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NC Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Medical Assistance Home
 
 

Managed Care

Chris Collins, Assistant Director
Deputy Director, Office of Rural Health and Community Care
Phone: 919-855-4780
Fax:  919-715-0844 or 919-715-5235

Community Care of North Carolina/Carolina ACCESS (CCNC/CA) is the primary care case management health care plan for a majority of Medicaid citizens of this state. The objective of CCNC is to create community health networks to achieve long-term quality, cost, access and utilization objectives.

Overview and History of Medicaid Managed Care in North Carolina

CCNC/CA is one of seven winners of a prestigious Innovations in American Government Award

Managed Care Sections

The Managed Care section oversees the Managed Care Customer Service Unit, Program Operations, Risk Contract, and Health Check.

Managed Care Customer Service Unit

Betty West, Manager
Phone 919-855-4780
Fax 919-715-0844

DMA's Managed Care Customer Service Unit provides information to callers regarding Medicaid covered services or resources that are available to help resolve problematic issues and/or navigate the Medicaid health care system. A majority of callers are Medicaid recipients; however, service providers also call for assistance with situations that involve the delivery of care to Medicaid recipients.

The Medicaid Ombudsman is part of the Customer Service unit and works closely with other sections within DMA to ensure current and accurate information is provided. The ombudsman is bilingual and handles calls where Spanish is the preferred language. The ombudsman responds to many of the inquiries made to Office of Citizen Services by North Carolina citizens when Medicaid is the subject of inquiry.  There is a close collaboration with the Office of Citizen Services to coordinate the Medicaid information being given to citizens who call the CARE-LINE. The ombudsman also keeps the CARE-LINE updated on Medicaid covered services so that they have the information to handle basic Medicaid inquiries.

The CARE-LINE refers Medicaid calls that are more complex to the CS unit. The CS unit collaborates with CA/CCNC networks on quality health initiatives to improve the education and distribution of information to Medicaid recipients.

Customer Service Representatives also work with local departments of social services to maximize enrollment by contacting eligible Medicaid recipients and enrolling them into the Carolina ACCESS program. The outreach effort was piloted in Cumberland County. Currently, outreach counties are working with 3 counties: Orange, Caswell, and Gaston.

The Customer Service (CS) Unit creates, reviews, and analyzes reports used to track program status and performance.

CS partners with program operations in identifying the necessity and scope of program policies and procedures. CS has a in developing or modifying and implementing policies that enhance access to necessary and quality health care for recipients of Medicaid.

Program Operations

Darryl Frazier, Manager
Phone 919-855-4780
Fax 919-715-0844

Program Operations in conjunction with Customer Services is responsible for the day to day operation of North Carolina's Managed Care programs including CCNC/CA and Health Check. Program Operations is comprised of the Program Operations Manager, 6 regional Managed Care Consultants and 2 regional Health Check Consultants. Specific responsibilities of the unit include:

  • Planning, Implementation, Development, and Maintenance of Managed Care and Health Check/EPSDT program initiatives and projects, policies and procedures, research and analysis.
  • Lead/Assist in the continuous development of Carolina ACCESS—Community Care of NC.
  • Oversight and Monitoring of Managed Care and Health Check/EPSDT programs and projects.
  • Recruitment and Education of primary care providers to participate as Carolina ACCESS primary care providers.
  • Assist providers in completing the Carolina ACCESS application and agreement.
  • Provide Training and Consulting services to Carolina ACCESS-Community Care of NC participating providers
  • Ensure/Enforce provider compliance with the Carolina ACCESS Agreement.
  • Investigate/Resolve recipient complaints made against Carolina ACCESS providers.
  • Assist Carolina ACCESS providers in resolving claim denials related to managed care.
  • Review/Approve Budgets and Annual Plans of the Health Check Outreach Projects
  • Conduct Health Check Outreach Project Site-Visits/Review
  • Direct/Coordinate the work activities of the Health Check Coordinators
  • Review/Monitor each Health Check Outreach Project’s Monthly Accountability/Activities Report 

Health Check

Darryl Frazier, Manager
Phone: 919-855-4780
Fax: 919-715-5235

North Carolina expanded the federal Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) program (which has been in existence since Medicaid began) to form the Health Check program in 1993. EPSDT serves as the standard for providing healthcare to Medicaid recipients under the age of 21. The purpose of the Health Check program is to facilitate regular preventive medical care and the diagnosis and treatment of any health problem found during a screening. There is no separate enrollment in Health Check. If someone is eligible for Medicaid and is under the age of 21, they automatically receive Health Check services.

Health Check Automated Information and Notification System (AINS)

Health Check Strategies

The following Health Check strategies have been implemented statewide:

  • Changes in state program administration to help integrate policies and procedures so both financing and service delivery objectives are compatible among State agencies.
  • Changes in local administration to improve coordination among local agencies, improve outreach to families and providers, and to assist families in obtaining needed health services.
  • Implementation of a statewide outreach campaign and toll-free hotline to educate parents about the availability of services and the importance of regular care.
  • Design and implementation of an automated information and notification system to provide families, caregivers and Health Check Coordinators with information regarding program participation.
  • Expansion of coverage for special services.

Health Check Outreach Project

An integral part of the Health Check program is a special initiative called the Health Check Outreach Project. Ninety-seven counties participate in this outreach effort by having specially trained Health Check Coordinators work to reduce barriers and improve access to preventive health services. The Division of Medical Assistance works in close collaboration with the Division of Public Health’s (DPH) Women’s and Children’s Health Section to provide guidance to the project counties.

Health Check Reports

More Information on the Health Check Program

 

 

October 29, 2009