MECKLENBURG COUNTY

Via Email and USPS Mail

June 2, 2021

Dr. Mandy K. Cohen, MD, MPH Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services 2001 Mail Services Center Raleigh, NC 27699-2001

Dear Secretary Cohen,

On November 4, 2020, Mecklenburg County's Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to begin the process of disengagement from Cardinal Innovations Healthcare as outlined in 10A NCAC 26C .0702 of NC's Administrative Code. The County continued to explore opportunities on ways to address the concerns expressed with Cardinal's service delivery. These efforts were not successful. On June 1, 2021, the Mecklenburg County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously with one abstention to officially begin the disengagement process from Cardinal Innovations and realign with Alliance Health. Please accept this letter and resolution as Mecklenburg County's written notice of intent to disengage from Cardinal Innovations HealthCare and realign with Alliance Health.

Mecklenburg County has developed a disengagement plan. This plan was presented to and adopted by the Board of County Commissioners on June 1st, 2021. Pursuant to 10A NCAC 26C.0701, this plan will be published on the following websites: www.MeckNC.gov and www.AllianceHealthPlan.org.

th By June 4 , 2021 Mecklenburg County will notify counties within the catchment area of Cardinal Innovations and Alliance Health and the providers impacted by disengagement. Mecklenburg County will begin to accept public comment on the disengagement plan on June th 7 , 2021. We will also solicit comments from consumers, advocates, self-advocates, and State and Local Consumer and Family Advisory Committees using locally established communication methods, such as mailings, routine stakeholder meetings, press releases, and social media messages. We will post these comments on our website.

600 East 4th Street• Charlotte, North Carolina 28202-2835 • (980) 314-2900; Fax: (704) 336-5887 www .mecklenburgcountync.gov We appreciate you and your team's collaboration on this matter during the last few months. We look forward to working together on our realignment with Alliance Health to ensure our community members have the best behavioral health services possible . .T; eJ~ Dena R. Diorio Mecklenburg County Manager

Cc: Counties in the Cardinal Innovations Healthcare and Alliance Healthcare Catchment Areas

Senator , Co-Chair [email protected] NC General Assembly, Joint Legislative Committee on Health and Human Services 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 308 Raleigh, NC 27603

Representative , Co-Chair [email protected] NC General Assembly, Joint Legislative Committee on Health and Human Services 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 303 Raleigh, NC 27603

Representative , District 102 [email protected] NC General Assembly 16 West Jones Street, Room 1221 Raleigh, NC 27601-1096

Representative , District 106 Carla [email protected] 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 403 Raleigh, NC 27603-5925 Representative Kelly M. Alexander, Jr., District 107 [email protected] 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 404 Raleigh, NC 27603-5925

Representative John Autiy, District 100 [email protected] 16 West Jones Street, Room 1019 Raleigh, NC 27601-1096

Representative Mary Belk, District 88 [email protected] 16 West Jones Street, Room 1313 Raleigh, NC 27601-1096

Representative John R. Bradford, III, District 98 [email protected] 300 N. Salisbmy Street, Room 530 Raleigh, NC 27603-5925

Representative Teny M. Brown, Jr., District 92 [email protected] 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 602 Raleigh, NC 27603-5925

Representative , PHD, District 105 [email protected] 16 West Jones Street, Room 1321 Raleigh, NC 27601-1096

Representative , District 103 [email protected] 16 West Jones Stt·eet, room 1111 Raleigh, NC 27601-1096

Representative , District 104 [email protected] 16 West Jones Street, Room 131 7 Raleigh, NC 27601-1096

Representative Carolyn G. Logan, District 101 [email protected] 300 N. Salisbmy Street, Room 603 Raleigh, NC 27603-5925

Representative , District 99 [email protected] 16 West Jones Street, Room 1008 Raleigh, NC 27601-1096 Senator Jeff Jackson, District 3 7 [email protected] 16 West Jones Street, Room 1104 Raleigh, NC 27601

Senator Natasha R. Marcus, District 41 N [email protected] 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 519 Raleigh, NC 27603

Senator Mujtaba A. Mohammed, District 3 8 [email protected] 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 517 Raleigh, NC 27603

Senator Deandrea Salvador, District 39 DeAndrea. [email protected] 16 West Jones Street, Room 1120 Raleigh, NC 27601

Senator , District 40 Joyce. W [email protected] 16 West Jones Street, Room 1113 Raleigh, NC 27601 600 East Fourth Street Mecklenburg County Charlotte, NC 28202

Legislation Details (With Text)

File#: 21-6931 Version: 1 Name: Disengagement from Cardinal Innovations Healthcare Type: Manager's Report Status: Manager's Report File created: 5/27/2021 In control: County Manager's Office On agenda: 6/1/2021 Final action: Title: Disengagement from Cardinal Innovations Healthcare Sponsors: Indexes: Code sections: Attachments: 1. 21-6931 Mecklenburg County - Disengagement Plan.pdf, 2. 21-6931 Revised Disengagement Resolution Revised.pdf Date Ver. Action By Action Result

Title Disengagement from Cardinal Innovations Healthcare

Action ACTION: Authorize the County Manager to post a Disengagement Plan, issue a Letter of Intent, and notify those parties required by law of Mecklenburg County's intent to disengage from Cardinal Innovations Healthcare.

Staff Contact: Dena Diorio, County Manager

Presentation: No

BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION: In April 2014, Cardinal Innovations was named as the Local Management Entity/Managed Care Organization (LME/MCO) for Mecklenburg County. Since aligning with Cardinal Innovations, Mecklenburg County has experienced significant issues in the delivery of behavioral health services to Mecklenburg County residents.

Some of these concerns have included a limited network of behavioral health providers, fragmented discharge planning and inappropriate levels of placement. Mecklenburg County staff attempted to

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work with Cardinal to address these concerns and develop a plan going forward, yet the issues persist.

On November 4, 2020, Mecklenburg County's Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to authorize the County Manager to explore disengagement from Cardinal.

Pursuant to the NC General Statutes, the Board needs to authorize the County Manager to solicit public comments on such plan and to work in coordination with the County Attorney and staff to continue the process of disengagement from Cardinal Innovations Healthcare.

PROCUREMENT BACKGROUND: N/A

POLICY IMPACT: N/A

FISCAL IMPACT: N/A

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