DHHS has released two documents related to our investigation of Cardinal Innovations. First, as required by state law, DHHS Office of Internal Audit has conducted a six-month Follow-Up Assessment based on the Office of State Audit report that was released in May 2017. Second, DHHS Office of Internal Audit has provided an additional interim report to DHHS leadership associated with a site visit it conducted at Cardinal Innovations on October 30.
Press Releases
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services today submitted to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services an amendment to the 1115 Demonstration Waiver application originally submitted by North Carolina in 2016. Submitting this amended waiver application is an important next step in implementing the Proposed Program Design for Medicaid Managed Care that DHHS published in August.
DHHS today released “Behavioral Health and Intellectual/Developmental Disability Tailored Plan,' the first in a series of Medicaid managed care program concept papers. These concept papers, which DHHS will continue to release over the next several months, provide details on certain components of the managed care program design. DHHS invites stakeholders to provide input by sending an email to Medicaid.Transformation@dhhs.nc.gov. Visit the DHHS Medicaid Transformation website at ncdhhs.gov/nc-medicaid-transformation for more on the North Carolina Medicaid transition to managed care.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services today announced the state's first flu-related deaths of the 2017-18 season after two adults died of complications from influenza infection from mid-to-late October. One of the deaths occurred in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, and the other occurred in the eastern region of the state.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services today asked health care providers, health plans and other stakeholders to provide information that will help the department transform the state Medicaid and NC Health Choice programs to managed care, as directed by the General Assembly in 2015.
The heads of the state environmental and public health agencies today announced the new members of the newly expanded Secretaries’ Science Advisory Board, which will examine new and emerging chemicals and their potential impacts to human health and the environment.
N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen, M.D., got her flu shot Thursday and encouraged others to get vaccinated, too, with the flu season underway.
Rowan County EMS' Daniel Medina and Aaron Thurston claimed top honors following the 27th Annual Paramedic Competition, held at the Koury Convention Center during the annual Emergency Medicine Today Conference.
Statement from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on its audit of Cardinal Innovations Healthcare Solutions:
After the Office of the State Auditor found unreasonable spending by Cardinal Innovations Healthcare Solutions, DHHS sent auditors to conduct a detailed examination and determined that in addition to the excessive salary for the CEO, several employees have severance allowances that may stretch to 36 months. This is excessive and raises concerns about the entity's solvency and ability to continue to provide services in the event of a significant change in its leadership team. Cardinal should immediately bring its salary/compensation package for its CEO in line with the other LME/MCOs, and shed its excessive severance offerings. DHHS will continue to monitor Cardinal's performance.
The N.C. Department of Health Human Services' Division of Social Services collaborated with the Office of State Budget and Management, which today released a request for proposal seeking a qualified vendor to conduct assessments of the state's current social services and child welfare programs and develop a comprehensive plan for reform. Proposals are due Nov. 16, and a contract will be in place by March 1, 2018.