Please see information below regarding various surveys and ways to assist in hurricane recovery.
October 15, 2024
Financial Support Available for Providers Impacted by Hurricane Helene
Please see the following information from NCDHHS:
NC Medicaid and the health plans are committed to supporting providers impacted by the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene. The following financial supports may be available to providers, even if they are unable to submit claims or perform services.
- Hardship Advances: All health plans and NC Medicaid Direct have processes to make hardship advances for providers unable to meet financial obligations.
- Stabilization Payments: The health plans have the flexibility to make stabilization payments to support provider sustainability and beneficiary access.
- Retainer Payments for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS): NC Medicaid is seeking authority to make retainer payments for 1915(c) waiver services to support certain HCBS providers with maintaining staff and capacity, even if service delivery is temporarily interrupted.
Providers in need of financial supports should work directly with the health plans to learn what supports each plan is offering and their associated process(es).
Contact Information
- Alliance Health alliancehealthplan.org/provider-updates/hardship-payment-requests-2
Provider support: 855-759-9700 - AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina amerihealthcaritasnc.com
Provider support: 888-738-0004 - Carolina Complete Health carolinacompletehealth.com
Provider support: 833-552-3876 - Healthy Blue healthybluenc.com/north-carolina/home.html
Provider support: 844-594-5072 - Partners partnersbhm.org/tailoredplan/providers/providerconnect
Provider support: 877-398-4145 - Trillium ncinno.org
Provider support: 855-250-1539 - United Healthcare Community Plans of North Carolina uhccommunityplan.com/nc/medicaid/medicaid-uhc-community-plan
Provider support 800-638-3302 - Vaya Health https://providers.vayahealth.com/helene-recovery/
Provider Support Line: 866-990-9712 - WellCare of North Carolina wellcare.com/nc
Provider support 866-799-5318 - NC Medicaid Direct To request a hardship advance, contact the Medicaid Provider Ombudsman Medicaid.ProviderOmbudsman@dhhs.nc.gov or 866-304-7062
Information on the flexibilities in place for Hurricane Helene can be found on the NC Medicaid Bulletins webpage.
Visit the NC Medicaid Hurricane Helene Virtual Bulletin Board for information and resources for NC Medicaid beneficiaries and families impacted by Hurricane Helene. Updates are added as the recovery continues.
October 10, 2024
Please see the NC Medicaid Resource Newsletter for Hurricane Helene Resources.
For clinical personnel who wish to volunteer their support in Western, NC, please complete this survey to indicate your information and availability. A member of the North Carolina State Emergency Response team will reach out as staffing needs are identified.
As we continue to work together to recover from Hurricane Helene, one priority effort we are focusing on is gauging the impact of the storm on medical practices and on patient care. With communication connectivity returning, a survey has been developed for dissemination to the affected region. From the responses generated by the questionnaire, we will compile data to help move the recovery response forward.
For those in the impacted region of the state, we are asking that they please complete the survey.
For those not in the impacted region, we are asking that they please help by sharing the survey notice with colleagues and practices that are. We are hoping to access as many communication channels as possible to get this survey disseminated, so their assistance in this crucial window of response would be appreciated. It is better that some receive it multiple times than not at all.
Governor Cooper’s executive order to provide greater flexibilities for health providers during the Hurricane Helene relief efforts: https://governor.nc.gov/executive-order-no-318/open
- FEMA Assistance (1-800-621-3362)
- Hurricane Helene | NC Department of Public Safety
- Ready NC Open Shelters
- American Red Cross Shelter Listing
- NC Medical Society’s Disaster Relief Fund
Website and Recovery Information
NCDHHS has created a website to provide information on disaster recovery, resources for mental health, and people with disabilities.
Safe Water Usage
NCDHHS urges safe water usage following the storm. Go to the NCDHHS website to find ways to ensure your water is safe and to prevent waterborne disease or illness.
Food and Nutrition Services
Starting today, Oct. 4, people in North Carolina who are enrolled in the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) program can use their benefits to purchase hot food from authorized Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) retailers. This will remain in effect until Nov. 3. Additionally, NCDHHS is actively working with USDA to receive federal authority to operate a Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Medicaid Flexibilities
Temporary flexibilities are in place for Medicaid beneficiaries due to the devastation left by Hurricane Helene, allowing people to access needed healthcare. The temporary flexibilities are currently in place through the end of the Hurricane Public Health Emergency declaration for North Carolina and are intended to support Hospitals, Psychiatric Hospitals, and Critical Access Hospitals.
Check the website for updated resources related to the NCDHHS recovery efforts. Go to the Department of Safety’s website for further recovery resources.
Port-a-potties and hand washing stations are available at www.halftimerentals.com out of Charlotte. They are working with Emergency Management.
See real-time water outage updates due to Helene at this resource. https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/a6c41e0d4bfc4da2b02334f35541ab37/ This is a publicly accessible resource.