Topics Related to Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services

Join Benchmarks' President and CEO, Karen McLeod, along side Jay Ludlam from NC Medicaid and Kelly Crosbie from NC MHDDSUS, as they unpack the latest trends and updates in behavioral health. Topics will include (but are not limited to): DHHS Updates for Medicaid, Transformation, Standard Plans, Tailored Plans, Healthy Opportunities, Children & Families Specialty Plan, Other Medicaid Waiver Updates and more.

Medicaid is the largest payer of opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment in the United States, covering an estimated 40% of adults under the age of 65 with OUD, and plays additional roles in supporting recovery services by funding peer recovery coaches and health-related social needs, and prevention initiatives such as school-based health services. Please join guest speakers as they discuss the most recent data on the vital role of Medicaid in preventing overdose deaths, proposed changes to Medicaid programs, and their potential impact on the U.S. opioid and overdose crisis.

The Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) Legislative Caucus will be holding a Listening Session on March 26th from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm at the NC General Assembly. Speaker slots are being filled, but North Carolina individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and family members can attend.

Over the last six years, 38 states have legalized sports gambling with 30 of these states permitting online sports betting. In March of 2024, North Carolina became the most recent state to join this majority allowing online sports betting. Nationwide calls to problem gambling helplines and reports of harm related to gambling have been on the rise. North Carolina is no exception.

Join recovery professionals, advocates, and community members for two days of networking, discussions, and workshops focused on strengthening recovery efforts across North Carolina. The symposium is free of charge.

Join us each month to learn about policies and programs that affect the MH/IDD/SU/TBI community. The goal of this webinar is to bring everyone together in one (virtual) place. This group includes consumers, families, advisory groups, LME/MCOs, community members and partner organizations. Side by side, we will work together to better understand and improve our system. We will listen closely to one another and we will share ideas for public policy that will improve lives in NC. This month’s topic was Substance Use Services and Programming.

In this webinar, DMHDDSUS shares resources available through the Connections App, a free digital tool that provides peer support and care management tools for individuals during treatment and recovery. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has partnered with CHESS Health and Trillium Health Resources to provide critically needed support for North Carolinians working toward recovery from substance use disorders.

The Innovations Waitlist Dashboard provides valuable insights into needs of individuals on the waitlist, working to ensure they receive the services and support necessary to thrive in their communities. The Innovations Waitlist Dashboard combines data from LME/MCOs to provide monthly insights on individuals on the waitlist.

Presentation (PPT, 799 KB)