Western Highlands Network

Friday E-Mail Newsletter

Number 79
12/15/2006

The Friday E-Mail is a weekly update for providers by the Services Management Department of Western Highlands Network. Please distribute to all your staff.

Western Highlands Network Announces Lifting of 60-day Timely Filing Edit

To help with the current consumer transition challenges, Western Highlands has temporarily lifted the 60-day timely filing edit for IPRS claims.

The state of NC year-end timely filing deadlines remain in place (see WHN Communication Bulletin #23).

Please contact Western Highlands at billingquestions@westernhighlands.org with questions concerning this communication.

And now a quick update on consumer transfers…

Effective 12/15, if you, as a provider, accept a new consumer who may have had services in the past, submit a Consumer Transfer form. There have been a number of instances where consumers were assigned to one agency through this transition process, but were never seen by that provider. Instead, they are showing up and choosing you as a provider. Please have them complete the transfer form, so we know they were actually seen by you and you intend to be the primary provider. We will no longer be working from lists as this process stabilizes.

Can’t figure out that Medicaid stuff? Check this out…

There is an excellent resource on the Division of Medical Assistance Website, wherein providers can learn how to assess Medicaid status. This will help you learn more about the multiple and most expedient methods of verifying eligibility status. In addition, the website assists providers with figuring out the Medicaid plan the consumer is covered by using card colors and codes. This will assist you in determining whether mental health services are covered by the Medicaid card carried by the consumer.

Check out www.dhhs.state.nc.us/dma/bulletin/BasicMed1006.pdf. This resource has a lot of valuable information for providers. Western Highlands Network highly recommends that all providers share this with their employees.

Holiday schedule:

WHN will be closed on Monday, December 25 and Tuesday December 26 for the Christmas holiday.
It is suggested that CS workers anticipate the need for Respite services over the holidays and submit those requests ASAP.

WHN will also be closed on Monday, January 1 for New Years.

Charlie Schoenheit
Director of Services Management
Western Highlands Network
356 Biltmore Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801
Telephone: (828)258-3511 x2219
FAX: (828) 225-2779
E-Mail: Charlie@westernhighlands.org
Website: westernhighlands.org