Strong infection prevention and control practices are critical to reducing the transmission of COVID-19 within long-term care facilities. NC DHHS is reiterating its expectation that providers participate in the infection prevention and control activities.
Topics Related to Personal Care Services Providers
SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #135: Expectation to Comply with Infection Control and Prevention Measures
NOTE: UPCOMING PROVIDER WEBINAR
NC Medicaid COVID+ Rate Reporting Technical Assistance Session
Wednesday, June 3, 1:00 p.m.
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NC Medicaid continues provide support to Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF) and Personal Care Services (PCS) and Home Health (HH) providers to strengthen their infection prevention and management activities as they serve beneficiaries at high risk of contracting COVID-19.
During the period of the State of Emergency, supervisory visits must be conducted, but may be conducted utilizing eligible technologies that allow the supervising registered nurse to remotely communicate and evaluate services rendered. Supervisory visits can be delivered via any HIPAA-compliant, secure technology with audio and video capabilities including (but not limited to) smart phones, tablets and computers.
PACE organizations should continue to follow the guidance of the local, state and federal officials regarding COVID-19 and thoroughly document reasoning for making decisions which may fall outside of the PACE program model. This guidance supplements the Special Bulletin COVID-19 #27 released on March 30, 2020. The temporary flexibilities noted in Special Bulletin COVID-19 #27 and this Special Bulletin will end the earlier of the cancellation of the North Carolina state of emergency declaration or December 31, 2020.
On March 10, 2020, Governor Roy Cooper issued an executive order declaring a State of Emergency for North Carolina to respond to COVID-19. In addition, the Department of Health and Human Services made several recommendations to slow the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the number of people infected.
On Jan. 31 ,2020, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced that Keystone Peer Review Organization, Inc. received the contract as the Comprehensive Independent Assessment Entity.
On Jan. 29, 2013, NC Medicaid issued a memorandum giving guidance on the subject of Guidance for Family Supplementing Payment to the Medicaid Benefit. Several adult care home (ACH) providers have recently referenced this memorandum when inquiring about payment supplements specifically related to the provision of Personal Care Services (PCS) to recipients of special assistance.
Effective May 1, 2019, beneficiaries requesting Personal Care Services must use the updated NC Medicaid-3051 Request for Independent Assessment for Personal Care Services Attestation of Medical Need Form. This form is a revision of the currently used NC Medicaid-3051 Form. The current form will be accepted by the Independent Assessment Entity through July 1, 2019.
Effective Mar. 4, 2019, NC Medicaid implemented functionality in QiRePort allowing providers to submit the Internal Quality Improvement Program Attestation (NC Medicaid-3136) and Session Law 2013-306 PCS Training Attestation (NC Medicaid-3085) Forms via upload.