Center News
The Guilford Center Receives URAC Health Utilization Management, Health Network and Health Call Center Accreditations
Posted 11.17.09 The Guilford Center announced today that it has been awarded FULL accreditation for the agency’s Health Utilization Management, Health Network and Health Call Center from URAC, a Washington, DC-based health care accrediting organization that establishes quality standards for the health care industry.
According to Director Billie M. Pierce, the Guilford Center initiated its application for URAC accreditation in 2008. “This was an extensive process involving months of preparation. Accreditation required a thorough review and assessment of practices, policies and procedures to assure that the Guilford Center was in compliance with URAC’s rigorous national standards in health care management and administration.”
The Guilford Center is the department of Guilford County government that is responsible for managing, coordinating, facilitating, and monitoring the provision of mental health, developmental disabilities and substance abuse services. The Guilford Center is designated as one of North Carolina’s 24 local management entities (LMEs). LME responsibilities include offering consumers 24-hour access to services, developing and overseeing providers and handling consumer complaints and grievances.
“By applying for and receiving Health Utilization Management, Health Network and Health Call Center accreditations, the Guilford Center has demonstrated a commitment to quality health care,” said Alan P. Spielman, URAC president and CEO. “Quality health care is crucial to our nation’s welfare and it is important to have organizations that are willing to measure themselves against national standards.”
URAC Health Utilization Management (UM) standards establish consistency in UM processes. The standards ensure that appropriately trained clinical personnel conduct and oversee the utilization review process, that a reasonable and timely appeals process is in place, and that medical decisions are based on valid clinical criteria.
URAC Health Network standards encourage health care organizations to become more integrated in their operations with a strong emphasis on quality assurance and improvement. The standards cover network management and consumer protection.
URAC Health Call Center standards assure that registered nurses, physicians or other validly licensed individuals perform the clinical aspects of triage and other health information services in a manner that is timely, confidential, and includes medically appropriate care and treatment advice.Attention: Providers of State Funded Services
As we are approaching the end of the 2008-2009 Fiscal Year, we want to remind you to submit all billing for services rendered. We also want to remind you to promptly work all exceptions and denials of your billed services. This will not only ensure timely reimbursement, but will also help you maximize revenue. It will also help ensure that the Guilford Center reserves adequate funding for your contracts that begin on July 1, 2009.
We suggest you review your billing and submit any that may have gotten overlooked.
Also, as a reminder, the cutoff for 2008/09 FY is Close of Business Wednesday, June 17, 2009.
Please contact the Provider Help Desk at providerhelpdesk@guilfordcenter.com if you have any questions.
Archived Articles
On Friday, October 26, 2008, ten students graduated from the Substance Abuse Youth Intervention Team (SAY IT!) Academy. The 15-hour training was sponsored by the Guilford Center, Greensboro AHEC, the NC Evidence Based Practices Center, and Duke University.
Graduates were:
Delores Lawrence, Greensboro Public LIbrary
Karen Harris, Guilford County Schools
Nikki Moore, Guilford County Substance Abuse Coalition
Barbara Akins, Congregational Nurse, Westminster Presbyterian Church
Nancy Cordano, Congregational Nurse, Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church
Annie Hadgkiss, Guilford County Department of Court Alternatives
Paul Zanowski, Greensboro Day School
Meghan Davis, Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro
Judge Polly Sizemore, District Court
Denise Little, Guilford County Department of Social Services
The SAY IT! Academy trained individuals to recognize substance abuse issues in adolescents and to employ intervention strategies to encourage those in need to seek treatment.
The Guilford Center's Community Relations and Public Information staff participated in local planning and implementation of National Depression Screening Day. Depression screenings, sponsored by a coalition of agencies including the Guilford Center, the Mental Health Association in Greensboro, the Mental Health Association in High Point, and Moses Cone Behavioral Health, were offered on October 30, 2008, at community locations in Greensboro and High Point.
Lisa Salo, the Guilford Center's System of Care Coordinator, presented information on mental health services for children and adolescents on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, to the Guilford County Schools Health Advisory Council. The Center's Community Relations Manager, Anne Kimball, is a member of the Council.
On Wednesday, July 16, 2008, the Guilford Center sponsored an information session about the
upcoming Substance Abuse Youth Intervention Team (SAY IT!) Academy. The SAY IT!
Academy will train individuals whose interaction and involvement with the youth population
of Guilford County positions them to recognize substance abuse issues and to employ
intervention strategies in addressing these issues.
The Guilford Center’s Director, Billie Martin Pierce, has been selected as one of the Top 24 Health Care Leaders in the Triad by Triad Business Leader magazine.
Billie Martin Pierce, Director of the Guilford Center, has been appointed to serve on the Partnering to End Chronic Homelessness Leadership Council.
The Guilford Center’s substance abuse prevention providers partnered to purchase billboard space to convey several different prevention messages in both English and Spanish. These billboards bear the logos of the Family Life Council, Centro de Accion Latino, ADS, and the Guilford Center.
The Guilford Center’s Developmental Disabilities Best Practice Specialist, Tammi Grubb-Newton, was named “Professional Employee of the Year” by the Arc of High Point in May 2008.
May is Mental Health Month: The Guilford Center Children’s Community Collaborative Advisory Committee sponsored a Community Resource Fair on May 7th at Westminster Presbyterian Church. The event included a variety of speakers from the County’s human services agencies and over 30 provider booths. Dr. Michael Clark, Child Psychiatrist, was a guest on WFMY’s Good Morning Show to address the issue of suicide.
The Guilford County Board of Commissioners Approves Guilford Center's LME Business Plan
for 2007-2010
The Guilford County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved Guilford Center's LME Business Plan for 2007-2010 at its March 15, 2007 meeting. The Plan describes current operations and three-year strategic goals for six Local Management Entity (LME) functions: 1) governance and administration; 2) business and information management; 3) provider relations; 4) customer service/consumer affairs; 5) service management; and 6) quality management.
North Carolina Session Law (S.L.) 2006-142 requires that each LME submit a three-year strategic plan to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) by March 31, 2007.
Prior to writing the LME Business Plan, the Guilford Center conducted an extensive Community Stakeholder Survey to help identify the greatest community needs and develop its priorities through the year 2010. The Center’s business strategy will focus on substance abuse services, recovery model, crisis services, housing, and reduction of state hospital admissions.
The Plan will now be submitted to the State for approval.
Link to the Guilford Center's LME Business Plan 2007-2010
The Guilford Center Children's Community Collaborative Advisory Committee Sponsors May 7, 2008 Community Resource Fair
Guilford County will recognize Children's Mental Health Awareness this month by celebrating the strengths and resiliency of families of children with mental health issues. Parents, guardians, other caregivers, child care workers, and teachers are invited to a FREE Community Resource Fair on May 7 from 2-6 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 3906 West Friendly Avenue, Greensboro. The event is sponsored by the Guilford Center Children's Community Collaborative Advisory Committee. Activities will include a variety of speakers from the County's human services agencies, over 30 provider booths, light refreshments and lots of valuable information. Children's activities are planned throughout the afternoon, featuring the arrival of a real fire truck and firefighters from the City of Greensboro Fire Department at 5 p.m. The Community Resource Fair is the perfect opportunity to have fun while learning more about the resources and mental health services that are available for children in Guilford County.
The list of agencies participating includes: the Guilford County Department of Public Health, the Guilford Center, the Guilford County Department of Social Services, the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Guilford County Schools, the Hope Project and Foster Parent Association.
For more information, call:
Lisa Salo
System of Care Coordinator
Guilford Center
lsalo@guilfordcenter.com
641.4962
State Announces Transition Timelines Regarding Medicaid Utilization Review
In April, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Carmen Hooker Odom announced that ValueOptions (VO) would be providing Utilization Review (UR) services for all North Carolina Medicaid covered mental health, developmental disabilities and substance abuse services. more…
Solicitation of Proposals to Receive MH/DD/SAS Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SAPTBG) Funds for HIV Early Intervention Services SFY 06-07
In anticipation of an award for this program, The Guilford Center is completing a competitive bid process to choose a local non-profit provider for HIV Early Intervention Services for at risk substance abusing clients at the site of SA treatment. more…
The Guilford Center Begins the Process of Transitioning Consumers to New Service Providers
As required by state mental health reform, The Guilford Center is accelerating its efforts to transition consumers who receive clinical care at its facilities to new private state-endorsed service providers.
The Center held Provider Fairs during the month of April, in Greensboro and High Point, to give consumers the opportunity to meet and learn more about the organizations that have been approved to provide services. more…
North Carolina Initiates Problem Gambling Program
Legislation that created the North Carolina education lottery allocated a portion of the lottery funds to develop a statewide program to address gambling addiction disorder. more…
Notice of Request for Proposal (RFP) Process for
Adult Substance Abuse Treatment Services
The Guilford Center is soliciting proposals from qualified non-profit providers and will select one or more vendor(s) to provide Adult Substance Abuse Treatment Services for eligible Guilford County residents, beginning on or about November 1, 2006. more…
State requires letters of notification for termination of Medicaid service
All Medicaid recipients must be notified in writing of the termination of any Medicaid service that results from the recently approved changes in service definitions. Notification must be made prior to March 20, 2006, the date for implementation of the changed definitions. more…
State Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services announces important changes in incident and death reporting system
Director of the North Carolina Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services, Mike Moseley, released a February 9, 2006 memo to all Local Management Entities outlining important changes in incident and death reporting. more…
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approves Enhanced Benefit Service Definitions
The NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services announced CMS approval of the Medicaid State Plan Amendment (SPA) that provides for new and enhanced services for individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders. more…
The Guilford Center Partners with CenterPoint Human Services on Medicaid Utilization Review and After-Hours Screening, Triage and Referrals
The Guilford Center and CenterPoint Human Services have filed a joint letter of intent with the state establishing a four county partnership (Guilford, Davie, Forsyth, Stokes) for the provision of Utilization Review (UR) and after-hours screening, triage, and referral (STR) functions. more…
Medicare Part D means important changes for The Guilford Center’s consumers
Anyone who currently has Medicare Part A and/or Part B, including people who have both Medicare and Medicaid, can join a Medicare prescription drug plan in their area. Enrollment began November 15, 2005 and lasts through May 15, 2006. The Part D program pays for prescription drug costs similar to other insurance plans. more…
The Guilford Center graduates area’s first Peer Support Specialist employment training class
The Guilford Center is among the first Local Management Entities in North Carolina to initiate a Peer Support Specialist (PSS) Employment Training Program. The concentrated PSS training course took place in November. Eighteen graduates were honored in a ceremony held on Friday, December 9. more…
Notice of Request for Proposal (RFP) Process for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Mental Health Treatment Services
The Guilford Center is soliciting proposals from qualified non-profit providers and will select one vendor to provide Mental Health Treatment Services for eligible Deaf and Hard of Hearing consumers. more…
Notice of Request for Proposal (RFP) Process for Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Services
The Guilford Center is soliciting proposals from qualified for-profit and non-profit providers and will select one vendor to Provide Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Services for eligible Guilford County adolescent residents. more…
Notice of Request for Proposal (RFP) Process for MAJORS Program
(Managing Access for Juvenile Offender Resources and Services)
The Guilford Center is soliciting proposals from qualified non-profit providers and will select one vendor to Provide MAJORS Program Services for eligible Guilford County residents. more…
Notice of Request for Proposal (RFP) Process for At Risk Supported Employment Program
The Guilford Center is soliciting proposals from qualified providers and will select one vendor to Provide Supported Employment services for eligible Guilford County At Risk youth residents (ages 16 and 17). more…
The Guilford Center to host Respite Provider Fair
The Guilford Center will host a Respite Provider Fair on Thursday, March 16, 2006 from 4:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. more…
Joan Landreth Named Runner Up For Statewide
Outstanding Community Support/Case Manager Award
Joan Landreth, Case Manager for Children and Youth with The Guilford Center in Greensboro, was among three professionals honored at the 18th Statewide Community Support/Targeted Case Management Conference, sponsored by the North Carolina Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services and Northwest AHEC. more…
Area Authority offering
Requests for Proposals (RFP) for Adult Day, Vocational Services
The Guilford County Area Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities
and Substance Abuse Authority (DBA The Guilford Center Behavioral
Health & Disability Services) is requesting collaborative
proposals from private or public, non-profit or for-profit organizations
or public institutions more…
Service Definitions
implementation delayed
The NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and
Substance Abuse Services has extended the time when new Service
Definitions will be implemented. more…
Facility Based Crisis
Services RFP
The Guilford Center Behavioral Health & Disability Services
(also known as the Guilford County Area Mental Health, Developmental
Disabilities and Substance Abuse Authority) is requesting proposals
from private or public, nonprofit or for-profit organizations
or public institutions to provide Facility Based Crisis Services
for our consumers. Services must be provided in Guilford County. more…
Guilford agency,
employee wins statewide awards
The Guilford Center Behavioral Health & Disability Services
and one of its staff members won two statewide awards given by
a consortium of agencies in recognition of Mental Health Evidence-Based
Practice. more…