SGR Repeal Passes Senate

Tonight, on a bipartisan vote of 92 to 8, the Senate passed H.R. 2, the “Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act,” or MACRA.
Although six amendments were considered on the floor, none reached the threshold required for passage. As a result, the Senate passed bill was identical to the version that passed the House of Representatives by an overwhelming 392-37 margin on March 26.
We expect the bill to be sent to the White House tonight, where President Obama has said he would sign it into law.
Medicare should begin processing claims tomorrow for services provided in April at the rates that were effective before the 21 percent cut was scheduled to take effect. Under the provisions of H.R. 2, the fee schedule conversion factor will be increased by 0.5 percent on July 1, 2015, and by another 0.5 percent on January 1, 2016.
Many thanks to all of you who participated in an overwhelming and ultimately successful grassroots advocacy campaign to eliminate the SGR once and for all. Medicine’s united voice was instrumental to our success. We encourage all of you, in turn, to express your appreciation to Senators and Representatives who voted for H.R. 2. It is a complex bill that reflects bipartisan compromise, so for many of them the vote was not an easy one. Your recognition of their effort will be appreciated.

by Kristen Shipherd

State Senate Bill Filing Deadline Brings Flood of Health Care Legislation

Bill filing deadlines always bring a flood of legislation. Yesterday the North Carolina Senate's bill fling deadline was no exception; it brought a deluge of health care related legislation on almost every subject important to our profession. Over 300 bills were filed this week! Among others, the following bills of importance to physicians have been filed:

The Medical Society staff is analyzing this wave of filings and will provide a more detailed analysis in next week's Bulletin.

by Kristen Shipherd

Honor a Special Physician for NC Doctors’ Day 2015!

Join in the NC Doctors’ Day fun by sending the outstanding physician in your life a NC Doctors’ Day tribute card. For donations of $10 and $15, the NCMS Foundation will send an e-card or traditional mailed greeting card to a physician you think is “AHHSOME”! The cards have a great new look this year and can be ordered online through our simple, secure process. Check them out at www.ncdoctorsday.org/#donate.
Proceeds from the tribute cards benefit the NCMS Foundation and its work to improve access to quality health care for North Carolina’s most vulnerable patients. This past year, the Foundation’s Community Practitioner Program assisted 38 primary care providers located across NC. These physicians, PAs and NPs provided $350 million in care for the under- and uninsured in the past year alone.
With the purchase of a tribute card you will not only make a physician’s day a little brighter, but you will also play a key role in making sure all North Carolinians have a doctor in their own hometown! To purchase a card, visit www.ncdoctorsday.org/#donate today!
docday-donate
 

by Kristen Shipherd

NC Ob/Gyn Society To Honor Dr. Harold C. Pollard, III

 

Dr. Pollard
Dr. Pollard

Harold C. Pollard, III with its 2015 Distinguished Service Award for his remarkable contributions to women’s health care on Saturday, April 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort. The banquet honoring Dr. Pollard is in conjunction with the society’s annual meeting. Learn more about the meeting and register here.
Dr. Pollard was born and raised in Burlington, NC. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a Morehead Scholar and graduated with a BA in Chemistry and Religion in 1970. In 1973, he graduated from the University of North Carolina, School of Medicine. In 1972, he did an obstetrics/gynecology externship at Kings College Hospital in London, England. He completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at UNC-Chapel Hill in 1977 and did a pelvic surgery fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in 1978. In 1978, he joined Lyndhurst Gynecologic Associates in Winston-Salem. Dr. Pollard is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Ob/Gyn at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Additionally, Dr. Pollard served as President of NCOGS in 2005-2006, and he has served as ACOG Legislative Liaison.
Congratulations Dr. Pollard!

by Kristen Shipherd

"Operation Medicine Drop" This Saturday in Cary

The Town of Cary Police Department joins the North Carolina Department of Insurance, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and SafeKids North Carolina twice a year to sponsor local pill take-back events called Operation Medicine Drop. These events provide sites to safely and legally dispose of unused and outdated prescription medication.
There will be four Operation Medicine Drop sites in Cary on Saturday, March 21, which will run from 10:ooam-2:00pm:

  1. Christ the King Lutheran Church, 600 Walnut Street, Cary
  2. Senior Center at Bond Park, 801 High House Road, Cary
  3. Cary Fire Department 3, 1807 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary
  4. Cary Police/Fire Station 8, 408 Mill Park Drive, Cary

Please share this information with your patients so that they may take advantage of this opportunity. For more information or to find other drop boxes in your area, visit http://www.ncdoi.com/osfm/safekids/Operation%20Medicine%20Drop.aspx?sec=omd.

by Kristen Shipherd

What CME Sessions Do You Want at the 2015 NCMS Annual Meeting?

Take this brief survey and share your thoughts on what CME topics you would like to learn more about at the 2015 NCMS Annual Meeting:

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world's leading questionnaire tool.

by Kristen Shipherd