Initial Assessments
Effective May 1, 2020, Medicaid will resume use of the full assessment for all initial requests. SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #30: Personal Care Services Assessments, published March 31, 2020 indicated the use of the mini assessment for initial requests, which has been utilized until this point. Use of the full assessment will allow providers to complete service plans as required per PCS Clinical Coverage Policy 3L. All assessments will remain telephonic.
Annual Assessments
Effective May 1, 2020, Liberty Healthcare of North Carolina will resume completion of annual assessments. SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #30: Personal Care Services Assessments also indicated that annual assessments due would have Prior Approvals extended for a minimum of 90 days. Due to the continued State of Emergency and to prevent an extensive backlog of annual assessments past due, Liberty Healthcare of North Carolina will resume completion of annual assessments, conducting assessments telephonically beginning with those with the greatest past due date. Reassessment dates based on the completion of the telephonic annual assessment shall be no later than 365 calendar days from the approval date, or a shorter period of time based on the beneficiary’s chronic or continuing acute condition and expectation for improvement in the beneficiary’s medical condition causing the need for PCS.
These temporary changes will end the earlier of the cancellation of the North Carolina state of emergency declaration or when this policy is rescinded.
Questions regarding the changes identified in this bulletin may be sent to PCS_Program_Questions@dhhs.nc.gov or directed to Liberty Healthcare of NC at 919-322-5944 or 1-855-740-1400.