Tobacco Cessation (Stopping the Use of Tobacco)
Tobacco use and vaping cause serious health problems. Quitting can improve your health, protect your loved ones from secondhand smoke and save you money. Alliance partners with QuitlineNC to offer free coaching support and nicotine replacement therapy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Quitline NC’s tobacco cessation program offers 14 weeks of nicotine replacement therapy for people with Medicaid. Its e-cigarette and vaping program offer online and texting support, and has a specialized texting program targeted to teens and young adults. Your provider or Tailored Plan care manager can refer you to QuitlineNC or you can contact them directly by calling 800-QUITNOW. You can also call our Member and Recipient Services Line at 800-510-9132 for assitance.
Tobacco Free Campuses
Breathe Easy NC is a statewide initiative to help people with behavioral health conditions, I/DD or TBI become tobacco free by working with service providers to include tobacco use treatment and make campuses tobacco free. To support longer, healthier and happier lives, NC Medicaid requires contracted medical, behavioral health, and some I/DD and TBI organizations to provide a 100% tobacco-free campus as of July 1, 2022. I/DD residential facilities under the Home and Community-Based Services rule are not required to be tobacco-free. This requirement improves the health of the people Alliance serves by supporting tobacco cessation and protecting people from secondhand smoke. Get more information on tobacco-free campuses.
Opioid Misuse Prevention Program
Opioids are powerful prescription medicines that can be the right choice for treating severe pain. However, opioids may also have serious side effects such as addiction and overdose. Alliance Health supports safe and appropriate opioid use through our Opioid Misuse Prevention Program. If you have questions, call Member and Recipient Services at 800-510-9132.
Pain Management
For people with chronic pain, responsible use of opioids can be an effective treatment, but the opioid misuse epidemic has called attention to the risks. There are non-opioid medicines and other therapies that can be used to manage chronic pain. Your care manager can help you work with your primary care provider to connect you to resources to manage your chronic pain. Learn more about pain management.
Lock Your Meds
Make sure your medicines do not become part of the problem. Secure them properly or learn about disposal sites and options. Get more information about securing or safely disposing of your medications.
Naloxone
Naloxone can help prevent opioid deaths by reversing the effects of opiates. Just like people with allergic reactions may carry epinephrine injectors, people carry naloxone in case of an opioid overdose. Naloxone can be given by a family member, friend or caregiver, and often saves lives in the critical minutes until medical help arrives. You can request naloxone without a prescription at a pharmacy or your local health department through the North Carolina Standing Order for Naloxone. Get more information on Naloxone and participating pharmacies.
Treatment
For people misusing opiates, recovery is possible. Alliance Health offers substance use treatment including medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Your care manager can help link you to MOUD treatment or you can find a provider by calling Member and Recipient Services at 800-510-9132 or by visiting the Alliance website.
Pharmacy Lock-In Program
The Alliance Health Pharmacy Lock-In Program helps identify members at risk for possible overuse or improper use of pain medicines (opioid analgesics) and nerve medicines (benzodiazepines and certain anxiolytics). The program also helps identify members who get the medicines from more than one prescriber (doctor, nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant). If you qualify for this program, Alliance Health will only pay for your pain medicines and nerve medicines when:
- Your medicines are ordered by 1 prescriber. You will be given a chance to pick a prescriber in Alliance Health’s network, and
- You have these prescriptions filled from 1 pharmacy. You will be given a chance to pick a pharmacy in Alliance Health’s network.
If you qualify for the Alliance Health Pharmacy Lock-In Program, Alliance will notify you in writing that you are subject to the Lock-In Program and you will be in the program for a 2-year period. If you do not agree with our decision that you should be in the program, you can appeal our decision before you are placed in the program (see appeals page for more information on appeals).
Complex Case Management Program
The Complex Case Management program helps our members and their families achieve their goals following discharge from the Learning Enriched Autism Program, a specialty psychiatric residential treatment program for dually diagnosed children with mental health and co-occurring autism. This program provides extensive care coordination to children with complex needs. Children with complex needs often face many challenges in getting the help they need.
Members eligible for this program will work with Complex Case Management program care coordination staff to:
- Complete assessments to identify their areas of need, and
- Develop a plan of care to address the needs identified.
Complex Case Management program care coordination staff will support the member’s family to create a team that brings together community partners, medical staff, natural supports, and family in treatment planning and decision making. The goal is to reduce barriers to plan for moving back into the community with the right services and supports in place.
For more information contact Member and Recipient Services at 800-510-9132.
