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Practice Support Newsletter
March 2024
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 Measure of the Month – March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Screening for colon cancer is an important step in identifying opportunities for early intervention and improving the survival rate. The American Cancer Society “recommends that people at average risk of colorectal cancer start regular screening at age 45.” Colorectal Cancer Alliance has great resources to help educate patients on the importance of getting screened. Strategies to help improve your screening:
- Standardize intake paperwork so all qualifying patients answer a screening question
- Review EHR documentation workflow with the practice team
- Run a monthly report to identify patients who are due for screening
- Discuss screening options with eligible patients 45-75 years of age
- Provide education to eligible patients (e.g. screening recommended for all patients, not just patients with a family history of colon cancer)
- Implement a reminder process
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 Regulatory Reminders –
Vaccine Storage and Handling
Ask the Experts: Immunize.org
Is it okay to store medications and other biologic products in the same unit as vaccines? CDC's Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit states that if other medications and biological products must be stored in the same unit as vaccines, they must be clearly marked and stored in separate containers or bins from vaccines. Potentially contaminated items (e.g., blood, urine) should be properly contained and stored below vaccines due to risk of contamination from drips or leaks. The freezer of a household-grade unit may be used for non-vaccine, medical storage, so long as the use does not compromise the temperature range within the refrigerator compartment where vaccine is stored.
Additional questions/answers related to storage and handling along with specific vaccine questions/answers can be found at Ask the Experts: Experts Answer Questions About Vaccines (immunize.org) The full CDC Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit is available online. |
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 Element by Arkhe, A Clinically Integrated Network (CIN), Launched January 16, 2024 to serve Historically Underutilized Providers and Small Businesses
Element by Arkhe, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is a Clinically Integrated Network dedicated to advancing healthcare delivery through collaborative partnerships, innovative technology, and a commitment to excellence in patient care. Endorsed by a state MCO, Element specializes in supporting Historically Underutilized Providers and enhancing health equity across North Carolina. Please see the attached Press Release for additional details. For more information, please visit www.elementhealthconsortium.com
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 Measles Awareness – Emergency Preparedness
With an uptick in cases in Europe and the Northeast, now is a great time to review your protocols if measles is detected in the area. “Approximately 90% of susceptible persons in close contact with measles will develop the disease. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of doses of measles vaccine were postponed or missed, increasing the risk of bigger outbreaks around the world, including the U.S.” APIC has developed a Measles Playbook to help navigate this highly infection disease.
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 Medicaid Quality Care Fact Sheets
Recently NC Medicaid released a series of fact sheets that detail the quality of care provided to beneficiaries across several key areas.
- Racial Disparities in Vaccination
- Behavioral Health Services
- Tobacco Use, Substance Use, and Substance Use Disorder (SUD)
In addition to discussing key findings, each fact sheet describes some of the work NC Medicaid is doing to sustain positive trends, improve care, or implement new programs. These sections explore performance improvement projects (PIPs), the Section 1115 Demonstration: SUD Waiver, NC Medicaid’s withholds program and other initiatives. The information in these fact sheets is drawn from quality and survey measures, which NC Medicaid uses to evaluate the quality of care that beneficiaries receive.
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 Brief Survey from NC Medicaid Regarding Patient Panel Accuracy
NC Medicaid is working to improve primary care provider panel management
- New, brief seven (7) question survey to get feedback to help guide these efforts.
Survey available here: https://gcv.microsoft.us/AKmOWdRplY
- Open for responses until March 26, 2024
Questions include:
- Current level of satisfaction with the accuracy of your panel of Medicaid patients
- How the current accuracy of your Medicaid patient panel compares to the accuracy from three months ago
- Issues experienced with the current accuracy (if applicable)
- Additional feedback for panel management improvement
DHB will be sharing this survey twice more in 2024 (in Summer and in Fall) to understand changes in satisfaction over time as DHB continues to work on improvements.
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 Tailored Plans will start July 1, 2024
A Behavioral Health and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) Tailored Plan (Tailored Plan) is a North Carolina Medicaid Managed Care health plan. It offers physical health, pharmacy, care management and behavioral health services. It is for members with mental health needs, substance use disorders, intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) or traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Tailored Plans offer added services for members who qualify. Read the full announcement.
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South Piedmont AHEC CHWs N' Action Webinar Series
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 Community Health Workers in Action
Community Health Workers (CHWs) are a proven workforce known to bridge gaps in their communities by reducing health inequities worldwide. Too often, CHWs are misunderstood in their roles, scope of practice, and how they benefit community from a much broader context. Hence, this webinar series aims to educate healthcare, public health, and social care audiences on the roles that CHWs play and how best to integrate them into their health/social care teams.
Mecklenburg County Public Health Department, Center for Community Health Alignment, and South Piedmont AHEC are collaborating on a series of live webinars to foster a greater understanding of who CHWs are and how they contribute to better health outcomes within their communities. In this three-part series, each webinar will feature a presentation by experts in the topic of interest and a panel discussion introducing 1-2 CHWs and/or Promotors in the field making an impact in their community.
Register for the sessions:
Community Health Workers 101 – March 13
Race and Health Equity – April 10
Addressing SDoH to Improve Population Health – May 8 |
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 Free PPE Deadline March 31st
The NC Healthcare Supply Chain Support Request Form is designed to assist healthcare entities with supplemental PPE and Patient Care Supplies. This program will be discontinued on 31 March 2024. Orders are filled first come/first serve and we cannot guarantee item availability. There is no cost for the items/shipping. To access the form and order, follow this link.
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 Over-the Counter COVID–19 Test for Home use Pharmacy POS Coverage
COVID–19 over-the-counter (OTC) are available to full Medicaid beneficiaries through September 30, 2024. Beneficiaries are allowed up to eight test kits every rolling 30 days. There is a state standing order and kits may be issued with or without a prescription from a Medicaid–enrolled provider. Click here to review the details from NC Medicaid.
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South Piedmont AHEC – Formerly Charlotte AHEC
Part of the NC AHEC Program
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