Happy Tuesday! Enjoy your NCMS Morning Rounds!
October 26, 2021
CMS Launches Webpage to Share Innovative State Actions to Expand Medicaid Home and Community-based Services
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched a new “one-stop shop” for state Medicaid agencies and stakeholders on Medicaid.gov to advance transparency and innovation for home and community-based services. Home and community-based services allow people enrolled in Medicaid to receive services and supports in a preferred setting outside of an institution, such as in their own home. Through this new webpage, state Medicaid agencies and stakeholders can access information about states’ plans to enhance, expand, and strengthen home and community-based services across the country using new Medicaid funding made available by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP).
Public Health Emergency Extended
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.
COVID-19: Moderna & Jansen (J&J) Booster Shots
Effective October 20, 2021, FDA amended the emergency use authorizations for the Moderna and Jansen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccines to allow for use of a single booster dose for certain populations.
Get the most current list of billing codes, payment allowances and effective dates.
More Information:
COVID-19 provider toolkit including:
In the News
Fauci says vaccines for kids between 5-11 likely available in November, Reuters, 10-24-21
Learning Opportunity
Topics in Retention & Recruitment Planning and Implementation, November 3, 2021, and November 4, 2021, from 11:00AM-4:00PM
Having an engaged and thriving workforce requires careful planning and the execution of effective retention and recruitment efforts. Join the STAR² Center team following the 2021 ACU Virtual Conference for this two-day interactive training to jump-start your health center’s creation of a Retention & Recruitment Plan. With each day dedicated to one of these focus areas, health center staff will gain specific knowledge needed to start working on or revamping their health centers’ Retention & Recruitment Plan. Being able to achieve these results, will help ensure a health center’s long-term sustainability, improve business operations, and increase the ability to continue offering mission-driven, patient-centered healthcare for all.
If you have any questions about this workshop or your registration, please contact Mariah Blake.
If you have policies you’d like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!