Hurricane Helene Response and Recovery
Governor Roy Cooper issued Executive Order 315 on September 25, 2024, which declared a state of emergency for North Carolina in anticipation of potential severe weather caused by the approach of Hurricane Helene. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is committed to North Carolina's response to and recovery from Hurricane Helene. We are working with county and federal partners to make it faster and easier for Healthy Blue beneficiaries to receive, and for healthcare professionals to provide, Medicaid care and services.
Reference the
NC Medicaid Temporary Flexibilities Due to Hurricane Helene
for more information regarding flexibilities effective between September 26 and October 15, 2024, unless otherwise communicated by North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) for the NC Medicaid program, including NC Medicaid Direct and NC Medicaid Managed Care.
If you have any questions about this notice, call Healthy Blue Provider Services at 844-594-5072, send an email to
nc_provider@healthybluenc.com
, or contact your dedicated Healthy Blue provider relationship account consultant.
Are you in North Carolina and impacted by Hurricane Helene? Visit the
North Carolina Department of Public Safety
(NCDPS) website or the
Red Cross
to find local resources and get updates.
The North Carolina Psychiatry Access Line (NC-PAL) has resources that may be helpful in supporting patients, families, communities, and colleagues:
- Clinical resources: The National Child Traumatic Stress Network has numerous resources to help communities, families, and children navigate the impacts of natural disasters, acknowledge their feelings, and find ways to cope together. Visit the
Hurricane Resources | The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
for more information.
- Helplines: For anyone dealing with emotional distress related to disasters, call or text the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990 (Press 2 for Spanish). For mental health support from a trained mental health professional, text 988. To speak to a peer living in recovery from mental health or substance use issues, call 855-PEERS NC.
- Additional resources: For information on North Carolina Medicaid temporary flexibilities due to Hurricane Helene visit
Recent Blogs | NC Medicaid
. For information on road conditions, power outages, shelters, and more, visit the
Plan. Prepare. Stay Informed. | Ready NC
website.
Be safe and do not travel to impacted areas.
If you have any questions about this notice, contact Healthy Blue Provider Services at 844-594-5072, email NC_Provider@healthybluenc.com, or contact your dedicated Healthy Blue Provider Relationship Account Consultant.
Providers may request hardship payments due to the impacts of natural disasters. Providers can initiate a hardship advance payment request by completing the
Provider Hardship/Stabilization Assistance Request
form and emailing it to NC_provider@healthybluenc.com.
Medicaid Expansion Tools and Resources
As of December 1, 2023, more North Carolinians are able to get health coverage through Medicaid.
To help North Carolinians know who is eligible and how to apply, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has a website that contains a bilingual toolkit and a sign-up form to stay updated on the most current information about how more North Carolinians will be able to get health coverage through Medicaid.
You can use these tools with your networks and communities.
Ensure our members are equipped to renew their Medicaid benefits
Help Healthy Blue members prepare to renew their Medicaid healthcare coverage and benefits by educating them on what documents are needed to ensure their renewal form is completed accurately. Members can submit their renewal form via web (preferred), phone, fax, mail, or in person.
If you have questions about eligibility, benefits, authorizations, claims status, and more, log in to Availity Essentials* and select Chat with Payer. For additional support, please use the following resources or contact us if more clarification is needed.
