THIS BULLETIN HAS BEEN UPDATED IN SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #199, POSTED NOV. 16, 2021.
As previously communicated in Medicaid SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #179, NC Medicaid extended COVID-19 temporary provider rate increases applicable in NC Medicaid Direct (formerly known as fee-for-service) and managed care (Standard Plan PHPs and LME/MCOs) through Nov. 30, 2021 assuming extension of the federal public health emergency. Please see Bulletin #179 for details regarding the extended Medicaid COVID-19 temporary rate increases.
Federal Public Health Emergency Declaration
The federal government has now extended the public health emergency (PHE) through Jan. 16, 2022. Please refer to the federal Public Health Emergency website for more information and updates.
Potential Extension of Temporary Rate Increases
DHB is reviewing budget availability and current needs to determine whether temporary provider rate increases will be extended beyond Nov. 30, 2021, to more closely align with this recent PHE extension. Please refer to additional COVID-19 Special Medicaid Bulletins and Medicaid fee schedules for details and further communication in the coming weeks.
Temporary Clinical Policy Provisions
Consistent with SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #139, many Clinical Policy Provisions, such as the telehealth provisions enacted to support COVID-19 response that do not require new federal authorities, are in the process of becoming permanent policy and NC Medicaid is seeking federal authority where appropriate. For permanent policy changes to the Medicaid program, NC Medicaid will post changes publicly. All stakeholders are encouraged to provide feedback.
The table below outlines when certain COVID-19-related federal authorities will end relative to the end of the federal PHE. NC Medicaid will notify providers through special bulletins of any termination of temporary policies. Please use the table below to review expiration of temporary provisions. Please note, policies not made permanent that were authorized under the NC State of Emergency (SOE) rather than as part of a federal authority could end with the SOE. NC Medicaid will provide additional details on the termination timelines for temporary clinical policies as more information on the end of the PHE and SOE is available.
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SOURCE OF FEDERAL AUTHORITY |
EXPIRATION OF FEDERAL AUTHORITY* |
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COVID-19 1115 Waiver |
Expires at the end of the Public Health Emergency + 60 days |
|
1135 Waivers |
Expires at the end of the Public Health Emergency |
|
Medicaid Disaster SPAs |
Expires at the end of the Public Health Emergency |
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CHIP Disaster SPA |
Expires the latter of the end of the Public Health Emergency or the state-declared emergency |
|
Concurrence Letter |
Expires at the end of the Public Health Emergency |
|
Appendix Ks (applicable to 1915(c) waivers) |
Expires six months after the Public Health Emergency ends |
*NC Medicaid has the authority to end prior to the end of the end of the federal expiration date.
Contact
NCTracks Contact Center: 800-688-6696