Statements from Advancing NC Whole Health Coalition on Passage of HB 403 Modifying North

DURHAM, N.C. - June 22, 2018 - PRLog -- The NC General Assembly on June 15, 2018, passed House Bill 403, legislation to modify the State's Medicaid Transformation law. Notably, the new bill creates a pathway for local management entity/managed care organizations (LME/MCOs) – the organizations that currently manage North Carolina's public behavioral health and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) services – to establish and operate Behavioral Health (BH) and IDD Tailored Plans under North Carolina Medicaid Transformation. These BH IDD Tailored Plans are managed care health plans specifically designed to serve the complex needs of individuals with significant behavioral health disorders, intellectual and developmental disabilities, substance use disorders, and traumatic brain injury – populations LME/MCOs have long served. HB403 enables LME/MCOs to play a lead role in implementing the State's proposal to integrate behavioral health and physical health services to best serve the needs of these individuals.

Upon becoming law (the bill was presented to the Governor on June 15th), HB403 will modify North Carolina's Medicaid Transformation law to establish and create parameters for BH IDD Tailored Plans. The legislation provides that LME/MCOs will be the sole entities operating BH IDD Tailored Plans during the plans' initial four-year contract term. LME/MCOs desiring to operate a BH IDD Tailored Plan must apply to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and pass a comprehensive readiness review. HB403 requires LME/MCOs selected to operate BH IDD Tailored Plans to partner with a commercial plan or provider-led entity to integrate behavioral and physical health services. This legislation defines the services and populations covered by BH IDD Tailored Plans and requires DHHS to present a detailed plan for their implementation to the General Assembly by June 22, 2018. To view the full text of HB403, visit https://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2017/Bills/House/PDF/H403v... .


"This legislation is a major step for advancing whole-person care for the specialized populations LME/MCOs have long served by enabling us the opportunity to operate BH IDD Tailored Plans," said Rob Robinson, Alliance Behavioral Healthcare CEO. "The proven experience and established community relationships of LME/MCOs are essential for effectively integrating behavioral and physical care for individuals with significant behavioral health disorders, complex health needs, substance use disorders, and environmental challenges. We thank House and Senate health policy leaders and DHHS for advancing this important measure and look forward to continuing to work with them on implementing these Tailored Plans."

"We applaud the North Carolina General Assembly's decision to allow MCOs to continue utilizing our expertise and regional partnerships in serving those with complex needs," added Leza Wainwright, Trillium Health Resources CEO. "The Tailored Plans will help provide continuity through the changes to come. We welcome the chance to expand our existing efforts to further incorporate the principals of integrated care."

"The passage of House Bill 403 demonstrates the legislature's commitment to ensuring the complex needs of specialty populations continue to be met in the changing Medicaid landscape," said Brian Ingraham, Vaya Health CEO. "The shared goal of the Advancing NC Whole Health Coalition is to develop a sustainable, forward-thinking model for whole-person care that strengthens our collective ability to respond to member needs. We are pleased to continue working toward innovative solutions endorsed by DHHS and the General Assembly that integrate behavioral and physical health services to help those we serve live their best lives."

About the Advancing NC Whole Health Coalition
Alliance Behavioral Healthcare, Trillium Health Resources and Vaya Health are local management entity/managed care organizations (LME/MCOs) responsible for managing publicly-funded behavioral health and IDD services in three catchment areas that collectively span the State of North Carolina from the mountains to the sea. Together, they are responsible for managing more than $1.375 billion in public funds and 610,000 Medicaid covered lives across 52 counties. More information about the coalition can be found at www.advancingncwholehealth.com.

About Alliance Behavioral Healthcare
Alliance Behavioral Healthcare is the managed care organization for publicly-funded behavioral healthcare services for the people of Durham, Wake, Cumberland and Johnston counties. Alliance works with a network of almost 2200 private providers to serve the needs of 471,000 Medicaid-eligible and uninsured individuals within a total population of 1.8 million. Alliance operates an Access and Information Center available 24/7 at (800) 510-9132. Learn more at www.alliancebhc.org/.