Capitol Chronicle: Mark Your Calendar! Join the NCMS on Capitol Hill for the 2025 National Advocacy Conference
Join the NCMS on Capitol Hill!
2025 National Advocacy Conference
The AMA’s National Advocacy Conference is scheduled for February 10-12, 2025. This yearly event offers an opportunity for personal involvement in the health policy debate on Capitol Hill. We need increased NCMS member engagement with our members of Congress, so mark your calendar and stay tuned for forthcoming details.
2025 National Advocacy Conference
Save the date and plan join us for our return to Capitol Hill.
February 10-12, 2025 / Washington, DC
Join us as we advocate for your patients and your profession on . . .
Prior Authorization Relief
Medicare Payment Reform
Workforce Shortage Solutions
Physician Wellness
Mark your calendar! Registration details and additional information coming soon.
Your engagement matters!
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!
Register Now! Bridging the Gap Between Hypertension and Obesity Treatment: A Clinical Practice Statement
Bridging the Gap Between Hypertension and Obesity Treatment: A Clinical Practice Statement
Thursday, October 17th
11:00 – 12:00pm CT/12:00 – 1:00pm ET
Join this discussion on the intersection of hypertension and obesity treatment, two chronic health challenges that frequently coexist and complicate patient care. Over 70% of individuals with hypertension also have an elevated BMI or obesity. Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of mortality among patients with both hypertension and obesity. Understanding the interplay between these conditions is crucial to providing appropriate treatment.
Dr. Harold Bays
Dr. Kate Kirley, Director of Chronic Disease Prevention, AMA, talks with Dr. Harold Bays, the Chief Science Officer at Obesity Medicine Association, who will share key insights into the intersection of hypertension and obesity, standards of care, and what providers and care teams can do to address this issue.
Learning objectives:
- Recognize standards of care for patients with hypertension and obesity including proper diagnoses of hypertension and obesity
- Describe the intersections of clinical treatment and management of hypertension and obesity, including:
- Nutritional intervention
- Physical activity
- Behavior modification
- Medical therapy (medications, bariatric surgery)
- Apply recommended treatment strategies for patients with hypertension and obesity
Click here for CME and Accreditation Information
NC Medicaid: Policy Flexibilities for Behavioral Health and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Tailored Plans Extended
NC Medicaid implemented several policy flexibilities at the launch of Tailored Plans to ease the administrative burden on providers and to ensure members receive uninterrupted care during the transition to Tailored Plans. This included relaxing medical and pharmacy prior authorization (PA) requirements and implementing flexibilities for out-of-network provider rates and PA rules.
To ensure continuous care for members during the transition to Tailored Plans and to reduce provider burden, the Department is extending certain policy flexibilities originally scheduled to expire September 30, 2024. The transition period for these flexibilities will continue until January 31, 2025. The extension impacts the following flexibilities:
Medical PAs
Between July 1, 2024, and January 31, 2025, Tailored Plans are expected to cover services if a PA request meets medical necessity criteria in the following situations:
- A provider fails to submit PA prior to the service being provided and submits PA after the date of service; or
- A provider submits for retroactive PA.
*This exception does not apply to concurrent reviews for inpatient hospitalizations, which should still occur during this time.
Pharmacy PAs
For pharmacy PAs between July 1, 2024, and January 31, 2025, Tailored Plans are expected to honor existing pharmacy PAs (from NC Medicaid Direct and other health plans) for the life of the PA and to consider previous PA and current drug therapy as necessary, when making coverage determinations. This flexibility applies to both in-network and out-of-network providers.
Out-of-Network Provider Rates
In addition to out-of-network requirements found in the Department’s Transition of Care policy, Tailored Plans are expected to cover and reimburse for services for Medicaid-eligible nonparticipating/out-of-network providers equal to those of in-network providers for a period of 214 days after Tailored Plan launch (through January 31, 2025). Medically necessary services for physical and behavioral health will be reimbursed at 100% of the NC Medicaid fee-for-service rate for both in and out-of-network providers during this period.
Note: Out-of-network providers must be enrolled in NC Medicaid to be reimbursed by the Tailored Plan.
Out-of-Network Providers Follow In-Network PA Rules
Between July 1, 2024, and May 31, 2025, Tailored Plans are expected to honor prior authorizations submitted by out-of-network providers enrolled in NC Medicaid that meet in-network provider prior authorization rules. Starting June 1, 2025, out-of-network providers must seek authorizations for all services and be approved to provide services to be reimbursed for those services.
Additional details about each Tailored Plan’s PA requirements are available at:
Members can still change their PCP for any reason an unlimited number of times through January 31, 2025.
The Department expects Tailored Plans and providers to continue to work in good faith to finalize contracts so Tailored Plans have adequate networks to care for their members.
NC Medicaid is committed to working with providers and health plans to verify services are reimbursed without undue burden to members or providers during the transition.
Contact
For questions related to NC Medicaid Managed Care, contact the health plans for more information. Contact information is available on the Health Plan Contacts and Resources webpage.
Providers can also reach out to the Provider Ombudsman at [email protected] or 866-304-7062.
Record Number of Licensure Boards and Hospitals Take Action to Prevent Suicide for the Healthcare Workforce
RECORD NUMBER OF LICENSURE BOARDS AND HOSPITALS TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT SUICIDE FOR THE HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE
This week, the ALL IN: Wellbeing First for Healthcare coalition, led by the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation, announced significant progress made in effort to prevent suicide and better support the mental health of healthcare workers. A record number of licensure boards and hospitals have removed invasive mental health questions from licensing and credentialing applications that prevent health workers from seeking mental health support and increase the risk of suicide. This collective effort is positively benefiting more than 1.1 million licensed and 115,000 credentialed health workers nationwide. Read the full press release.
Wellbeing First Champions for Licensing
As of September 1, 2024, 1 dental licensure board, 29 medical licensure boards, and 4 nursing licensure boards verified their licensing applications do not include intrusive mental health questions—benefiting more than 1.1 million licensed health workers.
Wellbeing First Champions for Credentialing
As of September 1, 2024, 375 hospitals (up from 75 last year) verified their credentialing applications do not include intrusive mental health questions—benefiting more than 115,000 credentialed health workers. Also, 1 insurance company (PacificSource Health Plans) verified their credentialing applications. Additionally, Jackson and Coker Locums Tenens and Envision Healthcare verified their internal applications and forms—benefiting 17,300 health workers.
Click here to view the State-of-the-States interactive map.
North Carolina is contributing to this progress through ALL IN: Caring for North Carolina’s Caregivers, a statewide initiative with the North Carolina Clinician and Physician Retention and Well-being (NCCPRW) Consortium and the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation (DLBHF). Most recently, the North Carolina Department of Insurance (NCDOI) revised its Uniform Credentialing Application, ensuring it no longer includes intrusive mental health questions or stigmatizing language. This update enables hospitals and healthcare organizations across the state that use the NCDOI application to move forward with auditing and changing their applications, fostering a more supportive environment for those who care for us all.
NCMS Member Dr. Jeffrey Beecher Comments on New Leading-edge Brain Cancer Technology
Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center has announced a significant advancement in cancer treatment with the successful implantation of a GammaTile, a targeted radiation therapy for brain tumors.
GammaTile is surgically implanted inside the brain, revolutionizing the way tumors are targeted and treated. Each GammaTile, which is approximately the size of a postage stamp, delivers a precise, focused dose of radiation, limiting impact to nearby healthy brain tissue.
“To be able to offer this technology to our patients is a big milestone for New Hanover Regional Medical Center,” said NCMS member Dr. Jeffrey Beecher, a neurosurgeon at Novant Health Neurosciences Institute in Wilmington. “This is yet another way we are ensuring patients have access to leading-edge technology right in their backyard. The collaboration between our neurosurgery and radiation oncology teams helps us to provide southeastern North Carolina with quality, advanced care.”
For many patients, GammaTile’s focused delivery minimizes side effects, including hair loss. The radioactivity decays over time, and its collagen tiles ultimately dissolve.
“For patients who have received prior external beam radiation, additional courses of radiation are not always an option,” said Dr. Tiffany Morgan, a radiation oncologist at the Novant Health Zimmer Cancer Institute. “To be able to offer our patients a more focused, safe and effective approach to treating their brain cancer is incredible. There is hope for patients with recurrent tumors, and we are proud to be able to help them with this technology.”
Brain cancer patients will be assessed and must meet criteria for its use by their provider. Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center is excited to see how GammaTile will help treat their future brain cancer patients. [source]
TOMORROW is the Last Day to Submit Your Application for the Addiction Medicine Scholarship
The Governor’s Institute offers a limited number of scholarships to attend the Addiction Medicine Conference (Spring) or Addiction Medicine Essentials (Fall).
By attending these events, physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant students or residents, who are training in North Carolina with an interest in Addiction Medicine will have the opportunity to receive up-to-date substance use related education, applicable across general medical as well as addiction specialty practices and learn from the experts during didactic lectures on a wide range of addiction medicine related topics.
ADDITIONAL LINKS OF INTEREST
Register Now! 2024 Addiction Medicine Essentials Virtual Conference
Join Us for a Well-being Virtual Event! Before Burnout: Thriving as a Clinician Without Losing Yourself.
Before Burnout: Thriving as a Clinician Without Losing Yourself
October 22, 2024 | 12-1 PM EST
Presenter
Amna Shabbir, MD, NBC-HWC, CPC
Burnout is an overused word and a very real phenomenon. Please join us for a talk validating your struggles and offering potential tangible strategies to help prevent and mitigate burnout.
About the Speaker:
Dr. Amna Shabbir is a National Board-Certified Wellness and Master Certified Life Coach, and a Geriatrician - Internist. She passionately supports clinicians in navigating the challenges of life after medical training so they can excel professionally and personally. She fiercely advocates for Mental Health access for healthcare workers and is a proud Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation Ambassador and Member of the NC Clinician & Physician Retention & Well-being Consortium (NCCPRW). Dr. Shabbir is the Founder of the Early Career Physicians Institute and Amna Shabbir Wellness Coaching. She is also a proud Super Mom to two young girls.
NCTracks: Names on Re-verification Applications MUST Match NPPES, License, Accreditation, and/or Certification
The provider name listed on applications for re-verification must match their legal name, name on the NPPES Registry, and their name on any license, certification, and/or accreditation. This includes middle names. If the middle name is listed on NPPES and/or license, certification, and/or accreditation, then it must be included in the application.
Providers can check their listed NPPES name at: https://npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov/search
For providers re-enrolling or submitting re-verification applications:
If the name does not match, do NOT submit the application. Instead send an email to [email protected] with required documentation attached. See chart on this page for more information about required documentation.
Register Now! The State of the U.S. Biomedical Research
The State of the U.S. Biomedical and Health
Research Enterprise:
Strategies for Achieving a Healthier America
REPORT RELEASE EVENT
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
1 - 2:45 PM
Webinar
The U.S. biomedical research enterprise contributes significantly to the nation’s health and economy. An NAM committee conducted a thorough review to determine whether the enterprise can continue to lead globally and address our population’s health needs in the face of complex challenges. This report presents the results of that review and lays out strategies to reimagine and reinvigorate the biomedical research enterprise before a moment of crisis.
In this webinar hosted by NAM President Victor J. Dzau, a panel of committee members will present an overview of the report followed by a discussion with national leaders in biomedical research.
Learn more and register to attend here.
Whooping Cough Cases on the Rise in Western North Carolina
Just like in the spring, pertussis – more commonly known as whooping cough – cases are on the rise in Buncombe County and all across the state, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control.
On September 24, Buncombe County Health and Human Services issued a public health alert in response to a multi-school outbreak of whooping cough spreading across the county. Currently, 18 cases have been confirmed since August 12, Buncombe County Health and Human Services reported, and many cases are still under investigation.
Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory infection that spreads through coughs and sneezes. Often, early symptoms are mild, like a common cold, and can include the following:
- Runny nose
- Low fever
- Sneezing
- Mild cough
According to the CDC, symptoms after one to two weeks can quickly worsen and last for months. They include bad coughing attacks that may lead to the following:
- A "whoop" sound
- Vomiting
- Problems breathing
- Difficulty sleeping
- Extreme tiredness
Continue to the full article here.
ADDITIONAL LINKS OF INTEREST
Cases of Whooping Cough Spiking in US, Especially Among Unvaccinated Teens
Capitol Chronicle: Fix Medicare Payment! North Carolina Dermatologists Take Message to Congress.
Capitol Chronicle: Fix Medicare Payment! North Carolina Dermatologists Take Message to Congress.
The American Academy of Dermatology Association held its 2024 Legislative Conference over the dates of September 8-10. The event drew attendees from across the country to add emphasis to the medical profession’s advocacy priorities. The top-of-list issue taken to Capitol Hill was Medicare physician payment reform. Specific messages included:
- Avert the 2.8% cut in Medicare physician payment scheduled for January 1, 2025.
- Enact legislation to update the Medicare physician payment structure that includes annual inflationary adjustment.
- Enact legislation to alleviate the obstacle presented by “budget neutrality” in setting Medicare physician reimbursement.
- Pass the Safe Step Act to relieve the inappropriate barriers to patients receiving the care they deserve.
Attendees included:
Shelley Cathcart, MD
Blue Ridge Dermatology Associates
Raleigh, NC
Kim Edhegard, II, MD
President-Elect / NC Dermatology Association
Foothills Family Dermatology
Morganton, NC
Dhwani Mehta, MD
Secretary-Treasurer / NC Dermatology Association
Dermatology Group of the Carolinas
Concord, NC
Alan Skipper, CAE
Vice President, External Affairs
NC Medical Society / Raleigh, NC
The group visited the offices of all 16 of North Carolina’s members of the US House and US Senate.
The day on Capitol Hill included a meeting with Rep./Dr. Greg Murphy
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!
NCMS Member Dr. Phillip Stetler Appointed to UNC Health Rockingham Hospital Board of Directors
The UNC Health Rockingham Board of Directors recently welcomed Phillip Stetler, DO, as a new member. Dr. Stetler is an orthopedic surgeon at UNC Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in Eden. He has a special interest in total joint replacement, sports medicine, trauma and fracture care.
“The Board has been impressed with Dr. Stetler since he joined our team at UNC Health Rockingham,” said Board of Directors Chair Jeffrey Parris. “His approach to treating the whole patient and understanding of our rural health system makes him a great addition to the board.”
Dr. Stetler brings not only his passion for healing the entire person, but also a strong desire to provide care for patients in rural areas. He hopes to bring this same perspective to the hospital board when considering how to best provide care and services to those whose needs bring them to UNC Health Rockingham for treatment.
“I am passionate about overall community health efforts, especially now that I’m back close to home,” said Stetler. “By serving on the UNC Health Rockingham Board of Directors, I hope to extend my ability to help beyond the practice and into the hospital and community to advocate for all patients at UNC Health Rockingham. I look forward to sharing perspectives gained from growing up with rural medicine in my home in tandem with my medical experiences.”
Dr. Stetler attended medical school at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center in Ohio. Following his residency, Dr. Stetler completed a fellowship with Johns Hopkins Hospital focusing on shoulder and elbow orthopedics. He joined the UNC Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in Eden practice in February 2022. [source]
Mammography Reporting Now Requires Breast Density Assessment
A new FDA requirement went into effect on Tuesday, September 10, requiring all mammography reports and result letters sent to patients in the United States to include an assessment of breast density.
The FDA issued a final rule on March 10, 2023, to amend the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) regulations (“2023 MQSA Final Rule”). Enforcement of the MQSA regulations as amended by the 2023 MQSA Final Rule began on September 10, 2024. Facilities subject to the MQSA, must now comply with all applicable requirements, including the breast density notification.
Access the 2023 MQSA Final Rule in its entirety at Federal Register: Mammography Quality Standards Act.
During a facility’s annual MQSA inspection, inspectors will review documentation that relates to whether the facility is meeting the requirements of the MQSA. As of September 10, 2024, the MQSA regulations have certain additional requirements, including:
Mammography Reports
- Name and location of the facility performing the exam, (at a minimum the city, State, ZIP code, and telephone number).
- An overall final assessment of findings, classified into one of the following categories:
- Negative
- Benign
- Probably Benign
- Suspicious
- Highly Suggestive of Malignancy
- Known-Biopsy-Proven Malignancy
- Post-Procedure Mammogram for Marker Placement.
- In cases where no final assessment category can be assigned due to incomplete work-up, the report should indicate:
- Incomplete: Need additional imaging evaluation
- Incomplete: Need prior mammograms for comparison.
- An overall assessment of breast density, classified in one of the following categories:
- "The breasts are almost entirely fatty."
- "There are scattered areas of fibroglandular density."
- "The breasts are heterogeneously dense, which may obscure small masses."
- "The breasts are extremely dense, which lowers the sensitivity of mammography."
For more information and the list of additional requirements, click here.
Join NCMGMA and NCMSF for the Next Lunch & Learn Webinar
NCMGMA – NCMSF Lunch & Learn Webinar
2024 Legislative Landscape
Tuesday, October 8, 2024 | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EST | Zoom
Join us on October 8th for this Lunch & Learn Webinar in which the NC Medical Society’s Director of Legislative Affairs will be discussing the current political landscape in North Carolina in regard to the profession of medicine.
Webinar Speaker
Hannah Rice
NCMS - Director, Legislative Affairs
Hannah was born in Wilmington, North Carolina and earned her BA in History and minors in Political Science and Criminal Justice from UNC Charlotte. During her undergraduate career, Hannah worked on a Governor’s campaign, interned for a United States Congressman, and interned for a public health initiative in Cabarrus County, Smart Girls Know. Since graduating, she has worked in various fundraising roles as the Political Fundraising Manager for the North Carolina REALTORS® and Distinguished Events Coordinator for the American Cancer Society. In her free time, Hannah enjoys reading, trying new restaurants, watching baseball or football, and traveling with her husband and dog.
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.
Questions
Please contact [email protected]
Addiction Medicine CME Series Helps You Meet Updated DEA Requirements
The North Carolina Medical Board and Wake AHEC, in collaboration with the North Carolina Medical Society and the Addiction Medicine Fellowship program at UNC School of Medicine, have developed an eight-hour CME series that meets the training requirement established by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
This Addiction Medicine Series offers education on a variety of key topics in addiction medicine, including the impacts of stigma, integrating addiction treatment in the primary care setting, and treatment of substance use in special populations.
Here is the full list of classes available in the series:
1. The End of a Bygone Era: Removal of the X-waiver Next Steps in Buprenorphine Prescribing
2. Addiction In Primary Care
3. Responding to Pediatric Substance Use
4. Treating Chronic Pain and Addictions
5. Understanding the Impacts of Stigma: Substance Use Disorder
6. Addiction and Mental Illness
7. The Impact of Stigma and Bias on Substance Use Disorder Diagnosis and Treatment
8. Current State of MOUD Access
Learn more, including how to register, here.
Your Feedback Needed: Help Improve the Medicaid Clinician Experience
NCMS's partners, Carolina Complete Health (CCH) and Carolina Complete Health Network (CCHN) will host their 2nd Annual Medicaid Managed Care Town Hall at the 2024 CPP Annual Meeting during NCMS LEAD Conference in November. In preparation for that session, we want to hear from clinicians across North Carolina who provide care to Medicaid enrollees.
Please share your experiences, challenges and successes, suggestions, and questions to help inform future programs, resources, opportunities, and collaborations that will improve health outcomes and enhance the overall care experience for Medicaid clinicians and enrollees.
All Medicaid clinicians are invited to complete this form, regardless of contract status with any of the PHPs.
Provide your feedback here.
NCMGMA Fall Conference Starts Wednesday! There's Still Time to Register.
The NCMGMA Fall Conference begins Wednesday, 9/25 thru Friday, 9/27.
Get Inspired!
Join NCMGMA in Winston-Salem! This year's event offers mentoring takeaways from Laurie Baedke, NC's financial health from Treasurer Dale Folwell, leadership inspiration from Tim Hebert, agile leadership training from Shane McKenzie, regulatory updates from Jason Newton, CMPE motivation from Todd Pittman, relationship best practices with Nelson Santiago, HR optimization from Kristine Sims, and cybersecurity insights from Javier Young.
Make plans to attend!
Learn more here to see all that this year's conference has to offer.
Learning Opportunity: HIPAA Privacy and Security Training
This online, self-paced HIPAA Privacy and Security Training course will provide information on understanding the law and developing best practices within your office to ensure compliance. The course is not a complete summary covering every aspect of HIPAA, which is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult an attorney if legal advice is needed. After completing this training course, the knowledge surrounding HIPAA and protecting patient information will provide confidence.
The objectives for this course include:
- Understand HIPAA’s privacy and security rules and how they relate to your job and patients.
- Understand the types of health information
- How to protect patient's health information
- Prevent intentional and unintentional disclosures of patient information and what to do in case of a breach.
- Understand what rights the patient has under the law.
- Helpful cybersecurity practical tips to use at work and home
For more information, including how to register, click here.
Cases of Whooping Cough Spiking in US, Especially Among Unvaccinated Teens
The U.S. is experiencing more than four times as many whooping cough cases compared with last year — a spike that some experts attribute to post-pandemic vaccine fatigue.
“With the increase in vaccine hesitancy that has been going on since the Covid-19 pandemic, we’re seeing outbreaks occurring in kids who are not vaccinated,” said Dr. Tina Tan, president-elect of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that 14,569 cases of whooping cough had been reported so far in 2024. That’s a significant increase over last year’s total of 3,475 cases.
According to a CDC spokesperson, preliminary cases reported so far this year are the highest since 2014.
The bacterial illness is officially called pertussis but is often referred to as “whooping cough” because of the sound people — especially babies — make when trying to get enough oxygen despite ongoing coughing fits.
Doctors said the newly reported numbers are likely a vast underestimate of the true spread of the highly contagious respiratory infection.
“For every case of whooping cough we find, there’s probably 10 of them out there that didn’t come to medical attention,” said Dr. Jim Conway, a pediatrician and infectious disease expert at UW Health in Madison, Wisconsin.
Doctors at Duke University School of Medicine in North Carolina and Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., told NBC News that they hadn’t seen any recent cases of whooping cough. Georgia saw an uptick in whooping cough cases over the summer, said Dr. Andi Shane, division chief of pediatric infectious diseases at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, but that’s since declined.
Continue to the full article here.
For more on whooping cough (pertussis), visit cdc.gov/pertussis.
7 Proven Strategies to Conquer Board Exam Anxiety for Physicians
NCMS and North Carolina Clinician and Physician Retention and Wellbeing (NCCPRW) Consortium member Amna Shabbir, MD, NBC-HWC, CPC, Founder and CEO of Amna Shabbir Wellness Coaching LLC and the Early Career Physicians Institute, shares valuable tips for physicians preparing for board exams. Read her insightful article here.
Now Available! 2024 Survey of America’s Current and Future Physicians. A Crucial Guide for Understanding, Addressing, and Supporting Physicians, Residents, and Medical Students.
2024 Survey of America’s Current and Future Physicians serves as a crucial guide for understanding, addressing, and supporting physicians, residents, and medical students nationwide.
The Physicians Foundation’s 2024 Survey of America’s Current and Future Physicians focuses on the state of physicians, residents, and medical students’ wellbeing, as well as the conditions in physician practice environments—offering essential solutions to improve both.
Key Findings from the Report:
The overall state of wellbeing for current physicians remains low.
- Six in 10 physicians and residents, and seven in 10 medical students reported often experiencing burnout
- More than half of physicians know of a physician who has ever considered, attempted, or died by suicide
With private equity and healthcare consolidation exacerbating the issue.
- Seven in 10 physicians and medical students, and at least six in 10 residents agree that consolidation is having a negative impact on patient access to high-quality, cost-efficient care
- According to physicians, negative impacts of mergers/acquisitions include job satisfaction (50%), quality of patient care (36%), independent medical judgment (35%) and patient healthcare costs (30%)
Current and future physicians need solutions that prioritize physician wellbeing and perspectives.
- Safeguards for consolidation identified by physicians, residents and medical students include preserving physician autonomy (90%), maintaining patient standards (87%), increasing transparency and disclosure (86%) and assessing long-term impact (84%)
- Additionally, 79% of physicians and 87% of residents found the reduction of administrative burdens to be helpful
- Furthermore, 71% of residents and 59% of students found change or removal of medical licensure questions that stigmatize accessing behavioral health care to be helpful
Click here to visit the survey homepage and download the full report.
About The Physicians Foundation
The Physicians Foundation is a nonprofit seeking to advance the work of practicing physicians and help them facilitate the delivery of high-quality health care to patients. As the U.S. health care system continues to evolve, The Physicians Foundation is steadfast in strengthening the physician-patient relationship, supporting medical practices' sustainability and helping physicians navigate the changing health care system. The Physicians Foundation pursues its mission through research, education and innovative grant making that improves physician wellbeing, strengthens physician leadership, addresses drivers of health and lifts physician perspectives. For more information, visit www.physiciansfoundation.org.
About the Physicians Foundation's 2024 Survey of America's Current and Future Physicians
Each year, the Physicians Foundation assesses physician sentiment surrounding the practice environment and patient care, so we can understand where things stand and drive change to enhance physician practice and improve patient health outcomes. In 2024, the survey was conducted online among U.S. physicians, medical residents and clerkship/clinical rotation medical students, who were derived from Medscape's proprietary database. The survey was fielded from June 17 through July 16, 2024.
Join DOCMS for Cultivating Care for Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Workers in North Carolina
Join DOCMS at the University Club!
"Cultivating Care for Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Workers in North Carolina"
Wednesday, October 9, 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
Speaker:
Modjulie Moore, MD| Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at UNC School of Medicine. Current Medical Director for the NCDHHS Farmworker Health Program.
Modjulie Moore, MD is a family medicine physician with University of North Carolina’s Family Medicine Residency program. She completed her residency training at Greater Lawrence Family Medicine Residency in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Her medical training was focused on providing care for the Latine community. Following her residency training, she worked as a family physician ensuring comprehensive care to all patients within a federally qualified health center in rural eastern North Carolina. She was able to work collaboratively with community outreach workers in helping to provide needed care to the farmworker community.
Dr. Moore’s medical Spanish knowledge and her cultural awareness provided an invaluable resource to the counties served by the community health center network. Following her experience in rural medicine, Dr. Moore transitioned to her current role at UNC Family Medicine Residency program. She currently serves as a teacher and mentor to the residents and medical students. She brings to her patients and learners a perspective that highlights the importance of understanding community needs and providing a culturally engaging response.
Within her role on faculty at UNC, she provides care at the Orange County Health Department and the UNC Family Medicine Center. She also serves as the medical director of the NC DHHS Office of Rural Health’s Farmworker Health Program. Her career continues to build upon her passion for caring for our most vulnerable populations. Her role as medical director of NC FHP allows her to incorporate valuable lessons learned from work in rural health, community engagement, and the Latine community.
1 CME Credit is available! Click here for how to claim your credit.
DOCMS Members & Prospective Members - FREE to attend
Guests - $25 to attend (will be collected at meeting site)
Physicians on the Brink: Suicidal Ideation in NC
Physician suicide is a longstanding issue, with doctors contemplating ending their own lives as frequently as non-physicians. However, a recent survey of North Carolina doctors indicates the problem may be more severe than previously understood. Join Jean Fisher Brinkley and Dr. Joe Jordan, CEO of the North Carolina Professionals Health Program, as they discuss the alarming findings from NCPHP's recent Suicidal Ideation Survey and explore solutions to address this critical issue.
Hosts and Guests
Jean Fisher Brinkley
Communications Director, North Carolina Medical Board
Jean Fisher Brinkley is NCMB’s Communications Director, a role that involves developing and overseeing production of communications materials and strategies needed to enhance public and professional awareness and understanding of the Board and its mission. She joined NCMB in 2008, after an 11-year career in newspaper journalism, most of it dedicated to reporting on medicine, health policy and the business aspects of health care.
Brinkley earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Mills College in Oakland, CA, and a master’s degree in journalism from the University of California, Berkeley. She lives in Raleigh with her husband and two daughters.
You can reach Jean at [email protected]
Joseph P. Jordan, PhD
Chief Executive Officer, North Carolina Professionals Health Program
Dr. Jordan brings more than 25 years of experience in the areas of substance abuse and mental health disorders to his role as NCPHP’s Chief Executive Officer. Prior to assuming this role in 2016, he worked at NCPHP for nine years, first as the Clinical Director before taking on the position of Executive Director.
Before joining NCPHP, Dr. Jordan was the Ethics Officer and Director of Special Projects for The National Board for Certified Counselors, served as clinical director for a long-term residential program, and provided emergency psychiatric evaluation services while completing his graduate degrees. Dr. Jordan has previously served on state and national committees and boards devoted to the study, development, and refinement of the field of substance abuse counseling. He earned his undergraduate degree in Psychology and graduate degrees in Counseling and Counseling Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
You can reach Dr. Jordan at: [email protected]
References
QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Find a variety of online training modules available at the QPR Institute.
Resources
Need Help Immediately?
Dial 911 or contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or 1-800-273-8255 or visit them online.
Help in North Carolina
NCPHP | North Carolina Physicians Health Program (NCPHP)
220 Horizon Drive
Suite 201
Raleigh, NC 27615-4928
Email [email protected]
Call (919) 870-4480
National Resources
- Physician Support Line (Free, Confidential & Anonymous) Psychiatrists helping physician and medical student colleagues navigate the many intersections of their personal and professional lives. Call 1-888-409-0141.
New Episode! NCMS Member Dr. Shannon Dowler Talks STI's and more - Part 2
Season 4 of the Addiction Medicine Podcast continues with Part 2 of the series on Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI).
Part 1 dove into how the term ‘infection’ can reduce stigma, encourage testing, and emphasize the importance of regular screenings. Also discussed were current trends, cultural trends, health inequities, and the role of healthcare providers in STI care.
Part 2 is packed with expert tips that will make you rethink how you approach sexual health and harm reduction.
Explore:
- The must-know screening guidelines for ALL patients?
- How new meds like PrEP and Doxy PEP are changing prevention?
- Why partner treatment is a game-changer in fighting reinfection?
Returning for this important conversation are Dr. Shannon Dowler, a board-certified family physician with a national reputation in health policy, public health, and sexual health, and Dr. Amy Marietta, board-certified in family medicine and addiction medicine.
Dr. Dowler is currently Deputy Director in the Mecklenburg County STI Clinic while Dr. Marietta serves as the Medical Director of MAHEC’s Project CARA, a comprehensive perinatal substance use treatment program in Asheville, North Carolina.
ADDITIONAL LINKS OF INTEREST:
Listen Now! NCMS Member Dr. Shannon Dowler Talks STI's and more. (Part 1)
NCDHHS Releases New Health Disparities Analysis Report, Highlights Opportunities for Improvement
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today published the 2024 Health Disparities Analysis Report. The report offers a comprehensive view of the effects of health disparities on health outcomes across North Carolina and highlights opportunities for improvement and action.
"Every North Carolinian should have the opportunity to live a healthy life, but a health system that fails some, fails us all," said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley. "While Medicaid expansion and recent investments in behavioral health are critical pieces of this work, we must be intentional in uncovering and addressing the health gaps that exist for different communities."
The Health Disparities Analysis Report focuses on six key topic areas: health care access; chronic disease mental health, substance use, suicide and violence prevention; communicable disease; social drivers of health; and health across the lifespan. The report uses in-depth data to identify and analyze disparities across multiple population groups such as race and ethnicity, disability status and age. It also highlights corresponding strategies that can be used to address identified discrepancies between these groups.
"Reducing health disparities experienced by populations which have been historically marginalized is a huge task that requires partners from every single sector coming together to act," said NCDHHS Deputy Secretary for Health Equity and Chief Health Equity Officer Debra Farrington. "Health disparities are shaped by historical, social, political and other underlying factors, and the first step toward reducing these gaps is to understand their root causes. This report is a critical document that allows our department and our partners to focus on the most severe disparities and strategically plan actions to reduce or eliminate them going forward."
The release of this report builds upon other key accomplishments and NCDHHS initiatives related to advance fair opportunities for health ensuring every North Carolinian has access to the care they need, when and where they need it. In 2023 North Carolina began Medicaid Expansion, which will provide life-changing health care access to more than 600,000 uninsured and under-insured North Carolinians over the next two years. The department also celebrated a historic $835 million investment in behavioral health, focusing on crisis care, children and families and people involved in the justice system. Most recently, NCDHHS launched a Community and Partner Engagement Initiative, which amplifies the impact of engaging community members and partner organizations within NCDHHS systems, services, programs and policies.
To read the full report, visit the Office of Health Equity’s data webpage. If you or your organization is interested in getting involved with NCDHHS’ work to address health disparities, visit ncdhhs.gov/GetInvolved.
NCDHHS Encourages North Carolinians to Get Vaccinated Against Flu, COVID-19
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is encouraging everyone 6-months and older to get their seasonal flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccines are the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from serious illness, hospitalization and long-term health complications from viruses. Both vaccines have been updated for the new flu and COVID-19 virus strains that will continue to spread this fall and winter.
Flu shots are now available; and different types of COVID-19 vaccines are available this fall to protect against the new strains of the virus during the 2024-2025 respiratory season, including the Novavax protein-based COVID-19 vaccine, which was authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for individuals 12 and older. This authorization follows recent authorizations of updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines for individuals 6-months and older produced by Moderna and Pfizer.
"It’s important to make a plan now, at the start of the respiratory season, to protect yourself and your loved ones," said Dr. Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson, State Health Director and NCDHHS Chief Medical Officer. "We encourage everyone to talk with a health care provider about all recommended vaccines. Get vaccinated to avoid missing work and enjoy fall activities, sports and gatherings with friends and family. Getting vaccinated also provides increased protection against long term health implications of getting really sick."
The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) also spreads in the fall and winter and can lead to severe illness in older adults, young children and those with underlying medical conditions. Nearly a third of North Carolinians are at risk for RSV. People should talk to their doctors about whether RSV protection may also be needed for them or their child.
"Routine, seasonal vaccines for flu and COVID-19 ensure individuals and families are protected each year," said Dr. Zack Moore, State Epidemiologist. "These vaccines are safe, effective and make a big difference, especially for those at a higher risk of complications — adults 65 and older, children under 5, people who are pregnant or those living with certain medical conditions like asthma, diabetes and heart disease."
Providers and pharmacies are encouraged to order flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines to ensure they are available for their patients and community.
Children who are insured by Medicaid or are uninsured or underinsured can get vaccines at no cost through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. Most health insurance plans, including Medicaid, will cover flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines for children and eligible adults. Free COVID-19 vaccines will also be available for those who need them at local health departments, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and rural health centers. Resources are available to help provide free vaccines to uninsured or underinsured adults. Individuals can:
- Text their zip code to 438829 or visit Vaccines.gov
- Call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489)
- Contact a local health department: ncdhhs.gov/LHD
- Find a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC): findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov
- Reach out to a Rural Health Center
Flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines can be given at the same time, usually without an appointment, to help people get vaccinated quickly and easily.
Early treatment with an antiviral drug can also help prevent flu and COVID-19 infections from becoming more serious. Antiviral treatment works best if started soon after symptoms begin.
Other precautions you can take to protect against the spread of flu, COVID-19 and other viruses include:
- Staying home when you are sick, until you have been fever free for at least 24 hours
- Washing your hands frequently, preferably with soap and water
- Covering your coughs and sneezes with a tissue and then discarding the tissue promptly
Visit MySpot.nc.gov or Vaccines.gov for guidance, information and resources about flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines.
Learning Opportunity - Private Practice Simple Solutions: Virtual Assistants (Part one)
Private Practice Simple Solutions: Virtual Assistants (Part one)
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
10:00 AM CT/11:00 AM ET
Each eight-week Private Practice Simple Solutions learning collaborative addresses one topic area important to private practices and begins with a webinar of pre-recorded content presented by subject matter experts.
Following the kick-off webinar, an asynchronous discussion board offers weekly prompts for participants that encourage interaction with peers and questions for the experts to address. Midway through the learning collaborative, participants attend a live Q&A on the topic that will inform the direction of the discussion prompts for the remainder of the session.
Part 1 kicks off with a webinar followed by weekly asynchronous discussion prompts leading up to part 2. Topics addressed include patient engagement platforms, digital workflows for communication, and how to involve your patient community when making practice changes such as moving to value-based care or improving the revenue cycle.
Speaker
Carolynn Francavilla, MD, FOMA, DABOM, CEO, Green Mountain Partners for Health
Carolynn Francavilla, MD is Board Certified in Family Medicine and a Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine. She owns and operates Green Mountain Partners for Health and Colorado Weight Care in Denver, Colorado. Dr. Francavilla is the Chair of the AMA's Private Practice Physician Section.
Dr. Francavilla is a nationally recognized obesity expert, lecturing to clinicians on the topic obesity as well as teaching through her own platform HelpYourPatientsLoseWeight.com. She also hosts The Doctor Francavilla Show a podcast about weight and health and the founder of GLP Strong. She serves on the Obesity Medicine Association Board of Trustees and was awarded the Dr. Vernon B. Astler Award for dedicated service and support of OMA in 2017. Dr. Francavilla is an Assistant Professor at Rocky Vista University.
Reminder: NCTracks Multi-Factor Authentication Updates
In accordance with the North Carolina Identity Management (NCID) Citizen Identity Project, NCTracks is changing the User Login process and implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) updates. Please complete the following steps to update NCID profile:
These instructions are for Individual and Business users only, not Local and State Government users.
- Login to the MyNCID portal at https://myncid.nc.gov/ with your NCID Username and Password.
- You will see the Profile Information page upon successful login.
- Click on the MFA tab on your profile page.
- Click on the ADD ENROLLMENT button on the bottom right.
- A pop-up window will appear prompting you to choose an MFA method. Please note that office phone extensions are not supported.
- Follow the onscreen prompts to add your chosen MFA method.
For detailed instructions, including images of each step, refer to the NCID User Guide for MFA.
Important Note: Providers who do not currently use MFA will not be impacted at this time. MFA updates will be implemented through a phased approach. Until that time, your current login method will continue to work. However, you are being asked to update your profile to ensure a seamless transition to the new MFA method. You will receive further communication when your MFA is to be updated.
If you are an Individual or Business User who currently uses MFA, these updates will impact you on Sept. 15, 2024. Once these updates are implemented you are no longer required to access and maintain MFA using https://mfaportal.nc.gov/nctracksmfa/login.aspx. All profiles, including MFA, will be managed through https://myncid.nc.gov/ after implementation.
If you encounter issues during login or authentication, please contact the Department of Information Technology (DIT) helpdesk at 919-754-6000 or 800-722-3946 then select Option 1.
For more information and training videos, visit the NCID Citizen Identity Project | NCDIT training page.
Dr. Irons HealthAssist Clinic opens at JOY Community Center, Honoring NCMS Life Member Thomas Irons, MD
The Dr. Irons HealthAssist Clinic at JOY Community Center officially opened its doors on Tuesday, September 10, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by NCMS Life Member Dr. Thomas Irons.
The clinic will provide free non-emergent health care and disease management services to uninsured individuals in the community.
Dr. Irons, a lifelong advocate for community health, served as the chief medical officer for Access East, a nonprofit ECU Health affiliate. He recently retired from his distinguished career as a professor at East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine, where he was also a pediatric physician. In recognition of his decades of service, Dr. Irons was awarded the Order of the Longleaf Pine, North Carolina’s highest civilian honor.
The clinic, also known as the Pitt County Care Clinic at JOY, is housed within the same building as the JOY Soup Kitchen and has been serving patients in various capacities for over a year. It provides comprehensive wraparound health services, including medication assistance, patient education and connections to local resources. The clinic also hosts regular outreach events with community partners such as PiCASO (Pitt County AIDS Service Organization) and the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina.
Equipped with two standard exam rooms, the clinic will offer free care for non-emergency conditions like colds, bug bites and rashes, as well as manage chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. In-house lab testing for A1C blood-sugar levels and cholesterol will be available, along with COVID-19 testing kits.
Uninsured patients from Pitt and surrounding counties, including Beaufort, Greene, Edgecombe, Hertford, and Martin, will also have the opportunity to join the Access East HealthAssist program, which helps coordinate more comprehensive health care at no cost.
The clinic is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a nurse practitioner available on Wednesdays. Dr. Irons will mentor the clinic’s new nurse practitioner, a recent Duke University graduate. The JOY Community Center & Soup Kitchen is located at 700 Albemarle Ave. in Greenville. [source]
NCDOI Revises Uniform Credentialing Application, Removing Barrier to Mental Health Treatment for Healthcare Workers
The North Carolina Department of Insurance (NCDOI) has revised its Uniform Credentialing Application, removing one of the most substantial barriers to mental health treatment for healthcare workers.
NCCPRW was founded in 2016 in response to concerns raised by the North Carolina Medical Society regarding invasive language in licensing renewal materials.
Raleigh, NC (September 17, 2024) – Earlier this year, the North Carolina Clinician and Physician Retention and Well-being (NCCPRW) Consortium and the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation (DLBHF) launched a statewide initiative, ALL IN: Caring for North Carolina’s Caregivers (ALL IN: C4NCC), to support the state’s hospitals and health systems in improving workplace policies and practices that reduce burnout, normalize help-seeking, and strengthen professional wellbeing.
In just five short months, we have accelerated our impact on improving the well-being and mental health of North Carolina’s health workers through collaboration with the North Carolina Department of Insurance (NCDOI) to ensure their Uniform Credentialing Application is free from intrusive mental health questions and stigmatizing language. The NCDOI’s application is used by many of the state’s hospitals to credential their medical staff.
Like everyone, healthcare workers deserve the right to seek the mental health care they need—without the fear of losing their job. Yet, physicians, nurse practitioners, physician associates, and other clinicians fear losing their credentials because of overly broad and invasive mental health questions that are stigmatizing and discriminatory. According to The Physicians Foundation’s 2024 Survey of America’s Physicians, four in 10 physicians, more than four in 10 (44%) residents and half (50%) of medical students were either afraid or knew another colleague fearful of seeking mental health care given questions asked in medical licensure/credentialing/insurance applications.
We’re grateful for the NCDOI and the North Carolina Association of Health Plans (NCAHP) for their partnership in removing one of the most substantial barriers to mental health care for health workers. Their efforts enable organizations across the state that use their uniform credentialing application to move forward with this crucial update, fostering a more supportive environment for those who care for us all.
As a next step in the ALL IN: C4NCC program, hospitals and health systems, who verify their credentialing applications and peer reference forms are free of intrusive mental health questions, will be recognized as Wellbeing First Champions at the 2024 North Carolina Medical Society LEAD Conference.
If your hospital or health system is interested in becoming a Wellbeing First Champion, access the free toolkit and verification submission form at www.drlornabreen.org/removebarriers.
About North Carolina Clinician and Physician Retention and Well-being (NCCPRW) Consortium
The North Carolina Clinician and Physician Retention and Well-being Consortium (NCCPRW) is a collaborative initiative aimed at identifying and developing strategies to reduce stress and improve well-being among the healthcare workforce at the individual, organizational, and state level. Founded in 2016 in response to concerns raised by the North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) regarding invasive language in licensing renewal materials, the Consortium has evolved into a proactive force advocating for the mental health and wellness of healthcare professionals. In 2024, the Consortium transitioned into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to further its mission. For more information, contact Monecia Thomas, PhD, [email protected].
About Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation
The Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation’s vision is a world where seeking mental health care is universally viewed as a sign of strength for health workers. We believe every health worker should have access to the mental health care and professional well-being support that they may need, at every moment in their career. We carry out this mission by accelerating solutions, advancing policies, and making connections that put our healthcare workforce’s well-being first. For more information, visit drlornabreen.org.
NC Statewide Peer Warmline. A Resource for Individuals in Crisis.
The statewide Peer Warmline is a phone line staffed by Peer Support Specialists who offer non-clinical support and resources to those in crisis. Peer Support Specialists (or “peers”) are people living in recovery with mental illness and/or substance use disorder who provide support to others who can benefit from their lived experience. Their unique expertise helps reduce stigma while strengthening overall engagement in care. Like 988, North Carolina's Peer Warmline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Call 1-855-PEERS NC (855-733-7762) 24/7
- Available to all North Carolinians
People in need of assistance and wanting to speak with a peer can call the Peer Warmline at 1-855-PEERS NC (1-855-733-7762), and people who call 988 will have the option to connect with the Peer Warmline if they prefer to speak with a peer.
Both the NCDHHS Peer Warmline and 988 are available to anyone, anytime. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available.
Research to Practice: Update in Bladder Cancer
Research to Practice: Update in Bladder Cancer
Wednesday, September 25
12:00 - 1:00 PM
Live Webinar
Matthew I. Milowsky, MD, FASCO, will discuss aspects of bladder cancer including the role of biomarkers in the management of bladder cancer, the role of perioperative therapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer, and treatment strategies for advanced/metastatic bladder cancer.
Learning Objectives
- Discuss the role of biomarkers in the management of bladder cancer
- Describe the role of perioperative therapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer
- Identify treatment strategies for advanced/metastatic bladder cancer
Learn more and register here.
Download a printable/sharable flyer:
Wastewater Data Shows Virus That Causes Paralyzing Illness is Spiking in U.S.
A respiratory virus that sometimes paralyzes children is spreading across the U.S., raising concerns about another possible rise in polio-like illnesses.
Wastewater samples have detected a significant escalation in an enterovirus called D68, which, in rare cases, has been linked to acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM. The illness affects the nervous system and causes severe weakness in the arms and legs. This most often occurs in young children.
“We are detecting EV-D68 nucleic acids in wastewater across the country now, and the levels are increasing,” said Alexandria Boehm, program director of WastewaterSCAN, a nonprofit monitoring network and a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University.
The D68 enterovirus strain started causing more serious problems in 2014, when the U.S. saw, for the first time, a spike in pediatric AFM. That year, 120 kids were diagnosed.
There's no cure or specific treatment for the paralysis. Even with years of intensive physical therapy, many are left with life-altering disabilities.
Continue to the full article here.
Overwork, Stress, Depression: Where Do the Healers Go for Help?
Mark your calendar for an important program on mental health and support resources for healthcare providers.
Overwork, Stress, Depression: Where Do the Healers Go for Help?
Thursday, October 10 at 6:15pm
RSVP by October 1 to [email protected] or 919-810-4081
Today is National Physician Suicide Awareness Day. Let's Shed Light on This Critical Issue!
National Physician Suicide Awareness Day sheds light on the critical issue of physician suicide and the urgent need for increased support across the health care industry. It is a call to action for everyone in the medical community to prioritize physician well-being and advocate for resources and support that help prevent physician burnout and suicide. Physicians often endure intense mental health challenges due to the rigorous demands of their profession, yet stigma often prevents them from seeking help. This day encourages open conversations about these challenges and promotes awareness to reduce stigma and improve mental health support systems for physicians. Addressing the elevated risk of suicide among physicians is vital, as their well-being directly impacts the quality of patient care.
Healthcare organizations across North Carolina are recognizing this and taking steps to implement comprehensive mental health programs, fostering a compassionate and supportive environment for their medical staff. The North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS), along with key stakeholders across the state, dedicate their efforts and resources to address clinician and physician stress and burnout through the North Carolina Clinician and Physician Retention and Well-being (NCCPRW) Consortium. This year the Consortium transitioned into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to further its mission and began a partnership with the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation to launch the ALL IN: Caring for North Carolina’s Caregivers this April. “The partnership between the North Carolina Clinician and Physician Retention and Well-being (NCCPRW) Consortium and the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation (DLBHF) is a significant step towards prioritizing the well-being of healthcare workers. Focusing on suicide prevention during September is crucial, and it’s heartening to see such initiatives being aligned with the quintuple aim, which emphasizes healthcare worker well-being.” shared Christina Bowen, MD, NCCPRW President, ECU Chief Well-being Officer, and dedicated NCMS member.
ALL IN: Caring for North Carolina’s Caregivers seeks to support the state’s hospitals and health systems in improving workplace policies and practices that reduce burnout, normalize help-seeking, and strengthen professional well-being—accelerating impact to improve North Carolinian health workers’ well-being and mental health. This work began through the establishment of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation in memory of Lorna Breen, a sister, a daughter, a friend, and a physician who died by suicide shortly after the COVID pandemic began. Dr. Lorna Breen had no prior mental health issues (known or suspected) and no history of depression or anxiety, but after contracting COVID herself, and returning to work in the NYC emergency department to an overwhelming number of severely sick patients and a lack of resources and help, she became so overworked and despondent that she was unable to move. Despite giving everything she had to care for her patients, she worried about the stigma associated with physician burnout and mental health struggles. She feared that seeking help could lead to professional consequences, a loss of respect, and jeopardize her career. This fear, experienced by many healthcare professionals, underscores the critical need for a culture shift in medicine where physician well-being is prioritized, and mental health support is readily available without fear of retribution. Lorna’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the urgent need for systemic changes to support healthcare professionals, ensuring they have the resources, support, and understanding they need to sustain both their mental and physical health.
The NCCPRW & DLBHF invite hospitals and health systems across the state to join us in prioritizing the mental health and well-being of North Carolina’s healthcare workforce. Click here to find more information about the ALL IN: C4NCC initiative.
Please contact Monecia Thomas to learn more.
Register Now for Sustainability of the HIV/AIDS Response – Getting to 2030 & Beyond
The state of the HIV/AIDs endemic is reaching a critical point requiring evaluation of the current state of the global response, progress made thus far, and planning for post-2030 goals. The National Academy of Medicine is hosting a timely international meeting to facilitate discussion on these issues.
This one-day workshop is being held on September 18, 2024, from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM US Eastern. Ambassador John N. Nkengasong, the Senior Bureau Official for Global Health Security and Diplomacy at the U.S. State Department, will deliver the opening remarks. His address will set the stage for discussions across three subsequent panels.
Broadly, the goals of this workshop are to:
- Explore how we can re-energize the global HIV response to reach the 2030 goals but also to look beyond.
- Craft strategies to increase and sustain political commitment.
- Highlight global accountability and domestic-donor financing.
Join the Discussion. Patients With Pain Need Individualized Care: How Policy is Shifting
Tuesday, September 17th
12 p.m. CT / 1 p.m. ET
The Federation of State Medical Boards recently adopted revisions to its recommendations relating to opioids and pain care that focus on individualized, patient-centered care.
Hear about:
- The new guidelines and how they were updated
- Recommendations and expectations for medical boards
- How medical boards are addressing access to treatment for patients with pain
Register now for this webinar.
Moderator:
- Michael Suk, MD, JD, MPH, MBA, chair, AMA Board of Trustees
Speakers:
- Humayun Chaudhry, DO, president and CEO, Federation of State Medical Boards
- Sarvam TerKonda, MD, past chair, Federation of State Medical Boards
- Sherif Zaafran, MD, board member, Federation of State Medical Boards
If you are unable to attend live, a recording of the presentation will be emailed out to all registrants.
Learning Opportunity: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Webinar
September is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Month and an opportunity to raise awareness of individuals with FASD. Alcohol exposure is the leading cause of intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in the US and results in a variety of diagnoses, collectively referred to as FASD. In North Carolina, approximately 6,000 children, or 1 in 20, are born every year with FASD.
NCDHHS' Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services will host a webinar to raise awareness for FASD on September 25 from noon to 1:30 p.m.
NCDHHS Releases New Report on Transforming Behavioral Health System
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced the release of a new report, Transforming North Carolina’s Behavioral Health System: Investing in a System That Delivers Whole-Person Care When and Where People Need It. The report outlines the state’s expansive and strategic efforts to transform the public behavioral health system to deliver high-quality, equitable, accessible care that meets people where they are in their communities.
The North Carolina General Assembly last year invested $835 million to strengthen the state’s behavioral health system — a historic commitment to improving the health, well-being and day-to-day lives of North Carolinians and their families. The new report details the sweeping changes NCDHHS has made over the past seven years and continues to make using these investments, including strengthening the state’s system of care for people experiencing a crisis, expanding treatment options for children and youth with complex needs, improving outcomes for people involved in or at risk to enter the justice system, and supporting the behavioral health workforce.
"Too often, an underfunded behavioral health system leaves people behind in their most vulnerable moments, particularly children facing mental health challenges and other crises," said Governor Roy Cooper. "That must change and we have an opportunity to make a transformational investment in North Carolina that addresses people's critical needs and strengthens families and communities. I appreciate the collaborative work of state health leaders to ensure we have a comprehensive plan to transform behavioral health services across our state to help more people."
"By investing in behavioral health, we are expanding access to care and saving lives," said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley. "This is what real change looks like – our workforce, our communities and our state leaders coming together to transform our system to provide care when and where it’s needed most. We will continue to work with our partners to ensure that every North Carolinian can access mental health and substance use services."
The report also outlines the department’s work over the last several years to lay the foundation for a reformed behavioral health system, including expanding Medicaid to 600,000 people without health care coverage, transitioning to Medicaid managed care to better integrate physical and behavioral health, and launching the specialty Tailored Plans for people with behavioral health needs, intellectual and developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injuries. The report demonstrates how these initiatives enabled NCDHHS to more readily allocate and distribute funding directly into communities to ensure investments began serving North Carolinians as quickly as possible.
Read the full release here.
Questions Loom Around Need for Mpox Vaccine Boosters in the US
As a deadly mpox outbreak continues to spread in Africa and other parts of the world, questions are emerging about whether some vulnerable people in the United States may need booster doses of the mpox vaccine.
Last month, the World Health Organization declared an mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo to be a public health emergency of international concern, and the outbreak has spread to a growing number of countries in Africa.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is characterized by two genetic clades, I and II. This outbreak involves a subtype called clade Ib, a relatively new strain that causes more severe disease.
A global outbreak in 2022 was caused by clade IIb mpox, spread primarily through sexual contact. More than 30,000 people in the United States were infected in that outbreak, which was also declared a public health emergency of international concern. But vaccination with the Jynneos mpox vaccine helped slow transmission to the point where the virus was almost gone in the US.
Continue to full article here.
Registration Now Open for the 2024 NCCHCA Annual Clinical Conference
NCCHCA Annual Clinical Conference
November 7-8, 2024
UNC Charlotte Marriott Hotel & Conference Center
Charlotte, NC
Join NCCHCA November 7-8, in Charlotte, for the 2024 Clinical Conference on Quality & Chronic Diseases, a professional training event providing continuing education and networking opportunities with clinical and administrative leaders. Nationally recognized health care experts will share knowledge with safety-net health care providers on cutting-edge trends and quality improvement methods.
Learn more and register here.
Take A "Swing for Pink" in October
Take a “Swing for Pink” at the upcoming charity golf tournament to benefit the Central Carolina Hospital Auxiliary’s Breast Cancer Comfort Care Fund.
The event is set for Sunday, October 6, starting at 12:30 pm at Carolina Trace Country Club. A golf tournament in scramble format will be followed by a cocktail party with door prizes. For more information or to register, email April Fleming at [email protected].
The Central Carolina Hospital Auxiliary Breast Cancer Comfort Care Fund was established in 2011 to help breast cancer patients with "extra comfort items" and "screening/testing" that may not be covered by insurance, as well as patients who are uninsured or have financial constraints. The fund is available to women as well as men.
Comfort items include head coverings such as caps, scarves, hats, wigs, and other specialty items that may be required. They may also include mastectomy bras, a breast prosthesis, or compression garments for patients with lymphedema (an accumulation of lymph fluid in the layers of skin that cause persistent swelling in the arm or breast). Some examples of screenings include screening mammograms, diagnostic mammograms and breast biopsies.
To learn more about the fund, visit www.centralcarolinahosp.com and search for Auxiliary Breast Cancer Comfort Care Fund. Or you can contact CCH Volunteer Services at 919.774.2100 or visit www.cchaux.com.
Governor Roy Cooper Proclaims Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
ROY COOPER
GOVERNOR
PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
2024
BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
A PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men in the United States and second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men in the United States, and in North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, in 2024, it is estimated that 9,094 men in North Carolina will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and 1,207 men will die from this disease; and
WHEREAS, prostate cancer impacts people of all races and ethnicities, with African Americans experiencing the highest incidence and mortality rates in North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, men can reduce their risk of prostate cancer by having a healthy lifestyle, being physically active, eating healthy foods, limiting or eliminating their alcohol intake, quitting tobacco and vaping use, and knowing their family history of prostate cancer; and
WHEREAS, the NC Comprehensive Cancer Control Program encourages men to talk to a health care provider to determine whether they should be screened for prostate cancer; and if a screening results in a diagnosis, they can learn more from their health care provider about the disease, determine treatment that considers a quality-of-life balance in accordance with their unique diagnosis, and find support groups and services in their community or online; and
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina encourages people to become informed about cancer detection and to raise awareness, promote resources, and advocate support for men and their families affected by prostate cancer in our communities;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim September, 2024, as “PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS MONTH” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.
________________________________________
Roy Cooper
Governor
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina at the Capitol in Raleigh this fourth day of September in the year of our Lord two thousand and twenty-four and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.
Download a printable pdf here.
Register Now! 2024 Addiction Medicine Essentials Virtual Conference
2024 Addiction Medicine Essentials Conference
Friday, October 18, 2024 - Saturday, October 19, 2024
Virtual
The 7th annual Addiction Medicine Essentials conference provides an opportunity for clinicians from a wide range of specialties and practice settings to build knowledge and skills around substance use disorders.
The conference offers plenaries relevant to all providers as well as intro level workshops for those new to addiction medicine and more advanced content for experienced addiction medicine clinicians.
Learn more about the conference, including how to register here.
Additional Articles of Interest
Submit Your Application Today! Addiction Medicine Scholarship Opportunity.
NCTracks Multi-Factor Authentication Updates Coming Soon
In accordance with the North Carolina Identity Management (NCID) Citizen Identity Project, NCTracks is changing the User Login process and implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) updates. Please complete the following steps to update NCID profile:
These instructions are for Individual and Business users only, not Local and State Government users.
- Login to the MyNCID portal at https://myncid.nc.gov/ with your NCID Username and Password.
- You will see the Profile Information page upon successful login.
- Click on the MFA tab on your profile page.
- Click on the ADD ENROLLMENT button on the bottom right.
- A pop-up window will appear prompting you to choose an MFA method. Please note that office phone extensions are not supported.
- Follow the onscreen prompts to add your chosen MFA method.
For detailed instructions, including images of each step, refer to the NCID User Guide for MFA.
Important Note: Providers who do not currently use MFA will not be impacted at this time. MFA updates will be implemented through a phased approach. Until that time, your current login method will continue to work. However, you are being asked to update your profile to ensure a seamless transition to the new MFA method. You will receive further communication when your MFA is to be updated.
If you are an Individual or Business User who currently uses MFA, these updates will impact you on Sept. 15, 2024. Once these updates are implemented you are no longer required to access and maintain MFA using https://mfaportal.nc.gov/nctracksmfa/login.aspx. All profiles, including MFA, will be managed through https://myncid.nc.gov/ after implementation.
If you encounter issues during login or authentication, please contact the Department of Information Technology (DIT) helpdesk at 919-754-6000 or 800-722-3946 then select Option 1.
For more information and training videos, visit the NCID Citizen Identity Project | NCDIT training page.
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Stay Alert! Medical Records Request Phishing Scams on the Rise.
Phishing scams involving medical records are on the rise. These attempts may include scammers faxing fraudulent medical records requests to get you to send patient records in response; see example (PDF).
When you review any requests, look for signs of a scam, including:
- Directing you to send records to an unfamiliar fax number or address
- Referencing Medicare.gov or @Medicare (.gov)
- Indicating they need records to “update insurance accordingly”
A scam request may include:
- Poor grammar, misspellings, or strange wording
- Incorrect phone numbers
- Skewed or outdated logos
- Graphics that are cut and pasted
If you think you got a fraudulent or questionable request, work with your Medical Review Contractor to confirm if it’s real. Submit medical documentation through the Electronic Submission of Medical Documentation (esMD) system or CMS medical review contractor secure internet portals, when available.
Has your facility encountered this phishing scam?
Free Learning Opportunity: HIPAA Privacy and Security Training
This online, self-paced HIPAA Privacy and Security Training course will provide information on understanding the law and developing best practices within your office to ensure compliance. The course is not a complete summary covering every aspect of HIPAA, which is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult an attorney if legal advice is needed. After completing this training course, the knowledge surrounding HIPAA and protecting patient information will provide confidence.
The objectives for this course include:
- Understand HIPAA’s privacy and security rules and how they relate to your job and patients.
- Understand the types of health information
- How to protect patient's health information
- Prevent intentional and unintentional disclosures of patient information and what to do in case of a breach.
- Understand what rights the patient has under the law.
- Helpful cybersecurity practical tips to use at work and home
For more information, including how to register, click here.
There is no fee for this training.
Atrium Health Unveils Treatment That Directly Targets Cancerous Tumors
Sixteen-year-old Miya Trigg is like any typical teenager, where playing softball and hanging out with her friends is what she lives to do. However, over the past year, her life has been anything but typical.
“I was getting really, really bad headaches,” Trigg said. “To where like I could take Tylenol and it wouldn’t stop.”
After several tests and scans, doctors at Atrium Health determined Trigg had a cancerous tumor at the base of her brain.
“Medulloblastoma. It’s basically a tumor that is very fast growing, and in some cases it’s aggressive,” Trigg explained.
And because it was located in such a critical part of Trigg’s brain, it required special equipment that Atrium Health did not have. That equipment delivers pinpoint radiation called proton beam therapy.
So Trigg ended up spending several months at a hospital in Jacksonville, Florida.
“It kind of pulled me away from my dad and my brother. It was kind of tough on my mom to be so far from them,” Trigg elaborated. “If there was a proton beam here, it would be so much more helpful for me and my parents.”
Well, now there is. Located off Morehead Street, Atrium Health built a center to house a 110-ton proton beam. It was installed through the roof, and it was so large that it moved in a three-story axis up and down.
NCMS member and radiation oncologist Roshan Prabhu called it a game-changer in fighting certain cancers. He explained one benefit of proton beam therapy is the precision of the radiation with fewer side effects.
“This Proton center will save lives, and it’s going to do it while minimizing potential side effects, and that’s really the key,” Prabhu said. So if you are trying to treat cancer here and have something you really care about next to it, like the spinal cord, heart, lungs, or things like that, you can treat very high dose radiation of the cancer and not give radiation dose to normal tissue next to it.”
Trigg said there are other benefits as well.
“That is a huge blessing, I would say, because they don’t have to travel as much and they can still see their family still go back to their family and pets,” Trigg elaborated.
Trigg continued that she is now on the road to beating cancer, with just one month left of chemo. She is already focused on her future.
“I want to go to college for sure, and I want to become a nurse anesthetist and help people because they helped me,” Trigg said. [source]
Groundbreaking Held for Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine
(image credit: Methodist University)
The new Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine officially broke ground on a $60-plus-million facility – a significant milestone in changing the future of healthcare in Fayetteville, Cumberland County, and the entire Southeastern North Carolina region.
In front of hundreds of key members of the community – that included political leaders, donors, partners, community organizations, doctors, nurses, and media – leadership from Methodist University, Cape Fear Valley Health, and the School of Medicine announced the start of construction for a new five-story facility that will be located on the western edge of Cape Fear Valley Medical Center along Village Drive.
“This is an historic occasion, and I’m privileged to be a part of it,” said Methodist University President Stanley T. Wearden. “This is a collective project, and it has a lot of people behind it who believe in it deeply. At Methodist University, we’re committed to students and alumni success in the context of a mission that values community service, which is why we have our various Health Sciences programs that will soon include the Methodist University Cape Fear Valley School of Medicine. But this is not about MU alone. Without our partnership with Cape Fear Valley Health, this could not happen.”
The 127,500-square-foot, 200-room building (that will add nearly 300 parking spaces) will feature learning centers, state-of-the-art classrooms, community and multi-purpose rooms, student lounges, a commons area, virtual anatomy laboratory, fully equipped standardized patient lab, conference rooms, and space for faculty and staff, along with an entrance plaza, learning garden, and courtyard outside of the building. The goal for welcoming the first cohort of students is the fall of 2026, pending approval by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) and SACSCOC (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges).
Read the full article here.