NC Medicaid COVID-19 Bulletin Update (#63-69)

The NC Division of Health Benefits (DHB) has recently published several more Medicaid Bulletin articles related to COVID-19. Below are exerts or summaries of some of the most recent articles and links for more details. All articles may be found on the DHB website.

 

SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #63: NC Innovations and NC TBI Waivers Community-Based Services (HCBS) Flexibilities – Retainer Payments

NC Medicaid has implemented flexibilities on how Medicaid providers and beneficiaries may access and receive Medicaid services in the wake of COVID-19. Retainer payments may be made for direct care providers of services that include habilitation or personal care that are currently authorized in the Individual Support Plan (ISP). Retainer payments can not add up to more than the total number of hours per service approved in the Innovation or TBI Waiver beneficiary’s ISP. Services included

 

SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #64: Telehealth and Virtual Patient Communications Clinical Policy Modifications - Health and Behavior Intervention Visits Provided by Local Health Departments

NC Medicaid has temporarily enabled licensed clinical social workers at Local Health Departments to conduct Health and Behavior Intervention visits for pregnant and postpartum women who have serious psychosocial needs via telemedicine. Specific guidance related to billing and coding is detailed in the section “Temporary Modifications to Attachment A.” Read more

 

SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #65: Telehealth and Virtual Patient Communications Clinical Policy Modifications - Postpartum Depression Screening

NC Medicaid has temporarily enabled providers to conduct postpartum depression screenings of postpartum women via several remote modalities in light of social distancing measures that may prevent in-person visits. Billing and coding details

 

SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #66: Telehealth and Virtual Patient Communications Clinical Policy Modifications - Well Child Visits

NC Medicaid is temporarily adding telemedicine coverage for providers to conduct Well Child Visits with patients to ensure the provision of comprehensive and preventive health care services for children under age 21. Providers are encouraged to continue providing well child visits, immunizations and or preventive care during the pandemic. For additional information on the delivery of Well Child Visits during the pandemic, see guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics. More information

 

SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #67: Telehealth and Virtual Patient Communications Clinical Policy Modifications - Outpatient Respiratory Therapy

NC Medicaid has eliminated the restriction that teletherapy services cannot be conducted via “video cell phone interactions.” These services can now be delivered via any HIPAA-compliant, secure technology with audio and video capabilities, including (but not limited to) smart phones, tablets and computers. More details

 

SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #68: Expedited Hardship Advances and Retroactive Targeted Rate Increases for Skilled Nursing Facilities and Adult Care Homes Serving COVID-positive Patients

NC Medicaid is directing increased financial assistance to North Carolina Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF) and Adult Care Homes (ACH) to support addressing the increased costs of caring for COVID positive (COVID+) residents in a congregate care setting. Details of targeted assistance

 

SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #69: Clarification to Bulletin #15 Medicaid and NC Health Choice Temporary Flexibilities - 1135 Waiver Provisions and Replace Effective Dates Stated in Bulletins #2, #10 & #11

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has granted NC Medicaid the authority to temporarily modify Medicaid and NC Health Choice policies including reimbursement for Medically Necessary Services without Prior Authorizations. This Bulletin:

  • Clarifies which specific Prior Authorizations are being lifted on the March 1, 2020, effective date stated in SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #15: Medicaid and NC Health Choice Temporary Flexibilities - 1135 Waiver Provisions (posted March 24, 2020)
  • References all relevant Prior Authorization information included in other Bulletins
  • Replaces the effective dates originally stated in the following Bulletins: 
    • SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #2: General Guidance and Policy Modifications (posted Mar 13, 2020)
    • SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #10: Durable Medical Equipment: Temporary Flexibilities Effective March 23, 2020 (posted Mar 24, 2020)
    • SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #11: Outpatient Specialized Therapies Temporary Flexibilities (posted Mar 24, 2020)

More information