COVID-19 Resources for Families and Providers

Sandhills Center is committed to your safety and well-being. We continue to monitor the COVID-19 (coronavirus) situation so that we can provide reputable information to our members, providers and communities. We understand that getting accurate information can help relieve some of the stress and anxiety you may be feeling during this uncertain time.

Important guidelines are posted on websites for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS). North Carolinians can ask questions by calling 211. In addition, the state has a Coronovirus Helpline that is staffed by the Poison Control Center -- 1-866-462-3821.

Sandhills Center strongly encourages you to review the links provided, below, for the most up-to-date information.

*Call your doctor immediately if you have been in contact with someone known to have COVID-19 or who has recently traveled from an area known to have community spread of COVID-19. If you don't have a physician, contact your local health department right away.*

 Last updated: 4/16/2021 (3:00 p.m.)

VACCINE INFORMATION

• Find Your Spot to Take Your Shot: Find out if you are in the currently-eligible vaccination group and where you can get your shot
• NC Vaccinations Dashboard
• Community Testing Resources 
• Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions (From the NCDHHS)
• Myths and Misconceptions about the COVID-19 Vaccine from the CDC
• Spanish-Language Vaccine Informational Videos
• NCDHHS Partner Organizations Vaccine Toolkit

FOR OUR CONSUMERS AND COMMUNITIES

SANDHILLS CENTER INFORMATION:

• Sandhills Center is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year, including holidays. Call 1-800-256-2452.
• How are you feeling? Sandhills Center Access2Care offers anonymous, confidential and free screenings for 13 behavioral health conditions, with links to resources and information about contacting Sandhills Center for further assistance.
• LME-MCOs Preserve Behavioral Healthcare Access During COVID-19 -- posted 10/30/2020

LOCAL INFORMATION:

• Anson County - County Government    Health Department
• Guilford County - County Government    Health Department
• Harnett County - County Government    Health Department
• Hoke County - County Government    Health Department
• Lee County - County Government    Health Department
• Montgomery County - County Government    Health Department
• Moore County - County Government    Health Department
• Randolph County - County Government    Health Department
• Richmond County - County Government    Health Department

NORTH CAROLINA RESOURCES AND INFORMATION:

• New Testing Tool from the NCDHHS -- There is a new digital tool available to help expand testing capacity, streamline contact tracing efforts, and provide community members with guidance on how to protect themselves and their families.

  • Check My Symptoms -- a public website that allows individuals to enter their symptoms and determine if they should get tested for COVID-19. If they are recommended to be tested, they will receive a link to a list of nearby testing sites via email or text.  Note: The symptom checker is an informational tool to help people determine if they may need to be tested, however, it is not a physician order. Testing sites may require their own screening.

• DHHS launches campaign to reach communities of color about COVID-19 (News release)
• COVID-19 Medicaid Bulletins
• For individuals in the Sandhills Center region -- Responding to COVID-19: Resources for Resilience Virtual Orientation and Listening Circle Series
• Find a local food bank near you
• From NCDPI and NCDHHS: The Meal Locator Texting Resource for Parents is available by texting FOODNC to 877-877. For Spanish-language resources, text COMIDA to 877-877. This service helps families with children ages 18 and younger to locate nearby free meal sites (pickup or drive-through) while schools are closed due to COVID-19.
• North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS)
• NC DHHS links and social media information
• NCDHHS News Release: New mental health supports for all North Carolinians, including healthcare workers and their families (Hope4NC and Hope4Healers helplines)
• Interim Home Care Guidance for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 Infection from NC DHHS.
• From NCDHHS - Sign up to receive COVID-19 information on your mobile device -- text COVIDNC to 898211.
• NCDHHS Medicaid Bulletins
• NCDHHS Fact Sheet in Spanish
• NCDHHS Fact Sheet in English
• From NC DHHS: COVID-19 informational videos in American Sign Language
• North Carolina 211, or call 211 on your telephone
• Ready NC -- information tailored to disaster/emergency planning and preparedness in North Carolina.

UNITED STATES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RESOURCES AND INFORMATION:

• Easy-To-Read COVID-19 Safety Information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• From the CDC: Prepare for Hurricanes during this pandemic.
• The White House Task Force on Coronavirus has established coronavirus.gov as the centralized website for the federal government.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Streaming information from the CDC can be found on their YouTube Channel. Click on the red “Subscribe” button to be notified each time a new video is posted.
• Print resources - Fact sheets from the CDC in multiple languages.
• From the CDC's Office of Developmental Disabilities Services - A video that explains COVID-19 in an accessible format.
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) COVID-19 Toolkit
• CDC Guidelines for Preventing the Spread of Germs
• Coping with Coronavirus, from the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH)
• Information about COVID-19 from the Social Security Administration
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) News Release - FDA Provides Update on Patient Access to Certain REMS drugs during COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (3/22/2020)

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND INFORMATION:

• National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
• A toll-free Hope Line has been established for older adults experiencing isolation from social distancing - 1-866-578-HOPE (4673).
• Financial Resilience during COVID-19 -- from the National Disability Institute
• NCDHHS News Release: New mental health supports for all North Carolinians, including healthcare workers and their families (Hope4NC and Hope4Healers helplines)
• SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline 1-800-985-5990, is a 24/7/365 national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. This toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support service is available to all residents in the United States and its territories. Stress, anxiety, and other depression-like symptoms are common reactions after a disaster. You may also text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor. The web link contains information about how to connect to the TTY phone number, and to utilize services for Spanish speakers.
• The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has a dedicated resource page for COVID-19
• Tips from the CDC for Mental Health and Coping During COVID-19
• From the CDC - Questions and Answers on Providing Services to Children with Disabilities during the Coronavirus Disease Outbreak
• From the North Carolina Council of Developmental Disabilities - COVID-19 Resources for People with Developmental Disabilities

FOR OUR NETWORK OF PROVIDERS

SANDHILLS CENTER RESOURCES AND INFORMATION:

• Sandhills Center further extends temporary Medicaid reimbusement rates for specific services (posted 3/26/2021)
• Sandhills Center again extends temporary Medicaid reimbursement rates due to COVID-19 (posted 1/4/2021)
• Sandhills Center announces further extension of temporary Medicaid reimbursement rates due to COVID-19 (posted 9/25/2020)
• Sandhills Center announces extension of temporary Medicaid reimbursement rate increases due to COVID-19 (posted 6/23/2020)
• From the Utilization Management Department: COVID-19 UM Guidance - (b)(3) Services (posted 5/7/2020)
• Important information about NC Innovations Waiver Staff Retainer Payments 
• From the Utilization Management Department: COVID-19 UM Guidance - Innovations (posted 4/29/2020)
• From the Utilization Management Department: COVID-19 UM Guidance - RB-BHT for ASD (i.e. ABA Services (posted 5/7/2020)
• From the Utilization Management Department: COVID-19 UM Guidance - Enhanced Services Codes (updated 4/21/2020)
• From the Utilization Management Department: Evaluation and Management (updated 4/1/2020)
• From the Utilization Management Department: Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation and Psychotherapy (updated 4/21/2020)
• Program and Payment Changes in Response to COVID-19 (3/25/2020)
• Sandhills Center CEO Victoria Whitt's letter to providers (3/19/2020)
• Sandhills Center Temporary Disruption to Services form (posted 3/20/2020)

NORTH CAROLINA RESOURCES AND INFORMATION:

• New Testing Tool from the NCDHHS -- There is a new digital tool available to help expand testing capacity, streamline contact tracing efforts, and provide community members with guidance on how to protect themselves and their families. 
  • Check My Symptoms -- a public website that allows individuals to enter their symptoms and determine if they should get tested for COVID-19. If they are recommended to be tested, they will receive a link to a list of nearby testing sites via email or text.  Note: The symptom checker is an informational tool to help people determine if they may need to be tested; however it is not a physician order. Testing sites may require their own screening.
• NCDHHS launches campaign to reach communities of color about COVID-19 (News release)
• For providers who need to acquire additional personal protective equipment (PPE), the NC DHHS may be able to help you. Please click here for more information.
• NCDHHS News Release: New mental health supports for all North Carolinians, including healthcare workers and their families (Hope4NC and Hope4Healers helplines)
• NC DPS and NCDHHS: Classification of North Carolina-Issued Personal Protective Equipment (posted 4/9/2020)
• NC Medicaid Telehealth Billing Code Summary (posted 4/8/2020)
• NC DHHS Joint Communication Bulletins
• NCDHHS Medicaid Bulletins
• Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Adult Care Homes and Family Care Homes
• Interim Congregate Living Settings Guidance for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Infection
• COVID-19 NC Medicaid Outpatient Pharmacy Program, Outpatient Pharmacy Policy, Pharmacy Flexibilities Summary Page from Community Care of North Carolina
• NC DHHS News Release - NC Medicaid Requests Temporary Plan Changes to Respond to COVID-19 (3/18/2020