Charlotte business claims it's still owed $100,000 from NC Tracks

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Update:

Brown has been paid $280,000, but there are denied claims that add up to more than $100,000.

A team of DHHS employees has contacted him and is working with his staff to resolve his problems.

There are several reasons for the denied claims, including incorrect taxonomy codes used for some of the providers in his practice.

Each claim will most likely be resolved at a different time, depending on the problem leading to the denial.

As of Jan. 7, NC Tracks has processed 97,096,923 claims and paid $5,367,676,421 to providers.

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NC Tracks, the state's half-billion-dollar online Medicaid system, is up and running but some local businesses said they haven't seen a dime in reimbursements.

"As you can imagine, $100,000 is a big chunk of money for a small business," said Mark Brown, Principal at Melange Health Solutions.

Brown said his company is owed that and more from NC Tracks. The system launched July 1 and Brown said since that time he hasn't seen a dime in reimbursement, forcing him to make some tough decisions at his behavioral health services agency.

"We had to furlough some staff over the December time period because we just could not get our claims paid in time."

Brown's story echoes those of doctors, medical supply companies and even dentists who reached out to Eyewitness News since the system launched, expressing frustration that they were going into the red while waiting to get paid by the state for medicaid patients. Brown said he's gotten nowhere trying to get answers from DHHS.

"It was the classic case of the runaround," he said.

Brown is taking the direct route, writing a letter to state representatives asking for help getting what he's owed, and that DHHS be held accountable for the fallout from NC Tracks.

Brown said, "NC Tracks isn't on track and there are small businesses and employees that are suffering because it's not."

As of Friday, the NC Tracks website said claims are being processed on time and the next round of checks will be written Tuesday.

Eyewitness News asked DHHS specifically about what Mark Brown is owed and when he'll be paid but have not received an answer.

Click here to see NC Tracks status page.

WSOC