07/10/2024
This is awesome!!!
Dear Partners,
All of us at Blue Cross NC are deeply concerned about our agents, members, and communities in Western North Carolina after the devastation of Hurricane Helene and want you to know we are here to assist. Please see this link for the latest information and resources as well as the information below:
Hurricane Helene Relief | Blue Cross NC
Helping Our Neighbors
Blue Cross NC, Blue Cross NC Foundation Commit $2.5 Million to Helene Relief
In the wake of destruction caused by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) is taking action.
Blue Cross NC is working with local organizations, as well as state, federal and local officials, to understand the needs of our communities and determine how we can best support them with immediate relief, recovery, and long-term rebuilding. As part of this work, Blue Cross NC and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation (Blue Cross NC Foundation) are donating more than $2.5 million to local, regional and statewide relief and recovery efforts, including support for food, shelter, and supplies.
“Our family, friends and neighbors in western North Carolina are facing unbelievable loss, and we are here for them – making it easier to get the health care they need and providing immediate relief and supplies,” said Blue Cross NC CEO Dr. Tunde Sotunde. “We will continue to be there for our customers, employees, and communities as we navigate the challenges ahead together. This is how we take care of each other in North Carolina.”
Working With Local Organizations
Community organizations have mobilized to get resources to North Carolinians in need. Blue Cross NC, the Healthy Blue Medicaid managed care plan and the Blue Cross NC Foundation have partnered with organizations on the ground in western North Carolina to ensure they have the support they need to continue their work.
For example, food is a critical need for those impacted. Darnell Farm is a working farm in Swain County that serves as a hub for prescription food boxes. Healthy Blue provided funding to purchase milk, bread and food supplies to serve 2,000 families. Diaper Bank of NC is distributing diapers and other baby supplies across western North Carolina. Healthy Blue purchased 900 units of formula for distribution through the Diaper Bank, helping to meet an urgent need in the region. WNC Food Systems Coalition is distributing emergency food supplies in McDowell, Buncombe and Macon counties, and Interfaith Assistance Ministry is working with NC Medicaid to provide food and supplies to Henderson County families.
Ensuring vulnerable children and families are safe and supported is also a need in western North Carolina. Foster Family Alliance is actively helping resource families in need of assistance due to the impact of Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. Healthy Blue partnered with them to provide short term housing needs for foster families displaced by flooding. Crossnore Communities for Children provides homes for foster children in Avery, Henderson and Forsyth counties, as well as training and support for families. Healthy Blue rented a generator to provide power to a cottage housing eight young children in Avery County.
Supporting Regional & Statewide Efforts
The Blue Cross NC Foundation is donating $1 million to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund at United Way of North Carolina for rapid response, recovery and long-term rebuilding. Additional funding is being provided to the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, the Red Cross and the Diaper Bank of North Carolina.
Community Support
Blue Cross NC is also using its resources across the state to help and connecting employees to donation and volunteer opportunities. Blue Cross NC’s Corporate Center in Boone is open to the public to charge their devices, use the bathroom and access the internet. Computers are available for requesting disaster assistance, contacting loved ones and other urgent needs. In collaboration with county leadership, Healthy Blue’s mobile medic is also regularly transporting supplies to the region.
Helping Members Access Care
To provide immediate relief, Blue Cross NC is increasing the availability of health care services and helping members access the care they need as quickly as possible. More information on these actions is available at www.bluecrossnc.com/helene, and doctors, hospitals and other providers can find the latest updates on the Provider News Page.
Additional updates and developments will be shared at www.bluecrossnc.com/helene. Members can also call the number on the back of their member ID cards for help getting care.
Update: State of Disaster Declared for Western NC Counties in Response to Tropical Storm Helene
Date: 10/03/2024
October 3 Update: We’ve created a site where members and our NC communities can find the most up-to-date resources and information on Hurricane Helene relief. Share this webpage with your clients for the latest information.
This article was originally published on October 2, 2024.
On September 28, 2024, President Biden approved a major disaster declaration for several counties in North Carolina due to the effects of Tropical Storm Helene.
The State of Disaster is effective from September 25, 2024.
Affected NC counties include: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey.
To support our members during this time, we will provide any of the following if an affected member/employer group self identifies as being affected:
Deferral of premium payments for 30 days for members and employer groups in the applicable counties.
A 30-day extension for deadlines related to:
o Claims submissions
o Appeals filing
o Authorization requests of medical services
o Prior approval requirements for medical treatment
o Additions of newborn and adopted children to a policy
o Utilization management review of hospital cases
o Extension of HIPAA and COBRA eligibility deadlines
o Part C provider network access: Waive prior authorization for out-of-network requirements (Applicable for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Advantage Part D)
Affected members may also see out-of-network physicians at in-network benefit levels if no in-network physician is available.
Members living in disaster areas can get an early refill of a current drug or replace a lost/destroyed drug, if it is not a controlled substance. Members MUST make a request within 29-days of a disaster declaration, and while the declaration is in effect. Prior approval and quantity limitations for select prescription drugs would still apply.
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