WKRK 105.5 FM 1320 AM
  • Home
  • News
  • Weather
  • Closings & Traffic
  • Missing Pets
  • Shop Local
  • Contact Us

NCDHHS and Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority to Create First-in-Nation Indian Managed Care Entity

11/3/2020

 
Picture
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA) have entered into a contract to support the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) in addressing the health needs of American Indian/Alaskan Native Medicaid beneficiaries.

This Indian Managed Care Entity is the first of its kind in the nation and will establish a new delivery system called the EBCI Tribal Option. The EBCI Tribal Option is a managed care option for federally recognized tribal members and other individuals eligible to receive Indian Health Services.

"This partnership is another example of how North Carolina is leading the nation with its innovative approach to managed care that focuses on meeting the needs of the whole person," said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. "The EBCI Tribal Option ensures American Indians in our state receive culturally competent care that improves overall health and wellbeing." 

The EBCI Tribal Option will manage the health care for North Carolina’s approximate 4,000 Tribal Medicaid beneficiaries primarily in Cherokee, Graham, Haywood, Jackson and Swain counties. The program will have a strong focus on primary care, preventive health, chronic disease management and providing care management for high-need members.

"As a Tribal Organization, CIHA is committed to improving the health of the American Indian/Alaskan Native Population by eliminating barriers to care and developing trusting relationships with our patients," said Casey Cooper, Chief Executive Officer, CIHA. "With the support of NCDHHS, we will reduce health disparities while exercising our tribal sovereignty and self-determination."

According to Cooper, the EBCI Tribal Option, like CIHA will be founded on principals such as U wa shv u da nv te lv (the one who gives from their heart) and Di qwa ste li I yu n(i) s di (like my own family to me), providing care coordination services in a culturally congruent system that leverages the collective strengths of a fully integrated health system, the Tribal community and regional partners.

Beginning in March 2021, Tribal members and people eligible to receive services at CIHA will have an opportunity to enroll in the EBCI Tribal Option and either keep their network primary care provider or select a different network primary care provider.

The EBCI Tribal Option is part of North Carolina’s transition to Medicaid Managed Care which will launch on July 1, 2021. In addition to the Tribal Option, Medicaid beneficiaries will be able to choose from five prepaid health plans — AmeriHealth Caritas, Healthy Blue, United HealthCare, WellCare and Carolina Complete Health (serving regions 3, 4, and 5). Some beneficiaries will remain in Medicaid’s Fee-For-Service program called NC Medicaid Direct.

NCDHHS and the EBCI will continue to share additional information on the EBCI Tribal Option to help inform beneficiaries and providers. Please visit https://medicaid.ncdhhs.gov for updates on Medicaid Managed Care or email Medicaid.Transformation@dhhs.nc.gov with additional questions.

Feel free to share any post from the WKRK website that you feel is beneficial to your community. We encourage input from local law enforcement, government officials, emergency management officials, schools and other public service organizations. To send us information, use the form on our Contact Us page.

Comments are closed.

    Archives

    May 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015


    RSS Feed

  • Home
  • News
  • Weather
  • Closings & Traffic
  • Missing Pets
  • Shop Local
  • Contact Us