Happy Birthday to Our Members Celebrating This Month!

Grab your party hats and noisemakers and let’s celebrate!

 

Zachary A. Aberman, MD
Jennifer H. Adair, PA-C
John E. Adams, MD
Adeyinka A. Adegoroye, MD
Muhammad N. Ahmed, MD
Richard E. Akers, MD
J. McClees Aldridge, III, MD
Herbert R. Allen, Jr., MD
James L. Allen, MD
Nana Akua Amponsah, PA-C
James D. Anderson, MD
Eileen S. Andres, PA-C
Rebecca Anketell, DO
Vittorio Antonacci, MD
James H. Antoszyk, MD
Bryan S. Apple, MD
Matthew A. Applebaum, MD
Luis Alberto I. Arce, MD
Niti Armistead, MD
Ryan M. Aronberg, MD
Godfried A. Arthur, MD
Anthony L. Asher, MD, FACS
Mohammed A. Athar, MD
William E. Austin, MD
Samina A. Aziz, MD
Ghobad Azizi, MD
Karen R. Babcock, MD
Kathryn M. Baerman, MD
Richard S. Bahner, MD
Mubashir H. Bahrami, MD
Nancy C. Ballantyne, MD
Juliana Ballestero, MD
Mohammad H. Baloch, MD
Susan M. Bane, MD
Luz J. Barahona, MD
William M. Barrett, MD
Paul D. Barry, MD
Linda A. Bassett-Shaftoe, MD
Ali Batouli, MD
Nicole S. S. Beaufort, MD
Anna G. Becker, PA-C
John D. Bell, MD
Joseph T. Bell, MD, FAAP
Tracy L. Bell, PA-C
William H. Bell, III, MD
Ariel N. Berry, PA
Teresa G. Biggerstaff, DDS, MD
Kathryn F. Black, PA-C
Shem K. Blackley, III, MD
Peter F. Blomgren, MD
Gayle B. Bodner, PA
Richard W. Boette, MD
Tiffany L. Bonafe, DO
Richard P. Bonsall, MD
Corenthian J. Booker, MD
Gregory C. Borstad, MD
Phillip A. Bostian, MD
Kaitlin M. Bowers, DO
Richard M. Bowles, MD
Daniel P. Boyle, MD
Yun L. Boylston, MD, FAAP
Ashley E. S. Bragg, PA-C
Blanche E. Brais, PA-C
Byron C. Branch, MD
Thomas G. Braun, MD
Tara F. Brenner, MD
Andrew B. Bridgforth, MD
Donald S. Bright, MD
John C. Britt, MD
Scott R. Broadwell, MD
Philip A. Bromberg, MD
David M. Bronstein, MD
Matthew W. Brooks, DO
T. William Brooks, III, MD
Michael H. Brown, MD
Philip M. Brown, Jr., MD
Richard M. Browne, PA-C
Nicholas E. Bruns, MD
William A. Bryan, III, MD
Jose O. Buenaseda, MD
Jaime L. Bull, PA-C
Ulugbek N. Buriev, MD
Stephanie A. Burke, PA-C
Robin C. Burnette, MD
Andrew P. Bush, MD
John D. Butts, Jr., MD
Brian D. Buzzeo, MD
Cas M. Cader, MD
Gregory H. Campbell, MD
Jacob Carlson, MD
Melissa A. Carlucci, MD, FAAP
Colleen Casey Miller, MD
Ted F. Cash, MD
John H. Caughran, MD
Brent T. Cengia, MD
Matthew P. Chamberlain, MD
James S. Chambers, MD
Mark C. Chandler, MD
Joseph T. Cheatle, MD
Srinivas S. Cheruvu, MD
David A. Chesnutt, MD
Martha J. Chesnutt, MD
Donna R. Childress, MD
Michelle K. Chiu, MD
Gabriel T. Chong, MD
Sharif M. R. Chowdhury, MD, PhD
John A. Chretien, MD
Claudiu A. Cimpean, MD
Wendy Cipriani, MD
Edward J. Clark, III, MD
C. Porter Claxton, Jr., MD
Arthur R. Cohen, MD
Gregory A. Collier, PA-C
Matthew T. Collins, MD
Eli C. Colman, MD
Natalie J. Cook, PA-C
Graham H. Cosper, MD
Sheronette A. Cousins, MD
Robert J. Cowan, MD
George W. Crane, Jr., MD
Jennifer R. Cranny, MD
Dallas C. Craven, Jr., MD
Gregg E. Cregan, MD
Kevin M. Cregan, MD
Frederick A. Cruickshank, MD
Tammy N. Crumpler, MD
D. Andrew Culbreth, PA-C
Michael D. Culler, PA-C
Charles E. Cummings, MD
J. David Cunningham, MD
Dalena M. Custer, PA-C
Lisa G. Dabney, MD
Jeffrey M. Daily, MD
Christopher J. Danner, MD
Scott E. Dart, MD
Stephen A. Daugird, MD
Darshan D. Dave, MD
Benjamin J. Davis, MD
Brittany M. Davis, PA
G. Edward Davis, MD
Karen A. Davis, DO
Clayton C. Dean, MD
Ronit K. Dedesma, MD
Catherine L. DeWald, PA-C
Derek A. DeYoung, PA-C
Leon A. Dickerson, Jr., MD
Edgardo Diez, MD
Russell D. Dolan, MD
Bridget B. Donell, MD
Dianne B. Dookhan, MD
C. Thomas Dover, Jr., MD
Kevin M. Doyle, MD, FACS
Daniel L. Drotts, MD
Maddalena P. Duarte, MD
Ray H. Dunkelberg, MD
Diane S. Dutton, DO
E. Hunter Dyer, MD
Ernest B. Eason, MD
Kenneth P. Edel, MD
George S. Edwards, III, MD
Laura E. Edwards, MD
Allen W. Elster, II, MD
John B. Emery, Jr., MD
Fernando A. Escabi Mendez, MD
Colin M. Evans, MD
Ha N. Evans, MD
Andrew T. Fairchild, MD
David M. Fajgenbaum, MD
Richard S. Felkner, MD
Raymond J. Fencl, MD
Jennifer L. Ferguson, MD
Eric J. Finical, MD
Jonathon M. Firnhaber, MD
Oscar F. P. A. Florendo, Jr., MD
Rachana S. Fofaria, MD
Amy L. Ford, PA-C
Robert T. Foust, MD
Anna Fowler, PA-C
Craig R. Frater, MD
Nicole E. Frederickson, PA-C
David F. Freeman, MD
Marsha D. Fretwell, MD
Thomas C. Friedrich, MD
Robert V. Fulk, Jr., MD
Sarat Ganga, MD
Timothy B. Garner, MD
Sarah W. Garwood, PA-C
Michael T. Gaslin, MD
Thomas E. Gendrachi, Jr., MD
Patrick E. Georgoff, MD
Edward R. Gerrard, Jr., MD
Solomon T. Ghebregziabiher, MD
Leonard H. Gibson, Jr., MD
Kemery L. Gilbert, MD
Kelly A. Gill, PA
Lowell H. Gill, MD
Jacqueline K. Gividen, MD
Catherine S. Glazer, MD
Susan A. Glenn, MD, PhD
John P. Goforth, MD
Barbara L. Goheen-Brodish, MD
Trevor I. Goldberg, MD
Jeffrey B. Goldstein, MD
William R. Goldston, MD
Alejandro M. Gonzalez, MD
Gay M. Gooden, MD
Terrence L. Goodman, MD
Louis N. Gottlieb, MD
Alyssa C. Gottschalk, PA-C
Daniel L. Gottsegen, MD
Brittany L. Grady, DO
George R. Grant, Jr., MD
Terry A. Grant, MD, FACEP
David W. Grantham, MD
Shakira Greene
John H. Greig, MD
Scott K. Gross, MD
Herman L. Grossman, MD
Chris W. Guest, MD
Matthew A. Gullickson, MD
Subhash C. Gumber, MD
Madhur Gupta, MD
Dana L. Haake, DO
Luke E. Habegger, MD
Persia F. Hadad, PA-C
Tyler G. Hahn, PA-C
David M. Haimes, MD
Andrew J. Hall, MD
Steven D. Hammel, MD
Eli A. Hammer, MD
Vishwanath Hande, MD
Kimberley J. Hansen, MD
Prashanth H. Haran, MD
Joseph H. Hardison, Jr., MD
Stuart M. Hardy, MD
Margaret N. Harker, MD
Nivin Haroon, MD
Brian K. Harris, MD
Tasha J. Harris, PA-C
Brian K. Harshman, MD
Justin P. Hart, MD
W. Stuart Hartley, MD
Lindsey E. Harward, MD
Paul A. Haugan, MD
John Haverkamp, MD
Sara K. Hawes, MD
Taylor J. Heath, PA-C
Marilyn M. Heins, PA-C
Mark A. Hellreich, MD
Caroline M. Helmink, PA
Jonathan A. Henderson, MD
Robert D. J. Henihan, MD
Suzanne K. Hentz, MD
Samareh G. Hill, MD
David C. Hillsgrove, MD
Edward L. Hines, MD
Genesis V. Hines, MD
Bryan M. Hoag, MD
Edwin W. Hoeper, MD
Thaddeus D. Hollingsworth, MD
Patrick E. Holmes, MD
Windsor A. Holt, MD
L. Fuller Honeycutt, MD
Michael P. Hooker, MD
David J. Howe, MD
Jeffrey H. Howe, MD
Clarence P. Huggins, III, MD
Richard M. Hughes, MD
J. Sterling Hutcheson, MD
Joseph I. Ifokwe, MD
Peter J. Irigaray, MD
Amy V. Isenberg, MD, MPH
Michael T. Jacobs, MD
Mary-Margaret James, MD, FAAP
Mikell J. Jarratt, MD
Owais Jeelani, MD
Jeffrey D. Jenkins, MD, FACS
J. Charles Jennette, MD
Eric M. Johnsen, MD
Christopher M. Johnson, MD
David A. Johnson, MD
Eric M. Johnson, MD
Michael D. Johnson, MD
John G. Johnston, MD
Aaron M. Jones, MD
April M. V. Jones, PA
Carroll P. Jones, III, MD
James C. Jones, PA-C
Morris A. Jones, Jr., MD
Taylor D. Jones, PA-C
Lyndon K. Jordan, III, MD, FACR
Peter H. Joyce, MD
Peter N. Kane, MD
Jeffrey L. Kantor, MD
Oksana Kantor, MD
Firas Kassab, MD, FACR
Adithya Kattamanchi, MD
David S. Keith, MD
John S. Kelley, MD
David L. Kelly, Jr., MD
William S. Kelly, MD
Adam S. Kendall, MD
Archie D. Kesler, Jr., MD
John T. Kihm, MD
Michaux R. Kilpatrick, MD
James N. Kimball, MD
J. Leroy King, MD
Jessica L. Kirk, MD
John A. Kirkland, Jr., MD
Timothy H. Kirkland, MD
C. Richard Kirsch, MD
Arthur G. Klose, MD
Charles L. Knupp, MD
Robin F. Koeleveld, MD
Eugenie M. Komives, MD, FAAFP
Jill N. Konkol, MD
David B. Konstandt, MD
Crawford B. Koon, MD
Pallavi Kopparthy, MD
Stacy M. Kropp, PA
Judit M. Kuhn, MD
Susan E. Ladd-Snively, MD
Stephen H. Ladwig, MD
Tida T. Lam, DO
Charles G. Lampley, III, MD
Eric D. Lance, MD, FACS
Ronald M. Lather, MD
Daniel J. LaValley, MD
Melissa A. Laxton, MD
Henry N. Lee, Jr., MD
David Lefkowitz, III, MD
Alexander C. Lemons, MD
Khye Sheng A. Leong, MD
Alex H. Li, MD
Walter D. Liebkemann, MD
Christopher Lin, MD
Michelle Lin, MD
Jimmy Locklear, MD
Thomas D. Long, Sr., MD
Cynthia L. R. Lopez, MD
James C. Lorentzen, MD
Joshua W. Loyd, MD
Deborah M. Lucas, MD
Janet N. Lucien, DO
J. Douglas Mann, MD
Eric A. Mansell, MD, PhD
Steven P. Manuli, MD
Louis J. Marchetti, MD
E. Earl Maready, Jr., MD
David F. Martin, MD, FACG
Gary L. Martin, MD
Kimberly J. Martin, PA-C
Nora C. S. Mason, MD, FAAP
Syed A. Masood, MD
Satish Mathan, MD
Bryan A. Max, MD
Eugene H. Maynard, Jr., MD
Matthew J. Maynard, PA-C
Jennifer L. McCauley, MD
Bryan A. McCluer, MD
Joseph F. McConville, MD
Ann J. McCunniff, MD
Jack P. McDaniel, MD
Kimberly W. McDonald, MD
John C. McFadden, MD
Andrew S. McKnight, PA
Mark W. McManus, MD
Mary J. McNeely, PA-C
Donald D. McNeill, Jr., MD
Amie M. McPherson, MD
Mark F. Medley, MD
David V. Meehan, MD
Amy E. Messier, MD
Walson K. Metzger, MD, PhD
Clinton L. Meyer, MD
Davonia N. Wagner Michael, MD
Ashraf G. B. Mikhail, MD
Deana H. Miller, MD
Ryan D. Miller, PA-C
Stanley D. Mills, MD
Bradford C. Mitchell, MD
Joshua B. Mitchell, MD
Mark A. Mittelman, MD
Benjamin J. Moeller, MD
Garland R. Moeller, MD, FACR
Paul R. Moncla, MD
Jeffrey K. Moore, MD
Lacey F. Moore, MD
Robert M. Morgan, Jr., MD
Patrick J. Morgante, DO
Aaron S. Morrow, MD
Mark S. Moskowitz, MD
Richard G. Mostak, MD
Linda B. Mundle, MD
Shalini Mundra, MD
Bryant A. Murphy, MD
George H. Nashick, MD
Ayesha Nasir, MD
William R. Neal, MD
John M. Neidecker, DO
Todd B. Nelson, MD
Edwin Newman, MD
James E. Nicholson, III, MD
Timothy J. Novosel, MD
Robert H. O. Nunoo, MD
James M. Oelsen, MD
Alan E. Oester, Jr., MD
Robert J. Oglesby, MD
Ogochukwu N. Okoye, MD
David C. Oliver, MD
Pamela A. Oliver, MD
Daniel J. Olson, MD
Simon P. O'Regan, MD
Richard Orlowski, MD
Maggi C. Ormand, PA-C
Jennifer W. Orr, MD
Ann Ostrovsky, MD
Scott M. Otis, MD
Sami J. Oweida, MD
Brooke C. Owen, PA
Frederick T. Owens, MD
John S. Pace, MD, JD
Martin Palmeri, MD
Frederick G. Panico, MD
Robert S. Park, MD
David R. Parker, MD
J. Ashley Parker, MD
Peter E. Parker, MD
Jennifer L. Parker-Cote, MD
Lakshmi P. Paruchuri, MD
Martha Grace Patel, MD
Sandeep Patel, MD
Sandip J. Patel, MD
Vinay J. Patidar, MD
Frank C. Patrick, PA-C
Rolvix H. Patterson, III, MD
James M. Patton, MD
Ivan Y. Peacock, MD
Philip H. Pearce, MD
Joanna K. Pearson, MD
Marilyn R. Pearson, MD
James G. Peden, Jr., MD
Staci M. Pessetti, PA-C
Robert B. Peters, IV, MD
Aaron S. Peterson, PA-C
Donald D. Peterson, MD
Thai T. Phan, MD
Jennifer B. Phifer, MD
Brandon N. Phillips, MD
Jefferson D. Phillips, MD
Jerry C. Pickrel, MD
Charles G. Pierce, MD
Willard C. Pierson, Jr., MD
David M. Pilati, MD
Chelsea N. Poser, PA-C
Zachary E. Potter, MD
Hugh M. Powell, Jr., MD
Myron S. Powell, MD
Edwin T. Preston, MD
Amy C. Priestaf, PA-C
Leonard R. Prosnitz, MD
Amy E. Purvis, PA-C
Kathryn L. Ramsdell, MD
Jacquetta T. Randall, MD
Charles A. Rankin, Jr., MD
Richard A. Rappaport, PA-C
F. Catrina Reading, MD
Frederick J. Reindl, III, MD
Gregory P. Retson, PA-C
Lucia F. Reyes, MD
Harrison K. Rhee, MD
Edward J. Ricciardelli, MD
Christin N. Richardson, MD
Anthony L. Rico, MD
Catherine S. Riggan, MD, FAAP
John M. Roberts, MD
Noelle C. Robertson, MD
Laurael A. Robichaud, PA-C
Blair V. Robinson, MD
Theodore Y. Rodgers, III, MD
James T. Rogers, MD
Victor L. Roggli, MD
Alan J. Rosenbaum, MD
Joel B. Rosenberg, MD
Stanley J. Rosenberg, MD
Allan Ross, MD
Travis S. Ross, PA-C
Loreli L. Rowe, MD
Stephen S. Ruehle, MD
William M. Russell, MD
Jeffrey C. Ryan, MD
Regina M. Ryan, MD
Eric Sabatini Regueira, MD
James R. Sagar, MD
Bradley H. Saitta, MD
James D. Salisbury, DO
Jennifer T. Sandbulte, MD
Scott S. Sanitate, MD
Seeplaputhur G. Sankar, MD
Amy F. Schenk, PA-C
Thomas J. Schermerhorn, MD
Hilliard F. Seigler, MD
Claire E. Sellers, MD
Joseph R. Shackelford, III, MD
Lindsay E. Shade, PA-C, MHS
Parth N. Shah, MD
Martha K. Sharpless, MD
Frank S. Shaw, MD
Stacee E. Sheets Goodrich, MD
Hitesh Shivalingappa, MD
G. Michelle Shiver, MD
Oluwaseun D. Shogbesan, MD
Richard P. Silton, MD
Peter O. Simon, Jr., MD
Harmeet Singh, MD
Mark A. Sinning, MD
Steven E. Skahill, MD
Brandon L. Smallwood, MD
Cayce W. Smith, PA-C
Everett D. Smith, MD
John M. Smith, MD
Richard L. Smith, MD
Robert P. Snow, DO
John M. Snyder, MD
Hemant Solomon, MD, FACC
John R. Spellman, MD
Roger F. Spencer, MD
Edward V. Spudis, MD
Rodney M. Stalheim, MD
Bernard M. Stanfield, II, MD
Kevin J. Stanley, MD
James S. Starman, MD
Patrick J. Steele, MD
Sara H. Steelman, MD, FACEP, FAAP
C. Ryan Steinbaker, MD
Amy R. Stevenson, DO
John S. Stevenson, MD
Christopher W. Stewart, MD
Sarah Stout, PA-C
William V. Stucky, MD
Tyler D. Stutzman, MD
William C. Sugg, Jr., MD
Andrew I. Sumich, MD
Vyvyan Y. Sun, MD
Senthil N. Sundaram, MD
Edwin R. Swann, MD
Katherine M. Sweetapple, PA-C
Paul J. Swiersz, MD
Kassell E. Sykes, Jr., MD
Timothy N. Taft, MD
Samer Taj-Eldin, MD
Ryan J. Tarr, DO
H. Grant Taylor, Jr., MD, FACP
Richard A. Taylor, MD
Virginia B. Taylor, MD
Sheikh A. Tejan-Sie, MD
Ummuhan Tekin, MD
Daniel J. Thibaudeau, MD
John A. Thomas, MD
James S. Thompson, MD
Elizabeth E. Tilt, MD
J. Kehinde Tokunboh, MD
Rashmi Tomar, MD
Dominick P. Trapani, DO
Kelsey N. Trull, PA-C
William W. Truslow, MD
Yanki Tumer, MD
Pascal O. Udekwu, MD
Ami V. Vakharia, MD
Allen H. Van Dyke, MD
Amy J. M. Van Vooren, PA-C
Lawrence S. Van-Blaricom, MD
Sangeeta C. Varanasi, MD
Robert M. Varnell, MD
Ronald L. Vereen, MD
Mark A. Versnick, MD
Paul A. Vieta, Jr., MD
Ernesto M. Villareal, MD
Roger Vithalani, MD
Hanna von Hardenberg, MD
Andrew C. Voris, MD
Kira L. Vurlicer, MD
Richard A. Waldman, MD
Edward R. Walker Gallego, MD
Alexander R. Walters, MD
Kendall W. Wannamaker, Jr., MD
Mildred P. Warren, MD
Derek P. Watson, MD
Roy A. Weaver, MD
R. Kent Webb, MD
Sarah Webb-Wood Evers, MD
Cynthia B. Weeks, MD
Deric O. Weiss, MD
Jessica J. Wen, MD
Megan J. Wester, PA-C
Igor Westra, MD
Joshua W. Whitham, MD
Kerry N. Whitt, MD
William M. Wike, MD
Ian B. Wilds, MD
Marc A. Willi, MD
D. Robert Williams, Jr., MD, FAAP
Donna M. Williams, MD, FACP
J. Todd Williams, MD
Randal J. Williams, MD
Robert E. Williford, MD
Cameron J. Wilson, PA-C
Joseph B. Wilson, MD
Robert B. Wilson, MD
Richard L. Wing, MD
Scot L. Winters, MD
Lisa C. Wood, MD
Paula L. Wood, MD
Jessica A. Woodcock, MD
William W. Woodruff, III, MD
Eugene E. Wright, Jr., MD
Jill C. Wright, MD
Juliana R. Wulforst, PA
Limin Xu
Margaret A. Yacobozzi, MD
Ken T. Yang, MD
Cheryl H. Yanuck, MD
Dewey H. Yarley, MD
Sailaja Yerrabapu, MD
Kyle A. Young, MD
Arthur Zak, MD
Michael P. Zaleski, DO
Jeanne M. Zekan, MD
Zev J. Zingher, MD

by Joy Avery

Share Your Feedback 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 Carolina.

The NCMS Policy Committee invites you to review the draft policy and share your feedback below.

by Joy Avery

Celebrating Women's History Month with Dr. Cheryl Walker-McGill

To help celebrate Women's History Month, NCMS has an in-depth interview with NCMS member Dr. Cheryl Walker-McGill, Executive Producer of the acclaimed documentary "Someone Else's Shoes."

The film focuses on the establishment of St. Agnes Hospital, one of the first Black-owned and operated hospitals in Raleigh. It also celebrates the achievements of Black pioneers in the field of healthcare and offers insight and context for anyone interested in the history of healthcare in North Carolina as well as a broader struggle for social justice and equality.

Dr. Walker-McGill opens up about why she decided to make the film and how it has impacted her life.

You can learn more about the movie and where you can see it here: Pearlz2Purpose.com

by Joy Avery

BCBSNC: Financial Assistance Coming for Eligible Providers Impacted by the Change Healthcare Outage

 

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) is offering additional support to its provider community in the form of an interest-free loan to help ease the burden of the Change Healthcare outage.

For a provider to be eligible to receive this interest-free loan, they must meet the following criteria.

Providers must be:

  • Contracted with Blue Cross NC
  • Not involved in an active investigation for potential fraud, waste or abuse activities
  • Located in North Carolina
  • Confirmed as not having fully recovered their claims submissions to us and are submitting claims at a rate of less than 50% of comparable 2023 levels
  • Independently owned
  • Participating in our government business network(s) in support of our most vulnerable populations (This network requirement is not applicable to Dental Blue and Dental Blue Select providers; dental providers are otherwise eligible for an interest-free loan if all other criteria are met.)
  • Submitting monthly claims for billed charges greater than $5,000
  • Able to attest to financial hardship

BCBSNC is currently finalizing the application process for eligible and affected providers to apply for this program and will provide additional details within the next few days.

If you have any questions, please email CHCFinancialAssistance@bcbsnc.com.

by Joy Avery

How Has Your Practice Been Impacted by the Change Healthcare Cyberattack? Take this Survey.

 

Since the Change Healthcare cyberattack in February and resulting system outages, the American Medical Association (AMA) has urged federal and state regulators to support physician practices with financial assistance and flexibilities in administrative requirements.

To assess the current level of workflow disruptions and financial impact on practices, the AMA is requesting those impacted to complete an informal, 11-question survey. The survey results will be used to inform AMA's advocacy to stakeholders and policymakers on behalf of physicians and their patients.

Response Requested by Friday, March 29

For the latest information on the Change Healthcare cyberattack response, please visit the AMA webpage dedicated to this topic.

Thank you for your time in completing this survey.

by Joy Avery

HHS Distributes Additional Provider Resources for the Change Healthcare Disruption

 

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) distributed additional resources to assist physicians, pharmacists, and hospitals with the aftermath of the Change Healthcare cybersecurity attacks. In addition, HHS is making available the voluntary Healthcare and Public Health Cybersecurity Performance Goals, designed to help healthcare organizations strengthen cyber preparedness, improve cyber resiliency, and ultimately protect patient health information and safety.

In this document, providers will find information to help them connect with payers regarding impacts of the cyberattack, links to resources payers have set up (including guides to connect to alternate data clearinghouse services), information on advanced payments, and more.

*Please note the HHS’ cover letter points out that the resource document contains a national contact person for each plan. However, HHS urges physicians, pharmacists, and hospitals to reach out first to their health insurer’s regional contact. If these contacts do not respond to inquiries, please contact [email protected].

by Joy Avery

We Need Your Feedback on Fiscal Impact of Prior Authorization

 

NCMS and the North Carolina Medical Group Managers Association have partnered to create a survey on the fiscal impacts of prior authorizations on practices.

As we enter into short session at the legislature, we need to hear from YOU and your practice. Legislators in Raleigh need to be aware of the large impact this has on clinicians' ability to provide care.

Please take 5-10 minutes to fill out this survey.

The survey will close on April 26th.

by Joy Avery

Doctors' Day is Saturday, but You Can Thank Your Favorite Healthcare Hero with an E-Card Today!

Saturday, March 30, is the annual observance of Doctors’ Day, a time to honor you and the amazing work you do. And we want to give you an opportunity to recognize your colleagues.

Consider sending an e-card to show a colleague you care and recognize their contributions in honor of Doctors’ Day.

If you choose, their name will be publicized in our Morning Rounds newsletter and on our social media platforms. To make it even more meaningful, the proceeds from each $10 card goes to support the work of the NCMS Foundation.


Learn more about the Foundation and its many programs to improve access to care in North Carolina.

by Joy Avery

NCTracks ALERT: Be Aware and Vigilant of These Phishing Attempts

ALERT: Phishing Attempt Targeting Medicaid Durable Medical Equipment/Prosthetics & Orthotics Suppliers Providers

 

NC DHHS has received notification of an email phishing attempt targeted at Durable Medical Equipment/Prosthetics & Orthotics Suppliers (DME/POS) providers.

The email appears to be from NC Medicaid, complete with the NC DHHS name and logo, and offers a link requiring the provider to verify information to avoid revocation of their license. Providers should NOT click on the link or follow the instructions of this phishing email.

For DME/POS providers, NC Medicaid requires certification, not licensure. Even when licensure is required, NC Medicaid does not have the authority to “revoke” a license issued by an external licensing board.

When a credential on the NCTracks provider enrollment record requires attention, NCTracks will send a notification to the provider through the NCTracks Provider Message Inbox detailing the actions needed to maintain participation. The Office Administrator of record may receive an email notifying of the message added to the Inbox, but neither NC Medicaid nor NCTracks will send an email offering a direct link to update a provider record.

If providers have been targeted by this phishing attempt, we recommend they contact their own Privacy/Security Officer and follow their agency’s protocols for such an attempt.

Questions? Contact:

  • NCTracks Call Center: 800-688-6696
  • Provider Ombudsman: 866-304-7062

by Joy Avery

New Report: Hospitals Are Adding Billions in ‘Facility’ Fees for Routine Care

Unsuspecting patients find themselves at the mercy of institutions tacking on the bills

 

(Wall Street Journal) -- Hospitals are adding billions of dollars in facility fees to medical bills for routine care in outpatient centers they own. Once an annoyance, the fees are now pervasive, and in some places, they are becoming nearly impossible to avoid, data compiled for The Wall Street Journal show. The fees are spreading as hospitals press on with acquisitions, snapping up medical groups and tacking on the additional charges.

The fees raise prices by hundreds of dollars for widely used and standard medical care, including colonoscopies, mammograms and heart screening.

The added cost isn’t justified, physicians and economists say. Medicare advisers said last year the federal insurer likely overpaid for a sample of services by about $6 billion because of the fees in 2021.

Read the full WSJ article here.

by Joy Avery

Are the Days of Lyme Disease Numbered? Research Looks Promising!

Tick season is kicking off early this year — experts warn of Lyme disease risk

 

A vaccine for Lyme disease is not currently available, but two scientific initiatives to fight the condition are showing promising results, with one soon to be rolled out.

Borrelia burgdorferi and, less commonly, Borrelia mayonii are the bacteria that spur Lyme disease. In the northeastern, mid-Atlantic and north-central US, Borrelia burgdorferi is spread primarily through the black-legged tick, also called the deer tick. In the Pacific Coast states, the western black-legged tick is the main culprit.

Ticks are fond of yards, wooded areas and low-growing grasslands. Depending on the location, less than 1% to more than half of the ticks in the given area are carrying Lyme disease bacteria, which they contract via biting infected white-footed mice.

Memphis-based US Biologic aims to solve the epidemic by going straight to the source and vaccinating mice via food pellets, and studies have shown the method holds promise.

Pfizer and French biotech company Valneva have developed a vaccine candidate — VLA15 — that’s already in Phase 3 human trials, the CDC said.

Continue to the full article here.

by Joy Avery

Register Now for AMA Advocacy Insights Webinar

What We Need to do—Now—to Address the Maternal Health Crisis

Monday, April 15

11:00 a.m. Central time

With the U.S. having the highest maternal mortality and morbidity rates among developed countries, the AMA continues to sound the alarm to policymakers that a multi-faceted approach is needed, one which includes addressing the leading causes of preventable maternal deaths and investing in the physician workforce to improve access to maternity care. During Black Maternal Health Week, April 11-17, it is particularly important to raise not only awareness of this issue, as it disproportionately affects Black and Native American/Alaska Native pregnant and postpartum individuals, but also to advocate for solutions.

Register for this Advocacy Insights webinar to learn about the AMA’s newly released recommendations on maternal health and what approaches are needed.

by Joy Avery

Capitol Chronicle: NCMS Board Member Dr. Karen Smith Addresses Congressional Caucus on Medicaid Expansion

 

Dr. Karen Smith Addresses Congressional Caucus on Medicaid Expansion

While in the NC Senate, Don Davis was a champion for Medicaid expansion for North Carolina. Now that he’s in Congress and representing NC District 1 in the US House, he has continued to advocate for closing the coverage gap that persists nationwide. Rep. Davis has joined House colleagues in establishing the State Medicaid Expansion Coalition for that purpose.

Earlier this month, Rep. Davis and the Coalition hosted a roundtable on Capitol Hill to discuss the impact of Medicaid expansion on patient care, healthcare facilities, and communities. Participating in the event was NCMS Board of Directors member, Dr. Karen Smith who shared the impact of expansion in North Carolina from her perspective as a family physician in Raeford, NC.

The goal of the Caucus is to chronicle the experience of states that enacted Medicaid expansion and to encourage action to expand coverage in the eleven states that have yet to do so.

Joining Dr. Smith at the roundtable were:

  • Ms. Tish Towns, Executive VP and CAO of Regional One Medical Center, Memphis, TN
  • Mr. Ryan Loke, Chief Health Policy Officer, Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, GA

 

Do you know your state and federal legislators? More importantly, do your legislators know you?
The NCMS can help you connect with policy makers as a constituent and advocate!


by Joy Avery

ECU Physicians hold "Chat With A Doc" to Improve Growing Health Care Workforce Shortage

(image credit: ECU Health)

ECU Health Working to Solve Healthcare Workforce Shortage

Like many health care organizations across the nation, ECU Health is facing an immense challenge: solving the growing healthcare workforce shortage.

Through community partnerships, the health system is doing its part to grow its workforce, starting in eastern North Carolina.

At ECU Health Medical Center, students from several local high schools participated in the Health Sciences Academy event “Chat with a Doc.” Nine physicians from various specialties within ECU Health spoke to the students about their responsibilities, the diverse opportunities in the health care field and the rewarding experiences that come from caring for the people of our communities.

Each physician gave a brief overview of their specialty, and students had the opportunity to ask questions along the way. Students also had the unique opportunity to tour several areas of the hospital and learn first-hand how they all work together to offer high-quality care for patients.

Read the full article here.

by Joy Avery

FDA Authorizes New Drug for Pre-Exposure Prevention of COVID-19

 

The FDA issued an emergency use authorization for Pemgarda (pemivibart) for the pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 in certain adults and adolescents.

Pemgarda is authorized for individuals:

  • who are not currently infected with SARS-CoV-2 and who have not had a known recent exposure to an individual infected with SARS-CoV-2;
  • and who have moderate-to-severe immune compromise due to a medical condition or due to taking immunosuppressive medications or treatments and are unlikely to mount an adequate immune response to COVID-19 vaccination.

View the Fact sheet for Healthcare Providers for Emergency use Authorization of Pemgarda here.

View the Fact Sheet for Patients, Parents, and Caregivers Emergency Use Authorization of Pemgarda here.

View Frequently Asked Questions on the Emergency Use Authorization for Pemgarda for Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) of COVID-19 here.

For more information about all Emergency Use Authorizations for Drugs and Non-Vaccine Biological Products, see the resources available on the FDA’s Emergency Use Authorization webpage.

by Joy Avery

Missed HHS' Webinar: Provider Briefing on Response to Cyberattack on Change Healthcare? Watch the Recording.

If you missed the Health and Human Services' briefing on Tuesday, March 19 on the Change Healthcare cybersecurity incident, you can find a recording of the webinar on HHS’ YouTube page here.

HHS has also provided the following resources:

Department of Health and Human Services

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

  • Memo to All Medicare Advantage Organizations, Part D Sponsors, and Medicare-Medicaid Plans Addressing Impacts Related to the Cyberattack on Change Healthcare
  • Change Healthcare/Optum Payment Disruption (CHOPD) Accelerated Payments to Medicare Part A Providers and Advance Payments to Part B Suppliers Fact Sheet
  • CHOPD Accelerated and Advance Payments for Medicare Part A Providers and Part B Suppliers Frequently Asked Questions
  • Change Healthcare Cybersecurity Incident – CMS Response and State Flexibilities Centers for Medicaid & CHIP Services (CMCS) Informational Bulletin

Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR)

Health care organizations with general questions for HHS regarding the Change Healthcare cyber incident or seeking access to HHS resources and support to help them enhance their cybersecurity posture should contact [email protected] or go to the department’s new website—https://hphcyber.hhs.gov/ —which serves as a centralized platform connecting healthcare organizations to a wealth of cybersecurity resources provided by HHS and other federal agencies. This new website is designed to be a consistently evolving, comprehensive, and accessible hub improving access to information, programs, and resources to enhance cybersecurity practices across the industry.

View UnitedHealth Group’s slides from the webinar here.

by Joy Avery

Doctors Perform First-ever Kidney Transplant from Gene-edited Pig

 

Doctors have performed the first transplant of a genetically modified kidney from a pig into a living human.

The four-hour surgery was performed at Massachusetts General Hospital, which was also the first hospital to perform a kidney transplant in 1954.

The patient, Rick Slayman, a 62-year-old manager with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation who had been diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease, is recovering well and expected to be discharged from the hospital soon.

Doctors said that they thought his new kidney could last years but also acknowledged that there are many unknowns in animal-to-human transplants.

Read full article here.

by Joy Avery

NCTracks: Providers Should Use These Updated Consent Forms

Providers should use the latest version of the sterilization consent form to ensure that the correct version of the consent form is submitted to the NC Medicaid fiscal agent.

 

NCTracks is reminding providers that the sterilization consent form found on the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) website was updated in 2023. It is available in English and Spanish. These links can also be accessed from the North Carolina (NC) Medicaid website https://medicaid.ncdhhs.gov/forms.

Instructions for Federal Sterilization Consent Form

The NCTracks team has put together detailed instructions for filling out the Federal Sterilization Consent form, complete with explanations for each field of the form, to better help providers submit accurate information and eliminate errors that may cause denials. Providers are encouraged to download this PDF guide to learn from and reference when completing the form: Instructions for Federal Sterilization Consent Form

Instructions for Filling Out a Hysterectomy Statement

Detailed instructions on how to complete the Hysterectomy Statement correctly can be found here. A downloadable version of the instructions can also be found to the right of the linked page.

 

 

by Joy Avery

New Mobile Mammography Unit Brings More Access to Southeastern NC

Novant Health is hitting the road to protect women’s health.

 

Novant Health has unveiled its new mobile mammography unit. Novant’s new mobile mammography unit will provide quick and easy access to breast cancer screenings. This new bus includes new equipment such as 3D scanning, which will be less painful for patients and give clearer results.

“Being able to take this technology to our patients where they need it is gonna be key to saving lives in early detection,” says Heather King, president and chief operating officer of Novant’s Brunswick Medical Center. “This allows us to treat all patients and to be able to go to those and give them the care when and where they need it.” [source]

Who Should Get a Mammogram?

Even if you don't have any symptoms of breast cancer, you should get a mammogram each year if you are:

  • Assigned female at birth
  • 40 years old or older

However, if your mom or sister got breast cancer before they hit menopause, you should start getting annual mammograms 10 years before the age that family member was when they were diagnosed with breast cancer. For example, if your mom was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 45, you should start getting annual mammograms when you turn 35.

View Novant's Mobile Mammography events calendar at Novant Health here.

by Joy Avery

Save the Date: Inaugural Collaborative Care Model Behavioral Health Care Manager Summit

SAVE THE DATE!

Inaugural Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) Behavioral Health Care Manager (BHCM) Summit

Thursday, May 16, 2024
9 am- 3:15 pm

McKimmon Center
1101 Gorman St, Raleigh, NC 27606

 

Mark your calendars for the inaugural Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) Behavioral Health Care Manager (BHCM) Summit, presented jointly by NC AHEC and Southern Regional AHEC. This event will be held on Thursday, May 16 at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh.

Explore the pivotal role of BHCMs in CoCM and their significant impact. This summit will feature esteemed national and state CoCM experts, including representatives from the AIMS Center at the University of Washington, as well as state government representatives.

Attendees will benefit from insightful presentations by experienced CoCM BHCMs, integrated behavioral health Subject Matter Experts, university graduate education, and patient perspectives. Additionally, gain valuable insights from a primary care practice team that has successfully implemented CoCM in their clinic.

Don't miss out on this invaluable training opportunity. Registration details will be available soon.

by Joy Avery

Important Policy Updates for NC Behavioral Health Providers

 

Clinical Coverage Policy 8A, Enhanced Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services was amended and promulgated on March 1, 2024, with a retroactive implementation date of Jan. 1, 2024.

The clinical coverage policies amended includes:  

Professional Treatment Services in Facility-Based Crisis Program (FBC)

FBC was amended and promulgated on March 1, 2024, with a retroactive implementation date of January 1, 2024. The retroactive implementation date for the amendment aligns with FBC updates included in Medicaid Bulletin - NC Medicaid Behavioral Health Services Rate Increases published on November 15, 2023. Units for utilization review at seven (7) days has been increased to 168 units and units for utilization review at eight (8) days has increased to 192 units. The allowable daily billing units increased from 16 hours to 24 hours in a 24-hour period. Language has been added to the policy to clarify that psychiatrists or physician extenders may bill separately for additional psychiatric evaluations (excluding the initial evaluation) and other therapeutic services when providing evaluation and management service.

Opioid Treatment Program
Opioid Treatment Program language was removed from Clinical Coverage Policy 8A, Enhanced Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services due to the implementation of the standalone policy, Clinical Coverage Policy 8A-9, Opioid Treatment Program. The standalone policy supersedes the Opioid Treatment Program policy previously included in CCP 8A.

by Joy Avery

Diabetes Prevention Program Navigator Service Ending

 

After 5 years, the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) Navigator service will be coming to an end on March 31, 2024.

The DPP Navigator office will be reaching out to all physicians who have utilized the DPP navigator to connect them to local and state-wide DPPs where they can directly send referrals going forward.

DPP services are still available to patients who have prediabetes or who are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Please visit https://www.diabetesfreenc.com/find-a-program/ to find a program near you. Referrals can now be sent directly to DPP sites listed on the website.

What stays the same?

DiabetesFreeNC and the NC DPP Lifestyle Coach Network will continue to serve the DPP community with resources and networking opportunities.

The DiabetesFreeNC.com website will keep its interactive map showing all active DPPs in the state. If you are a DPP site, check the accuracy of your site information listed on the map. Email Meg Sargent any corrections to be made to your site. DiabetesFreeNC will also continue to house valuable DPP information for sites, lifestyle coaches, and healthcare provider.

The DPP Lifestyle Coach Network will continue to connect DPPs across the state. Quarterly webinars will start up again in February. Technical assistance for DPP sites can also be requested by emailing Meg Sargent.

by Joy Avery

Mark Your Calendar: Statewide Assistive Technology Resource Fairs

 

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is hosting resource fairs where adaptive equipment and resources to make recreational and leisure activities accessible to people of all ages will be showcased.

The resource fairs, presented by the North Carolina Assistive Technology Program, are free and open to the public. Those interested in accessible recreation, sports, leisure activities and active living are encouraged to attend. The NCATP helps people with disabilities actively participate in community life, including sports and recreational activities and programs.

Fort Liberty

When: Friday. April 12, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Where: Smith Lake Outdoor Recreation Center
Building Q-2922
5144 Smith Lake Road
Fort Liberty, NC 28310

Charlotte

When: Friday, May 3, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Where: Charlotte Vocational Rehabilitation Office
5501 Executive Center Drive
Charlotte, NC 28212

To register online, go to Adaptive Recreation and Active Living Events. Attendees can also register onsite upon arrival. Media is also welcome to attend. RSVP to [email protected].

by Joy Avery

Stanley Cup Owners Rejoice! What a CT Scan Reveals.

 

Stanley cup owners can rejoice!

 

According to Lumafield, a startup that makes X-ray CT scanners for engineers, Stanley cup owners can rejoice, because the odds of getting lead poisoning from the viral tumblers are vanishingly small.

Images from a recent industrial CT scan performed by Lumafield supports what Stanley has been saying from the beginning: The cups contain lead, but users are safe from lead poisoning.

 

The images show a lead solder pellet (in red above) at the bottom of the tumbler, but because of a stainless-steel protective cover, users shouldn't come into contact with it.

The only risk of contact, says Stanley, is when the cover is damaged or altered in such a way that the lead pellet becomes exposed. If damage occurs, consumers should stop using the product and return it to the company under their lifetime warranty.

Read the full article here.

We want to hear from Stanley Cup owners. Were you concerned about using your Stanley Cup? Let us know in the comments.

by Joy Avery

NC Medicaid Information for Providers Impacted by Change Healthcare Disruption

 

NC Medicaid continues to monitor the network interruption with Change Healthcare related to cybersecurity and the resulting decision to disconnect systems while the issue is resolved. It's focused on ensuring access to care for beneficiaries once electronic claims submission functionality resumes.

To support providers during this transition, NCTracks will implement the following flexibilities, aligned with guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS):

  1. How to Update Billing Agent

Providers who want to change their billing agent in NCTracks to a different approved Trading Partner should use the Abbreviated Manage Change Request (MCR) to ensure quick processing.

To complete the Abbreviated MCR go to the secure Provider Portal homepage.

  • The Office Administrator, Owner/Managing Employee User, or a user with Enrollment Specialist role, should select the Status and Management button. The Status and Management page will be displayed.
  • The user should select the NPI/Atypical ID in the MCR section, then select the Update button. This will direct the user to the Requested Manage Change Request Type screen.
  • From the Requested Manage Change Request Type screen, the user can select the type of abbreviated Manage Change Request they would like to complete.
  • To update the billing agent, choose Method of Claim, Electronic Transaction - Abbreviate Manage Change, then Add/Update Method of Claim and Electronic Transactions and/or Billing Agent Information.

Note: Only one of each type of abbreviated MCR can be submitted each day. In addition, if the user has submitted an abbreviated MCR, they cannot submit a full MCR on the same day.

A list of NCTracks Trading Partners can be found on the Trading Partner Information page in NCTracks.

  1. Extension of Timely Filing Requirements

NC Tracks will waive timely files for all claims submitted on or after Feb. 21, 2024, for 60 calendar days. NC Medicaid will continue to monitor the evolving situation and will provide updated guidance if the timely filing waiver is extended further

  1. Providers Needing Hardship Payments

If a provider is not able to successfully submit claims to NCTracks after attempting all the flexibilities above and is at risk of not meeting financial obligations, the provider may request a hardship advance to offset business cost due to unpaid claims due to the Change Healthcare disruption.

To request a hardship advance, send an email to [email protected] with the following information:

  • A sentence stating your request to receive a hardship advance and how the Change Healthcare disruption has impacted the providers ability to submit claims.
  • The requested dollar amount of the hardship advance
  • The NPI number of the provider who will receive the advance
  • A list of the unpaid claims for Medicaid Direct
  • Name, telephone number and email address of the provider’s contact person

NC Medicaid will respond to the completed request by sending a Hardship Advance Agreement. Once NC Medicaid receives the executed Hardship Advance Agreement, advances will be issued in the next scheduled NCTracks checkwrite.

Hardship advance requests pertaining to Managed Care members must be sent to each Prepaid Health Plan, as appropriate.

Questions? Contact:

NCTracks Call Center - 800-688-6696

by Joy Avery

CMS Announces Model to Improve Access to High-Quality Primary Care for Underserved Medicare Populations

 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), announced a new voluntary model that empowers primary care providers in eligible Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) to treat people with Medicare using innovative, team-based, person-centered proactive care. A key part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to further promote competition in health care, the ACO Primary Care Flex Model (ACO PC Flex Model) will provide a one-time advanced shared savings payment and monthly prospective primary care payments to ACOs. The model aims to drive better outcomes for underserved populations by increasing access to higher-quality primary care, which can include unique services such as proactive care management, patient navigation, and behavioral health integration.

The CMS Innovation Center will test this new model within the Medicare Shared Savings Program. The model will focus on and invest in low revenue ACOs, which tend to be smaller and mainly made up of physicians. Low revenue ACOs have historically performed better in the Shared Savings Program, demonstrating more savings and stronger potential to improve the quality and efficiency of care delivery. The ACO PC Flex Model’s payment structure also promotes competition by providing a pathway for low revenue ACOs, which often have fewer resources, to continue serving people with Medicare while providing an alternative for physicians to stay independent.

CMS anticipates releasing a model Request for Applications in the second quarter of 2024.

More information about the model can be found on the model webpage and in the ACO PC Flex Model press release. For updates on the model, please register for the model listserv.

A public overview webinar will be hosted to offer more information about the model:

Questions about the model can be submitted to [email protected].

by Joy Avery

Match Day 2024: Record Number of Applicants and Residency Positions Offered

 

Match Day 2024 proved to be a momentous day for the future of medicine as this year's Match Day saw record-high applicant participation, according to data from NRMP, the organization that facilitates Match Day.

“The NRMP is proud to deliver the results of another successful Main Residency Match, and we congratulate all future physicians and training programs on this momentous occasion,” says NRMP President and CEO Donna L. Lamb, DHSc, MBA, BSN. “We are especially proud of applicants this year, many of whom began medical school the fall before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and had to quickly adapt to and thrive in a radically changed academic and training landscape. Their experiences and success speak to a remarkable resilience and dedication they will carry with them into practice.”

The 2024 Main Residency Match was the largest yet in the National Resident Matching Program's 72-year history, with 44,853 applicants and 41,503 certified positions across 6,395 residency training programs.

The number of registered applicants, at 50,413, hit an all-time high. That marks an increase of 2,257 applicants, or 4.7% over last year,

The rise in applicants was driven largely by an increase of 1,986 non-U.S. citizen international medical graduates and 623 osteopathic (DO) seniors over last year.

Get more Match Day 2024 stats here.

by Joy Avery

NCMS Member Dr. David T. Tayloe Co-Authors Book

 

NCMS member and pediatrician David T. Tayloe, Jr., MD, FAAP, has co-authored a book on the advocacy history of the NC Pediatric Society.

Fifty Years of Advocacy: The North Carolina Pediatric Society is a collection of commentaries explaining the evolution of the infrastructure of the North Carolina Pediatric Society, the efforts of its leaders, the multitude of successful advocacy initiatives, and containing reflections of friends of the Society.

Tayloe recently visited PBS's Side by Side with Nido Qubein to discuss the book. Watch here.

Grab your copy here.

by Joy Avery

FDA Clears First Over-the-Counter Continuous Glucose Monitor

 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared for marketing the first over-the-counter (OTC) continuous glucose monitor (CGM). The Dexcom Stelo Glucose Biosensor System is an integrated CGM (iCGM) intended for anyone 18 years and older who does not use insulin, such as individuals with diabetes treating their condition with oral medications, or those without diabetes who want to better understand how diet and exercise may impact blood sugar levels. Importantly, this system is not for individuals with problematic hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) as the system is not designed to alert the user to this potentially dangerous condition.

“CGMs can be a powerful tool to help monitor blood glucose. Today’s clearance expands access to these devices by allowing individuals to purchase a CGM without the involvement of a health care provider,” said Jeff Shuren, M.D., J.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “Giving more individuals valuable information about their health, regardless of their access to a doctor or health insurance, is an important step forward in advancing health equity for U.S. patients.”

The Stelo Glucose Biosensor System uses a wearable sensor, paired with an application installed on a user’s smartphone or other smart device, to continuously measure, record, analyze and display glucose values in people 18 years and older that are not on insulin and who do not have problematic hypoglycemia. Users can wear each sensor up to 15 days before replacing with a new sensor. The device presents blood glucose measurements and trends every 15 minutes in the accompanying app. Users should not make medical decisions based on the device’s output without talking to their healthcare provider.

Data from a clinical study provided to the FDA showed that the device performed similarly to other iCGMs. Adverse events reported in the study included local infection, skin irritation and pain or discomfort.

As part of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health’s strategic priority to advance health equity, CDRH will continue to support innovation that addresses health equity by moving care and wellness into the home setting. [source]

by Joy Avery

EPA Bans Ongoing Use of Chrysotile Asbestos

EPA’s ban is the first rule to be finalized under new Toxic Substance Control Act process, marking historic milestone for nation’s chemical safety efforts

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a final rule to prohibit ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos, the only known form of asbestos currently used in or imported to the United States. The ban on ongoing uses of asbestos is the first rule to be finalized under the 2016 amendments to the nation’s chemical safety law, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), which received near-unanimous support in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. The action marks a major milestone for chemical safety after more than three decades of inadequate protections and serious delays during the previous administration to implement the 2016 amendments.

Exposure to asbestos is known to cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, ovarian cancer, and laryngeal cancer, and it is linked to more than 40,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. Ending the ongoing uses advances the goals of President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot, a whole-of-government initiative to end cancer as we know it.

Continue to the full press release here.

by Joy Avery

Resources and Guidance for Those Impacted by Change Healthcare Cyberattack

 

The unprecedented February 2024 cyber-attack to Change Healthcare, a division of United Healthcare, has caused significant impacts to physicians and other health systems across NC. Your NCMS Board of Directors discussed these impacts extensively during their most recent meeting this past Saturday.

NCMS staff have worked to stay abreast of the evolution of this massive data breach and the systems that many of our practices rely upon for timely payment and cashflow. We have participated in AMA calls with the leaders of United Healthcare and Optum Health to get regular updates on when to expect these systems to become operable again.

In the meantime, practices across NC have felt irreparable harm to their cashflow processes. Many have even had to resort to taking out loans that will now cost them interest even as they are able to recoup their reimbursements over time. NCMS has taken steps to educate the NC Department of Insurance on these and other impacts from this event.

United Healthcare has reached out to NCMS with the following resources and guidance to assist you during this challenging time:

  • Timing Updates: For current updates on the timeline to restore Change Healthcare systems for pharmacy services, payments, and medical claims, please visit the Change Healthcare Cyber Response Website.
  • Temporary Provider Funding Assistance: Need help bridging the gap in short-term cash flow needs? Find out if you’re eligible for financial support here or call 1-877-702-3253.
  • Pharmacy Network: Electronic prescribing is now functional with claim submission and payment transmission also available. We continue to work to address issues for a subset of pharmacies that are still offline, disruption for infusion pharmacies and challenges for some Medicaid fee-for-service customers. If you are experiencing any additional disruption to pharmacy services, please visit the Change Healthcare Cyber Response Website for updates.
  • Submitting Claims/Payment: For additional information on workarounds for submitting claims/payment, guidance on prior authorizations and more, visit UnitedHealthcare’s Provider Portal.
  • Secure Data Transfer: Need help submitting claims or uploading and securely transferring larger files? Learn more about Optum iEDI secure data transfer.
  • Status Dashboard: Get regular updates about products and services, including uptime and support availability.
  • Need Additional Help? Contact Change Healthcare Client Services at:  [email protected]. For Accounts Payable inquiries, email: [email protected].

NCMS will continue to monitor this issue closely and update our members as we receive more information.

by Joy Avery

CMS Reopens MIPS EUC Application in Response to Change Healthcare Cyberattack

 

In response to the Change Healthcare cyberattack in late February, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) extended the data submission deadline and is now reopening the 2023 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances (EUC) Exception Application to provide relief to MIPS eligible clinicians impacted by this cybersecurity incident. The application will be open for the remainder of the extended data submission period, which closes April 15, 2024.

This announcement includes the details, including the following information:

  • 2023 MIPS Data Submission Deadline
  • Who Can Submit a 2023 MIPS EUC Exception Application?
  • What If We’ve Already Submitted Some Data?
  • How Do I Apply?
  • Additional Resources

by Joy Avery

Register Now for Thursday's Medicaid Managed Care Back Porch Chat


Medicaid Managed Care Back Porch Chat: Key Medicaid Updates
Thursday, March 21 | 5:30 p.m.

 

This month's Back Porch Chat will be hosted by Dr. Janelle White, Chief Medical Officer of Medicaid, and Sarah Gregosky, Chief Operating Officer, NC Medicaid.

The webinar will include important news for all providers about NC Medicaid on preparing for Tailored Plan Launch, the latest on Medicaid Expansion, and additional clinical updates on the following topics:

  • Total Cost of Care Dashboard
  • Bicillin Rate Increase
  • Congenital Syphilis Update

by Joy Avery

Final Rule on Substance Use Disorder Patient Records Confidentiality Released

 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through its Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), finalized modifications to the Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Patient Records regulations at 42 CFR part 2 (“Part 2”), which protect the privacy of patients’ SUD treatment records.

Specifically, the final rule increases coordination among providers treating patients for SUDs, strengthens confidentiality protections through civil enforcement, and enhances integration of behavioral health information with other medical records to improve patient health outcomes.

This final rule goes into effect on April 16, 2024.

The final rule includes the following modifications to Part 2:

  • Permits use and disclosure of Part 2 records based on a single patient consent given once for all future uses and disclosures for treatment, payment, and health care operations.
  • Permits redisclosure of Part 2 records by HIPAA covered entities and business associates in accordance with the HIPAA Privacy Rule, with certain exceptions.
  • Provides new rights for patients under Part 2 to obtain an accounting of disclosures and to request restrictions on certain disclosures, as also granted by the HIPAA Privacy Rule.
  • Expands prohibitions on the use and disclosure of Part 2 records in civil, criminal, administrative, and legislative proceedings.
  • Provides HHS enforcement authority, including the potential imposition of civil money penalties for violations of Part 2.
  • Outlines new breach notification requirements applying to Part 2 records.

View the final rule here.

Find a fact sheet on the final rule here.

by Joy Avery

UNC Research Team Aims to Understand T Cells Energy

 

A UNC research team led by Jessica Thaxton, PhD, MsCR, associate professor of cell biology and physiology and co-leader of the Cancer Cell Biology Program at the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, aimed to understand why T cells do not sustain energy in tumors.

T cells are often called “assassins” or “killers” because they can orchestrate and carry out missions to hunt down bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells throughout the body. Mighty as they may be, recent research has shown that once T cells infiltrate the environment of a solid tumor, they lose the energy needed to combat the cancer.

“Our discovery fills a long-standing gap in knowledge regarding why T cells in solid tumors don’t appropriately generate energy,” said Thaxton. “We inhibited the expression of ACC in mouse cancer models, and we observed that T cells were able to persist much better in solid tumors.”

Read the full article here.

by Joy Avery

CDC Issues Health Advisory on Increase of Global and U.S. Measles Cases

Measles (rubeola) is highly contagious; one person infected with measles can infect 9 out of 10 unvaccinated individuals with whom they come in close contact.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to inform clinicians and public health officials of an increase in global and U.S. measles cases and to provide guidance on measles prevention for all international travelers aged ≥6 months and all children aged ≥12 months who do not plan to travel internationally.

Schools, early childhood education providers, and healthcare providers should work to ensure students are current with MMR vaccine. Children who are not traveling internationally should receive their first dose of MMR at age 12 to 15 months and their second dose at 4 to 6 years. All U.S. residents older than age 6 months without evidence of immunity who are planning to travel internationally should receive MMR vaccine prior to departure.

  • Infants aged 6 through 11 months should receive one dose of MMR vaccine before departure. Infants who receive a dose of MMR vaccine before their first birthday should receive two more doses of MMR vaccine, the first of which should be administered when the child is age 12 through 15 months and the second at least 28 days later.
  • Children aged 12 months or older should receive two doses of MMR vaccine, separated by at least 28 days.
  • Teenagers and adults without evidence of measles immunity should receive two doses of MMR vaccine separated by at least 28 days.

Consider measles as a diagnosis in anyone with fever (≥101°F or 38.3°C) and a generalized maculopapular rash with cough, coryza, or conjunctivitis who has recently been abroad, especially in countries with ongoing outbreaks.

When considering measles:

  • Isolate: Isolate patients with suspected measles immediately, ideally in a single-patient airborne infection isolation room (AIIR) if available, or in a private room with a closed door until an AIIR is available. Offer testing outside of facilities to avoid transmission in healthcare settings. Call ahead to ensure immediate isolation for patients referred to hospitals for a higher level of care.
  • Notify: Immediately notify the NC Epidemiologist on Call at 919-733-3419 as soon as measles is suspected. The state measles subject matter experts will assist with identifying the best testing pathway and with determining appropriate control measures.

For more information, see the CDC HAN Health Advisory on increased global incidence of measles and vaccination guidance here.

by Joy Avery

HHS Provider Briefing on Response to Cyberattack on Change Healthcare Happening TODAY

Provider Briefing on Response to Cyberattack on Change Healthcare

Date: Tuesday, March 19

Time: 4:00-4:45pm ET

Join Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm, along with leadership from the Immediate Office of the Secretary and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), to learn how HHS is responding to the cyberattack on Change Healthcare.

CMS will provide an overview of how to apply for Medicare advance and accelerated payments, and leaders from UnitedHealth Group will demonstrate how to apply for funding the company has made available to providers.

by Joy Avery

NC Health System Celebrates a First in Alzheimer’s Care

(image credit: Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist)

 

Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist became the first health system in the region to treat a patient with lecanemab, a new medication for Alzheimer’s disease. This is the first Alzheimer’s drug approved by the FDA in more than 20 years.

Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia that affects memory, thinking and behavior. It is a progressive disease, with symptoms gradually worsening over several years. Lecanemab slows the progression of the disease by removing amyloid, a protein in the brain.

“Researchers do not fully understand the cause of Alzheimer’s disease, but a leading hypothesis is that amyloid plays a significant role in some of the memory loss,” said Dr. Jo Cleveland, director of the Memory Assessment and Support Clinic at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist’s Sticht Center for Healthy Aging and Alzheimer’s Prevention.

Read the full article here.

by Joy Avery

Today is Health Workforce Well-being Day. We Recognize, Celebrate, and Honor YOU!

Recognize, Celebrate, and Honor: National Health Workforce Well-being Day of Awareness

 

Health Workforce Well-being Day aims to recognize the importance of protecting health workers’ well-being to sustain our health system and ensure quality patient care.

One of the North Carolina Medical Society's priorities this year focuses on fostering health system environment changes that improve the daily lives of our members through the work of the North Carolina Clinician and Physician Retention and Well-being (NCCPRW) Consortium.

Recently, the NCCPRW transitioned from an NCMS-led program into a standalone entity and began a partnership with The Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation. This collaboration, along with the continued efforts of NC key stakeholders in healthcare and public health, will provide focused and targeted initiatives to improve the well-being of healthcare workers in North Carolina.

Related Reading:

Recognize, Celebrate, Honor: National Health Workforce Well-Being Day of Awareness

by Joy Avery

Register Now for the 2024 CENNC Clinical Ethics Conference: Where Ethics Meets Law

Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center Conference Center

Friday, April 19, 2024
8 am–4:30 pm
Live in-person Only

Medical and hospital staff often encounter ethical tensions in practice arising from understandings of relevant law, as well as from a variety of other sources such as institutional policy, risk avoidance, financial concerns, professional guidelines, and political influences.

This highly interactive conference will examine these constraints using case presentation, small group discussion, lecture, expert panel interaction, and networking. You're invited to explore strategies for navigating situations in which your professional and personal integrity are challenged by examining common and pressing issues arising at the intersections of ethics and law.

Click here for more information & here for registration.

by Joy Avery

FDA Delays Approval of Alzheimer's Drug

 

Eli Lilly recently announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has established a committee to evaluate donanemab, the Alzheimer’s drug that had its approval blocked last year. The committee is expected to convene later this year before the FDA makes a final decision about approving donanemab.

Donanemab is one of three monoclonal antibody treatments for Alzheimer’s that includes aducanumab (Aduhelm) and lecanemab (Leqembi). All three drugs work by clearing the amyloid plaques that are characteristic of Alzheimer’s, but there was scarce evidence in early trials that clearing the plaques slowed cognitive decline.

In a trial last year, donanemab showed “significantly slowed clinical progression” in early Alzheimer’s patients but also produced brain swelling and other adverse effects.

Continue to full article here.

by Joy Avery

Register Now for the Physical Therapy Approaches to Oncology Care: Beyond Lymphedema Webinar

Physical Therapy Approaches to Oncology Care: Beyond Lymphedema

Wednesday, March 20
4:00 – 5:00 PM EST/EDT

Tailored for medical providers, this session led by a physical therapist addresses challenges like speech and swallowing difficulties or pelvic floor issues in gynecological cancer. Explore the pivotal role of physical therapy in survivorship care plans and delve into current research supporting interventions for head and neck, gynecological, breast cancer, and other oncological conditions. Emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration, we'll discuss the synergy between medical providers and physical therapists in delivering optimal cancer care. Additionally, learn the art of patient education in oncology rehabilitation, empowering medical providers to effectively communicate the role of physical therapy in cancer care.

 

by Joy Avery

Lace Up for the Spring Into Health 5k/1m Run!

 

Spring Into Health is a 'health raiser' opportunity to get people running, walking, strolling and rolling.

 

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) - The Brunswick Wellness Coalition is set to hold its annual Spring Into Health 5k/1m Run on Saturday, March 16, at Dosher Memorial Hospital.

People of all ages, skill levels and abilities are encouraged to take part and raise awareness about healthy living.

The race will begin at 9 a.m. with a guided warmup 30 minutes earlier.

“As a founding member of BWC and a supporter of community health initiatives, Dosher Memorial Hospital will host the 2024 Spring Into Health 5k/1m Run as a continued demonstration of quality community health involvement. The back entrance of the hospital at 9th Street and N. Atlantic Ave. will serve as the starting and finishing line for the run,” a BWC announcement states.

You can register online here.

by Joy Avery

Foundation Friday! Thank You to These NCMS Foundation Donors.

 

Today, the NCMS Foundation recognizes donors who have joined us to help all North Carolinians live their healthiest lives. These individuals are contributing to make sure clinicians are where they are needed most and that clinician leaders are lighting the way.

John H. Buck, MD
Elizabeth H. Hawes, PA-C
Melissa S. Morse, PA-C
Christopher N. Shatley, PA-C
Jacob B. Sooter, PA-C
Karen E. Wood, MD

Thank you for your continued support to keep the Foundation Ready to Respond!

Learn more about how YOU can make a difference too here.

by Joy Avery

Know an Exceptional Group Practice Administrator? Tell the World About Them! Deadline Coming Soon

The 2024 Administrator of the Year award, sponsored by Curi, recognizes a medical group practice administrator affiliated with the North Carolina Medical Group Management Association (NCMGMA). This person has exhibited exceptional leadership management proficiency and enhanced the effectiveness in the delivery of health care in his/her practice and community through a recent, noteworthy achievement.

All nominated candidates will be notified of their nomination. Award recipient will receive:

  • An attractive award piece,
  • $2,500 in reimbursable funds towards NCMGMA, MGMA and/or ACMPE educational resources,
  • Public recognition at the NCMGMA Annual Conference (May 15-17, 2024 in Wilmington, NC),
  • Promotion through a press release to national trade and consumer media,
  • Recognition within the NCMGMA community and through the NCMGMA E-News Blog.

Required Documentation & Judging Requirements: Each nominee should be an NCMGMA member and the nomination should be accompanied by a completed nomination form with Questions & Exhibits listed below. Judging will consist of percentages as listed below.

NCMGMA Questions: 20 points
Candidate Form: 60 points
Letters of Support – 20 points

Nominate yourself or a colleague!

To nominate another administrator, please email [email protected]. The candidate will be contacted and asked to complete the following application form for consideration.

Email Completed Nominations to: [email protected]

Mail (Download form here):

NCMGMA Administrator of the Year
1300 Baxter St., Suite 360
Charlotte, NC 28204

Questions? Call 704-365-0565 or 1-800-753-6462

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: 5PM – MARCH 22 ,2024

by Joy Avery

NCDHHS: New App Offers eRecovery Support for Substance Use Disorder

This app is not a substitute for clinical treatment, rather an additional tool that can help people connect with peers and get additional recovery supports.

 

Through a new partnership, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is making available CHESS Health's proven eRecovery program to help thousands of North Carolinians struggling with substance use disorders to achieve long-term recovery.

CHESS Health's eRecovery program features the Connections app, a smartphone app that provides participants with immediate access to a team of certified peer recovery specialists available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It offers moderated peer support groups, on-demand digital cognitive behavioral therapy programs and a robust set of recovery tools. This solution is offered free of charge for North Carolinians who choose to enroll through their provider and download the app, funded fully by NCDHHS.

The CHESS Health eRecovery program will be introduced in phases to more than 100 organizations across North Carolina over the next two years.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis right now, help is available. Both the NCDHHS Peer Warmline and 988 are available to anyone, anytime. Call 1-855-PEERS NC (855-733-7762) or call or text 988 or chat at 988Lifeline.org. People who speak Spanish can now connect directly to Spanish-speaking crisis counselors by calling 988 and pressing option 2, texting "AYUDA" to 988, or chatting online at 988lineadevida.org or 988Lifeline.org.

by Joy Avery

Calling All NCMS Physician and PA Members! Nominations Open for Leadership Positions

Want to be an NCMS leader? Did you resolve to be involved on a committee? Here's your opportunity!

 

The NCMS Nominating and Leadership Development Committee submits the following:

Call for Nominations:

  • NCMS Board of Directors
  • NC American Medical Association Delegation
  • Nominating and Leadership Development Committee

Overview

The call for nominations for individuals to serve on the NCMS Board of Directors, NC American Medical Association Delegation, and Nominating and Leadership Development Committee are now open.

 NCMS Board of Directors

  • President Elect: OPEN
  • Region 1 Representative: Claude Jarrett, MD (eligible for an additional term)
  • At-Large Member: Jugta Kahai, MD (eligible for an additional term)
  • At-Large Member: OPEN

View current NCMS Board of Directors here.

View the NCMS Board of Directors Job Description here.

NC American Medical Association Delegation

  • AMA Delegate: E. Rebecca Hayes, MD (eligible for an additional term)
  • AMA Delegate: Karen Smith, MD (eligible for an additional term)
  • AMA Delegate: Royce Syracuse, MD (eligible for an additional term)
  • AMA Delegate: OPEN

View current NC AMA Delegation here.

View the NC AMA Delegation Job Description here.

Nominating and Leadership Development Committee

NLDC Region 1: Joe Navejar, MD (eligible for an additional term)

NLDC Region 1: OPEN

NLDC Region 2: OPEN

NLDC Region 3: Labron Chambers, Jr., MD (eligible for an additional term)

NLDC Region 3: OPEN

NLDC Region 3: OPEN

NLDC Region 4: OPEN

NLDC Region 4: OPEN

NLDC Region 4: OPEN

View current NLDC members here.

View the NLDC Job Description here.

Nominations are due by May 13, 2024 (click here to view Nomination Form).

Process

Step 1: Candidates are nominated or may nominate themselves for a leadership position on the NCMS Board of Directors, NC American Medical Association Delegation, and Nominating and Leadership Development Committee (click here to view Nomination Form).

Step 2: Once a candidate submits their nomination form, they will receive an email confirmation and made aware of any follow-up if needed.

Step 3: Upon careful review of submitted materials, the Nominating and Leadership Development Committee (NLDC) will select candidates to be interviewed. Candidates will be notified via email by May 14, 2024, if they are selected for an interview. Interviews will take place via videoconference on Saturday, June 1, 2024.

Step 4: The NLDC will present the initial slate of candidates to NCMS membership on July 19, 2024, including a nomination form for Specialty Society-Component Society nominations. Specialty Society-Component Society nominations are due by August 9, 2024.

Step 5: Following any additional candidate interviews, the NLDC will select a final slate of candidates to be approved by the NCMS Board of Directors that will then be brought before the NCMS membership for a vote.

Step 6: The voting period for the elected positions will begin for all Active NCMS Members (Members who have paid 2024 dues) on October 14, 2024, and will end on October 30, 2024. Election results will be announced at the NCMS Annual Business Meeting on November 2, 2024.

All nominations and any information collected as part of the nominating process is strictly confidential.

For more information or questions about the nominating process, please contact Evan Simmons at [email protected].

by Joy Avery

Don't Miss March's Lunch & Learn Webinar: NCMGMA Medical Employee Salary & Benefits Survey Review

 

March Lunch & Learn Webinar

NCMGMA Medical Employee Salary & Benefits Survey Review

Thursday, March 28 | noon - 1:00 PM EDT | Zoom

 

Data matters. It is essential healthcare practices annually review their complete compensation package to help attract and retain exceptional employees. Tracey Martin of BRC will detail 2023's North Carolina-specific NCMGMA Medical Employee Salary & Benefits Survey highlights and address important KPIs and year-over-year salary trends.

During this webinar participants will:

  • Hear the current state of healthcare compensation within North Carolina.
  • Learn to use survey data to update and validate current compensation/recruitment practices for the following areas:
      • Salary Administration.
      • Nursing.
      • Benefits.
      • Office Staff.
      • Laboratory and Radiology.
  • Hear additional KPIs and year-over-year trends based on data gathered through NCMGMA’s highly respected annual Medical Employee Salary & Benefits Survey.

Registration

This webinar is free but you must be registered to attend. Space is limited so register early! After you register, you will receive an emailed confirmation with webinar and phone-in instructions. Please check your spam/junk folder if you do not see the confirmation email after you register.

Continuing education credit may be granted through your professional organization (MGMA, PAHCOM, AHIMA, etc.). Please self-submit for these organizations.

Questions

For questions or more information please contact the NCMGMA offices at [email protected].

by Joy Avery

Just Released: NC Maternal Mortality Report

 

The NC Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) of the NC Division of Public Health has issued its 2024 report on maternal deaths in the state associated with pregnancy.  The report presents the most recent data available from 2018-2019.

The MRCC was instituted in 2015 by legislation that was supported by the NC Medical Society in partnership with the NC Ob/Gyn Society and other stakeholder groups. The committee consists of twenty members, including ob/gyns - Kate Menard, MD, Stephanie Pierce, MD, Maria Small, MD, Jim Devente, MD, and Jennifer Glover, MD.

This 2024 report presents an overview of maternal deaths in North Carolina during the 2018-2019 period.  Notable datapoints in the report included:

  • “The MMRC reviewed 181 NC resident deaths occurring from 2018 to 2019.
  • 42% (n=76) of the cases were determined to be pregnancy-related.
  • Among the 76 deaths occurring in 2018 and 2019 classified as pregnancy-related by the MMRC, mental health conditions were the overall leading cause of death, comprising nearly one-third of all cases (31.6%, n=24).
    • Twenty pregnancy-related deaths were attributed to overdoses.
  • Eight pregnancy-related deaths were homicides:
    • For non-Hispanic Black individuals, the increase in pregnancy-related mortality ratios (PRMRs) was associated with an increase in pregnancy-related homicides.
  • Nearly all the overdose deaths involved opioids (18 of 20) and fentanyl was noted in 14 of the 20 overdose cases.
  • Among the 76 pregnancy-related deaths, more than half occurred during pregnancy, delivery, or within 42 days postpartum (n=40; 52%).
  • Discrimination was determined to be a probable contributing factor in 53 pregnancy-related deaths (69.7%) and was the most common contributory factor recorded.
  • The majority (85.5%) of pregnancy-related deaths occurring in 2018 and 2019 were preventable, that is ‘the committee determined that there was at least some chance of the death being averted by one or more reasonable changes.’”

The MMRC defines a “Pregnancy-Related Death” as:

“A death during pregnancy or within one year of the end of the pregnancy from a pregnancy complication, a chain of events initiated by pregnancy or the aggravation of an unrelated condition by the physiologic effects of pregnancy. “

“Pregnancy-Associated Death” is defined as:

“A death during pregnancy or within one year of the end of pregnancy from a cause that is not related to the pregnancy.”

The full report is available online at: 2018-2019 Maternal Mortality Review Report.

by Joy Avery

In Memoriam: NCMS Life Member Sarah Taylor Morrow, MD, MPH

NCMS Life member Dr. Sarah Taylor Morrow, MD, MPH, died Friday, March 1. She was 102.

Dr. Morrow was the daughter of pioneering dentist Dr. Lois McKeown Taylor, and surgeon Dr. Frank V. Taylor. By the age of five, Morrow was determined to become a doctor.

Just before the great depression of 1929 she moved to Charlotte with her younger brother and mother to the Dilworth neighborhood where her mother practiced dentistry out of her home office. She attended Queens College where she became quite accomplished at piano before transferring to UNC-Chapel Hill where she received a bachelor’s degree in medicine.

She completed her medical training at the University of Maryland earning her MD degree at the young age of 23 in 1944. She was then one of the first women to be accepted into the Pediatric residency program at Grady Hospital in Atlanta, Ga.

Adding to her accomplishments, Morrow was the first female Secretary of NC DHHS.

Dr. Morrow joined the NCMS in 1961.

The North Carolina Medical Society extends its deepest sympathies.

Read Morrow's full obituary here.

by Joy Avery