Do People With Diabetes Need to Fast Longer Before Surgery?

  Expert Identifies Noteworthy Study Limitations   (Medscape, Miriam Tucker) -- People with diabetes don't have higher gastric volumes than those without diabetes after following standard preoperative fasting instructions, suggested a study from a team of anesthesiologist researchers. However, an endocrinologist faulted the study in part because the participants appeared to…

Early Voting Ends Saturday! Meet Your NCMS Member Candidates Here

In-Person Early Voting Ends May 11 The nation is at the six month mark for the November election. In North Carolina, there are tight races across the state.  The run-off election is May 14, but early in-person voting ends soon. The North Carolina Medical Society has interviewed several member candidates on issue important to members.  Click here to see what they have to say. Overview…

NCMS is Celebrating 175 Years!

The North Carolina Medical Society is moving into celebration mode!  As the 175th Anniversary Gala gets closer, the headquarters building is getting spruced up! Check the new sign and flags on Person Street the next time you are in Raleigh (we are right behind the Governor's Mansion). A special thanks to Garry Linton and Kristen Shipherd for the design and creation of these new banners!…

Celebrating AAPI Month at Duke Hospital!

Traveling Mural Symbolizes Connection within Duke’s Asian American and Pacific Islander Community (Duke News, Bernadette Gillis) --  May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The Duke Asian American and Pacific Islander Affinity Group will kick off a month of celebrations with the unveiling of a unique traveling mural at Duke Regional Hospital on May 3. The unveiling is the…

New Research: Genes Known to Increase Risk of Alzheimer’s May be Inherited

A gene long understood to increase the risk of Alzheimer's should be considered an inherited form of the disease, researchers say. (CNN) -- Alzheimer’s disease may be inherited more often than previously known, according to a new study that paints a clearer picture of a gene long known to be linked to the common form of dementia. Authors of the study, published Monday in the journal Nature…

Today is Melanoma Monday. Stay Safe with These Skin Cancer Tips.

Today is Melanoma Monday   The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) began Melanoma Monday on Monday, May 1, 1995, and has observed it every year since. Melanoma Monday always occurs during Skin Cancer Awareness Month on the first Monday in May. Key facts to know about melanoma Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer. In 2024, it’s estimated that more than 200,340 melanomas…

NC Medicaid Providing Free Educational Materials for Your Patients

  NC Medicaid is providing free, printed educational materials for partners to distribute to individuals and families seeking more information about Medicaid expansion and enrollment. The print orders will contain: 200 bilingual Day 1 Flyer 200 English immigration flyers and 200 Spanish immigration flyers 100 English wallet cards and 100 Spanish wallet cards 100 English…

Register Now! Medicaid Managed Care Back Porch Chat

Medicaid Managed Care Back Porch Chat: Key Medicaid Updates Thursday, May 16 | 5:30 p.m.   Join this chat on Thursday, May 16 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. for the May Back Porch Chat, hosted by Janelle White, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Medicaid, Sarah Gregosky, Chief Operating Officer, NC Medicaid, and Arianna Keil, MD, Chief Quality Officer, NC Medicaid. Get important news for all…

NCDHHS Tele-Town Hall: Medicaid Expansion, Who is Eligible and How to Apply

    The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live fireside chat and tele-town hall tomorrow, Tuesday, May 7, from 6 to 7 p.m., to discuss Medicaid expansion resources, who is newly eligible, and how to apply for health coverage. Event participants include: Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson, M.D., State Health Director and Chief Medical Officer, NCDHHS…

Register Now! NCTracks May 2024 Provider Training Schedule

  Registration is now open for the NCTracks May 2024 training courses. The courses are virtual, via Zoom, and can be attended remotely from any location. Courses offered this month include: Dental Helpful Hints Submitting a Prior Approval Medical New Office Administrator Create and Submit a PA for DME Recipient Eligibility Information ES User Role_Abbreviated…

Surprise Billing – Independent Dispute Resolution Update

  On Dec. 27, 2020, the No Surprises Act (NSA) was signed into law to address unexpected gaps in insurance coverage that result in “surprise medical bills” when patients unknowingly obtain medical services from physicians and other providers outside their health insurance network.  The NSA and its implementing regulations establish a Federal Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) process…

Is Buprenorphine Subject to the STOP Act’s Prescribing Limits?

  Recently the North Carolina Medical Board (NCMB) has received inquiries about whether prescriptions for buprenorphine that are written for the treatment of opioid use disorder are subject to prescribing limits established for certain controlled substances by the NC STOP Act of 2017. The answer is, unequivocally, no. The STOP Act places 5-7 day limits only on initial prescriptions for…

Cyberattack on UnitedHealth Firm Forces Doctors to Dig into Personal Savings

  Health providers have been struggling with fallout from the Change Healthcare cyberattack (CNBC, Ashley Capoot) -- On a Sunday in early March, Dr. Angeli Maun Akey noticed something peculiar while making payroll for her private practice in Gainesville, Florida: She was missing $19,000. Akey owns and operates a primary care practice that serves around 3,500 patients in the area, many…

CPT Codes for Ambulatory Surgery Setting Updates

Effective with date of service of January 1, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has identified the following new CPT codes as separately reimbursable in the ambulatory surgery setting: 27278 33276 33278 33279 33280 33281 33287 33288 52284 58580 64596 64598 Providers are now able to resubmit NC Medicaid Direct claims for services…

Member Benefits

What do you get for your NCMS dues dollars? From advocacy to practice solutions, your membership has its advantages. The NCMS employs a team of legislative, regulatory, and payer experts who closely monitor and respond to the latest developments that impact the profession of medicine and the care of patients. LEARN MORE... Take advantage of leadership development opportunities…

New Guidance Lowers Breast Cancer Screening Age for Women at Average Risk

  The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a major task force consisting of expert physicians providing recommendations in the primary care setting for routine medical screenings, behavioral counseling, and preventive medications, is now recommending breast cancer screening with mammograms every other year for women with an average risk of developing breast cancer, starting at age 40.…

Keep Your Patients Cool this Summer with Help from Operation Fan Heat Relief!

  The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Aging is partnering with the N.C. area agencies on aging and local service providers to distribute fans to eligible recipients through Operation Fan Heat Relief from May 1–Oct. 31. People 60 and older, as well as adults with disabilities, are eligible to sign up for assistance from May 1–Oct. 31 at local aging…

NC Medicaid Preferred Drug List Update

  Amylyx Pharmaceuticals has formally announced that Relyvrio (sodium phenylbutyrate and taurursodiol) is no longer available to new patients as of April 4, 2024. Amylyx has initiated a process with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to voluntarily discontinue the drug and remove it from the market. According to a press release from the manufacturer, patients currently…

Confused on How to Properly Remove a Tick from Your Skin? Tick Bite Bot May Help.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Tick Bite Bot is an interactive tool that will assist individuals on removing attached ticks and determining when to seek health care, if appropriate, after a tick bite. The online mobile-friendly tool asks a series of questions covering topics such as tick attachment time and symptoms. Based on the user’s responses, the tool then provides…

The Wait is Over! NCMS 2024 NCMS Photo Contest is Now Open!

Photo submissions are currently being accepted for 2024!   Now in its 16th year, the NCMS Photo Contest is an annual tradition that has gained national recognition, and we want you to be a part of it! Submissions are currently being accepted for the 2024 contest. Think you have the perfect picture to send in? Check out the rules here.  

Happy Birthday to Our Members Celebrating This Month!

Grab your party hats and noisemakers and let’s celebrate!   Ole S. Aassar, MD William B. Abernethy, Jr., MD Surafeal G. Abraha, MD Peter K. Acheampong, MD Maureen N. Achuko, MD Douglas H. Adams, MD, MPH Van L. Adams, MD Henry T. Adkins, Jr., MD Kerry E. Agnello, DO Julian S. Albergotti, Jr., MD Dustin B. Alderson, MD Fuad Y. Aleskerov, MD Chelley K. Alexander, MD Erin B.…

NC Health System Unveils Innovative Procedure to Treat Irregular Heart Rates

  Catawba Valley Medical Center (CVMC) is now offering a unique new device to treat intermittent atrial fibrillation (AFib), known as an irregularly fast heart rate. On April 25th, CVMC and Catawba Valley Cardiology performed the first procedure with the FARAPULSE™ Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) System. Approved by the FDA in January, the innovative technology is described as a catheter…

Mark Your Calendar! 2024 NC Medicaid Quality Symposium: Partnering for Performance

  The NC Medicaid 2024 Quality Symposium will highlight three topics that coincide with NC Medicaid quality improvement priorities. Presenters will share the quality improvement initiatives they have implemented to improve outcomes for Medicaid members. Click on each link below to learn more and register:   Balancing the Scales to Weight Inclusive, Whole Child Approaches…

In Memoriam: NCMS Life Member Arthur J. Prange, Jr., MD

NCMS Life member Arthur J. Prange, Jr., died Saturday, April 6. He was 97 years old. After graduating from high school, Arthur J. Prange served briefly in the U.S. Navy toward the end of World War 2. He attended college and later medical school at the University of Michigan. He graduated in medicine in 1950. After graduate training in general medicine and anesthesiology, Prange was called to…

New HHS Rule Strengthens Nondiscrimination Protections and Advance Civil Rights in Health Care

  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) advancing protections against discrimination in health care. By taking bold action to strengthen protections against discrimination on the basis of race, color, national…

New to North Carolina?

New to NC? Or just new to the profession of medicine? Have a cup of coffee on us! Share your name and email address below, and we'll send along a $10 Starbucks gift card* as our way of saying thanks and welcome to the neighborhood! *Limit one gift card per person. Individual must be a newly licensed physician or PA in the state of North Carolina. Fill out my Wufoo form!

NCIOM Names New President & CEO

Michelle Ries, MPH; Photo by Matthew Ramey   Chapel Hill, NC (April 29, 2024) -- After a leadership search led by the Board of Directors, former Associate Director Michelle Ries, MPH, has been named President and CEO of the North Carolina Institute of Medicine. “Michelle is the perfect fit to lead the North Carolina Institute of Medicine,” said Adam Sholar, NCIOM Board Chair and…

Share Your Thoughts on New Environmental Health Draft Policy

  The North Carolina Medical Society's (NCMS) Policy Committee is charged with developing policies that align with the NCMS Mission and the NCMS Guiding Principles. The Policy Committee recently came together to create a policy addressing environmental health. This policy will serve as an effective tool to guide and support NCMS advocacy efforts addressing environmental health in North…

Register Now! Side-by-Side Webinar with NCDHHS’ Mental Health Division

  Join the NCDHHS' Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services on May 6 at 2 p.m. to learn more about policies and programs that affect the Mental Health, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Substance Use Services and Traumatic Brain Injury community. The goal of these monthly webinars is to bring everyone together in one (virtual) place to…

Capitol Chronicle: North Carolina Ophthalmologists Take Priorities to Capitol Hill

  North Carolina Ophthalmologists Take Priorities to Capitol Hill On April 18, 2024, a contingent of North Carolina ophthalmologists traveled to Capitol Hill to meet with North Carolina’s members of US Senate, US House and their staff. The occasion was the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s 2024 Congressional Advocacy Day and participants included: The day included visits to all 14…

WCMS Meet-up at the Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature Reserve Park, May 4

Saturday, May 4 from 10am-1pm: WCMS Meet-up at the Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature Reserve Park WCMS Members are invited to a Saturday morning of fun, fellowship, learning, and restoration as we meet at the Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature Preserve Park in North Raleigh on Saturday, May 4 from 10am-1pm. Dr. Wilkerson was an OB/Gyn surgeon and practiced medicine for 53 years in Wake County.…

FTC Finalizes Changes to Data Privacy Rule, Bringing More Scrutiny of Digital Health Apps

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) finalized a rule Friday that aims to tighten the reins on digital health apps sharing consumers' sensitive medical data with tech companies. The agency issued a final version of its revised Health Breach Notification Rule (HBNR) to underscore the rule’s applicability to health apps in a bid to protect consumers' data privacy and provide more transparency…

NCOGS White Coat Day Scheduled for May 22

Join your colleagues for a day of legislative advocacy on May 22, 2024. Attendees will start the day at the North Carolina Medical Society headquarters at 222 N. Person Street, Raleigh, NC, and receive an overview of the latest priority issues at the General Assembly and tips on how best to build relationships with legislators. Then we’ll head down to the Legislative Building to meet with your…

NCDA White Coat Day Scheduled for May 29

Join your colleagues for a day of legislative advocacy on May 29, 2024. Attendees will start the day at the North Carolina Medical Society headquarters at 222 N. Person Street, Raleigh, NC, and receive an overview of the latest priority issues at the General Assembly and tips on how best to build relationships with legislators. Then we'll head down to the Legislative Building to meet with your…

Big Turnout at NCMS Social in Asheville

Fifty physicians and PAs enjoyed fellowship at Hi-Wire Brewing in Asheville on Tuesday, April 23. NCMS board member Martin Palmeri, MD, welcomed the group and said, “if you really want to have your voice heard and have a say in things challenging the practice of medicine, get involved in the North Carolina Medical Society.” Thanks to NCMS membership committee member, Sarah Cash, MD, new…

Measles Cases Now Highest in US Since 2019

  Several outbreaks, including one in Chicago, led to an early spike in measles cases this year. A chart shows how the case count compares to past years (NBCNews, Aria Bendix and Joe Murphy) -- This year's measles case total is now the highest of the last five years. The United States has seen 125 cases across 17 states as — its largest annual tally since 2019, according to the Centers for…

Want to Slow Down Aging? There May Be A Cheap Way To Do It.

A drug taken by millions of people to control diabetes may do more than lower blood sugar   (NPR, Allison Aubrey) -- Research suggests metformin has anti-inflammatory effects that could help protect against common age-related diseases including heart disease, cancer, and cognitive decline. Scientists who study the biology of aging have designed a clinical study, known as The TAME…

New WFU School of Medicine Study: Racial Discrimination Associated with Alzheimer’s Disease

Study Suggests Racial Discrimination During Midlife Associated with Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology Later in Life (WakeHealth) -- Racial discrimination experienced during midlife is associated with Alzheimer’s disease pathology, according to a new study from researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the University of Georgia. The findings appear online today in Alzheimer’s…

NCMS Proudly Graduates the 2024 Health Care Leadership and Management Class

Participants from across North Carolina Gather in Raleigh to celebrate! On Sunday, April 21, 2024, NCMS proudly graduated it’s 2024 Health Care Leadership and Management (HCLM) class of clinicians and health care administrators. HCLM is led by NCMS members, Drs. Genie Komives, CMO, WellCare of NC, and Bryant Murphy, Vice Chairman for Clinical Operations at UNC HealthCare. The scholars…

Foundation Friday! Doctors’ Day Special Edition

  Doctors’ Day Special Recognition On Doctors’ Day, the NCMS Foundation offered a chance to extend special recognition to individual physicians by donating $10 to the Foundation in their honor. Thank you to generous donors who felt moved to pay public tribute to the following individuals. Joseph Bell, MD Chamaine Brooks-Locklear, MD Cheryl Davis-Lowry, MD Christina Hardin-Dial, MD…

“I would be dead.” Ali Ingersoll is proof that the time is NOW for Prior Auth Reform

Ali Ingersoll, the Quirky Quad, has a powerful message about the broken healthcare system in North Carolina (photo: Ali Ingersoll) RALEIGH -- Ali Ingersoll has turned a tragic accident into a siren call for change in the American healthcare system.  She was left paralyzed at 27 and spend seven years facing life altering diagnoses, surgeries, and mountain-after-mountains to climb as she…

UnitedHealth Cyber Attack- How You Can Secure Your Practice

An Update on How to Secure Your Practice after UnitedHealth Cyber Attack On February 21, Blackcat, a ransomware group, accessed Change Healthcare’s systems and 6 TB of data. This included medical and dental records, payment information, and patient information from a variety of Change Healthcare partners. Sentinel, a risk management and benefit solutions company, has offered the following…

Questions About Telehealth? New Guidance for NC Care

Need help telling your patients where to seek telehealth?  Here is some simple guidance.   CAN I PROVIDE TELEMEDICINE TO PATIENTS OUT OF STATE? The policy guidance of the North Carolina Medical Board to licensees practicing telemedicine is that the practice of medicine occurs in the state where the patient is located.¹ If providing medicine to patients in North Carolina, the provider…

Doctors Call to Expand Syphilis Testing during Pregnancy Amid Recent Surge

A coalition of doctors are sounding the alarm on the need for increased syphilis testing for pregnant individuals, amid a recent surge of the sexually transmitted infection in U.S. newborns. (The Hill, Miranda Nazzaro) -- The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) published new guidance April 18, recommending doctors screen pregnant individuals for syphilis three times…

Former NCMS President Named President of Duke Regional Hospital

Devdutta Sangvai Takes on His Next Leadership Challenge at Duke Regional       (Duke University School of Medicine, Synclaire Cruel) --  Having a love of science, an eagerness to help people, and a propensity for leadership has propelled Devdutta Sangvai, MD, MBA, into the role of President of Duke Regional Hospital. It’s the latest achievement in his 22-year career at…

Plan Now! NCDHHS Livestream Town Hall: HPV and Cancer Prevention

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live fireside chat and tele-town hall on Tuesday, April 23, from 6 to 7 p.m., to discuss human papillomavirus (HPV) prevention as well as HPV-related cancer guidance, resources and care.   The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live fireside chat and tele-town hall on…

Mark Your Calendar for the Next DOCMS Meeting!

Join DOCMS at the University Club! Wednesday, June 5, 2024 | 6:00pm - 8:00pm University Club, 3100 Tower Boulevard, Suite 1700 - Durham, NC 27707 AGENDA:  6:00pm- 6:30pm – Socializing & Housekeeping 6:30pm- 7:30pm – Dinner & Guest Speaker 7:30pm- 7:45pm – Q&A 7:45pm- 8:00pm – DOCMS 2024 Business “The Criminal Legal System, Incarceration and Health…

Medicare’s Push to Improve Chronic Care Attracts Businesses, but Not Many Doctors

Medicare enrollees with two or more chronic conditions are eligible for Chronic Care Management, which pays doctors to check in with those patients monthly. The service hasn't caught on. (NPR, Phil Galewitz, Holly K. Hacker) --  Carrie Lester looks forward to the phone call every Thursday from her doctors' medical assistant, who asks how she's doing and if she needs prescription refills. The…

NC Commission for the Blind Call for Nominees

  The NCMS has an opportunity to appoint a new member to the NC Commission for the Blind. This appointment will fill an unexpired term until 6/30/25. Learn more about responsibilities of the NC Commission for the Blind here. The commission serves in an advisory capacity on issues relating to services for persons with disabilities, especially independent living programs and services.…