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Attachment 1 4 <br /> ORANGE LME/MCO <br /> COUNTY Disengagement Plan <br /> NORTH CAROLINA <br /> Purpose <br /> On November 6, 2020, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved <br /> moving forward with disengaging from its current LME/MCO, to Alliance Health. North Carolina law <br /> authorizes and prescribes the process through which a county may disengage from one LME/MCO <br /> and realign with another. This Disengagement Plan is a description of Orange County's realignment <br /> from Cardinal Innovations Healthcare (Cardinal) to Alliance Health. Alliance Health is a Local <br /> Management Entity/Managed Care Organization (LME/MCO), a local political subdivision of the state <br /> that currently manages mental health, traumatic brain injury, substance use and <br /> intellectual/developmental disability services for residents in Durham, Wake, Cumberland and <br /> Johnston counties. Members of the Alliance Health Plan are insured by Medicaid or are uninsured. <br /> Currently, our behavioral health services are managed by Cardinal. However, the BOCC has <br /> considered our preference for an LME/MCO, and we believe the most effective system for our <br /> citizens and community would connect Orange County with the other counties in the Research <br /> Triangle, namely Durham and Wake counties. Alliance Health shares Orange County's goal and <br /> priority of ensuring a community network of basic human services and infrastructure that maintains, <br /> protects, and promotes the well-being of all county residents. It is in consideration of this goal that <br /> the Orange County BOCC chose to pursue a relationship with Alliance Health to manage its <br /> Medicaid, State, County and other publicly funded behavioral health services for our residents. <br /> Orange County is pursuing this relationship with Alliance with the intention of completing the <br /> transition prior to Alliance's launch as a Tailored Plan (if awarded a contract) as part of North <br /> Carolina's Medicaid Transformation. <br /> Our primary focus is to carry out this process with transparency, commitment to our community, <br /> and the involvement of those who will be impacted by the change. This plan outlines the process <br /> for Orange County's disengagement from Cardinal and its realignment with Alliance. Alliance has <br /> committed to working collaboratively with Orange County, Cardinal, and other applicable <br /> stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition for those involved. Orange County has every confidence <br /> and expectation that Cardinal will work collaboratively and cooperatively throughout the transition <br /> process. <br /> I. BACKGROUND <br /> North Carolina General Statutes and the North Carolina Administrative Code authorize and <br /> prescribe the process through which a county may seek permission to disengage from one <br /> LME/MCO and realign with another. The final decision-making authority rests with the Secretary of <br /> the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). <br />