Topics Related to Bulletins
Several new or amended clinical coverage policies are available on NC Medicaid’s website.
Session Law 2018-5 Sec.11H.4 (see Appendix A) instructed the NC Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to submit to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for the necessary authority to establish Medicaid reimbursement for ambulance transports of Medicaid beneficiaries in behavioral health crisis to behavioral health clinics or other alternative locations effective July 1, 2019.
A fully detailed outline of the influenza vaccine and reimbursement guidelines for 2019-2020 for North Carolina Medicaid and NC Health Choice was distributed in a Medicaid Special Bulletin on Aug. 27, 2019.
North Carolina’s state-designated health information exchange, NC HealthConnex, was created in 2015 by the North Carolina General Assembly to help bridge the gap between distinct electronic health record systems and health care networks to support whole patient care. With over seven million unique patient records and growing, NC HealthConnex is working to connect the state’s health care providers to deliver a holistic view of a patient’s record.
The NC Medicaid EHR Incentive Payment System (NC-MIPS) is only accepting Program Year 2019 Stage 3 Meaningful Use (MU) attestations. All eligible professionals (EPs) attesting in Program Year 2019 will be required to attest to Stage 3 MU and use a 2015 Edition of certified EHR technology (CEHRT).
The North Carolina Division of Health Benefits (DHB) would like to reiterate the 340B provider and claim submission requirements for both the outpatient pharmacy and Physician’s Drug Program (PDP).
Supporting beneficiaries in their transition between the current fee-for-service delivery system and NC Medicaid Managed Care is called transition of care. The transitional period surrounding the launch of Medicaid Managed Care is referenced as crossover.
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) recently launched an online “Provider Playbook” as part of its commitment to ensure providers have resources to help Medicaid beneficiaries transition smoothly to Medicaid Managed Care. This new Provider Playbook is a collection of information and tools specifically tailored to providers.
To minimize the administrative burden on providers as NC Medicaid transitions to managed care, the Provider Data Contractor (PDC) will supplement the state’s existing provider credentialing data to the Prepaid Health Plans (PHPs). This will support the PHP’s ability to make quality determinations during Medicaid Managed Care provider network contracting activities. The PHPs will make their quality determination policy public once approved by NC Medicaid.
NC Medicaid has received approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to increase rates for Evaluation and Management (E&M) procedure codes, as defined in Section 1202 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and paid to primary care physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. In addition to the ACA primary care practitioners, obstetricians and gynecologists will also be included as primary care physicians.