Even if your practice is not yet connected to the new state-run North Carolina Health Information Exchange (HIE) you may continue to see Medicaid patients. As the new NC HIE launched today, March 1, some practices have erroneously concluded if they are not part of the HIE, they are no longer eligible to see Medicaid patients.
Only “legacy” practices – those who were already part of the HIE – were required to submit a new participation agreement several weeks ago in anticipation of the launch of the new HIE.
Eventually, all practices seeing Medicaid patients will need to be part of the NC HIE, however, that is not mandated by the Medicaid reform legislation passed last fall until 2018. Today’s launch is just the next step in the lengthy process of transferring the HIE to the state authority.
Please send any questions to [email protected].