NCMS Morning Rounds 4-29-20

It's Wednesday and time for your

NCMS Morning Rounds.

  April 29, 2020

AMA Issues Ethics Guidance During Pandemic

Yesterday, the same day that the NCMS, NC Healthcare Association and the NC Institute of Medicine offered a webinar for clinicians on the crisis standard of care protocol jointly agreed upon by a broad group of stakeholders in North Carolina, the American Medical Association (AMA) announced ethics guidance for physicians and PAs as they may face challenging situations during this pandemic.

A recording of Tuesday evening's webinar will be available shortly. Watch your NCMS Morning Rounds for a link.

The AMA's Code of Medical Ethics is as relevant in the context of a public health crisis as it is in more familiar circumstances of clinical practice, the Association said in a press release. To help physicians address the challenges of COVID-19, the AMA assembled a series of analyses that apply the Code to issues emerging in the pandemic. Review the analyses here.

These issue-specific analyses range widely, offering guidance not only about allocating limited resources, but also responsible prescribing in the context of the pandemic, the importance of research ethics in the accelerated search for effective treatments for COVID-19, and issues of access to care and equity. New analyses are posted as questions continue to emerge.

As an editorially independent journal, the AMA Journal of Ethics has also created a COVID-19 Ethics Resource Center that includes expert analyses, visual assets, podcasts and video content. Access these resources here.

Joint Survey Gathers Info on Your Financial Needs

The NCMS along with the NC Medical Group Management Association (NCMGMA) and Curi have been sending a weekly survey – Urgent Practice Survey – for the last month to gather information on what physician and PA practices are experiencing during this pandemic. This week’s quick survey focuses more heavily on your financial needs. If you haven’t already responded, please take just three minutes now to complete the survey.

Thank you to those who have been diligent over the past weeks in providing your input via this survey. We are analyzing the data and will provide an overview to you shortly.

The NCMS, NCMGMA and Curi will use the information to inform our advocacy agenda and develop resources to help you.

Take this week’s survey.

National Infant Immunization Week Highlights Need

National Infant Immunization Week, which will run until this Saturday, May 2, focuses on the positive impact of vaccination on the lives of infants and children. The NCMS supports routine immunizations as integral to our mission of protecting and improving the health of North Carolinians. Health care professionals are on the front lines of the fight against vaccine-preventable diseases.

The observance of this week is even more important during the current pandemic as parents may be reluctant to visit their physician or PA’s practice and indicators are that foregoing the regular immunization schedules for kids may lead to outbreaks of preventable disease.This New York Times article from last week offers a perspective on the current situation of parents foregoing well visits and immunizations for their children.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) research, parents consistently identify health care professionals as their most trusted source of health and immunization information. Research also shows that many parents make vaccine decisions before their babies are even born.

This week, please remind parents and pregnant women about the importance of on-time infant immunization. The CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians offers this Provider Resources for Vaccine Conversations with Parents. Other resources include: Talking with Parents about Vaccines for Infants and Preparing for Questions Parents May Ask about Vaccines. In addition, CDC has a slide deck you can use to with staff to discuss how to create a culture of immunization in your practice.

The CDC estimates that routine immunization of children born between 1994 and 2018 will prevent an estimated 419 million illnesses, 26.8 million hospitalizations, and 936,000 early deaths over their lifetimes, at a net savings of $406 billion in direct costs and $1.88 trillion in total economic impact.

In the News

What the Coronavirus Crisis Reveals About American Medicine, The New Yorker, 4-27-20

Learning Opportunity

This week’s NCMS Foundation Kanof Institute for Physician Leadership’s Power Hour on Friday, May 1, from 1 to 2 p.m. will focus on the challenges various specialty practices are facing during the current pandemic and what the future may hold. Join the conversation with Craig Burkhart, MD, and Susan Sanders, MD, both past presidents of the NC Dermatology Association; Sarah Koch, MD, and Dhwani Mehta, MD, from the Dermatology Group of the Carolinas; Janelle Rhyne, MD, a past Governor of the NC Chapter, American College of Physicians and Gaurang Palikh, MD, President of the North Carolina Neurological Society. Moderated by NCMS VP Rural Health Systems Innovation Franklin Walker, MBA, you will have the opportunity to listen and converse about their respective experiences so far during the pandemic and what they envision going forward for their respective specialties. Learn more and register here.

PLEASE NOTE: There is an UPDATED LINK for today’s webinar at noon on ‘Geriatric Medicine and COVID-19: Optimizing Care for Older Adults in a Time of Pandemic’ with Cathleen Colon-Emerec, MD, Chief, Duke Division of Geriatric Medicine. Click here to access the webinar. The event number is 668 538 149 and the password is KnT2pwR7zy6.

by NCMS

NCMS Morning Rounds 4-28-20

Happy Tuesday! Here is your

NCMS Morning Rounds.

  April 28, 2020

NC General Assembly Reconvenes Today

The NC General Assembly heads back into regular session today, with both the House and Senate convening at noon. The House has a busy afternoon planned with three scheduled committee meetings, including the Health Committee at 2:30 p.m.

Only members and staff are permitted in the legislative building due to social distancing restrictions, but the public can see and listen to the proceedings via video and audio links. Watch the House Health Committee meeting via this video link or listen in on this audio link. The House Finance and Education, K-12 Committees also will meet this afternoon. Visit the legislature's webpage to get the video and audio links to those meetings.

NCMS advocacy staff expects those committees to take up the bill drafts created from the House COVID-19 working groups. We also expect other bills to be filed as well as a variety of amendments. NCMS staff will be closely monitoring all of the meetings to update members on outcomes. Your colleagues on the NCMS' Legislative Cabinet have identified four priority areas for this session: medical liability, telehealth, financial assistance and tax deferral.

The NCMS remains laser focused on value and our mission of improving the health of all North Carolinians through these legislative efforts during this pandemic.

Learn More about the Crisis Standard of Care Protocol

As previously reported the NCMS, the NC Healthcare Association and the NC Institute of Medicine recently released a protocol to provide recommendations for the triage of all inpatients in the event a pandemic creates demand for critical care resources, such as ventilators, that outstrips the supply. The protocol, which was developed at the request of the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), resulted from the input of a broad group of stakeholders and is a consensus document.

The protocol is grounded in ethical obligations (including the duty to care, the duty to steward resources to optimize public health, distributive and procedural justice, inclusivity, equity and transparency), but it also specifically promotes objectivity in decision-making and endeavors to avoid conflicts of commitments and minimize moral distress.

To learn more about the protocol from those involved in the development process be sure to sign up for tonight’s webinar that begins at 7 p.m. Register here.

Download the protocol document and access FAQs and a list of stakeholder organizations by scrolling through the webpage here.

CMS Suspends Advance Payment Program; Reevaluates Accelerated Payment Program

With new funding allocated for the Provider Relief Fund, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it is suspending its Advance Payment Program to Part B suppliers effective immediately and reevaluating the amounts that will be paid under it’s Accelerated Payment Program.

The Accelerated and Advance Payment (AAP) Programs are typically used to provide emergency funding and address cash flow issues for health care providers and suppliers when there is disruption in claims submission or claims processing.

CMS said it had paid over $100 billion through these programs to ensure health care providers had the resources needed to combat the beginning stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency announced over the weekend it will not be accepting any new applications for the Advance Payment Program, and will be reevaluating all pending and new applications for Accelerated Payments in light of direct payments made available through the US Department of Health & Human Services’ (HHS) Provider Relief Fund.

Learn more about the Provider Relief Fund here. For comprehensive information on this and other sources of help, visit the NCMS’ Economic Relief Resources page.

In addition, the recording of last Friday's Centene sponsored webinar featuring financial experts answering your questions about the SBA financial relief programs like the Paycheck Protection Program is now available. Access the recording here.

In the News

Stress of Working on Pandemic Frontlines Could Haunt Health Care Providers Later, WRAL, 4-24-20

Introducing STAT’s COVID-19 Drugs and Vaccine Tracker, STAT, 4-27-20

Learning Opportunity

Southern Regional AHEC and Cape Fear Valley Health Systems (CFVHS) will present a webinar on ‘Geriatric Medicine and COVID-19: Optimizing Care for Older Adults in a Time of Pandemic’ with Cathleen Colon-Emerec, MD, Chief, Duke Division of Geriatric Medicine, tomorrow, Wednesday, April 29 from noon to 1 p.m. for the CFVHS Hospital Grand Rounds. Older adults are significantly affected by the novel coronavirus. Dr. Colon-Emeric will update health care providers regarding COVID illness in older adults and discuss strategies for providing care for geriatric patients during this time of pandemic. Register online here or access webinar via WEBEX here. The event number is 663 670 616 and password is tsAcr7EKU97.

by NCMS

NCMS Morning Rounds 4-17-20

Happy Friday! Enjoy your NCMS Morning Rounds.

  April 17, 2020

The Kanof Institute for Physician Leadership’s ‘Power Hour’ is today, Friday, April 17 from 1 to 2 p.m. Join us for a conversation with colleagues and psychiatric experts on the actual and potential mental health toll the pandemic is exacting in the health care profession and beyond. Learn more and sign up.

Next Steps in the State’s COVID-19 Response

On Wednesday, Governor Roy Cooper reviewed the actions taken thus far in response to COVID-19 and shared that those actions had begun to ‘flatten the curve’ in North Carolina. He and NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Secretary Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH also laid out a path for moving forward to protect North Carolinians and help recover our economy.

Governor Cooper and Secretary Cohen stressed that the next steps, as were all previous actions, will be driven by science and data. Chief among those new steps will be widespread testing, aggressive contact tracing and data-informed policy decisions.

The next steps depend on progress in:
• Testing or identifying who has COVID-19: Working with private and public partners to increase testing capacity, expand testing sites and address supply challenges.

• Acting quickly to stop spread through tracing: Ramping up staffing and technology to determine who has been exposed when someone tests positive.
• Knowing when to dial up or down social distancing through data trends: Analyzing new data, including number of new cases, hospitalizations, deaths, protective equipment, supplies, hospital capacity and more.

State officials are terming this phase of the COVID-19 response “staying ahead of the curve.” Learn more by downloading their presentation, reading the accompanying press release or watching the press briefing in which they outlined the next steps.

National Physician Support Line

If you need a little extra support as you respond to the unprecedented public health crisis we’re facing, a group of volunteer licensed psychiatrists are standing by to listen and provide that support.

The Physician Support Line (1-888-409-0141) is available 7 days a week between 8 a.m. and 3 a.m. and offers psychiatric help to physicians navigate an immediate stressor. The support is not given as part of a doctor-patient, therapist-client relationship, no medications will be prescribed and no payment is accepted. It is a friendly and professional ear to help you through an immediate tough spot. Learn more here.

The NCMS’ Emotional Supports webpage offers a number of ways to access support services and resources during this trying time.

In the News

A War for Medical Supplies: States Say FEMA Wins By Poaching Orders, NPR, 4-15-20

Learning Opportunity

The 157th National Academy of Science Annual Meeting, to be held online April 25-27, will include a late-breaking session on COVID-19 to provide deeper insights into the latest developments in the COVID-19 response. A diverse panel chaired by National Academy of Medicine President Victor Dzau, MD, and featuring the Director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci, MD and CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Sanjay Gupta, MD, and others will speak to the whole experience on dealing with this pandemic—from US to international, to the state of diagnostics, treatment and vaccine development, to the importance of communication. Register to watch the panel.

by NCMS

NCMS Morning Rounds 4-16-20

Enjoy Your Thursday NCMS Morning Rounds

April 16, 2020

Reminder: See bottom of this newsletter for information about help sessions today to access the Presence telemedicine platform, which the NCMS is offering at no charge to practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

And don’t forget the Kanof Institute for Physician Leadership’s ‘Power Hour’ tomorrow, Friday, April 17 from 1 to 2 p.m. for a conversation with colleagues and psychiatric experts on the actual and potential mental health toll the pandemic is exacting in the health care profession and beyond. Learn more and sign up.

NCMS Supports Federal Advocacy Efforts

Yesterday the American Medical Association (AMA) with the support of the NCMS and most other state and national medical societies sent a letter to Congressional leadership outlining various items needed by the health care community to successfully respond to and financially weather the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The letter outlines a variety of additional steps necessary to “protect patient access to care by preserving the viability of physician practices as part of the nation’s essential health care system.” Areas addressed include refinements to the Medicare Advance and Accelerated Payments program; direct financial support to practices including grants and interest free loans and additional funding for small business loans through the Small Business Administration. The letter also discusses liability issues and urges Congress to provider broader liability protections for physicians and PAs.

Read the letter.

Resources for Treating OUD During COVID-19

During this challenging time for everyone those involved with treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) may be facing additional obstacles. Federal agencies have updated guidance on prescribing and use of telemedicine during this public health emergency.

Below are several sources of information and resources if you are treating patients with OUD. Also, please keep in mind the NCMS Foundation’s Project OBOT, which offers a collaborative approach to treatment, is also making the Presence telemedicine platform available at no charge for the immediate future.

Resources for Treatment Providers:
SAMHSA DEA Buprenorphine Telemedicine Guidance: This updated guidance, released on March 31, 2020, recommends that opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and DATA-waivered physicians should feel free to prescribe and dispense buprenorphine to new patients for OUD maintenance following an evaluation over the phone. This guidance temporarily relaxes new patient initiation protocols for the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

SAMHSA OTP Guidance for Patients Quarantined at Home with Coronavirus: This guidance from SAMHSA outlines steps that should be taken to ensure that people with opioid use disorders are able to continue to use their medications safely during quarantine.

COVID-19 Intervention Actions: Providing Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder: This resource from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials provides a list of OTP guidance from the Federal government and states across the U.S.

Please Let Us Know of Practice Closures

As communicated earlier, the NCMS is working with NC Medicaid to assess potential medical practice closures in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. NC Medicaid will need to redirect Medicaid beneficiaries as closures occur across the state.
If your practice/facility closes in response to COVID-19, or if you become aware of others that close, please let us know and we will relay the information to NC Medicaid.

Even if you do not see Medicaid patients, it would be helpful to be aware of practice and facility closures as we monitor the COVID-19 impact.

The information that NC Medicaid has requested includes:
• Practice/Institution Name
• Specialty
• Does the practice see Medicaid patients
• # of Locations
• Location cities
• NPIs for Affiliated Providers (if available)

Additional information regarding closures would be welcome as well, such as if the practice has provisions for transferring patient care, closure duration, etc.

Please respond to: [email protected] with this information. And please feel free to share this email with colleagues and other practices. Thank you for helping us assist the NC Medicaid program in its efforts to avoid gaps in care.

In the News

Opinion: Will 2020 Be the Year That Medicine Was Saved? The New York Times, 4-15-20

Learning Opportunity

The Office of Rural Health (ORH) and NC AHEC are co-sponsoring a weekly webinar series each Monday from noon to 1 p.m. to address the role of virtual visits in responding to COVID-19. The webinars will enable providers to pose questions directly to telehealth subject matter experts. Recordings and transcripts of previous webinars dating back to March 30 are available here.

Please submit any questions for subject matter experts in advance of Monday’s webinar to [email protected] by noon on the Friday preceding the webinar.

You can access the webinar each week through Zoom at this link or dial in number:
Join the Zoom meeting room or dial-in at (646) 558-8656 with webinar ID 985 104 650

Also, don’t forget Friday’s Forum with NC Division of Public Health subject matter experts. The forum will be held as usual, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Please send questions to [email protected]. You can access the forum from your computer by clicking on this Zoom meeting link or calling in at +16465588656,,705979628# (mobile) or (646) 558-8656 or (301) 715-8592 Webinar ID: 705 979 628

Reminder: The sessions to help you access Presence, the telemedicine platform offered at no-charge to you during the COVID-19 pandemic, will be held at the times listed below. Please call or click on the appropriate link to have an expert walk through the onboarding process with you. Be sure to have an internet connection and your NPI number available when signing in to the session.

TODAY, Thursday, April 16:

7:30 a.m.
Join Zoom https://therecoveryplatform.zoom.us/j/97211518011
Meeting ID: 972 1151 8011
One tap mobile +16465588656,,97211518011#

Noon
Join Zoom https://therecoveryplatform.zoom.us/j/98752933925
Meeting ID: 987 5293 3925
One tap mobile +16465588656,,98752933925#

5:30 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting https://therecoveryplatform.zoom.us/j/98862662010
Meeting ID: 988 6266 2010
One tap mobile +16465588656,,98862662010#

by NCMS

NCMS Morning Rounds 4-15-20

Halfway through the week! Enjoy your

NCMS Morning Rounds.

  April 15, 2020

Reminder: See bottom of this newsletter for information about help sessions today and tomorrow to access the Presence telemedicine platform, which the NCMS is offering at no charge to practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

NCDHHS Requests CARES Act Funds for Medicaid Providers

Yesterday, NC Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH asked US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma to dedicate a portion of the $100 billion CARES Act Provider Relief Fund to those health care professionals who serve Medicaid beneficiaries and the uninsured.

“Federal strategies to support and stabilize health care providers have, to date, relied heavily on Medicare to distribute federal payments, including using the Medicare program as the vehicle for distributing $30 billion from the Provider Relief Fund and determining the size of the payments received by each provider,” Sec. Cohen wrote in a two-page letter to Azar and Verma. “While this is an efficient and effective way to quickly disburse federal funds to providers serving Medicare beneficiaries, other strategies are needed to shore up those health providers more heavily reliant on Medicaid. These providers are essential to providing care to low-income beneficiaries and the uninsured.”

Sec. Cohen points out that many pediatric, ob-gyn, mental health and safety net practices rely more heavily on Medicaid and should be taken into account when disbursing the CARES Act funding. She asks that a portion of the $100 billion in relief funds authorized under the CARES Act be set aside for essential Medicaid providers and that CMS enlist state Medicaid programs to quickly distribute the funds to the at-risk Medicaid providers in their states in a way that reflects specific needs in each state.
She goes out to outline how such a program could be set up and provide relief to struggling practices in North Carolina. Read the full letter.

This Week’s ‘Power Hour’: Dealing with COVID-19 Upheaval

The last few weeks have been unsettling for most, if not all individuals in our communities and around the world. Everyday life has been dramatically changed and these changes have impacted how we live, work and interact in whatever we do.

There are many questions to be asked as a result of this upheaval: how are our patients doing? Our peers and colleagues? Or our own families and friends? How are people dealing with and making sense of COVID-19 and how well are systems responding? What behaviors do we see among the people we meet? What signs of stress and anxiety are coming to the surface within ourselves and among our co-workers? How do we take care of ourselves as providers while also taking care of loved ones? And how do we balance our care for patients with caring for our families?

This Friday, April 17 from 1 to 2 p.m., join a ‘Power Hour’ chat about the mental health aspects of working in health care during these times and what issues people are dealing with. Moderated by NCMS Vice President of Rural Health Systems Innovation Franklin Walker, MBA and Harold Kudler, MD, you will have the opportunity to listen and converse with NC Psychiatric Association (NCPA) President-Elect Zach Feldman, MD; President of the NC Council of Child & Adolescent Psychiatrists Therese Garrett, MD; and fourth year adult psychiatry resident Nkechi Conteh, MD, about the behaviors we notice around us and how we can handle them. This is an opportunity to share knowledge and learn from each other about the impact of a pandemic on our behavior and stress levels, and to think about how we can integrate our perspectives to achieve better outcomes for our patients, for ourselves and for our families.

The ‘Power Hour,’ brought to you by the NCMS Foundation’s Kanof Institute for Physician Leadership (KIPL), aims to provide a forum for ongoing conversation, collaboration and community. Tune in to the ‘Power Hour ‘weekly to hear from different experts, decision makers and influencers on a variety of topics. The format is informal and conversational and sessions are easy to access through Zoom. Register for this Friday’s ‘Power Hour.’

‘Power Hours’ will be recorded and made available through your NCMS Morning Rounds and on the KIPL webpage.

Resources to Understand Prior Authorization and Coding During COVID-19

The AMA recently produced two resources you may find helpful. The first tracks the rapidly evolving prior authorization policy changes health plans and prescription drug plans are making in response to COVID-19. The second offers coding guidance to reflect the most recent information released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Access the Prior Authorization Policy Changes Related to COVID-19 here.

The Coding Guidance document includes 18 different treatment scenarios and recommended coding for each. Download ‘Special Coding Advice During COVID-19 Public Health Emergency’ here.

In the News

States United on Reopening Economies: ‘Science – Not Politics’ – Will Guide Decisions, NPR, 4-13-20

Learning Opportunity

The American Academy of Public Health and the National Academy of Medicine invite you to the next in the series of COVID-19 Conversations webinars, which will focus on ‘Crisis Standards of Care During COVID-19.’ The webinar will be held TODAY, Wednesday, April 15 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The conversation will include an overview of and challenges for adapting crisis standards of care to rapidly evolving clinical care guidelines for the disease; practical considerations for state health departments and hospital systems; and ethical considerations and decision-making around crisis standards of care. Learn more and register.

Reminder: Sessions to help you access Presence, the telemedicine platform offered by the NCMS at no-charge to you during the COVID-19 pandemic, will be held at the times listed below. Please call or click on the appropriate link to have an expert walk through the onboarding process. Be sure to have an internet connection and your NPI number available when signing in to the session.

TODAY, Wednesday, April 15:

7:30 a.m.
Join Zoom Meeting: https://therecoveryplatform.zoom.us/j/92993467952
Meeting ID: 929 9346 7952
One tap mobile +16465588656,,92993467952#

Noon
Join Zoom Meeting https://therecoveryplatform.zoom.us/j/96280402133
Meeting ID: 962 8040 2133
One tap mobile +16465588656,,96280402133#

5:30 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting https://therecoveryplatform.zoom.us/j/97240344510
Meeting ID: 972 4034 4510
One tap mobile +16465588656,,97240344510#

TOMORROW, Thursday, April 16:

7:30 a.m.
Join Zoom https://therecoveryplatform.zoom.us/j/97211518011
Meeting ID: 972 1151 8011
One tap mobile +16465588656,,97211518011#

Noon
Join Zoom https://therecoveryplatform.zoom.us/j/98752933925
Meeting ID: 987 5293 3925
One tap mobile +16465588656,,98752933925#

5:30 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting https://therecoveryplatform.zoom.us/j/98862662010
Meeting ID: 988 6266 2010
One tap mobile +16465588656,,98862662010#

by NCMS

NCMS Morning Rounds 4-13-20

It's Monday and time for your

NCMS Morning Rounds.

  April 13, 2020

The COVID-19 Surveillance Network Needs You!

In order to show the effectiveness of the Governor’s Stay-at-Home order, the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Division of Public Health will need to be able to demonstrate the COVID-19 virus is not widely circulating. The Department is using its influenza surveillance strategy or Influenza-Like Illness Network (ILINet) as the most reasonable way to determine the virus’ spread. If you are in a medium to large primary care clinic or urgent care center and currently seeing patients, please consider joining this surveillance effort. There is particular need in Wake and Mecklenburg counties.

New ILINet providers will be asked to collect samples from patients to send to the State Laboratory of Public Health (SLPH) for influenza and SARS-CoV-2 testing. Samples would need to be collected from up to 10 patients with an influenza-like illness (fever >100F and cough or sore throat) and from 10 patients who do not meet influenza-like illness criteria (e.g. patients being seen for other reasons such as well child visits, chronic disease follow-up visits, non-respiratory illnesses, etc) each week. Swabs, shipping boxes and shipping labels are provided by SLPH.

All swabs will be tested for influenza and SARS-CoV-2. Please note that these samples are for surveillance purposes and have a longer turnaround time than samples sent to SLPH for diagnostic purposes. In situations where the result would change patient management, ILINet swabs should not be used and diagnostic testing should be ordered.

If your clinic can assist with this critical COVID-19 surveillance, please go to this webpage and fill out the ILINet provider application at the bottom of the page. For any questions, please contact Anita Valiani at [email protected] or Erica Wilson at [email protected].

NC Medical Board Acts to Help State's COVID-19 Response

During a special meeting on Thursday, April 9, the North Carolina Medical Board (NCMB) took additional actions to ease some licensure requirements for PAs and nurse practitioners, who are jointly regulated with the North Carolina Board of Nursing. The NCMB also extended the term of Limited Emergency Licenses, which are used by out-of-state and recently inactive clinicians to practice in North Carolina during a state of emergency, and approved a provision that will allow NCMB to be more nimble in response to Gov. Cooper’s Executive Order #130. These and other actions provide flexibility to practices and health systems across the state addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Board’s actions include:

• Extending the expiration date of Limited Emergency Licenses to 30 days after the state of emergency is lifted.
• Approved an order allowing new PA graduates who have not taken the required PANCE testing to be issued a temporary license. The license will be valid for up to six months and will allow a PA to practice under the supervision of an on-site physician.
• Approved several provisions related to Nurse Practitioners (NP) that mirror provisions approved for PAs. The North Carolina Board of Nursing (NCBON) is expected to approve the same orders, which are effective only during the current declared state of emergency. These provisions include:

o Restrict prescribing of chloroquine, azithromycin and other medications to ensure that these drugs are available to patients who need them. The rule was requested by NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Secretary Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH, to reduce the occurrence of reported stockpiling or inappropriate prescribing of these medications.
o Permit NPs who have inactivated professional licenses within the last two years to quickly reinstate their licenses. The temporary license will be jointly approved by NCBON and NCMB and will expire on August 1, 2020.
o Allow recent NP graduates who have not taken the required testing to be issued a temporary license. The license will be valid for up to six months and will allow an NP to practice under the supervision of an on-site physician.
o Allow NPs to be temporarily reassigned to a new practice area within the same facility to meet a critical need without formally notifying NCBON of the new practice setting. NPs can only be reassigned to perform medical tasks they are trained and competent to do and must have reasonable access to a physician should a medical need arise. The NP must meet all other requirements, including conferring at least monthly with a physician to ensure meaningful supervision and quality assurance within the new practice setting.

• Gov. Cooper’s order includes a requirement that physicians and PAs who are licensed in other states and want to work or are currently working in North Carolina to seek authorization from NCMB. Out-of-state physicians and PAs should apply here for a Limited Emergency License.

The NCMB is working in partnership with many stakeholders and working quickly to identify opportunities to support the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more at the NCMB’s COVID-19 webpage.

NCMS’ Dr. Karen Smith Reflects on Impact of COVID-19

Longtime NCMS member and leader Karen Smith, MD, recently shared her reflections on the impact the current COVID-19 pandemic is having on patients at her family medicine practice in Raeford and reiterating the importance of social distancing in the community’s newspaper the News-Journal.

“I ask people to please, please be patient. Be patient. We recognize and appreciate that every individual is of value, but be patient with your doctors, nurses, hospitals, be patient with your family,” Smith says in the article. “Please don’t push back but accept that life is not what it was in January, and if we are to get through this with as little loss of life as possible, follow the guidance, follow the recommendations. They are to preserve the life of the entire community and also to preserve our life.”

Read the article.

In the News

Thousands of Coronavirus Tests are Going Unused in US Labs, Nature, 4-9-20

Learning Opportunity

The next NCMS Foundation and NC Medical Group Management Association Lunch & Learn Webinar on Tuesday, April 21 from noon to 1 p.m. will focus on NC Medicaid Response to COVID-19: The State of Things and will feature Shannon Dowler, MD, FAAFP, CPE, chief medical officer for NC Medicaid. Learn more and register.

by NCMS

NCMS Morning Rounds 4-10-20

Happy Friday!

Enjoy your NCMS Morning Rounds.

  April 10, 2020

Child Care Resources for Essential Workers

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and the Child Care Resource and Referral Network wants to ensure that all essential workers have safe care for their children and want to make sure the cost of care isn’t a barrier, so they are offering financial assistance to families with need.

Essential workers include:
• emergency and first responders,
• hospital staff and front-line health care providers,
• nursing and adult group home staff,
• child care program staff,
• food service staff,
• and others working to keep our communities safe and healthy as we respond to COVID-19.

They are also prioritizing emergency care for children who receive child welfare services, are homeless, or are in unstable or unsafe living arrangements.

To help essential workers access these child care services, there is a hotline – 1-888-600-1685. Since the hotline was set up on March 24, more than 1,400 children have been connected to care so their parents can report to work. These flyers in English and Spanish also can be downloaded and distributed to spread the word about emergency child care options for essential workers.

Helping Smokers Quit – Now More than Ever

With the spread of COVID-19, a virus that impacts the lungs, now is an important time to encourage your patients who smoke to quit. Here are several resources to help you help them.

The University of North Carolina School of Medicine’s Department of Family Medicine recently issued a news release highlighting the fact that people with any underlying lung condition, including people who smoke, have much higher rates of death if they become infected with COVID-19. Smoking weakens an individual’s lung function, and because of the way COVID-19 attacks the lungs, this increases a smoker’s risk of dying from serious respiratory infection from the virus. Read the release.

Physicians and PAs can promote QuitlineNC to people who want to quit smoking or vaping to reduce their risk. Have them visit www.quitlinenc.com or call 1-800-Quit-Now (1-800-784-8669).

CATCH My Breath, part of the Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) launched a new resource on vaping and lung health, which is useful for parents on how to speak with children about vaping and how it compromises lung health and immunity. Access the resources here.

Creative Med Students Offer Kids Educational Fun

Two North Carolina medical students, Logan Beyer and Emily Kragel, have used their current downtime to put their knowledge and creativity to use by creating ‘Coloring for COVID-19.’ The series of coloring books for kids seeks to “provide a fun activity for kids, and to hopefully ease some fear and anxiety regarding our current situation,” they say.

There is a book for each age group starting at five and up to 10-years-old and teaches age appropriate lessons about preventing spread of the virus. Learn more at the Coloring for COVID-19 website.

Beyer and Kragel were featured recently in a report on WRAL. Watch the broadcast.

In the News

The Best Hopes for a Coronavirus Drug, The Atlantic, 4-8-20

Learning Opportunity

A live conversation on the coronavirus with former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and commissioner of the New York City Health Department, Tom Frieden, MD, MPH, will be held on Monday, April 13 beginning at 11 a.m. Dr. Frieden, who is now president and CEO of the global public health initiative Resolve to Save Lives, will speak about the state of the pandemic and how both the country and the world can move beyond it. Learn more and register for this free live chat. You may submit questions beforehand at [email protected].

by NCMS

NCMS Morning Rounds 4-9-20

Time for your Thursday NCMS Morning Rounds.

  April 9, 2020

NCMS’ Easy Reference Guide to Telehealth Policies During COVID-19

NCMS Director for Health System Innovation Kristen Spaduzzi has developed a guide to the various insurers’ telehealth policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can access this easy reference grid, here and on the NCMS’ COVID-19 webpage under the telehealth heading.

This comprehensive guide covers commercial payers and Medicare Advantage plans, listing answers to the commonly asked questions about reimbursement parity, coding, virtual visit check-ins and others in an easy to use grid format.

Get similar information about Medicaid telehealth policies during the pandemic here.

Reminder: the NCMS has resources and information to help you in many ways during this pandemic. Visit our COVID-19 page to get information on telehealth, the latest clinical guidance from the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and general resources to help during the pandemic. Our Economic Relief Resources page includes how to get paid for your work today as well as financial relief programs to help offset the impact of COVID-19. Our Emotional Supports page offers just that – resources to protect your mental health and help support you emotionally.

Wake County Seeking Volunteers for Auxiliary Hospital

Wake County is currently working to set up an auxiliary hospital for the potential surge of need in the coming weeks and is looking for volunteers to staff the hospital. The anticipated go-live date is the week of April 20th. The hospital will be in operation for approximately 6-8 weeks.

If you are interested, please call the Donations & Volunteer task team at 919-856-6946, Monday to Sunday between 8 am to 8 pm or through email at [email protected]

NC MedAssist Supports Vulnerable Populations

NC MedAssist, founded by NCMS leaders in Mecklenburg County back in 1997, is continuing its mission to provide access to both over the counter and prescription medication for vulnerable and uninsured patients during this pandemic. Learn more about NC MedAssist and how it is helping now.

Watch this video to see several volunteers in action.

In the News

Viewpoint: Coronavirus Shows Us the Time to Decide on End of Life Care is When You’re Not Sick, NBC News, 4-8-20

Learning Opportunity

This evening, Thursday, April 9, from 5 to 6 p.m. the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will hold ‘Office Hours’ to answer your questions about CMS’s response to COVID-19. Areas to be covered include:

• Increase Hospital Capacity – CMS Hospitals Without Walls;
  • Rapidly Expand the Healthcare Workforce;
  • Put Patients Over Paperwork; and
  • Further Promote Telehealth in Medicare

You may submit questions in advance to [email protected], including “Office Hours” in the subject line. There will also be live Q&A.

Conference lines are limited, so they highly encourage you to join via audio webcast, either on your computer or smartphone web browser.
Toll-Free Attendee Dial In: 833-614-0820
Event Plus Passcode: 1881716
Audio Webcast link

by NCMS

NCMS Morning Rounds 4-1-20

No foolin' -- here's your Wednesday

NCMS Morning Rounds 

  April 1, 2020

NC Medical Board Eases Some Requirements in Response to COVID-19

The North Carolina Medical Board (NCMB) held an emergency meeting last Friday during which they took several actions to support the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Specific actions include:

• Adopted rules requested by NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Secretary Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH, to reduce the occurrence of reported stockpiling or inappropriate prescribing of chloroquine, azithromycin and other medications, and ensure that these drugs are available to patients who need them.
• Approved an order to postpone USMLE and COMLEX–USA Step/Level 2 testing requirements for medical students prior to beginning a residency program. This will allow medical students who have otherwise completed the requirements to graduate from medical school and been accepted into a North Carolina residency training program to start their residency, which will almost certainly include assisting in battling the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Approved an order to allow hospitals, health systems, or multi-specialty group practices to temporarily reassign a PA to a new practice area to meet a critical need without formally notifying the NCMB of the new supervisory arrangements. The supervising physician and facility administration should ensure the physician assistant:
  o Is reassigned to perform only those medical tasks for which they are competent  and qualified to do;
  o Has reasonable and immediate access to a physician, either in person or          electronically, should medical issues arise;
  o Should comply with all applicable rules including the requirement to confer at least monthly with a physician to ensure meaningful supervision and quality assurance within the new practice setting.
• Approved an order to allow Fellows with a Resident Training License (RTL) to apply for a Limited Emergency License, which provides a temporary unrestricted and full medical license during the declared state of emergency. This action will allow several hundred physicians with proven competence in a primary specialty to take care of patients and ease the potential strain on physicians currently in the health care system.

These actions seek to support Gov. Cooper’s call to increase the supply of qualified medical professionals available to help during this pandemic. In addition to the above, the NCMB offers two different emergency temporary license applications to facilitate quickly getting physicians and PAs to work. There are no fees and typically licenses are issued within 48 business hours. Learn more about those licenses and other steps NCMB has taken to address the COVID-19 crisis at www.ncmedboard.org/covid.

NCMS Hosts ‘Power Hours’ Starting Friday

As COVID-19 continues to spread, and we are all full of uncertainty and trying to adjust to a different reality, the NCMS wants to help you any way we can. We know that conversation, collaboration and community are crucial right now. To bolster those crucial values, the NCMS Foundation and its Kanof Institute for Physician Leadership (KIPL) will offer weekly ‘Power Hour’ forums starting this Friday. These virtual gatherings will allow you to hear from different experts, decision makers and influencers on a variety of topics that are likely top of mind for you right now.

Our aim is to provide a community conversation around a range of important issues. You will be able to hear from all participants and share your thoughts and ideas in addition to your questions. The format is informal, conversational and the sessions will be easy to access through Zoom. The sessions will be recorded and made available on the KIPL home page. The first Power Hour will be this Friday, April 3 at noon. Mark your calendar and find the topic and link to join this week’s conversation in tomorrow’s NCMS Morning Rounds.

As the health care leaders on the frontlines in this crisis, we are so grateful for all the work you are doing under very challenging circumstances. We hope our Power Hours will offer you a chance to step away for a moment, to learn and to reflect on the important role you play every day on behalf of your patients and the larger community.

The Medical Student Perspective on COVID-19

This perspective piece was written by Austin Lucke, Diana Dayal and Edward Diaz,
three medical students at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, who are involved with the NCMS student council and sit on several of our committees. The essay gives some insight into what medical students are thinking about the upheaval wrought by COVID-19.

This spring, we and our classmates were set to begin our fourth and final year of medical school. This was supposed to be a glorious final year before starting our careers in our respective residency programs, but in a matter of weeks, our schedules have been completely turned upside down because of COVID-19. While changes for pre-clinical medical students have been analogous to most other graduate and undergraduate students, changes for medical students in the clinical phase have been quite disruptive. Lectures are easy to digitize. Learning assignments can be done on the couch next to your dog. However, clinical learning is difficult to do remotely. To learn to care for patients, we have to learn by being in the hospital. We must learn to face disease and death in person – not through a computer. So many of our most formative medical experiences occur when the situation is the most frantic, most tense and most dire.

Despite this, our clinical rotations are currently on hold. We have been told that we will return at the beginning of April, as are the majority of medical students around the country. UNC School of Medicine’s administration has worked tirelessly to ensure transparency and communication with students, as they too want medical students back in the hospital as soon as possible. We all know that medical students, even as trainees, can play a pivotal role in patient care. Yet, as of now, shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) are currently limiting student access to clinical duties.

This puts us in a precarious position. Our medical system—already chronically underfunded, understaffed and stretched thin—is about to be pressured in a historic way by COVID-19. Every hand will be needed in the coming weeks. We’re witnessing this grim reality play out in countries across the globe that are in the throes of this pandemic. Italy has fast-tracked many of its senior medical students to become practicing doctors to respond to the urgent need for health care workers. It’s not unreasonable to predict the United States may soon be in a similar situation. All health care providers, not just doctors, will be working at maximum capacity. We know that we are needed in this unprecedented moment in history.

As formal clinical rotations have been suspended due to the PPE shortage, we have been seeking opportunities to be a part of the COVID-19 response. We have been absolutely amazed by the creativity and passion of our colleagues and friends in the UNC medical student community. Over the course of two days, a team of over 100 students across the state have launched projects to support frontline healthcare workers in the weeks to come. Our student-led task force has developed countless initiatives and has compiled a database of local volunteer opportunities.

We are preparing to reinforce the emergency department’s COVID-19 protective equipment protocols to keep doctors, nurses and other patients safe from exposure. In the face of dangerous shortages, we are literally making protective face shields from scratch. We have a long list of volunteers who are ready to provide free childcare services for all the healthcare workers who desperately need it. We are incredibly proud to go to a school surrounded by peers who choose to run towards a crisis instead of away from it. Moreover, we are inspired by medical schools around the country putting forth similar efforts. Now more than ever, we are proud to be in the field of medicine, and remain hopeful in this strange time.

If you're a medical student and would like to get involved, please contact Austin Lucke at [email protected].

In the News

As Coronavirus Impact Grows, Volunteer Network Tries to Help Health Care Workers Who Have ‘Helped Us,’ STAT, 3-31-20

Learning Opportunity

Here is a question arising out of the COVID-19 situation with an answer from the NC Medical Board’s Chief Medical Officer Karen Burke-Haynes, MD.

Q: My student patients have returned to their home states. Is it legal for me to conduct assessments via telemedicine and prescribe to them?

A: Most medical boards require a physician or PA to be licensed in the state in which the patient care is given. Each state has different laws and rules regarding licensure, telemedicine and prescribing. Some of these restrictions may be lifted during a state of emergency, but you would need to contact the corresponding medical licensing authority of that state to determine its individual requirements.

In North Carolina, patients who are currently in the state but have an established relationship with a physician or PA in another state may receive care, including prescriptions, from the out-of-state clinician via telemedicine.

This Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) resource summarizes each states’ emergency policy.

by NCMS

NCMS Morning Rounds 3-30-20

HAPPY DOCTORS' DAY!!

Thank you for all you do!

  March 30, 2020

We are so grateful for your selfless service every day, but during these uncertain times we especially appreciate your knowledge, expertise and compassionate care. We feel honored to work on your behalf. THANK YOU from the NCMS staff!

NCMS Legislative Update

NCMS staff, leadership and committees have been working hard over the past week to listen to you and understand the challenges you are facing during this pandemic. We are working closely with our partners, agencies and elected officials at both the federal and state levels to address your needs.

We are still listening and soliciting your input on what your greatest challenges are in grappling with COVID-19 response in this week’s NCMS Sunday Survey. Access the survey here if you haven’t already responded. This information will be used by our Legislative Cabinet as they formulate our advocacy agenda to lobby on your behalf.

The NCMS Legislative Cabinet convened on Thursday evening after NCMS Board of Directors member Eileen Raynor, MD, FACS, FAAP, and NCMS Senior Vice President for Advocacy and Advancement Chip Baggett, JD, delivered testimony before the NC House Select Committee on COVID-19. Using the NCMS’ written report to the committee as a starting point, Legislative Cabinet members directed staff to use member input to develop a timeline starting with the most urgent, essential needs, followed by what anticipated needs will be during the peak of the pandemic, as life returns to normal and finally recommendations on the lessons learned and areas for improvement. Staff is working to develop with timeline of necessary legislative, regulatory and government actions to present this week. Watch your NCMS Morning Rounds for a summary.

In other important news, on Friday the President signed the $2 trillion stimulus and COVID-19 relief package, which Congress approved last week. Our federal partners at the AMA provided this brief overview of how the package might impact your medical practice.

The stimulus package:
• Creates a new loan product within the Small Business Administration for loans of up to $10 million to help cover payroll and overhead costs, with expanded loan forgiveness criteria. Physician practices with not more than 500 employees may qualify.
• $100 billion in direct financial support to hospitals, physician practices, and other health care providers under the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund. This support is for costs of treating COVID-19 patients as well as to ease the financial impact on those who lose revenue due reductions in other services as a result of the pandemic. Exact eligibility criteria and application process is not yet defined pending implementation.
• Suspension of the 2 percent Medicare sequester in May through December 2020.
• Limitations on liability for volunteer health care professionals during COVID-19 emergency response.
• A temporary waiver of the face-to-face visit requirement with home dialysis patients.
• Authority for the Secretary of HHS to waive telehealth coverage requirements for new patients during a national emergency. Previous legislation provided flexibility only for established patients seen within the past three years.
• Secretary will also allow for enhanced use of telehealth under Medicare for federally qualified health centers.

Also of interest, the “health extenders” package that was set to expire on May 22 has now been extended to November 30.

Finding Oral Health Emergency Care

The NC Oral Health Collaborative (NCOHC), a program of the Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation (FHLI), published a COVID-19 access map for oral health emergency care. Access the interactive map. The map is designed to assist patients in locating nearby Federally Qualified Health Centers, county health departments, free and charitable clinics, and other safety net sites for which they can seeks urgent dental services.

North Carolinians visit emergency departments for non-traumatic oral health issues at twice the national rate. It is especially important now as hospitals are grappling with responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, to keep emergency departments available for trauma and COVID-19 response. While oral health providers have been notified to postpone elective procedures—following guidance from the American Dental Association and the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners—many are available to see patients for urgent dental needs.

If patients require care for an urgent oral health need, it is recommended that they find a nearby practice, but call before going in. Clinical practices may have special guidance to ensure the safety of staff and patients alike. Additionally, due to the strain on the entire public health system, hours of operation are subject to change.

NCOHC developed its practice site map in part to aid the UNC Adams School of Dentistry’s efforts in providing safe ways for patients to manage oral health care during the COVID-19 pandemic. NCOHC’s practice map will be updated regularly as new information is available.

Alternative PPE Resource

Since the personal protective equipment (PPE) supply is short, Blue Cross and Blue Shield NC has been working with provider systems and innovators across the state to support efforts to produce PPE through alternative means (i.e., 3D printing, injection molding). They have created a site to gauge your interest and need, and to directly connect you to producers of these materials.

Visit the alternative PPE site.

In the News

Our best defense against Covid-19? Science. STAT, 3-27-20

Learning Opportunity

Get a broader perspective on COVID-19 during this live chat on Wednesday, April 1 at 11 a.m. The pandemic has had profound effects on daily life across much of the globe. To defeat it, public health officials are taking unprecedented steps to stop viral spread, while researchers and drug companies are racing to develop treatments and vaccines.

How is the public health response playing out? And what kinds of treatments might one day help? Join STAT reporters Helen Branswell, Sharon Begley, and reporter Andrew Joseph for a free live chat about these issues and more. Learn more and register here.

by NCMS

NCMS Morning Rounds 3-27-20

It's Friday and time for your

NCMS Morning Rounds!

  March 27, 2020

NCMS Testifies Before NC House COVID-19 Committee

Yesterday, NCMS Board of Directors At-large member Eileen Raynor, MD, FACS, FAAP and NCMS Senior Vice President for Advocacy and Advancement Chip Baggett, JD, testified on your behalf before the NC House Select Committee on COVID-19. The committee, which met virtually, heard from representatives of the NC Healthcare Association as well as from the NCMS on the conditions in which health care professionals and hospitals now find themselves and what legislators might do to address supply shortages, financial impacts and how best to protect the public.

Prior to testifying, the NCMS submitted to the Committee members a comprehensive report outlining both short and long-term actions legislators can take to provide resources and support to the health care community and ensure access to care for the people of North Carolina in response to this pandemic. Read the report.

After hearing Dr. Raynor and Baggett speak, NCMS member Rep. Perrin Jones, MD (R-Pitt), a member of the committee and its health care working group, encouraged legislators to approach the needs in three-tiers: acute needs such as adequate personal protective equipment and ventilators; medium range issues like helping financially strapped practices especially in case the virus resurfaces next fall and winter and long-term policies taken from a running list of ‘lessons learned’ in this crisis to avoid the same situation in the future.

Listen to yesterday’s NCMS testimony and questions from legislators.

Results of Sunday Survey #4 – Medical Malpractice Reform

Thank you to everyone who responded -- despite the upheaval caused by COVID-19 -- to our fourth Sunday Survey on medical malpractice reform. The results are below.

On Sunday afternoon, watch for our final Sunday Survey, which will focus on scope of practice. Your input on these surveys over the past four weeks is a most valuable asset to our Legislative Cabinet as they consider our priorities for the coming legislative session.

Here are the results of our survey on Medical Malpractice Reform:

What strategies can the NCMS support to limit medical malpractice costs, deter the filing of baseless claims and insure those who have sustained injury are appropriately compensated? Please check the ONE option below you think the NCMS should make a priority when considering medical malpractice reform.

NCMS’ Kanof Institute for Physician Leadership Offers Virtual Executive Coaching

To all the amazing clinicians out there: THANK YOU for all the work you do during this unprecedented and challenging time to help patients and keep the rest of us safe. We are so grateful for the sacrifices and hard work you do!

Leadership is more important than ever as we navigate this difficult moment of uncertainty and complexity. This is a time that require leaders to show confidence while they may feel the most vulnerable and be able to share a vision for others when it is challenging to even get to the end of the day. To serve you the best we can during this challenging time, we offer free executive coaching via Zoom. If you want to sign up, please send an email to Kristina Natt och Dag at [email protected] or Aubrey Cuthbertson at [email protected].

In the News

What We’ve Learned About the Coronavirus -- and What We Still Need to Know, STAT, 3-26-20

Learning Opportunity

Here are two upcoming opportunities offering help in addressing the impact of COVID-19.

TODAY, March 27: Families First Coronavirus Response Act Webinar, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Attorney Jefferson Whisenant shares updates and basic information employers need to know about the new Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which created mandatory federal paid sick leave for employees unable to work due to the virus. Learn more and register for this free webinar provided by the NC Medical Group Management Association.

On Monday, March 30, from noon to 1p.m. NC AHEC and the Office of Rural Health (ORH) will offer the next in the weekly Telehealth Webinar Series to address the role of virtual visits in response to COVID-19. These webinars allow you to pose questions to telehealth subject matter experts. Join the Zoom meeting room or dial-in at (646) 558-8656 with webinar ID 985 104 650.

Please submit any questions for subject matter experts to prepare for in advance to [email protected].

by NCMS