Check Eligibility Later in the Day

Across the state, county staff employees are working overtime to get patient Medicaid eligibility into NCFAST. At the end of the month, the file is unusually large and sent late in the evening to NCTracks, after the workers go home.

The transfer of information about patient eligibility probably isn't complete until late in the day on the first of the month. If eligibility is being renewed or extended at the end of the month, the new eligibility may not yet be in NCTracks. Many providers check eligibility at the first of the month for the patients they expect to see that month. On the first couple of days of the month, DHHS recommends checking eligibility only for beneficiaries who need services. The transfer of information about patient eligibility probably isn't complete until the middle of the next day.

As county staff catch up with the backlog by the end of the year, patient eligibility should be available the first day of the month. Until then, check eligibility late on the first day or on the second day only for beneficiaries who need services.

For an emergency, contact the Eligibility Information System staff at DHHS at 919-855-4000.