NC HIEA December 2020 Update

The North Carolina Health Information Exchange Authority (NC HIEA) extends a heartfelt thank you to our NC HealthConnex participants and stakeholders for your collaboration and continued support through such a difficult year. We wish all particpants and stakeholders a safe, healthy and joyous holiday season.

By the Numbers

  • 55,000-plus providers with contributed records
  • 6,000-plus health care facilities live submitting data, including 119 hospitals
  • 5,000-plus health care facilities in onboarding 
  • 120 million-plus continuity of care documents (CCDs) exchanged – 700k messages flowing daily
  • 10 million-plus unique patient records
  • 220-plus unique EHRs engaged, 80+ live
  • 22 border and interstate HIEs connected + Veterans Administration and the Department of Defense 

Accomplishments in 2020

  • Partners with DHHS on COVID-19 Public Health Crisis - The NC HIEA is partnering with the DHHS Division of Public Health and Health Benefits/Medicaid to build bidirectional data exchanges and patient matching services between NC HealthConnex and the State's electronic disease surveillance systems, NC Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NCEDSS) and NC Disease Event Tracking and Epidemiologic Collection Tool (NC DETECT), to better monitor the ongoing impact of COVID-19 in North Carolina. Additionally, the NC HIEA is supporting Medicaid with a COVID-19 dashboard to help the Division understand how the public health emergency is impacting Medicaid beneficiaries. 
  • Expands Interstate Data Sharing - NC HealthConnex works to expand interstate health information exchange through eHealth Exchange and PCDH connections with Coastal Connect HIE, Carolina Health Network, Atrium Health CareConnect, Idaho Health Data Exchange, Indiana Health Information Exchange, Great Lakes Health Connect, Michiana Health Information Exchange, The Health Collaborative, Eastern Tennessee Health Information Exchange, West Virginia Health Information Network and Colorado Regional Health Information Organization.
  • Enhances Notifications Service - NC HealthConnex enhances its event notification service, NC*Notify, to give health care providers more detailed, near real time information about their patient populations.
  • Builds Single-Sign On to the CSRS - The NC HIEA partners with the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Division of Mental Health to build a single sign-on from the NC HealthConnex clinical portal to the state’s prescription-drug monitoring program, Controlled Substances Reporting System. 
  • Begins Receiving Laboratory Test Results - NC HealthConnex connects to Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp to allow participants to access test results through NC HealthConnex, including COVID-19 results. [Note: COVID-19 lab results from DPH will begin populating NC HealthConnex in early 2021.]
  • Develops Robust Training Program - The NC HIEA and North Carolina Area Health Education Centers (NC AHEC) build a library of virtual training modules for health care providers on various NC HealthConnex services.
  • Receives Recognition - NC HealthConnex is chosen as an award finalist in the Digital Services: Government to Business category for the NASCIO 2020 State IT Recognition Awards.

NC HIEA and AHEC Virtual Training Opportunities

The NC HIEA and North Carolina Area Health Education Centers (NC AHEC) are offering a library of virtual training modules for health care providers on various NC HealthConnex services. As the state-designated health information exchange, NC HealthConnex enables providers to:

  • Access patients' comprehensive records to reduce duplicative testing and support more accurate diagnoses and treatment.
  • Communicate with other providers using a secure, encrypted messaging service in the NC HealthConnex web portal.
  • Improve coordination across all levels of care.

To get started, providers can register for a series of six video trainings, each providing an orientation to the features and services available. Registration for the following modules is required to receive a link to the training.

These virtual offerings provide health care professionals with an introduction to NC HealthConnex or help brush up on NC HealthConnex knowledge. In the midst of a pandemic, these modules offer a stress-free method of receiving training and staying up-to-date on all applications within NC HealthConnex.

For more detailed instructions on how to use the training software, visit our Training and Resources webpage.

Upcoming Events

NC HIEA Advisory Board Meeting

Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, at 2 p.m. For more information, click here.

Partner News & Events 

AHEC Medicaid Managed Care Webinar Series for Providers

Medicaid Managed Care Fireside Chat Webinar Series

Every first Thursday of the month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Click here to register for Medicaid Managed Care topics. 

Hosted by Shannon Dowler, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, N.C. Division of Health Benefits

Moderated by Hugh Tilson, Director, NC AHEC Program

  • Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021 | Policy Approvals, Process Changes, and Appeals
  • Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021 | Value Based Payment/Advanced Payment Models and Quality

Clinical Quality Webinar Series

Every third Thursday of the month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. 
Click here to register for Clinical Quality Topics.

Hosted by Shannon Dowler, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, N.C. Division of Health Benefits, and Tom Wroth, M.D., CEO, Community Care of North Carolina

Moderated by Hugh Tilson, Director of the NC AHEC Program

  • Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 | Behavioral Health 
  • Thursday, Jan. 21 | TBD
  • Thursday, Feb. 18 | TBD

N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Rural Health 

Community Health Grant SFY22 RFA

Application period opened Nov. 20, 2020. 
Application period closes Feb. 15, 2021.

Community Health Grant funds, supported through the North Carolina General Assembly, are for assuring access to primary and preventive care to meet the health needs of our state’s most vulnerable populations. 
 
Primary care safety net organizations that care for underserved and medically indigent patients in the state are eligible to apply for this funding to pay for patient care through encounter-based reimbursement or through reimbursement for eligible expenses. 
 
Applicants may request up to $150,000 per year of the grant.   
 
For more information, please read the full RFA Announcement. 
 
Please join us for Technical Assistance Webinars in December to find out more information on agency eligibility, length of award, how to apply, and other items specific to this upcoming grant cycle. Interested applicants may attend any session at their convenience. 
 
Webinars by Medicaid regions will be held on the dates below. 

Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020 at noon – Regions 3 and 5

JOIN HERE
Meeting number: 173 653 8803
Password: CHG2021
 
Join by video system
Dial 1736538803@ncdhhs.webex.com
You can also dial 173.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number.
 
Join by phone
+1-415-655-0001 US Toll
Access code: 173 653 8803
 
Monday, Dec. 7, 2020 at 10 a.m. –  Regions 1 and 2

JOIN HERE
Meeting number: 173 128 0770
Password: CHG2021
 
Join by video system
Dial 1731280770@ncdhhs.webex.com
You can also dial 173.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number.
 
Join by phone
+1-415-655-0001 US Toll
Access code: 173 128 0770
 
Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020 at 3 p.m. – Regions 4 and 6

JOIN HERE
Meeting number: 173 448 5494
Password: CHG2021
 
Join by video system
Dial 1734485494@ncdhhs.webex.com
You can also dial 173.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number.
 
Join by phone
+1-415-655-0001 US Toll
Access code: 173 448 5494
 
How to Obtain Further Information:  Funding Agency Contact/Inquiry Information: Ginny Ingram at ginny.ingram@dhhs.nc.gov or 919-527-6457 
 
For assistance with the application link: Contact Johnathan McEachin, Johnathan.McEachin@dhhs.nc.gov or 919-527-6468; Lola Omolodun, lola.omolodun@dhhs.nc.gov or 919-527-6453

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