Topics Related to Health Benefits (NC Medicaid)

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA) have entered into a contract to support the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) in addressing the health needs of American Indian/Alaskan Native Medicaid beneficiaries.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Division of Health Benefits (NC Medicaid) will temporarily increase payments rates to long-term care providers and facilities to support them in caring for Medicaid beneficiaries who are at high risk of serious illness from COVID-19. Medicaid will also be temporarily increasing rates to behavioral health, intellectual and developmental disability and specialized therapy providers for vulnerable children and adults in outpatient and residential settings.

NC Medicaid today announced several policy changes around the use of telemedicine in response to COVID-19. These changes will enable Medicaid beneficiaries to continue to access the care they need. 

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has sought authority from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to temporarily waive certain Medicaid and NC Health Choice policies as part of North Carolina's response to the COVID-19. The waivers will provide flexibility to NC Medicaid and providers to address the urgent health care needs of beneficiaries during this public health emergency.

On Feb. 5, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services issued the NC DHHS Transition of Care Draft Policy for public comments detailing the requirements under which the Standard Plan Prepaid Health Plans (PHPs) will facilitate transition of care for members transitioning between PHPs or service delivery systems. The Transition of Care design intends to maintain continuity of care for each beneficiary and minimize the burden on providers during transition.

On Monday, Feb. 10, 2020, from 3-4 p.m. EST, the Department will host a webinar to discuss the Behavioral Health I/DD Tailored Plan Request for Applications (RFA) Pre-Release Policy Paper published on Jan. 30, 2020. 

This year marks the 50th anniversary of North Carolina's Medicaid program, which provides health coverage for low-income adults, children, pregnant women, seniors and people with disabilities throughout the state. The NC Department of Health and Human Services will celebrate the milestone throughout the year with #NCMedicaidAt50 and by collecting stories on the impact of Medicaid in North Carolina.

his webinar will walk stakeholders through aspects of State-funded Services design under Behavioral Health I/DD Tailored Plans detailed in the recently released “North Carolina’s Design for State-funded Services Under Behavioral Health and Intellectual/Developmental Disability Tailored Plans,” including the delivery of State-funded behavioral health, I/DD, and TBI services, as well as the continuation of critical “local health functions” (functions focused on health prevention and promotion) under Behavioral

On Monday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that the HealthCare.gov 2020 enrollment period reopened and North Carolinians now have until 3 a.m. on Dec. 18 to sign up for health insurance coverage.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced that because the NC General Assembly did not take needed action, managed care implementation and open enrollment for NC Medicaid must be suspended. The General Assembly adjourned last week without providing required new spending and program authority for the transition to managed care. Managed care will not go live on Feb. 1, 2020.