A Message From NCTracks on Behalf of NC Medicaid Provider Update: NC Medicaid COVID-19

This is the first in a series of COVID-19 updates to Medicaid and NC Health Choiceproviders. These updates will cover statewide COVID-19 announcements and information typically from Governor Cooper and NCDHHS Secretary Cohen. Please look for future updates to arrive through NCTracks.

Governor Cooper has extended North Carolina’s Stay at Home order through May 8. The Governor shared details about North Carolina’s plan to lift restrictions in three phases once the data show that key metrics are headed in the right direction.

North Carolina has taken aggressive action to slow the spread of COVID-19 and save lives. Those actions combined with North Carolinians’ resolve to stay home to protect their loved ones have put the state on the right path. By staying with these efforts now, the state will continue to see a slowing of virus spread and can slowly begin easing restrictions.

Secretary Mandy Cohen provided a detailed look at where North Carolina stands on metrics on testing, tracing and trends, and outlined the progress needed to begin lifting restrictions.

  • Sustained Leveling or Decreased Trajectory in COVID-Like Illness (CLI) Surveillance Over 14 Days. Currently, North Carolina’s syndromic surveillance trend for COVID-like illness is decreasing over the last 14 days.
  • Sustained Leveling or Decreased Trajectory of Lab-Confirmed Cases Over 14 Days. Currently, North Carolina’s trajectory of lab-confirmed cases over the last 14 days cases is still increasing, although at a slower rate.
  • Sustained Leveling or Decreased Trajectory in Percent of Tests Returning Positive Over 14 Days. Currently, North Carolina’s trajectory in percent of tests returning positive over the last 14 days is increasing at a slow rate.
  • Sustained Leveling or Decreased Trajectory in Hospitalizations Over 14 Days. Currently, North Carolina’s trajectory of hospitalizations over the last 14 days is largely level with a sight trend upward.

In addition to these metrics, the state will continue building capacity to adequately respond to an increase in virus spread. These include:

  • Increase in Laboratory Testing. Currently, North Carolina is testing approximately 2,500 to 3,000 people per day and is working to increase to at least 5,000 to 7,000 per day.
  • Increase in Tracing Capability. Currently, North Carolina has approximately 250 people doing contact tracing across its local health departments and is working to double this workforce to 500.
  • Availability of Personal Protective Equipment. The state is working to ensure there are adequate supplies to fulfill requests for critical PPE for at least 30 days. This includes face shields, gloves, gowns, N95 masks, and surgical and procedural masks. Currently the state has less than 30 days’ supply of gowns and N95 masks. Availability of PPE is calculated based on the average number of requests for the last 14 days compared to the supply that the state has on hand.

More Information

Watch the briefing

Review the presentation

Read the press release

Read the Executive Order No. 135

Questions: Medicaid.COVID19@dhhs.nc.gov