Are You Going to the Forum?

Currently, the only local management entity (LME) in the state of North Carolina that operates under the “managed care” waiver is Piedmont Behavioral Health (Cabarrus, Davidson, Rowan, Stanly and Union counties), but that soon could be changing. The state of North Carolina is pushing for all LMEs in the state to switch to the same type of “managed care” waiver program which could mean drastic changes for all of those with disabilities and their caregivers. The following are noted by The Arc of North Carolina as significant changes that could occur:

• Flexibility of LME to determine rates and service definitions
• Ability to ration service dollars to most critical services
• Ability to limit provider network and other managed care benefits
• Reduction in provider choice
• Some protections associated with the Medicaid program could be reduced
• The local nature of the service system could be lost
• It is anticipated that the larger expansion of this model (statewide) will be accomplished by combining LMEs, not necessarily geographically connected

The Arc of North Carolina has announced that they will be holding a series of public forums to discuss “managed care” waivers and the impact they could have on all of us. These forums will address questions such as “What are managed care waivers?” and “How do they work?” so that all who will be affected will have a better understanding of the intention of “managed care” waivers. The following are the list of dates that these forums will take place on along with the location.

• March 3- Forsyth County- The Enrichment Center
• March 4- Union County- The Arc of Union County
• March 13- Wake County - The Arc of Wake County
• March 16- Haywood County- The Arc of Haywood County
• March 18- Guilford County-The Arcs of High Point
• March 22- Durham County- The Arc of Durham County
• March 30- Rowan County-The Arc of Rowan County
• April 15- Mecklenburg County-The Arc of Mecklenburg County
• April 29- Craven County-The Arc of Craven County

For more information on these forums and “managed care” waivers visit The Arc of North Carolina’s website at www.arcnc.org.