The Department of Health and Human Services through NC Medicaid has developed a proposed Community Health Worker (CHW) Strategy to leverage the growing number of CHWs in North Carolina to help achieve the goals of NC Medicaid Managed Care. The Department values and encourages stakeholder input and is requesting feedback on all components of this proposed strategy. Comments can be submitted by emailing Medicaid.NCEngagement@dhhs.nc.gov by March 15, 2023. Please type “CHW Feedback” in the subject line.
The Department encourages health plans, providers, community-based organizations and other entities exploring or already leveraging CHWs to pursue components of this proposed strategy now in advancement of community-centered, equitable care for Medicaid members. Certain components of the strategy are already supported through existing funding; others are contingent on additional funding appropriations.
For more information, refer to the Medicaid bulletin article NC Medicaid’s Community Health Worker Strategy Guidance Paper.
Last week, Gov. Cooper announced $7.7 million in new funding to support North Carolina’s postsecondary institutions in providing additional mental health services to students. This investment in the University of North Carolina (UNC) System will support new mental health initiatives and provide funding to sustain initiatives created by Governor Cooper’s previous $5 million grant to the UNC System in May 2021.
The UNC System will collaborate with the North Carolina Community College System and the state’s independent colleges and universities to offer suicide prevention training to faculty and staff across all three education systems. These trainings will provide faculty and staff with the tools they need to better identify and support students in crisis.
The UNC System will also use this funding to continue to provide students across all 17 UNC institutions access to an after-hours mental health hotline and develop a new resiliency training program for faculty, staff, and students. Read more in a Governor's Office news release.
DHHS Communication Bulletins
J442: Clarification of Transitions to Community Living Discharge &
Transition Process from Adult Care Homes. Expectations of the
Discharge and Transition process for TCL – to assist with transitioning
individuals from Adult Care Homes into permanent supportive housing.
https://www.ncdhhs.gov/media/19045/download?attachment
J441: Clarification of Transitions to Community Living Discharge &;
Transition Process from State Psychiatric Hospitals. Requirements for
TCL in-reach, transition, and discharge process for individuals in State
Psychiatric Hospitals – to assist with transitioning individuals from SPHs
into permanent supportive housing of TCL Bridge Housing.
https://www.ncdhhs.gov/media/18841/download?attachment\
The DHHS-NC Medicaid Medical Care Advisory Committee (MCAC) needs your help with its search for individuals that are dedicated, goal driven as well as focused on Medicaid and the culturally diverse population it serves. In order to provide beneficiaries with the best quality of life, we need individuals of various backgrounds, diverse points of views, and lived experiences to provide advice on Medicaid programs and services. Having a diverse, equitable, and an inclusive perspective will allow ideas to flourish, providing Medicaid with the best resources for all its beneficiaries. Current vacancies exist for individuals residing or working in Congressional Districts 11, the newly established District 14, as well as three At-Large seats. Individuals who fit one of the previously identified categories may submit a statement of interest to the contact listed below. We truly appreciate your assistance with our search. Please note the deadline for submitting nominations is Friday, March 3, 2023.
Important Update on NC Medicaid Tailored Plans
To ensure beneficiaries can seamlessly receive care on day one, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is delaying the implementation of the NC Medicaid Managed Care Behavioral Health and Intellectual/ Developmental Disabilities Tailored Plans (Tailored Plans) until October 1, 2023.
Tailored Plans, previously scheduled to launch April 1, will provide the same services as Standard Plans and will also provide additional specialized services for individuals with complex behavioral health conditions, Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DDs), and traumatic brain injury (TBI).
For more information about Tailored Plans please visit NC Medicaid’s Tailored Plan website.
Update from the NCBLCMHC
The amendments to the North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors Administrative Rules 21 NCAC 53 .0206 and 21 NCAC 53 .0701 became effective on February 1, 2023. However, please note that some sections of these rules will not come into effect until July 1, 2025. Visit ncblcmhc.org for additional information about the Board’s statutes and rules.
