Vaya Health, an Asheville-based public managed care organization for people with mental health, substance use, intellectual/developmental disability, and traumatic brain injury needs, serves 20 North Carolina counties included in President Biden’s disaster declarations following Hurricane Helene: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Caldwell, Clay, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey.
Behavioral Health Resources
Behavioral health (mental health and substance use) resources are critical during disaster response and recovery periods. Those in the communities Vaya serves can reach out to the following resources:
- Vaya’s Behavioral Health Crisis Line (1-800-849-6127) is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Vaya’s Member and Recipient Service Line (1-800-962-9003) is available Monday – Saturday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Walk-in centers help people experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis in the same way urgent care clinics help people with immediate physical health needs. You can visit a walk-in center without an appointment. Learn which walk-in centers (English) (Spanish) are open in the 32 counties Vaya serves.
- Call NC’s Peer Warmline (1-855-PEERS NC) to speak to a peer living in recovery from mental health or substance use issues
- Available 24/7
- Free and confidential
- Resources for Resilience – Find opportunities for learning and connection after Hurricane Helene. Visit Resources for Resilience Upcoming Events or email them at information@resourcesforresilience.com for more information.
Free Mental Health Support for Teens Across North Carolina in Wake of Hurricane Helene
NCDHHS is partnering with Alliance Health and Somethings to provide mental health support to teens across North Carolina. This initiative aims to offer much-needed support to youths impacted by Hurricane Helene. Somethings is a mental health platform that connects teens and young adults with Certified Peer Support Specialist mentors and can provide referrals to licensed therapists. If you’re a teen or know a teen who needs mental health support, visit somethings.com/northcarolina to get connected to support. Services are available via text and video calls after school from 3p.m. to 11 p.m. and on weekends.
Temporary Medicaid Flexibilities
NC Medicaid has issued temporary flexibilities, including the following categories:
- Expedited enrollment process for health care providers to become a NC Medicaid provider
- Expanded ability for hospital swing beds
- Reimbursement for medically necessary services
- Medication PA overrides
- Early prescription refills
- Expediting nursing home admissions for individuals displaced
- Temporary PASRR procedures
- State Plan Personal Care Services
- Private duty nursing
- Innovations and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) waiver flexibility
- Reminder: Hospital at Home Program remains active
- Flexibilities for NC Medicaid Direct only
View the latest update for Temporary Medicaid Flexibilities.
When approaching a mold removal and cleaning project, one of the most important considerations is the potential risk of mold exposure. Mold counts in the air can be 10 to 1,000 times higher than normal during a removal or cleaning project. Because of the potential health risks from mold exposure, it is advisable, particularly for larger (greater than 30 square feet) contamination situations, to contact a mold remediation contractor. Individuals who have allergies, asthma, or respiratory disease; are immunosuppressed; or have other health problems should not take part in a mold removal/cleaning project or be in the general area of the project.
To minimize exposure and/or potential health risks from conducting a mold remediation project, take the following precautions:
- Wear respiratory (nose and mouth) protection when handling or cleaning moldy materials. The minimal type of breathing mask, or respirator, that should be used for protection from mold particles is an N-95 particulate respirator approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
- Wear protective clothing that can be laundered or discarded after the project.
- Wear gloves and eye protection.
- Follow the recommended mold cleaning and removal steps to minimize dust dispersal (see Moldy Non-porous and Semi-porous Materials and Moldy Porous Materials).
Additional details and steps for addressing various types and sizes of mold remediation projects can be found on the New York City Department of Health’s website under Guidelines on Assessment and Remediation of Fungi in Indoor Environments.
See a fact sheet on cleaning and prevention for mold and moisture.
The North Carolina Association of Health Plans has shared a list of operational FastMed locations throughout the state, with some locations offering both virtual and in-person appointments (shown as “Hybrid”).
Disasters can prove extra challenging for those with disabilities and the people who support them. Community Bridges has shared resources for these communities during this time.
- Communication Tool: You can use this communication aid to help someone with an intellectual/developmental disability communicate with you, or assist you in communicating with them.
- The Disability and Disaster Hotline: If the storm has impacted you or someone you care for with intellectual and developmental disabilities, resources are available to support you. The Disability and Disaster Hotline, operated by The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies, offers critical help for those in need. If you need assistance, please call or text 800-626-4959 or email hotline@disasterstrategies.org. This hotline provides valuable information, referrals, and guidance for individuals with disabilities, their families, and the organizations supporting them.
Questions about your Insulin?
You do not necessarily need to throw away insulin that has not been refrigerated. Most is still good for up to 28 days. Learn more about Insulin Storage and Expiration.
Do you need to switch insulin products due to availability? Read more about Switching Between Insulin Products in Disaster Response Situations 2020.
Early prescription refills and prior approval overrides are available for members impacted by Hurricane Helene. Please contact the Pharmacy Service Line at 1-800-540-6083 with any medication access questions or concerns.
Federal Emergency Prescription Assistance Program For Certain Helene-Affected North Carolina Counties
The Emergency Prescription Assistance Program, or EPAP, helps people in a federally identified disaster area who do not have health insurance get the prescription drugs, vaccinations, medical supplies, and equipment that they need. This program helps people and communities better cope with a disaster and reduces stress on the health care system. People who are eligible for EPAP can file a claim at more than 72,000 retail pharmacies across the United States and its territories for prescription items that were lost, stolen, or destroyed because of a disaster. EPAP will open soon for certain Helene-impacted North Carolina counties.
Learn more about the EPAP program for Helene, including how to sign up.
Accessing Medications During an Emergency
If you or a loved one need to get prescription refills for non-controlled substances such as blood pressure and cholesterol medications, the emergency rules below apply to all pharmacies and health plans:
- Anyone can go to any open pharmacy with their prescription bottles to get a 30- or 90-day refill on their non-controlled substance medications.
- Pharmacies are allowed to refill the prescription even if there are no remaining refills.
- These emergency refill procedures cannot be used to fill prescriptions for Schedule II controlled substances, including pain medications containing hydrocodone or oxycodone and ADHD medications like Adderall and Ritalin.
- All health plans licensed to operate in North Carolina are legally responsible to allow and cover prescriptions that are otherwise being filled “too soon” by people who reside in an area that is subject to an emergency declaration.
- It is okay for someone other than the patient to pick up the prescription. Some medications may require the person picking up the medication to have a copy of the patient’s ID, but this is not the case for most medications.
For Medicaid Beneficiaries:
Medicaid providers cannot deny services, including prescription drugs, to a Medicaid beneficiary who cannot afford their copay. All NC Medicaid contracted providers, including pharmacies, must follow Medicaid policies. This extends to Medicaid benefits provided through a managed care entity like Vaya Health.
For Vaya Total Care members who evacuated or relocated due to Hurricane Helene: Call the Pharmacy Service Line (1-800-540-6083) for help finding a pharmacy near you.
County Information
- Call 828-631-HELP(4357) for assistance.
- Jackson County Emergency Management Facebook
- Jackson County Department of Social Services: Open
A phone line is being set up for anyone to call if they need assistance. The number is 828-722-5025 or 828-722-5026
To keep our 911 call center open for emergency calls, please use the following numbers for nonemergencies:
- Boone Town Hall (828-268-6200), available 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. with hours subject to change.
- Appalachian Medical Reserve Corps Non-Emergency Call Center (828-263-4178) is for nonurgent inquiries and reports related to storm impacts, available 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. If the line is busy or it’s after hours, leave a message.
- Appalachian State University’s Main Line (828-262-2000 ), available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- App State Emergency Management Facebook
- Watauga County Emergency Services Facebook
- Town of Boone Facebook
- Blowing Rock website
- Watauga County Department of Social Services: Open
- Yancey County Department of Social Services: Closed
- Please see their website for assistance
We will continue to update this page as we have more information and as conditions change.
