions regarding the State Health Plan network, please contact BCBSNC Provider Services at 1-800-777-1643 or providerupdates@BCBSNC.com.

For questions regarding Medicaid, please contact Medicaid.ProviderOmbudsman@dhhs.nc.gov. 


All other questions may be directed to hiea@nc.gov.
 

Related Links

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology

Contact

Email: NCHealthIT@dhhs.nc.gov

www.ncdhhs.gov/TechnologyCenter