SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #229: Direct Care Worker Eligibility and Portal Guidance Clarifications
Follow-Up information after Office Hours and provider questions

Follow-Up information after Office Hours and provider questions

This bulletin REPLACES SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #228: Direct Care Worker One-Time Bonus Deadline Extended.

The Current Operations Appropriations Act of 2021 approved a NC Medicaid budget provision for one-time bonuses up to $2,000 for eligible direct care workers (DCWs) and support staff. NC Medicaid's goal is to provide a bonus that is as close to the legislative goal of $2,000 as possible. See SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #212 for eligibility, submission process and timeline information.

The final deadline for submission has been extended from Feb. 4, 2022, to Feb. 11, 2022. For providers who submit information by the original deadline of the Jan. 31, 2022, NC Medicaid will pay by March 1, 2022.

For providers who submit information after Jan. 31, 2022, but by Feb. 11, 2022, NC Medicaid will pay by March 31, 2022.

Eligibility Portal Registration:

The DCW NPI Primary Location Code look-up PDF has been updated to include the primary location code for each provider. Providers should use the NPI and location combinations on this form for portal registration. If multiple locations are assigned to an NPI, they will appear for selection on the One-Time bonus eligibility form.

  • Providers submitting for multiple NPIs eligible for the one-time bonus have the following registration options:
  1. Identify one authorized user for each NPI. These individual users will register using the NPI and location code look-up file to complete the one-time bonus submission form.
  2. One authorized user may submit for all NPIs if that user registers for each NPI using separate business email addresses.
  • Providers submitting for a single service location under one NPI, or for multiple service locations under one NPI should continue to register using the NPI and location code combinations found in the DCW Provider Eligibility List PDF; example: 123456789-001.

The DCW Provider Eligibility List will remain available for Provider inquiry into which locations are eligible for the bonus under each NPI.

Submission of DHSR License Number is no longer required on the Eligibility Form.

Direct Care Worker Eligibility Clarifications:

  • Employees who work for multiple NPIs under the same eligible employer/entity are eligible and should be submitted under only one NPI.
  • Employees who meet the 1,000-hour requirement for multiple NPIs under the same eligible employer/entity are eligible and should be submitted under only one NPI.
  • Employees who work for the same provider NPI at multiple locations are eligible and should be submitted under only one NPI location.
  • Employees who meet the 1,000-hour requirement across multiple locations for the same NPI are eligible and should be submitted under only one NPI location.

Provider Eligibility Clarifications:

  • Facilities that are no longer open or in business are not eligible for the DCW one-time bonus.
  • Providers who believe themselves to be eligible and do not see their NPIs included on the NPI/location code look-up PDF should email the Medicaid.DCW.HelpDesk@dhhs.nc.gov with their NPI and the subject line [PORTAL]. Please be patient as the help desk is addressing a high volume of inquiries.

Service Eligibility Clarifications:

  • The One-Time Bonus FAQs have been updated with a list of eligible Behavioral Health services.
  • Eligible telehealth services information will be provided soon.

Related Topics: