Register Now! PANS and Related Inflammatory Brain Disorders – Advances in Immunopsychiatry

Join Us for On-Demand CME –Free to North Carolina Physicians

 

PANS and Related Inflammatory Brain Disorders: Advances in Immunopsychiatry features nationally and internationally renowned experts skilled in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches who will present a diverse range of emerging clinical and research challenges, insights, and advances in the field of inflammatory brain disorders.

 

Download the pdf here.

Learn more and apply for access here.


Mark Your Calendar! Saving Time: Practice Innovation Boot Camp

This two-day, in-person AMA STEPS Forward® Innovation Academy boot camp is specifically designed for clinical and operational change agents looking to eliminate unnecessary work and free up more time to focus on what matters most–patient care.

Gain proven tools to implement in the following areas:

  • Getting rid of stupid stuff
  • De-implementation (STOP this and START that)
  • Debunking regulatory myths
  • EHR inbox optimization
  • Team-based care practice fundamentals
  • Building bridges between clinicians and administrators
  • Reducing barriers to taking PTO
  • Making the business case to leadership

Through breakout sessions, interactive activities, thought sharing, tactical strategy breakdowns and how-to examples, this boot camp will equip attendees with the time-saving tools and strategies needed to reform their organizations and enhance professional satisfaction.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain best practices from top physician experts, network with like-minded peers, engage in cross-sector collaboration, and learn from each other’s successes and mistakes.

Space is limited. Learn more, including how to register, here.


NCDHHS Introduces Toolkit for States to Take Action on Medical Debt

 

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today released a toolkit aimed at assisting other states seeking to tackle the burden of medical debt. The Medical Debt Toolkit is based on an innovative program recently launched by NCDHHS to address the issue of medical debt among North Carolinians. It builds on record enrollment as North Carolina marks one year of Medicaid expansion.

"North Carolina is leading the nation with an innovative approach to easing the burden of medical debt," said Governor Roy Cooper. "Freeing people from medical debt is life-changing for families and a benefit to our economy, and I hope other states can use the roadmap we've laid out to make a difference."

More than 20 million Americans held $20 billion in outstanding medical debt in 2021. For many low- and middle-income consumers, medical debt causes significant financial distress and can prevent patients from getting the care they need. This issue is particularly acute in states that have not expanded Medicaid as permitted under the Affordable Care Act. Research shows that medical debt relief is a highly bi-partisan issue with strong support from Democratic and Republican leaders. Polling shows 80% of people want their state and federal elected officials to pass policies to reduce health care costs. Medical debt relief is an initiative leadership can use to significantly improve the lives of their constituents.

"Medical debt is a disease in our health system. Relieving this debt can lead to healthier individuals and a stronger health system overall," said Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley. "The financial burden and fear of medical debt — a debt no one ever chooses to have — makes people avoid getting the essential and preventive care they need."

North Carolina’s program is the first in the nation to leverage Medicaid state directed payment authority to encourage hospitals to both relieve historical medical debt and adopt forward-looking protections to prevent the accumulation of debt. While the program is optional for hospitals, all 99 acute care hospitals in the state have agreed to participate. Through the program, hospitals are expected to relieve up to $4 billion in existing medical debt for two million North Carolinians. Participating hospitals also will be required to implement more robust and standardized financial assistance policies, proactively screen patients for eligibility for financial assistance, eliminate reporting of medical debt to credit agencies and implement certain other protections.

Currently, there is a very clear pathway for states to pursue similar initiative. NCDHHS compiled a toolkit providing guidance and discussing key considerations on critical program design and implementation issues. Specifically, the toolkit focuses on the following areas:

  • The structure of the state-directed payments (SDP) arrangement.
  • Required hospital medical debt mitigation policies (tied to enhanced payments under SDP program).
  • Interaction of the program with other federal requirements (e.g., federal fraud and abuse laws).
  • Communications and stakeholder engagement strategy.
  • Operational considerations.

The toolkit also links to several resources for states to reference, including:

  • Key excerpts of relevant documents.
  • A landscape assessment of other states’ medical debt mitigation policies.
  • Press releases and communications from NCDHHS related to the program.

The toolkit can be found on the NCDHHS website.

NCDHHS is committed to increasing access to the right care at the right time for all North Carolinians. Expanding Medicaid, implementing Medical Debt Relief, investing $835 million in behavioral health, launching Healthy Opportunities Pilots and being supported by a Community Partner Engagement strategy are all examples of the department’s work toward its three priorities of Supporting Child and Family Well-Being, Building an Inclusive Workforce and Investing in Behavioral Health Resilience. [source]


Billing for Bilateral Surgical Procedures

 

Beginning December 8, 2024, and for services provided on or after January 1, 2020, new guidelines will apply to billing for bilateral surgical procedures with the bilateral RVU indicator of “1” for bilateral procedures (modifier 50). See the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services PFS Relative Value Files webpage.

*Reference Column T – BILAT SURG

Codes with the modifier 50 indicator of “1,” are valid for bilateral billing claim submission. With the exception of CPT codes inherently bilateral by definition, Medicaid requires practitioners to report procedures performed bilaterally, left and right, same procedure, same date of service, on one claim line with modifier 50 appended to the code (e.g., xxxxx-50, billed with 1 unit). Failure to report bilateral procedures in this way may result in incorrect processing or denial of claims.

Reporting these bilateral-indicator-1 procedures with either LT or RT and 1 unit of service is appropriate only if the procedure is being performed unilaterally. If the procedure is performed bilaterally, modifier 50 must be appended to the procedure code with 1 unit of service.

When a surgery is performed bilaterally, on the left and right, with the same procedure code and date of service, providers should submit a single claim line billed with the bilateral procedure modifier 50.

The following new edits and EOBs are being implemented to support these changes.


Funding Opportunity: Collaborative Care Management

image credit: American Psychiatric Association                                                                         

 

On behalf of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC) is accepting applications for the Collaborative Care Management (CoCM) capacity building funding for primary care practice entities.

Collaborative Care Management (CoCM) is an evidence-based behavioral health integration model designed to support primary care clinicians as they assess and treat patients with mild to moderate behavioral health conditions.

CoCM improves patient outcomes, increases satisfaction for both patients and providers, and reduces healthcare costs and stigma related to mental health and substance use disorders. The model complements other integrated models, including the North Carolina Psychiatric Access Line (NC-PAL).

The NC General Assembly has allocated $5 million for capacity building of Medicaid-enrolled primary care practices across the state to adopt CoCM. NCDHHS is contracting with Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC) to manage the CoCM Capacity Building award program in partnership with NC AHEC. The goal is to increase access to evidence-based behavioral healthcare for primary care practices and their patients through the use of the CoCM model.

For more information and how to apply, visit the Community Care of North Carolina Collaborative Care Management Capacity Building Fund Application.

If you are a primary care entity serving Medicaid patients and are interested in learning about CoCM and related capacity building fund opportunities, we invite you to watch the recorded webinar from October 30, 2024 for an overview, here.


Hurricane Helene Note: CCNC is keenly aware that some practices in Western North Carolina are still recovering from the storm and may find it difficult to apply for funds at this time. Efforts will be made to ensure that practices impacted by the hurricane will still have an opportunity to apply for inclusion in the program.


The Holidays are Here! Are Your Patients Drinking Too Much? The CDC Has a Tool to Help

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During the winter holiday season, people may consume more alcohol.  Are you concerned about your patients?  The CDC has a tool to check alcohol use.
Drinking too much impacts your mind, your body, and your life.  If you or your patients are ready to drink less, but don’t know where to start, this guide may help.

Click here to take a quick quiz.

 


USDA Orders Testing of Milk for Bird Flu

The mandate targeting bulk milk transporters and dairy processors is meant to help identify herds that have caught the virus, which has spread among livestock

(NBC News, Aria Bendix and Evan Bush) --  The national milk supply must be tested for bird flu under a federal order announced Friday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Entities handling raw milk, such as bulk milk transporters or dairy processors, must collect and share samples with the USDA upon request.

The goal is to quickly identify which dairy herds are affected by H5N1 — the strain of bird flu that's causing outbreaks in poultry and dairy cows — and prevent transmission among livestock. As of Thursday, 718 dairy herds have been affected in 15 states.

“Among many outcomes, this will give farmers and farmworkers better confidence in the safety of their animals and ability to protect themselves, and it will put us on a path to quickly controlling and stopping the virus’ spread nationwide,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Friday in a press release.

The initial round of testing under the order, which was first reported by Reuters, is set to begin on Dec. 16. The rollout will start with six states: California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon and Pennsylvania.

Virulent Strain Of Bird Flu Spreads Among Cattle Herds In The U.S.
A cow grazes in a field at a dairy farm in Petaluma, Calif., on April 26.Justin Sullivan / Getty Images file

In addition to the testing mandate, the order requires dairy herd owners with cattle that test positive for bird flu to provide information that can help with surveillance.

The USDA previously issued a federal order in April that required lactating dairy cows to be tested for bird flu before being shipped across state lines, and required private labs and state veterinarians to report positive cases based on those tests. Those requirements remains in place under the new order as well.

The order responds to renewed urgency to address the rapid spread of bird flu among livestock in recent months, which scientists worry could eventually pose a more widespread risk to human health.

Drinking raw, or untreated, milk has risen in popularity, despite warnings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that it might be possible to contract bird flu that way. Several studies have shown that commercial pasteurization — using heat to treat milk — inactivates the virus, making milk that’s safe for consumption.

The Food and Drug Administration regulates the sale of raw milk across state lines, but as many as 30 states allow it to be sold locally.

In November, California health officials detected bird flu in multiple batches of raw milk from a local dairy farm. On Tuesday, the California Department of Public Health announced a broad recall of the farm’s raw milk and cream on retail shelves — though no human bird flu cases have been linked to the products.

To date, the CDC has confirmed 58 human cases of bird flu in the U.S. The vast majority were exposed to infected cattle or poultry. Arizona reported an additional two cases in poultry workers on Friday — the first in the state.

Symptoms so far have been mild, and often include pinkeye, coughs or sneezes. However, the CDC reported last month that some cases may be asymptomatic, so the agency recommends that anyone who has been exposed to bird flu get tested.

Research on dairy farms has shown the virus spreads efficiently between mammals, including from cows to other species like raccoons and cats. Scientists think the virus likely spreads between farm animals through raw milk, because infected cows shed large amounts of the virus through their mammary glands.

There is no evidence yet that people can pass bird flu to each other, but scientists are concerned that H5N1 might evolve in that direction, which could lead to the next human pandemic.

Research published in the journal Science on Thursday bolstered those concerns. The study found that a single mutation to the bird flu strain that's circulating in dairy cows would allow it to spread more easily between people.

 

 


UNC Researchers to Accelerate Mapping of Cells Crucial to Child Respiratory Health and Disease

A research project co-led by James Hagood, MD, professor of pediatrics at the UNC School of Medicine, and colleagues will be supported in creating an atlas of the cells and cellular interactions in the nasal and oral cavities, throat, and lower airways of pediatric populations in unprecedented detail.

 

Digital maps of upper and lower airway cells revealing specific cell types and their precise functions and locations within healthy tissues. Credit: AstroSuite analysis package: Kevin M. Byrd, Bruno Matuck, Quinn Easter, Khoa Huynh, Jinze Liu (VCU).

Scale Biosciences announced the winning projects of the 100 Million Cell Challenge, a research initiative that aims “to push the boundaries of single cell genomics research by encouraging large-scale projects across diverse biological systems.” The projects were selected based on their ability to address critical challenges in global health through global health equity, disease characterization, cancer biology, or therapeutic intervention.

A diverse and collaborative team of researchers from the UNC Children’s Research Institute and the Marsico Lung Institute at the UNC School of Medicine, along with global colleagues, will lead one of 14 winning projects from the challenge.

The projecttitled “Mapping the Pediatric Inhalation Interface: Nose, Mouth, and Airways” will receive financial support to map 2 to 4 million cells in the childhood respiratory system in unprecedented detail, allowing researchers to better understand respiratory diseases and conditions in pediatric populations — from asthma to viral infections and allergies. The new research will be fully funded and supported by Scale Biosciences, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), Ultima, Nvidia, and BioTuring.

In the wake of SARS-CoV-2, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and walking pneumonia surges, it has become glaringly apparent how often children are exposed to respiratory diseases. However, little research has been done to understand what is happening the precise moment and at the precise locations where the body comes in contact with airborne pathogens, allergens, and pollutants. This location is termed the pediatric inhalation interface.

James S. Hagood, MD
James S. Hagood, MD

The research team, co-led by James S. Hagood, MD, professor of pediatrics and director of the Program for Rare and Interstitial Lung Disease at the Children’s Research Institute and Marsico Lung Institute, and Kevin M. Byrd, DDS, PhD, adjunct assistant professor at the UNC Adams School of Dentistry, will be creating an “atlas” of healthy tissues and fluids from the respiratory systems of pediatric subjects from birth through pre-adolescence to address this critical gap in knowledge.

Other UNC School of Medicine researchers involved in the project include Richard Boucher, MD, the James C. Moeser Eminent Distinguished Professor of Medicine; Michelle Hernandez, MD, professor of pediatrics; Adam Kimple, MD, PhD, associate professor of otolaryngology/head & neck surgery; and Scott Randell, PhD, professor of cell biology and physiology and professor of medicine.

Much like a city blueprint, the atlas will map out the cells that make up the mucosal surfaces of the nasal and oral cavities, throat, and lower airways in detail. The atlas can also outline how these mucosal cells interact with one another when the body is healthy. Using artificial intelligence, researchers will visualize their data in 3D and create a realistic model of the body.

“These digital maps are transformed into vibrant, color-coded landscapes and cells and interaction networks, showcasing how cells collaborate to support essential functions like breathing, chewing, and speaking, while uncovering potential biomarkers for further research,” said Byrd.

Kevin M. Byrd, DDS, PhD
Kevin M. Byrd, DDS, PhD

Understanding the cellular makeup and development of the inhalation interface in children will help researchers better understand the early immune responses and particular cellular mechanisms that may increase a child’s vulnerability to respiratory conditions or even shield them from such diseases.

The open access atlas will ultimately serve as a foundational reference other researchers can use to study respiratory disease mechanisms in diverse pediatric populations, which could lead to improved diagnostics, preventive strategies, and targeted therapies tailored to pediatric needs.

The research team plans to engage with local and global communities to improve their shared understanding of the pediatric inhalation interface and expand future disease-oriented research to address global pediatric health needs.

Other partners on this project include researchers from Duke University, Virginia Commonwealth University, the Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem) in Bangalore India, Pontifical University of Rio Grande do Sul, University of Sao Paulo, and Helmholtz Zentrum München Germany.


New Study: Treatment May Delay or Prevent Multiple Myeloma in Your High-Risk Patients

Saline solution dripping from in a hospital

 

Study finds benefit when Johnson & Johnson drug is given in ‘smoldering’ precancerous stage

(RTT News) --  Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) announced new frontline data featuring TECVAYLI (teclistamab-cqyv) from two investigational studies in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) in induction and maintenance settings. The MajesTEC-5 and MajesTEC-4 studies establish the potential of TECVAYLI for use in newly diagnosed patients, with promising efficacy and a tolerable safety profile. The 100 percent of evaluable patients for minimal residual disease (MRD) testing achieved MRD negativity in MajesTEC-5 as induction therapy and MajesTEC-4 as maintenance therapy.

Forty-nine patients with transplant-eligible NDMM were treated with TECVAYLI in combination with DARZALEX FASPRO (daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj), lenalidomide and dexamethasone (Tec-DRd) or DARZALEX FASPRO, bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (Tec-DVRd) as induction therapy in the MajesTEC-5 study. All patients who were evaluated for MRD negativity after cycle 3 of induction therapy achieved MRD negativity (10-5) and maintained through cycle 6.

"These data from the MajesTEC-5 study build on the growing body of evidence of TECVAYLI combinations that support the potential combinability of TECVAYLI with other effective therapies, demonstrating high rates of MRD-negative responses for evaluable patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma," said Rachel Kobos, M.D., Vice President, Oncology Research & Development, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine.

According to the company, the safety profiles were manageable and consistent with individual safety profiles. No treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) led to study treatment discontinuation or death; cytokine release syndrome occurred in 65 percent of patients.1 No patients experienced immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS).Grade 3/4 TEAEs included lymphopenia (43 percent), neutropenia (57 percent) and infections (35 percent).

 


Tailored Care Management Temporary Rate Extension

 

NC Medicaid will continue the current Tailored Care Management temporary payment rate of $343.97 statewide through June 30, 2025. Effective July 1, 2025, the payment rate will be $294.86.

The continued temporary rate increase reflects the level of effort required by providers, based on available data on provider time and effort to date, to implement the Tailored Care Management model. NC Medicaid is not making any other changes to the payment methodology.

Questions? Contact: [email protected]

This update applies to NC Medicaid Managed Care and NC Medicaid Direct.


New Tool Helps Practices Track Fee-for-service and Value-based Financial Performance

 

NC AHEC Practice Support developed a new Financial Health Scorecard for your practice. The scorecard is intended for practices in need of a no-cost resource to track their fee-for-service and value-based financial performance, and prioritize strategic opportunities for improvement. Practice Support coaches are available to assist with training, and any identified opportunities for quality improvement, EHR/HIE optimization and workflow optimization based on best practices for your specialty.

If you need assistance from a Practice Support coach, please contact us at [email protected].


Register Now! Psychiatric Presentations with a Neuroimmune Basis ECHO

Neuroimmune Foundation has partnered with Project ECHO® – an internationally recognized platform with over one million learners in 45+ countries focused on over 1000 medical conditions, to offer weekly didactics and case-based learning to physicians worldwide.

 

Download the pdf document here.

Register here.


FDA Approves New Targeted Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer

 

 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted accelerated approval for a new drug targeting a tumor alteration called NRG1 gene fusion found in roughly 3% of patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, the most common type of pancreatic cancer. This approval underscores the promise of precision medicine – treatment based on the biology of a patient’s tumor – and reinforces how critical it is for all patients with this disease to receive biomarker testing of tumor tissue along with genetic testing for inherited mutations as soon as possible after diagnosis.

“The recent FDA accelerated approval of Bizengri is encouraging for people with pancreatic cancer whose tumor has an NRG1 fusion,” said PanCAN Chief Scientific and Medical Officer Anna Berkenblit, MD, MMSc. “This marks another treatment option for patients and highlights the power of a precision medicine approach and the importance of biomarker testing. This is an excellent precedent for rapid drug development in pancreatic cancer. Although only a small percent of pancreatic cancer patients have an NRG1 fusion, the responses seen with Bizengri are clinically meaningful, in the context of this difficult-to-treat cancer.”

BIZENGRI® is a targeted therapy. It has been granted accelerated approval by the FDA for a specific subset of patients diagnosed with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. This drug is available to patients whose tumor has an alteration called neuregulin 1 (NRG1) gene fusion whose cancer has worsened despite having gone through prior treatment. Roughly 3% of patients with pancreatic cancer have this alteration in their tumor, also referred to as NRG1 fusion-positive.

Continue to full article here.


Join DOCMS at the University Club Wednesday, December 11!

 

Join DOCMS at the University Club!

Wednesday, December 11, 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


"Doctors and Empathic Communication: An Oxymoron?

Reading the Room, the skill you were never taught!"

 

Speaker:

Anthony N Galanos, MA, MD Professor of Internal Medicine, Duke University

 

Dr. Galanos (Dr G) came to Duke in 1989 to do a Fellowship in Geriatric Medicine and has never left. He started the Ger Med Consult Service at Duke Univ Hospital in 1995 and started Duke Palliative Care in 1998.He retired from Clinical Med in 2023 and has stayed on to teach, debrief and mentor housestaff, Fellows and Faculty. He has always been interested in clinical teaching and often employs role play and rapping to hold the interest of his audience. He is here to demonstrate the efficacy and fun of role play while teaching a concept like “reading the room”.


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)


Asheville Lead Exposure Could Be More Widespread, Experts Recommend More Testing

 

Two independent chemistry experts say lead could be more widespread in Asheville’s drinking water following Tropical Storm Helene than the city has suggested, and both call for more public education and testing.

Sally Wasileski, chair of the UNC Asheville chemistry department, and Abigail Cantor, a chemical engineer and president of Process Research Solutions, LLC, which consults on municipal water issues, said they recommend residents of homes built in or before 1988, when lead was banned in new plumbing, use bottled water until they test their water.

“We cannot risk widespread lead poisoning, especially on top of all that our community has faced in the wake of Helene,” Wasileski wrote in a letter to the media and larger community in November. “We need a broad investigation of the lead levels at the tap of residences, schools, and businesses who source their water from Asheville City Water.”

Cantor, who lives in Madison, Wisconsin, has relatives in Asheville and said she warned them about the risk of lead in the water.

Continue to full article here.


NCMS Member Dr. Ryan Lamb Warns About Health Threats During Frigid Cold

 

Severe cold can result in bad health outcomes depending on career, pre-existing conditions, age, amount of clothing and lifestyle choices.

The medical director of emergency medicine at UNC Rex Hospital said there are reasons your body has to work harder to stay warm.

“The amount of energy your body has to expend in very cold temperatures, in the 20s, is a lot,” Dr. Ryan Lamb said. “You have to eat a lot of calories just to withstand that cold.”

Lamb has practiced medicine in the Triangle for years.

“The key is to dress appropriately,” Lamb said. “I think if you can wear proper clothing, a hat, gloves, a jacket, warm clothes and an underlayer so that you have a distance between, say, your jacket and your inner layer. The more layers that you have, it allows you to insulate better.”

The National Weather Service says the definition of severe cold varies “in different parts of the country.”

Freezing and near-freezing temperatures are enough to be considered extreme cold in the Deep South.

Young children waiting at bus stops and people working jobs outside for long periods of time can be susceptible.

One element Lamb points to for staying well is to stay dry.

“Trying to prevent it is definitely key,” Lamb said.

Lamb said some of the signs for hypothermia are quickened breathing, reduced cognitive function, a dip in coordination and poor use of motor skills.

“They are trying to unlock a door, open a handle from the outside and they're cold. You'll start to see coordination problems,” Lamb said.

There’s also the element of tracking trends in viral transmissions this winter season.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports low rates of flu and COVID-19 throughout the country at the present.

“I would suspect as this cold snap is about to occur and we are in it, you are going to see much more people confined into a closed environment, and as we see this slight uptick in the viral load, I suspect next week and the week after we are going to start to see the viruses increase in the community,” he said.

However, Lamb said they are seeing cases of pneumonia at the emergency department. (source)


NC HealthConnex: New Look for Easier Navigation

 

NC HealthConnex: New Look for Easier Navigation

 

South Piedmont AHEC’s Maria Goergen will host an informative Lunch n’ Learn session on December 17 from noon-1 p.m. See the latest updates and improvements to NC HealthConnex (NCHIE) that will make navigation simpler and more efficient for your practice.

Take advantage of this learning opportunity.

Register for Lunch n' Learn

If you need assistance from a Practice Support coach, please contact us at [email protected].


Secure Your Spot at the NCMS Advocacy Summit!

Whether you're a healthcare professional, community leader, or passionate individual, the NCMS Advocacy Summit provides a platform to discuss, learn, and collaborate on shaping the future of healthcare.

 

We are thrilled to invite you to the NCMS Advocacy Summit, a groundbreaking event dedicated to exploring and advancing crucial topics in healthcare. Join us on March 1, 2025, from 9 am to 5 pm at the StateView Hotel, located at 2451 Alumni Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606.

Event Highlights:

  • Engaging Sessions: Delve into discussions on Access to Care Solutions, Corporate Practice of Medicine, AI in Healthcare, and much more!
  • Diverse Perspectives: Gain insights from esteemed speakers representing various states and local community leaders, providing a comprehensive view of healthcare advocacy.
  • Networking Opportunities: Connect with professionals who share your passion for healthcare advocacy. The last session of the day will be a townhall allowing leaders from specialty and county societies to speak.

Registration is Open, but Space is Limited! Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a transformative event. Secure your spot today by registering today!

We look forward to your participation in this impactful event.


Scurvy: Not Just an 18th Century Sailors Ailment

 

Scurvy is a disease caused by a severe deficiency of vitamin C (ascorbic acid), which is essential for the production of collagen. This protein helps maintain the health of skin, blood vessels, bones and connective tissue.

Without enough vitamin C, the body cannot properly repair tissues, heal wounds, or fight infections. This can lead to a range of symptoms including:

  • fatigue and weakness
  • swollen, bleeding gums or loose teeth
  • joint and muscle pain and tenderness
  • bruising easily
  • dry, rough or discoloured skin (reddish or purple spots due to bleeding under the skin)
  • cuts and sores take longer to heal
  • anaemia (a shortage of red blood cells, leading to further fatigue and weakness)
  • increased susceptibility to infections.

The inability of some people to source nutritious foods with sufficient vitamin C is fueling a re-emergence of scurvy. Factors such as poor diet, food deserts, the cost-of-living crisis, and more increases the risk of vitamin C deficiency.

Read the full article here.


Capitol Chronicle: Rep. Greg Murphy Elected Co-Chair of the GOP Doctors Caucus

 

2025 Outlook on the Hill
Murphy Elected Co-Chair of the GOP Doctors Caucus

 

The GOP Doctors Caucus of the US House of Representatives has elected Rep. Greg Murphy, MD (NC-3.) as co-chair for the 119th Congress. Rep. Dr. Murphy represents North Carolina’s 3rd congressional district in Congress. Joining him as co-chair in 2025 will be John Joyce, MD, a Pennsylvania dermatologist.

“Our country faces many great challenges, and now more than ever, we need thoughtful solutions to expand access to affordable, high-quality care,” Murphy and Joyce said in a joint statement.

The 119th Congress will convene on January 3, 2025.

 


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!



From the Bottom of Our Hearts, THANK YOU for Your Generosity During #GivingTuesday!

 

Thanks to your generosity, this year's #GivingTuesday campaign was the BEST ever!

 

On behalf of the NCMS Foundation, we want to say THANK YOU to those who participated in #GIVINGTUESDAY!

Together we are helping to improve the health and wellbeing of North Carolinians.

Learn more about the NCMS Foundation here.


National Influenza Vaccination Week: Importance of Flu Vaccination

National Influenza Vaccination Week is observed December 2-6, 2024

 

National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) is a critical opportunity to remind everyone 6 months and older that there's still time to protect themselves and their loved ones from flu this flu season by getting their annual flu vaccine if they have not already. CDC data shows that flu vaccination coverage was lower last season, especially among certain higher risk groups, including children. When you get a flu vaccine, you reduce your risk of illness, and flu-related hospitalization if you do get sick. This week is meant to remind people that there is still time to benefit from the first and most important action in preventing flu illness and potentially serious flu complications: get a flu vaccine today.

Since flu viruses are constantly changing and protection from vaccination decreases over time, getting a flu vaccine every year is the best way to reduce your risk from flu. A flu vaccine is the only vaccine that protects against flu and has been shown to reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalization, and death.

Flu can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Flu symptoms usually come on suddenly. People who have flu often feel some or all of these signs and symptoms:

  • fever* or feeling feverish/chills
  • cough
  • sore throat
  • runny or stuffy nose
  • muscle or body aches
  • headaches
  • fatigue (tiredness)
  • some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

*It's important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.

Most people who get flu will recover in a few days to less than two weeks, but some people will develop complications (such as pneumonia) as a result of flu, some of which can be life-threatening and result in death.

Sinus and ear infections are examples of moderate complications from flu, while pneumonia is a serious flu complication that can result from either flu virus infection alone or from co-infection of flu virus and bacteria. Other possible serious complications triggered by flu can include inflammation of the heart (myocarditis), brain (encephalitis) or muscle tissues (myositis, rhabdomyolysis), and multi-organ failure (for example, respiratory and kidney failure). Flu virus infection of the respiratory tract can trigger an extreme inflammatory response in the body and can lead to sepsis, the body's life-threatening response to infection. Flu also can make chronic medical problems worse. For example, people with asthma may experience asthma attacks while they have flu, and people with chronic heart disease may experience a worsening of this condition triggered by flu.

Visit the CDC's Influenza page here.


Register Now! NCTracks December 2024 Provider Training Schedule

Registration is now open for the NCTracks December 2024 training courses.

The courses are virtual, via Zoom, and can be attended remotely from any location.

Courses offered this month include:

  • Ordering, Prescribing and Referring (OPR) Provider Enrollment
  • Submitting a Prior Approval Private Duty Nursing (2 Dates Available)
  • Provider Recredentialing and Reverification
  • Provider Web Portal Applications
  • Using the Provider Message Center Inbox

Click here for more information on course schedule and access to zoom links.

 


Whooping Cough Cases Spike in NC

Young boy sneezing into a tissue.
(Photo: NCHealthNews)

The highly contagious illness is increasing nationwide too. Whooping cough tends to peak during the fall and winter, so cases are expected to keep rising

(NC HealthNews, Jennifer Fernandez) -- Whooping cough cases in North Carolina have risen sharply in 2024. There have been close to 600 reported cases — 6.4 times more than last year at this time.

Nationally, cases are 4.8 times higher, federal data shows.

The highly contagious respiratory illness tends to rise and fall in cycles as vaccines wear off and new children are born without immunity, experts said. In recent years, efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 played a role in lowering the number of whooping cough cases. People were isolating, and fewer children were congregating in schools.

The return to regular habits of socialization post-pandemic could account for much of the uptick, but vaccine hesitancy may be driving part of this latest spike, some experts warned.

“It is honestly a problem we deal with every day,” Suresh Nagappan, medical director of the Children’s Unit at Moses Cone Hospital in Greensboro, said about people debating whether to get vaccinated. “I think a lot of it is people have lost trust in authority.”

Fewer and fewer people are taking the word of public health experts or even the advice of their family doctors. To combat that loss of authority, doctors need to personalize the information they give to patients, such as sharing what they have read in recent studies or how vaccines have helped their other patients, Nagappan said.

Peak in cases still ahead

As of the week ending Nov. 23, North Carolina had recorded 576 cases of whooping cough, up from 90 cases during the same time last year, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cases are expected to keep rising as whooping cough tends to peak during the fall and winter.

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is caused by a bacterial infection that can be life-threatening, especially for infants. The name “whooping cough” comes from the “whooping” sound made when people catch their breath after a prolonged fit of coughing.

That coughing, and the swelling in the airways associated with pertussis, is especially hard on infants, with their tiny airways.

During a 2012 outbreak in Winston-Salem, a 2-month-old died.

“They just can’t handle it in the same way” as an adult, Nagappan said. 

Early symptoms can mimic a cold. Typically, it takes five to 10 days for symptoms to appear, although it can take as long as three weeks. The cough associated with pertussis can last for weeks, even months and can lead to pneumonia in children and adults. For some, the coughing is so severe that they can fracture ribs or faint.

About a third of babies younger than 12 months old who get whooping cough will end up in a hospital, the CDC said. One in five babies with whooping cough get pneumonia. About 1 percent, or one in 100, will die.

North Carolina requires that all children get immunized against several illnesses, such as measles, polio and whooping cough.

Nagappan said while the number of cases is trending in the wrong direction, the net number of cases “is not huge compared to what it was in recent memory.”

The country is trending toward a total of about 30,000 cases this year, if weekly counts remain steady. That’s well below the 48,277 cases in 2012, which was the highest in more than six decades.

Nagappan attributed the increase to the advent of a new version of the pertussis vaccine introduced in the early 1990s. It came with fewer side effects, which health care providers — and parents — welcomed, but this “acellular” vaccine is only about 85 percent effective and doesn’t provide protection for as long as the previous version.

Helene’s impact

From late 2018 through August 2023, North Carolina had 16 whooping cough outbreaks, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Before the remnants of Hurricane Helene hit western North Carolina, the area was experiencing another increase in cases of the illness, mainly in children, following an earlier outbreak in the spring, according to media reports.

In Buncombe County, cases have doubled since September, according to media reports and data from Buncombe County Health and Human Services.

In one of its advisories, NCDHHS warned that respiratory illnesses would be an issue after the storm. The agency encouraged vaccination not only for seasonal respiratory viruses, but also for whooping cough among those who have not been vaccinated, and “especially for individuals living in crowded living situations or shelters,” where respiratory infections can spread easily.

Under state law, children typically have to show proof of vaccination to attend school or child care. Students have 30 days from when they first start school or child care to provide proof of vaccination or show they are exempt. Students who miss that deadline can be suspended.

In response to Helene, state officials gave students affected by the storm more time to meet vaccination requirements. That could have allowed for spread too.

Return to pre-pandemic patterns

At one time, whooping cough was one of the most common childhood diseases and a major cause of death in children. Once a vaccine was developed in the 1940s, U.S. cases began to drop from 200,000 annually to fewer than 19,000 in 2019.

Cases plummeted during the COVID-19 pandemic to a low of 2,116 nationally in 2021, CDC data shows. Health officials said the decrease likely came from people isolating, masking and washing hands more during the pandemic. Preventing the spread of COVID also tamped down other respiratory illnesses, like whooping cough.

Those same practices can help prevent whooping cough from spreading now, health officials said.

The country is starting to return to pre-pandemic patterns of whooping cough, where more than 10,000 cases are typically reported each year, the CDC said — although experts believe much of the disease goes unrecognized and unreported.

The agency expects whooping cough cases to increase in vaccinated and unvaccinated populations this year.

Vaccinations down, exemptions up

Overall vaccination coverage for kindergarteners has been dropping nationally and in North Carolina over the past decade.

In North Carolina, 93.5 percent of incoming kindergartners had received all required vaccinations last year, according to the most recent CDC data. That’s down two percentage points from the 2011-12 school year.

Nationally, coverage last school year ranged from 92.3 percent for the diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis vaccine — more commonly known as DTaP — to 92.7 percent for the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, according to the most recent CDC data available.

Meanwhile, the percentage of students claiming an exemption from getting vaccinated remains small, but continues to rise, driven mostly by non-medical reasons, data shows. Last school year, 2.9 percent of North Carolina kindergarteners received an exemption, below the 3.3 percent of kindergarten students exempted nationwide.

In North Carolina, the percentage of kindergartners exempted for any reason has more than tripled over the past 12 years. Nationally, that number doubled.

While there has been pushback on COVID-19 and measles vaccines, Nagappan said, he’s seen a lot of interest from parents in the new antibody treatment released last year for respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. RSV, which is caused by a common virus, can be very dangerous for very young infants and for babies and young children who have certain health problems.

There have been enough bad seasons of RSV that many people know someone whose child ended up hospitalized, he said. And with several outbreaks of the illness, parents were inundated with warnings from day care centers about the dangers of RSV, so that “primed people that RSV was dangerous,” he said.

That response to a new treatment gives Nagappan hope.

“I think it’s not a wholesale rejection of vaccines,” he said. “I think it is people want specific recommendations and (are) basing it on their own experiences.”


Holiday Parties Could Mean Fewer Cocktails for Those on Obesity Drugs

Moderate drinkers who also take weight-loss drugs like Mounjaro report drinking less alcohol, a new study finds.
Moderate drinkers who also take weight-loss drugs like Mounjaro, report drinking less alcohol, a new study finds. AzmanJaka/Getty Images

 

Dizzy after one drink? Social drinkers on obesity drugs lose the taste for alcohol

(NPR - Allison Aubrey ) -- Many social drinkers who take obesity medications, such as Wegovy or Mounjaro, say they don't enjoy alcohol as much.

A new study of Weight Watchers members who take obesity drugs — and were in the habit of drinking — finds about half of them cut back after they started the medication.

"I feel amazing," says Tamara Hall, 45, a mother of three. She began taking the GLP-1 drug Mounjaro in 2023 as part of a Weight Watchers program.

The medicine is covered by her insurance. At the time she had elevated blood sugar and her weight put her in the category of having obesity. She's now lost more than 100 pounds, and though she was never a daily drinker, she consumes much less.

"This is the best I have felt in my entire adult life," Hall says. Her A1C (which is a blood test that measures blood sugar over a three-month period) is now in the healthy range. "It's life changing," she says.

Hall was a moderate drinker who enjoyed wine or a cocktail at social gatherings. "A margarita or mixed drink, that was my go to," she says. But once she started the medication, her appetite for alcohol changed.

She noticed feeling full and dizzy after one drink, whereas before she felt she tolerated alcohol much better. "The impact of the alcohol was more intense," she says, and so cutting back was easy. "I didn't know it would have the impact of me not wanting the alcohol — so I think it's a huge benefit." She says the medication seems to cancel out the cravings.

Hall's experience fits with the results of the new study published in the journal JAMA Network Open. The study included survey data from about 14,000 Weight Watchers members, mostly women, all of whom were taking medication including Wegovy and Mounjaro. Some were taking older medications such as metformin.

"The main finding is that approximately 50% of patients who consumed alcohol at baseline reported decreased alcohol use after initiating their anti-obesity medication, says study author Lisa Matero, a health psychologist and researcher at Henry Ford Health.

Those who had the highest levels of drinking were about 19 times more likely to cut back compared to those who were categorized as light drinkers. "Those who lost more weight were also more likely to decrease their drinking," Matero says.

The reductions in alcohol use held up among people taking the new generation obesity medications and older drugs, including metformin, which is typically prescribed for diabetes. "I think what surprised me was that there was a reduction of alcohol use across all different types of anti-obesity medications," Matero says.

"Maybe being enrolled in a weight management program encourages healthy behavior change," she says. This could be part of the explanation of the study findings.

A growing body of evidence on GLP-1 drugs points to significant effects on behaviors.

During some of the landmark clinical trials of GLP-1 drugs that demonstrated reductions in body weight, researchers heard anecdotal reports from participants about changes in habits.

"They would tell us that they would drink less or even shop less," says Dr. Robert Kushner of Northwestern University, a GLP-1 researcher who is also a consultant to drug makers. People also reported less 'food noise' he says. Their "thinking of food diminished and the reward of food was diminished," Kushner says.

GLP-1 – which stands for glucagon-like peptide 1 – drugs increase the amount of insulin that the pancreas produces and boost the ability of the pancreas to release insulin. But the drugs also influence the brain's reward system. "The drugs circulate throughout the body, including the brain, to reduce appetite," Kushner says.

So, Kushner says he's not surprised by the results of this study pointing to less alcohol consumption. " I think this is an extension of this reward based biology that we see that these drugs are affecting," he says.

There's a lot more to learn about these drugs, says Dr. Lorenzo Leggio, clinical director at the National Institute on Drug Abuse. "We are very excited about the possibility that these drugs may be effective for alcohol addiction and other addictions," Leggio says. But he says the evidence is preliminary, so it's too soon to draw any conclusions.

There are randomized controlled trials underway - which are considered the gold standard in medical research. While the research is ongoing, Leggio points to medications such as naltrexone, that the FDA has already approved to treat alcohol use disorder.

The new study comes at a time of increased focus on wellness and prevention, and there's a growing cultural awareness that limiting alcohol can help achieve that goal.

"Most people that we talked to get on these medications because they're overall trying to get healthier, and reducing alcohol consumption can also be part of that journey," says Michelle Cardel, the chief nutrition officer at Weight Watchers.

This new study helps to better disentangle how obesity medications can help influence that journey.


New Study: People Three Times More Likely to Colon Cancer Screen at Home

People are three times more likely to undergo at-home colon cancer screening if they're provided a free test, a new study says. Photo by Adobe Stock/HealthDay News
People are three times more likely to undergo at-home colon cancer screening if they're provided a free test, a new study says. Photo by Adobe Stock/HealthDay News

 

(UPI HealthDay News) -- People are three times more likely to undergo at-home colon cancer screening if they're provided a free test, a new study says.

About 30% of patients mailed a free stool test kit completed their screening within six months, compared with about 10% of those who weren't sent a kit, researchers reported Monday in JAMA Network Open.

The kit, a fecal immunochemical test (FIT), uses antibodies to detect blood in stool. This blood is an early warning sign of colon cancer, and those who test positive are urged to undergo a colonoscopy.

"Mailed FIT is an excellent complement to usual care screening services," researcher Alison Brenner, an associate professor at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, said in a news release. "It reaches a lot of patients who, for whatever reason, aren't getting screened in usual care and significantly increases screening rates."

Colon cancer can be prevented, by early detection and removal of pre-cancerous polyps inside the GI tract.

Guidelines recommend that adults 45 to 75 undergo regular screening. Thanks to screening, colon cancer rates among seniors 65 and older have declined, but rates among those under 50 have been rising during the past three decades.

Colonoscopy is considered the gold standard of colon cancer screening, because doctors can examine the entire colon and remove polyps during the procedure. Screening is done once every 10 years.

But a colonoscopy involves the use of powerful laxatives to prepare for the procedure, which is performed under sedation. The prospect causes some to skip the screening.

Due to these qualms, doctors also offer stool tests to screen for colon cancer. These tests, taken once a year, can help keep tabs on a person's cancer risk.

For this study, researchers recruited more than 4,000 people 50 to 75 receiving medical care at low-income health centers in North Carolina.

Half were mailed free FIT kits, and also received support for a follow-up colonoscopy if the test was positive. The other half received usual care, which included a recommendation to undergo colon cancer screening.

After a year, about 35% of those mailed a free kit had taken the FIT test, compared with about 17% of those receiving usual care, researchers said.

The free kit group also had a higher follow-up rate among those with a positive test - 69%, compared with 44% in the control group.

"Reaching a largely unscreened, predominantly low-income population using centralized mailed screening kits and patient navigation for those with abnormal tests can substantially increase guideline-recommended colorectal cancer screening," researcher Dr. Daniel Reuland, co-director of the UNC Lineberger Carolina Cancer Screening Initiative, said in a news release.

Based on these findings, researchers are looking into ways to expand the program.

"FIT testing is inexpensive, so we anticipate that this kind of outreach will be a very cost-effective way to improve population screening," Reuland said. "In tandem with this, we're working to find ways to scale and sustain this kind of intervention to have greater impact."


Capitol Chronicle: The NCMS Keeps Pounding – “Fix Medicare Payment!”

 

The NCMS Keeps Pounding – “Fix Medicare Payment!”

 If you’ve been to a Carolina Panthers football game, you are familiar with the slogan – KEEP POUNDING!

That’s exactly what the North Carolina Medical Society is doing in the ongoing effort to avert the 2.8% Medicare physician payment cut.  The NCMS, along with many partner organizations, has made Medicare payment reform a priority this past year and is turning up the intensity as year-end approaches.  The payment cut is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2025.

Recently, the NCMS joined national and state medical societies in a joint message to congressional leadership imploring them to take action.  You can do the same.  The AMA and many of the national specialty academies have set up online links to connect with our offices on Capitol Hill and to advance the push for support of H.R. 10073. This legislation was recently introduced in the US House by Rep. Greg Murphy, MD (NC-3), a practicing urologist in Greenville, NC, and would avert the payment cut as well as add a positive payment adjustment to help offset the increased practice costs projected for 2025.

Contacting your US House office to encourage support of H.R. 10073 is as simple as clicking HERE.

Also, your patients are an untapped resource in convincing Congress to take action.   Enlist your patients’ support by posting this notice and sharing it with a request to take the simple steps to reach out to those who represent us in Washington.  It includes a QR code to help make that connection.

Please encourage your colleagues to engage in this effort as well and if you hear back from your member of Congress, please forward their reply to help our ability to follow up and continue our work toward a payment fix.

 

Thank you. 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!



Gov. Roy Cooper Appoints Dr. Nadyah Janine John to NC Recreational Therapy Board

Nadyah John, MD

RALEIGH -- On Wednesday, Governor Roy Cooper announced several key Board and Commission appointments.  Among them is Dr. Nadyah Janine John to the North Carolina Recreational Therapy Licensure Board.  Dr. John is a physician licensed per Article 1 of Chapter 90. She is a Staff Psychiatrist at Walter B. Jones Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center. Dr. John is also an Affiliate Faculty Member for the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine for the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University.

 

 

 


Happy Birthday to Our Members Celebrating This Month!

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

 

Randy S. Adams, MD
Swati S. Adawadkar, MD
Briggs M. Ahearn, MD
Collette Ah-Tye, MD
Edward S. Alessandrini, DMD, MD
Richard J. Alioto, MD
E. Jackson Allison, Jr., MD, MPH
Simon J. Allport, MD
Jesse R. Amezaga, MD
Barry D. Amos, MD
Sarah M. Anderson, MD
Wallace F. Andrew, Jr., MD
Brad L. Anglemyer, MD
William E. Anthony, Jr., MD
Ana M. Arango, MD
Perico N. C. Arcedo, III, DO
Dina L. Arceo, MD
Louis C. Argenta, MD
Tracy O. Arusuraire, MD
Savana E. Atkins, PA-C
Sam T. Auringer, MD
T. James Baden, MD, FACP
Charles E. Baker, MD
Vansanth B. Baliga, MD
Charles L. Baltimore, Jr., MD
W. Byron Barber, II, MD
Joseph U. Barker, MD
Laura B. Barton, PA-C
Karen L. Bash, MD
John W. Bass, PA-C
Tara K. Bastek, MD
Allyna E. Bates, PA-C
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Gregory S. Bauer, MD
L. Neal Beard, Jr., MD
Walter B. Beaver, Jr., MD
Gregory G. Bebb, MD
Michelle L. Beckham, MD
Timothy M. Beittel, MD
James E. Bellard, MD
Barbara A. Bergdolt, MD
Donald R. Bergsma, Jr., MD
Chudaratna Bhargava, MD
Edgardo H. Bianchi, MD
Katherine R. Birchard, MD
Karl F. Bitter, MD
James F. Black, MD
Jesse A. Blackman, MD
Susan Blackwell-Crawford, PA-C
Benjamin R. Blaschke, PA-C
Seth J. Bleier, MD
Charles J. Blevins, MD
Zachary J. Bloom, MD
Robert J. Board, MD
Edwyn T. Bowen, Jr., MD
James H. Bradford, MD
Genevieve N. Brauning, MD
Karen E. Breach-Washington, MD
Katherine L. Breiter, MD
Samuel E. Britt, II, MD
Caitlyn N. L. Brown, PA-C
Michael A. Brown, MD
Natalie Bruce, MD
George F. Brumback, MD
Tracie C. Bryson, MD
Joseph A. Buglisi, Jr., DO
Kerry C. Bullerdick, MD
Nicole P. Bullock, MD
Holly J. Burge, MD
Rollin S. Burhans, Jr., MD
J. P. Burnette, MD, FACP
Brandon C. Burnsed, MD
D. Scott Burton, MD
Marco A. Caceres, MD, FACS
Stephanie A. Call, MD
T. Francis Camp, Jr., MD
Leah A. Carlson, MD
Fred A. Caruso, MD
Venkata R. Challa, MD
H. Royster Chamblee, Jr., MD
E. Ted Chandler, MD
Benjamin C. Chasnis, DO
Abdul G. Chaudhry, MD, FACS
Nicole R. Check, MD
Peter G. Chikes, MD, FACS
Terry C. Childers, MD, FAAP
Sean D. Childress, PA-C
Stephen K. Chiu, MD
San H. Choi, MD
Erika L. Clark-Trapp, MD
Shelby L. Clay-Rogers, MD
Bruce E. Cohen, MD
James B. Collawn, MD
Filiberto Colon, II, MD
Jessica S. Connett, MD
Tim E. Cooper, Jr., MD
Charles I. Cooperberg, MD
Robert P. Cope, DO
Anureet C. Copeland, MD
Nicola S. Corbett, MD
Joseph B. Cornett, MD
Elizabeth Corpuz, MD
Benjamin B. Covell, MD
Alfred J. Covington, Jr., MD
Chad E. Cox, MD
Karen L. Cross, MD
James J. Crossley, MD
John T. Curnes, MD
John W. Currens, MD
Samuel J. Dail, MD
Liam N. Daly, MD
Uma U. Darji, MD
Marc A. Darst, MD
David A. Dasher, MD
Andrew Davidson, MD
Kevin R. Davidson, MD
D. Whitaker Davis, MD
Devon L. Davis, MD
Robin L. Dawson, PA-C
Ernesto E. de la Torre, MD
John O. delCharco, MD
Jessica C. Derreberry, MD
Michael L. Dial, PA-C
Dawn M. Diaz, PA-C
Christopher F. Dibble, MD
Edward E. Dickerson, IV, MD
Ellen D. Dillavou, MD
Michael J. Donahue, MD, FAAD
Venkatarama S. Donepudi, MD
Kristin L. Donoghue, MD
Kevin E. Dougherty, MD
Ryan C. Dougherty, MD
Caron L. Dover, MD
Carrie A. Dow-Smith, MD
Melora T. Driver, MD
Fred M. Dula, Jr., MD
William T. Durham, MD
Raymond B. Dyer, MD
Matt D. Dyson, MD
J. William Eakins, MD
R. Crews Edens, PA-C
Kim D. Edhegard, II, MD
Lorven M. Edralin, MD
Charles D. Edwards, MD
Adekunbi E. Egwakhe, MD
Elizabeth A. Ehlers, PA-C
Stephen P. Ellison, MD
Wagdy A. Elmahdy, MD
Miles Elmore, MD
John A. Engelmann, Jr., MD
Susan A. Erkes, PA-C
Nathaniel A. K. Erskine, MD
Joseph J. Estwanik, MD
Anna F. Fakadej, MD
John T. Fallon, III, MD
Ann E. Farash, MD
Bruce E. Fee, MD
Dale E. Feldpausch, Jr., MD
Ana C. G. Felix, MD
Juan B. Firnhaber, MD
David M. Fisher, MD
Kellie E. Flock, PA-C
Rajat R. Fofaria, MD, FACC
Richard S. Foulke, MD
James J. Foutty, MD
Charadin Frank, MD
Nicholas Frankel, MD
Mel W. Fryar, MD
Walter H. Gajewski, MD
P. Mark Gallerani, MD
Lars B. Gardner, DO
W. Ronald Gardner, MD
James E. Garrett, MD, FACEP
Cynthia M. Gary, PA-C, MPH
Ashley L. Gelinas, MD
Henry Gerock, MD
Martin T. Gessner, MD
Robert W. Gibson, MD
Charles D. Godwin, MD
Geraldine F. Goertzen, MD
Kareem Goldson, MD
Manuel J. Gorrin-Rivas, MD, PhD
James A. Graham, MD
James J. Green, Jr., MD
P. David Green, MD
Lynellen B. Gregory, MD
Kathryn M. Greven, MD, FASTRO
Joe W. Grisham, MD
Christopher T. Grubb, MD
Cesar Guajardo, MD
W. Bonner Guilford, MD
Ashraf F. Guirgues, MD
Jagmohan D. Gupta, MD
Khie S. Ha, MD
Michel G. Haddad, MD
M. Suzanne Hampson, MD
Marla J. Hardenbergh, MD
Kyle C. Harner, MD
Charles D. Harr, MD
Phillip G. Harris, MD
Samuel R. Harris, MD
Kate A. Hatter, MD
Joseph S. Healy, MD
Jessica A. Hedrick, PA-C
Scott A. Hees, DO
Steven M. Heffner, MD
Craig S. Heinly, MD
William R. Henrick, MD
Richard C. Herring, MD, MBA
Shannon L. Hershberger, PA-C
Jason D. Higginson, MD
Matthew J. Hilsman, DO
Angela S. Hira, DO
Jonathan N. Ho, MD
Mary K. Hoffman, MD
Carla W. Holder, MD
Christopher M. Holland, MD
Walter B. Holland, MD
Christopher B. Holloman, PA
Steven D. Hollosi, DO
John D. Holly, MD
Kenneth A. Holt, MD
W. Borden Hooks, III, MD, FACS
Jennifer J. Hoover, MD
Teague L. Horton, MD
Frank M. Houston, MD
Joshua L. Hudgens, MD
Kevin G. Hueman, MD
James A. Hunter, MD
Joseph T. Inglefield, III, MD
Christopher W. Ingram, MD
Thomas G. Irons, MD
Mark T. Jackson, MD, FAAP
Ashokkumar C. Jain, MD, MBA, FAAP
Francis M. James, III, MD
Edward O. Janosko, II, MD, FACS
Jennifer A. Jarosz, MD
S. Taylor Jarrell, MD
Robert G. Jeffers, MD, MPH, FAAP
Robert B. Jennings, MD
Rupert W. Jilcott, III, MD
Suresh Jillellamudi, MD
Carrie E. Johnson, MD
Delores L. Johnson, MD, FACOG
Matrika D. Johnson, MD
Ryan C. Johnson, MD
John D. Johnston, MD
William O. Jolly, III, MD
Enrico G. Jones, MD
James D. Jones, MD
Jason D. Jones, MD
J. W. Jones, MD, FACP, AGAF
Allen M. Joseph, MD
Ismo M. Kaariainen, MD, FACP, FHM
Jacob A. Kahn, MD
Scott M. Kahn, MD
Haku K. Kahoano, MD
Saroj P. Kandel, MD
Adam T. Kansagor, DO
David M. Kaplan, MD
Sanjeev Katyal, MD
Douglas G. Kelling, Jr., MD, FACP
Jeffrey S. Kelly, MD
William H. Kelly, MD
Madison Kendrick
Paige N. Keough, PA-C
Kirsten S. Kerr, MD
Andrew D. Kersten, MD
Christine M. Khandelwal, DO
Gautam Khandelwal, MD
Khalid W. Khayr, MD
George R. Kilpatrick, Jr., MD
Whitney L. Kirchoff, MD
Richard E. Kleinmann, MD
J. Douglas Knoop, MD
Lawrence H. Knott, Jr., MD, FACS
William G. Kodzai, Jr., MD
Hollis C. Konitzer, MD
Shawn D. Kosnik, DO
William H. Kouri, MD
Kevin L. Krasinski, MD
Jack J. Kuritzky, MD
Cameron J. Kurowski, MD
Ryan P. Lamb, MD
Denise Lamm, PA-C
Graham G. Lashley, MD
Michael Lawrence, MD
David L. Leader, Jr., DO
William D. Lee, Jr., MD
Gail A. Leget, MD
Nancy C. Lehman, MD
Eric J. Lescault, DO
Daniel R. Lewis, MD
Kayleigh Lewis, MD
Jonathan L. Lin, MD
Kanhka Linthavong, MD
Peter M. Lipscomb, MD
Jennifer Lira, MD
Charles W. Lomax, MD
Chasity N. Long, PA-C
Gabriel Lopez, MD
Frank J. Lovato, PA-C
L.D.A. C. Luvis, MD, FACP
Yvonne Luyando, MD
William D. Lyday, MD
Kimberly G. Lykins, DO
Nchimunya M. Maambo, PA-C
Henry J. MacDonald, Jr., MD
Mary T. MacKenzie, MD
Lyndsay L. Madden, DO
Jerome J. Magolan, Jr., MD
Ureena Manandhar, MD
Nisha T. Manickam, DO
Wissam B. Mansour, MD
Scott A. Marinelli, DO
R. Wade Markham, MD
James W. Markworth, MD
Bernard A. Marshall, MD
Dennis L. Martin, MD
Tiffany Marum, MD
Janice M. Massey, MD, FAAN
Jordan S. Masters, MD
Michael J. Masters, MD
Emmett C. Mathews, Jr., MD, FACC, FACP, FAHA
Kimberly R. Maurer, MD
Ronald B. May, MD, FAAP
David B. Maybee, MD
David W. McAllister, MD
Jane H. McCaleb, MD
Chad M. McCall, MD, PhD
Robert J. McCammon, MD
Keith L. McCormick, MD
John T. McElveen, Jr., MD
Damian F. McHugh, MD, FACEP
Anjanette L. Mcilwain-McCollum, MD, FAAP
Karin R. McLelland, MD
Julian E. C. McLeod, PA-C
Steven J. McMahon, MD
John T. McMurtry, MD
Wendy W. McNeill, MD
Belinda J. McPherson, MD
Victor A. Medina, MD
Joan N. Meehan, MD
Milap P. Mehta, MD
John J. Meier, IV, MD
Frank M. Melvin, MD
Roman G. Melvin, MD
H. Curtiss Merrick, MD, FACP
David F. Michael, MD
Chad J. Michel, PA-C
J. Lloyd Michener, MD
R. Alden Milam, IV, MD
Edith H. Miller, MD
Sarah J. Mills, MD
Megan E. Milne, MD
Maria Minor, MD
Americo M. Minotti, MD
Rachel Miranda, MD
C. Brent Mizelle, MD
Aminu I. Mohammed, MD
Linda C. Mohr, MD
Gregory J. Mohs, MD
John L. Monroe, MD
Robert W. Monteiro, MD
Casey F. Morea, PA-C
Alan L. Morgan, MD
Robert G. Morgan, Jr., MD
Jacqueline H. Morris, DO
Artus M. Moser, Jr., MD
Amir R. T. Motameni, MD
Jon Mugweru, MD
Joseph L. Murad, MD
Daniel W. Murphy, MD
Katherine A. Murphy, PA-C
Mark T. Murphy, MD, FACC
Richard J. Murphy, MD
Joanna D. Murray, PA-C
Holly C. Musgrove, MD
Matthew B. Myers, MD
Keith V. A. Nance, MD
Charles R. Neal, MD
William A. Nebel, MD
David S. Nelson, MD
Edwin C. Newman, III, MD
Rosemarie C. Newman, MD, FACOG
Gregory S. Nichols, DO
Peter J. Noone, MD
Steven R. Norris, MD
David Notman, MD
Charles F. O'Cain, MD
Michael J. O'Connell, DO
Brian P. O'Donnell, MD, FAAP
Matthew D. Ohl, MD
Ambrose S. Okonkwo, MD
John G. Oliver, MD
Michael R. Oswald, MD
Harold P. Overcash, MD, FAAP
Carroll C. Overton, MD
Jennifer D. Pace, PA-C
Alexander T. Page, MD
Branson H. Page, MD
Hannah M. Palko, PA-C
John A. Papalas, III, MD
Pankaj N. Parikh, MD, FACC
Danna M. Park, MD, FAAP
Eunee K. Park, MD
Robert I. Park, MD
Sung W. Park, MD
Chad W. Parkes, MD
Danielle E. Parrish, PA-C
James S. Parsons, MD
Matthew R. Paszek, MD
Amish V. Patel, MD
Beena N. Patel, DO
Sanjay A. Patel, MD
William R. Patton, MD
Alfredo L. Pauca, MD
Matthew W. Payne, MD
Robin T. Peace, MD
James V. Perciaccante, MD
Henry T. Perkins, Jr., MD
Paul C. Perlik, MD
Everett L. Perry, MD
Jennifer H. Peterson, MD
Frederick E. Pfeiffer, MD
Kelly W. Philpot, MD
Dana P. Piasecki, MD
Sandra R. Picone, MD
Noah R. Pierson, MD
Harold C. Pillsbury, III, MD, FACS
Holly T. Pilson, MD
Javier A. Piraino, DO
Stuart W. Point, MD
Stewart M. Polsky, MD
William L. Pomeroy, III, MD
Matthew A. Popa, MD
James R. Post, MD
George W. Poulos, MD
James B. Powell, II, MD
Kothai Divya Pragatheeshwar, MD
Emily D. Privette, MD
James E. Pugh, Jr., MD
Amitabh Purohit, MD
Hannah M. Rabinovich, MD
Shrinivas Rajagopalan, MD, PhD
Jennifer L. Raley, MD
Randle W. Ramsey, Jr., DO
R. Pinkney Rankin, Jr., MD
Michael P. Ransone, MD
Tayyabah Rayyast, PA-C
Kelsey L. Rea, PA-C
Lloyd F. Redick, MD
F. Ed Reedy, Jr., MD, FAAP
Steven H. Reid, MD
Donald P. Renaldo, MD
Christopher R. Reynolds, MD, FACEP
Jonathan C. Riboh, MD
Anne S. Richardson, MD
Jesse E. Roberts, MD
Leroy Roberts, Jr., MD, FACR
Matthew G. Robinson, MD
Stephen C. Robinson, MD
Shannon M. Roche, DO
R. Mark Rodger, MD
David H. Rosenbaum, MD
Michael D. Rosenberg, MD
Elizabeth G. Rossitch, MD
R. Kyle Rothman, MD
Michael C. Rowland, MD
Kathleen R. Ruddiman, DO
Roberto Rupcich, MD
Jarmella P. Russell, MD
Jeff K. Russell, MD
William J. Rutledge, MD
Philip R. Saba, MD
Barbara E. Salamon, MD
David L. Saliba, II, MD
M. A. Samia, MD
James R. Sancrant, Jr., DO
Kenton L. Sanders, MD
Dharmesh R. Sanghani, MD
Charles W. Scarantino, MD, PhD
Richard J. Schneider, MD
Lisa C. Scott, MD
Julie Seung
Ashish P. Shah, MD
Christopher T. Shah, MD
Kesha D. Shah, MD
Hadley J. Sharp, MD
Traci E. Sheaffer, MD
Robert E. Shepherd, MD
Richard H. Shereff, MD
Roger D. Shetterly, MD
Wright D. Shields, MD
J. Daniel Shoffner, MD
Sylvia P. Shoffner, MD
Steve A. Siciliano, MD
Leah M. Sieren, MD
David W. Sillmon, MD
Kelsey E. Simmons, DO
Wendy W. Simmons, PA-C
Selvaratnam Sinna, MD
Douglas K. Slater, MD
David L. Smith, MD
Henry L. Smith, II, MD
Ian M. Smith, PA-C
S. Keith Smith, MD
Timothy T. Smith, DO
T. Truett Smith, Jr., MPAS, PA-C
David H. Snow, MD
Mona M. Soliman, MD
Jessica Son, MD
David R. Sopko, MD
Stephen C. Sorsby, MD
Carey V. Stabler, MD
Walter J. Steele, MD
Phillip A. Stetler, DO
William R. Stetler, Jr., MD
Amanda R. Steventon, MD
William L. Stewart, MD, FAAP
Christopher A. Stiff, MD
Michael W. Stratemeier, MD
Christopher T. Stuart, MD
Geeta Subramaniam, MD
Slade A. Suchecki, DO
Jeffrey M. Suchniak, MD
Sang H. Suh, MD
Emily X. Sun, MD
yun sun, MD
Blythe W. Swaim, PA-C
Jason A. Swenson, MD
Bradley M. Swinson, MD
Danielle M. Sykes, PA-C
Shan Tang, MD
Robert B. Tannehill, MD
Muhammad F. Tariq, MD
Eli C. Tate, MD
Barry H. Teasley, MD
Alan R. Thalinger, MD
Chanchamma A. Thannikkary, MD
Brian T. Theune, MD
Christopher C. Thomas, MD
David T. Thomas, MD
Alan M. Thomley, MD, FACC
Sarah H. Todd, MD
R. Morris Treadway, Jr., MD
An N. Truong, MD
Robert C. Turner, MD, FACP
James W. Turpin, MD, MPH
Maria G. Uberti, MD
Jamie Udwadia, MD
Ryan C. Vann, PA-C, MHS
Daniel P. Vaughan, MD
William B. Veazey, MD
Ralph N. Vick, MD
Nicholas A. Viens, MD
Keith E. Volmar, MD
Rock P. Vomer, II, DO
Kelly R. Wackerle, MD
Kerri M. Wahl, MD
Aikya F. Waldo, MD
William R. Walker, MD
Kelley Wallace, Jr., MD
Peter A. Wallenborn, III, MD
Stephen L. Wallenhaupt, MD
Sherry Wang, MD
Yi-Zhe Wang, MD
Patrick L. Ware, MD
John G. Warren, PA-C
Nikunj P. Wasudev, MD
James M. Watson, MD
Polly J. Watson, MD
Samantha S. Watson, MD
Stanley R. Watson, MD
John A. Watts, V, MD
James P. Weaver, MD
Andrew B. Weber, MD
Nathaniel D. Weber, DO
Jade E. Weeks Kimble, PA-C
Michael D. Wehmueller, MD
Jack H. Welch, MD
John A. Welshofer, MD
David R. Wiercisiewski, MD
William D. Wilcox, MD
Geoffrey E. Wile, MD
Robert F. Wilfong, MD
Margaret J. Willhide, MD
Catherine E. Williams, PA-C
Christine A. Williams, PA-C
Martin K. Williams, MD
Noelle L. Williams, MD
Adam K. Willson, MD
Charles F. Willson, MD
David M. Wilson, MD
Heber G. Winfield, III, MD
Christopher E. Winstead-Derlega, MD
Robert I. Wodecki, MD
Michael R. Wolff, MD
Neil T. Wolfman, MD
Jonathan Wons, MD
Charles T. Woodham, MD, FACS
Richard H. Wray, III, MD
Thomas H. Wroth, MD
Lawrence R. Wu, MD
Katherine I. Yancey, MD
Jesse G. Yarborough, Jr., MD
Stephen M. Yeh, MD
Daniel M. Yoder, MD
Judith S. Yongue, MD
Sung-Eun Yoo, MD
Robert K. Yowell, MD
Mark S. Zalaznik, MD
Juozas A. Zavadzkas, MD
Brian Y. Zhao, MD
Deborah F. Zimmermann, PA-C


NCDHHS Low Income Energy Assistance Program is Taking Applications. What Your Patients Need to Know as Temps Drop

 

Last Year More Than 130,000 Households in NC Received Help to Pay for Heating Bills

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Low Income Energy Assistance Program will begin accepting applictions from older adults 60 and older or people with disabilities receiving services through the NCDHHS Division of Aging on Dec. 2, 2024.

The federally funded program helps low-income households with a one-time payment sent directly to their heating vendor to offset the high cost of warming their homes during the cold weather months.

Low Income Energy Assistance Program payments will be distributed automatically to heating vendors beginning in December 2024 if a member of the household meets the following three requirements:

Households meeting the requirements for the automatic payment are being notified of their eligibility through November 2024 and do not need to re-apply for LIEAP. Any household with a person 60 or older or with a disability and is receiving services through the Division of Aging who did not receive notice of an automated payment, can apply online at epass.nc.gov. Applicants can also call their county department of social services to apply by phone, in person or print a paper application from epass.nc.gov to mail, fax or drop off at their county department of social services.

To be eligible for the LIEAP program, a household must

  • Have at least one U.S. citizen or non-citizen who meets the eligibility requirements,
  • Have income equal to or less than 130% of the federal poverty limit, and
  • Be responsible for their heating cost.

Beginning Jan. 2, 2025, all other eligible households who meet the eligibility requirements may begin applying. Applications will be accepted from Jan. 2, 2025, to March 31, 2025, or until funds are exhausted.

Last year, the LIEAP program provided approximately $48 million to help more than 134,000 households pay their heating bills from December 2023 through March 2024. For more information on the program and eligibility, visit the NCDHHS website.

 

 


Western NC Community Care Stations Closing December 2

 

When will Community Care Stations close?

At the end of the day on Dec. 2, all water distribution sites and Community Care Stations in Asheville and Buncombe County will close, with the exception of four stations in the most impacted communities:

  • Fairview Ingles at 225 Charlotte Highway by Reynolds High
  • Morgan Hill Baptist Church, 594 Barnardsville Highway
  • Bethel United Methodist, 1050 Riceville Road
  • Owen Pool, 117 Stone Drive, Swannanoa

Today is Cyber Monday. Some Warnings for Physicians.

 What does Cyber Monday mean for medical professionals?

Today is Cyber Monday.  It is commonly known as the day Americans hit their computers, rather than stores.  Economists have been predicting the eventual collapse of the brick-and-mortar commerce for more than a decade.

In an article in Forbes, Dr. Robert Pearl noted that the coronavirus pandemic came on like a retail wrecking ball in 2020, sending shopping-mall icons like Brooks Brothers, J. Crew and Neiman Marcus into bankruptcy.

Pearl noted that here are valuable lessons to be learned from retail. Doctors and other healthcare leaders should harken the alarm bells and heed these Cyber Monday-inspired warnings before it’s too late:

1. Doctors must integrate technology with in-person care 

It used to be that Black Friday was the end-all-be-all of shopping events. In fact, just eight years ago, a Walmart spokesperson said, “We think about Black Friday as if it were our Super Bowl.”

Cyber Monday, by contrast, always sat at the kiddy table—a holiday afterthought for most retailers. That’s no longer the case. In 2019, Cyber Monday sales hit $9.4 billion, besting Black Friday’s $7.4 billion. This year, amid a pandemic that’s pushing nearly all retail sales online, many traditional sellers are now combining their Black Friday sales with Cyber Monday, hoping to capitalize on the eCommerce opportunities they overlooked for so long.

The healthcare takeaway: Technology-based care belongs at the adult table, alongside office-based care. It’s a lesson many doctors still disregard.

Since the pandemic video visits have been declining. That’s a major error. Most patients want to keep using virtual care after the pandemic. So, instead of rolling back digital offerings, doctors should take a lesson from retailers this Cyber Monday and look for ways to combine digital tools with in-person services.

Of course, doctors can’t deliver all forms of care virtually. But they also can’t continue to overlook the evolving needs of patients either.

Just as online shopping alternatives shifted the balance of power between sellers and consumers, it is realigning the power dynamics in healthcare, too. Patients in need of medical advice, a prescription or specialty expertise once had no choice but to make in-person appointments at the convenience of a local doctor. Technology has changed all that. If physicians continue to resist (rather than embrace) modern IT solutions, patients will vote with their feet.

 

2. Doctors must combine technologies to maximize value, quality   

A survey conducted in 1998 found that only 2% of U.S. healthcare providers had implemented a fully operational computer system in their offices. That same year, two-thirds of American families had a computer in their homes.

Like traditional retailers, most doctors are not “early adopters” of technology. And because many physicians struggle to integrate basic tech into their practices—including video visits, online scheduling and secure emailing—they are missing a much larger opportunity. Not only do these tools add convenience and value to the lives of patients, they can also greatly improve the quality of care provided.

One physician who has seized on this opportunity is Dr. Devi Shetty. The world-renowned heart surgeon currently maintains hospitals in his home country of India and in the Grand Cayman Islands. These facilities are separated by a dozen time zones and yet the two locations operate seamlessly as one. When the cardiology teams in India go home at night, their patients are monitored by physicians on the other side of the globe. And 12 hours later, flow reverses.

Consider how this approach would benefit at-risk patients in the United States, where hospital staffing slows down significantly on nights and weekends. Currently, when a patient experiences a dangerous drop in blood pressure or oxygenation overnight, it can take U.S. doctors an hour or more to notice and respond.

But with video monitoring and a shared medical-record system, doctors located anywhere in the country (or even in other parts of the world) could observe these patients and address their medical needs at the first sign of a problem, making sure no one falls through the cracks.

The future will reward physicians who embrace technology to provide high-quality medical care around the clock. Those who cling to the past will be left behind.

 

3. Doctors must be the disruptors, not the disrupted 

Most of the time, the origins of disruptive innovation can be traced back decades, to an unfulfilled consumer need that a successful incumbent never saw—or recognized but chose not to address.

Nowhere is this truer than in American medicine. Independent research has long confirmed that the U.S. healthcare system is the most expensive and least effective in the developed world. Medical costs have bankrupted millions of patients and sent millions of others deep into debt. Among the world’s wealthiest nations, the United States has the lowest life expectancy, highest infant and maternal mortality rates, and the most preventable deaths per capita.

If ever there was a system primed for disruption, it is American healthcare. As the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage, most doctors are anxiously awaiting a return to “normal.” They will be sorely disappointed. Whether the disruptive innovations are led by big business, global competitors or entrepreneurial doctors and hospitals, the fact remains: Change is coming. The days of healthcare providers surviving by simply raising prices are gone.

People who prefer shopping online during Cyber Monday (rather standing in lines for Black Friday) ought to ask themselves: “What if getting medical care were this easy?” Once patients realize it could be, medicine will never again return to the old normal.

 


World's First Fully Robotic Double Lung Transplant Performed in US

Cheryl Mehrkar, who received the world’s first fully robotic double lung transplant, with Dr. Stephanie H. Chang, surgical director of the Lung Transplant Program for the NYU Langone Transplant Institute, who led the minimally invasive procedure Credit: NYU Langone Staff

 

(NYU Langone Health) -- A surgical team at NYU Langone Health has performed the first fully robotic double lung transplant in the world. The procedure marks a breakthrough in the potential of robotic surgery and minimally invasive patient care, making NYU Langone the new leader in robotic transplant surgery around the globe.

Stephanie H. Chang, MD, associate professor in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and surgical director of the Lung Transplant Program for the NYU Langone Transplant Institute, led the minimally invasive procedure. Her team transplanted both lungs into a 57-year-old woman with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using the Da Vinci Xi robotic system at each stage. Small incisions were made between the ribs, and then the robotic system was used to remove the lung, prepare the surgical site for implantation, and implant the new lung. Both lungs were transplanted using these robotic techniques.

The transplant was performed on October 22, 2024, just four days after patient Cheryl Mehrkar was placed on the lung transplant list following several months of evaluation by Jake G. Natalini, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Medicine and a member of its Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, and Luis F. Angel, MD, medical director of lung transplantation for the NYU Langone Transplant Institute. Dr. Chang was assisted by Travis C. Geraci, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, and Eugene A. Grossi, MD, the Stephen B. Colvin, MD, Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery.

“I’m so grateful to the donor and their family for giving me another chance at life,” said Mehrkar. “For a long time, I was told I wasn’t sick enough for a transplant. The team at NYU Langone Health centered my quality of life as a priority, and I’m so grateful to the doctors and nurses here for giving me hope.”

Mehrkar, who inherited a genetic predisposition to lung disease, was diagnosed with COPD in 2010 at 43 years old. Her condition worsened after a bout with COVID-19 in 2022. Throughout her life, she has been an active thrill-seeker, traveling the world as a scuba divemaster, becoming an avid motorcyclist, and earning her karate black belt with her husband, Shahin. The couple owned a dojo, and she had a passion for teaching before her health sidelined her. After retiring from karate, she became a volunteer emergency medical technician with a local fire department in Dutchess County, New York. She remains active in the department to give back to her community.

“It is one of the greatest privileges to be able to help patients return to a healthy quality of life,” said Dr. Chang. “By using these robotic systems, we aim to reduce the impact this major surgery has on patients, limit their postoperative pain, and give them the best possible outcome. It couldn’t happen here without a talented group of surgeons and an institution dedicated to moving transplantation forward.”

Just a month earlier, NYU Langone announced Dr. Chang performed the first fully robotic single lung transplant in the nation. Now her team is the global leader in lung transplantation surgery.

A Breakthrough Innovation in Transplant Surgery

“This latest breakthrough in robotic surgery speaks to the culture of innovation we’ve built by bringing the most talented people in their fields together,” said Robert Montgomery, MD, DPhil, the H. Leon Pachter, MD, Professor of Surgery, chair of the Department of Surgery, and director of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute. “Our Transplant Institute team pushes the field forward to better serve our patients and deliver the lifesaving care they need with the best patient experience.”

The NYU Langone Transplant Institute performed 76 lung transplants in 2023 and was rated best in the nation for lung survival after transplant and for getting patients off the waitlist the fastest by the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, a national quality tracker overseen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“We are grateful to have some of the most talented surgeons in the world who break barriers and push the boundaries of what is possible for our patients,” said Ralph S. Mosca, MD, the Henry H. Arnhold Chair of Cardiothoracic Surgery, professor in the Departments of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Pediatrics at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and director of the Pediatric Congenital Heart Program at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone. “This latest innovation is a watershed moment in lung transplantation surgery worldwide and just the beginning of a new era in patient care.”

Surgeons at NYU Langone are international leaders in using robotic technology to manage a wide range of medical conditions, performing more than 2,000 robot-assisted surgeries each year. NYU Langone experts have pioneered the development and innovation of many robotic surgery techniques and continue to invest in new and evolving technology. As leaders in robotic surgical techniques, we train surgeons from hospitals across the nation and from around the world in how to perform the latest robot-assisted cardiac, bariatric, thoracic, gynecologic, colorectal, urologic, and gastrointestinal procedures.

NYU Langone Health is a world-class, patient-centered, integrated academic medical center, with a culture rooted in excellence in patient care, education, and research. Vizient Inc. has ranked NYU Langone the No. 1 comprehensive academic medical center in the country for three years in a row, and U.S. News & World Report recently placed nine of its clinical specialties among the top five in the nation. NYU Langone offers a comprehensive range of medical services across 6 inpatient locations, its Perlmutter Cancer Center, and more than 300 outpatient locations across the New York area and Florida. With $14 billion in revenue this year, the system also includes two medical schools, in Manhattan and on Long Island, and a vast research enterprise.

 

 

 


Biden Administration Proposes Expanding Obesity Drug Coverage Under Medicare/Medicaid

 

The Biden administration unveiled the first 10 prescription drugs that will be subject to price negotiations with Medicare.

(ABC News - Jon Haworth) -- The Biden administration has proposed a new rule to “significantly” expand coverage of anti-obesity medications for Americans with Medicare and Medicaid, according to the White House.

“Over the past few years, there have been major scientific advancements in the treatment of obesity, with the introduction of new life-saving drugs,” the White House said in a statement released on Tuesday. “These anti-obesity medications can help prevent the development of Type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, these drugs reduce deaths and sickness from heart attack and other cardiovascular outcomes by up to 20%. But for too many Americans, these critical treatments are too expensive and therefore out of reach. Without insurance coverage, these drugs can cost someone as much as $1,000 a month.”

Millions of Americans struggle with obesity -- an estimated 42%, according to the White House -- and it is now widely recognized as a chronic disease with increased risk of all-cause mortality and multiple related comorbidities such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke and some cancers.

Medicare and Medicaid currently cover the use of anti-obesity medication for certain conditions, like diabetes. But the new proposal on Tuesday would “expand access to these innovative medications for obesity, which is widely recognized as a disease and help an estimated 3.4 million Americans with Medicare,” the White House said.

“Medicare coverage would reduce out-of-pocket costs for these prescription drugs by as much as 95 percent for some enrollees. Approximately 4 million adult Medicaid enrollees would also gain new access to these medications,” the White House continued.

The proposal would “allow Americans and their doctors to determine the best path forward so they can lead healthier lives, without worrying about their ability to cover these drugs out-of-pocket, and ultimately reduce health care costs to our nation,” White House officials said.

The proposed rule would be implemented at the same time as a comprehensive agenda to lower the costs of drugs, including the drug price negotiation program and increased market competition.

“Thanks to the President’s efforts, seniors are already seeing lower prescription drug costs with insulin capped at $35, free vaccines, and out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs capped at $2,000 starting in 2025,” the Biden administration said. “Already this year, nearly 1.5 million people with Medicare Part D saved nearly $1 billion in out-of-pocket prescription drugs costs in the first half of 2024 because of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act. Furthermore, HHS has reached agreement with drug manufacturers for the first ten negotiated drugs, with new prices that are reduced between 38 to 79 percent starting in 2026.”


NCMS VP of Solutions Franklin Walker Featured in Article About Project VBOT

Franklin Walker led a meeting on Project VBOT at the Manteo Health Care Task Force

The North Carolina Medical Society Project VBOT took center stage at a meeting of the Manteo Health Care Task Force on November 12.  VP Franklin Walker talked to stakeholders from the Dare County community, including health care addiction treatment providers, social services, government , and nonprofit sectors.

Project VBOT (Virtual Based Opioid Treatment)  expands access to treatment for people suffering from opioid use disorder who live in underserved areas.

“They’ve got so much need down there for behavioral health and addiction treatment services, but they don’t have anybody to do it,” Walker explained, “and so they’ve got people that are going to drive three hours to see patients all day and then return to go back to Greenville or wherever they came down from.”

Read the full article here.

Read more on Project VBOT here.

 

 


NCMS Responds to Payment Issues with BCBSNC

A message from NCMS Manager of Payer and Practice Engagement, Jenni Hines:

The NCMS is fully committed to understanding and addressing the needs of practices facing urgent payment issues with BCBSNC. We are currently working on items related to unilateral denials of labs and procedures with Avalon, claim denials specifically related to modifier -25 and unexplained provider removal from the SHP network. We understand the impact these delayed payment tactics have on your practices, and have been actively gathering feedback, collaborating with relevant stakeholders, and making progress towards meaningful improvements.

We are advocating for your concerns and doing everything possible to make a meaningful difference. Your issues are important to us, and we are committed to taking the necessary steps to address them.

 

 


7 Days Until #GivingTuesday! Can We Count on You?

After back-to-back days of deals on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, join us in kicking off the holiday giving season on #GivingTuesday!

 

On this Global Day of Giving, we’re raising funds to improve access to care for all North Carolinians.

We want to empower all North Carolinians to achieve their optimal state of health, and your involvement is essential!

Ways to gear up for #GivingTuesday

  • Donate. Lock in your gift now!
  • Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
  • Share this message and our social media posts with colleagues, friends and family and encourage them to join the movement

 

We’ve got just one week left until the historic day of giving! Let’s do this!

 


🎉It's New Member Monday!🎉

Join us in welcoming these new members to the North Carolina Medical Society!

 

  • William B. Anderson, MD
  • Deanna M. Bencic, PA-C
  • Matthew J. Braswell, MD
  • Timothy A. Carlon, MD
  • Anne M. Cross, MD
  • Ellen M. Gaudlip, MD
  • Rebecca A. Gibson, MD
  • Matthew S. Lucky, DO
  • Manogna N. Manne, DO
  • Anthony J. Marois, MD
  • Allyson C. Metro, MD
  • Kyle E. Nappo, MD
  • Uma B. Pendem, MD
  • Javier A. Piraino, DO
  • Haneen Qunbar
  • Matthew G. Sharp, DO
  • Blake A. Stacey, MD
  • Haley D. Wartman, MD

We are thrilled to have you!

Not a member but would like to be? Joining is simple. Visit our membership center here.


41 Senators Sign Letter Urging US Senate to Address Medicare Cuts Before Year End

As physicians face another year of cuts stemming from the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, 41 Senators cosign a letter urging the Senate to address cuts before end of year.

 

The letter to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is an urgent request to address the 2.8 percent cut to Medicare payments that is due to go into effect on January 1, 2025.  I outlines persistent instability in the health care sector due, in part, to consistent payment cuts.  It also stresses the cuts impact on the ability of independent clinical practices, especially in rural and underserved areas.

North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis is one of the 41 senators who signed the letter.

To read the letter in full click here.

 

 

 


General Assembly Passes Third Round of Hurricane Helene Relief

 

The General Assembly has passed a third round of Hurricane Helene relief funding totaling $252 million.

The first two rounds of relief funding by the legislature totaled approximately $922 million. The latest round of funds brings the total commitment to $1.1 billion.

Senate Bill 382’s $252 million in spending includes $220 million to be transferred from the state’s Savings Reserve to the Helene relief fund. There is also around $100 million for local government loans in areas and $100 million in loans for water and wastewater repair projects.

The Helene-related spending includes a number of items, including compensation for education employees for instructional days missed during the hurricane and extension of various waivers on licensing, housing, care facilities, and it also pauses the adoption of the 2024 Building Code for six months to stop regulatory changes from hampering recovery efforts.

The bill takes $50 million from the Office of State Budget and Management’s (OSBM) Disaster Relief Reserve to the Office of Recovery and Resiliency to cover that agency’s recently announced budget gap. The funds will support homeowner recovery projects under the Rebuild NC program for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Per the bill, OSBM will be required to monitor NCORR’s spending and operations. Additionally, the state auditor will conduct financial and performance audits of NCORR by July 1, 2025, and report back to the legislature.

Some of the key spending items include:

  • $25 million for debris removal uses
  • $33.75 million for childcare stabilization grant extensions for the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education
  • $125 million from the Transportation Emergency Reserve for repair and reconstruction of transportation infrastructure in the affected areas
  • $574,578 in recurring funds to adjust funds provided state university institutions, as determined by the UNC enrollment funding model for changes in resident student credit hours.
  • $7,837,646 for UNC enrollment loss mitigation. Broken down that includes $1,364,971 East Carolina University, $1.5 million for the University of North Carolina at Asheville, over $19,000 for University of North Carolina at Greensboro, more than $3.7 million for the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, and over $1.251 million for Winston-Salem State University.

Read the full article here.


COVID-19 Vaccine and Reimbursement Guidelines for 2024-2025 for NC Medicaid

 

On June 27, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccination with an FDA-approved or authorized vaccine for ages 6 months and older. On Aug. 22, 2024, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), approved new COVID-19 vaccines for the 2024-2025 season, FDA: Covid-19 Vaccines. For details on the 2024-2025 Covid-19 vaccines, visit the CDC's MMWR: Use of COVID-19 Vaccines for Persons Aged ≥6 Months: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, 2024–2025.

NC Medicaid will cover the COVID-19 2024-2025 vaccines and CPT codes 91318-91322 with an effective date of Aug. 22, 2024.

The Novavax vaccines for the 2024-25 season under CPT code 91304 are covered with an effective date of Aug. 30, 2024.

COVID-19 vaccines are part of the Vaccines for Children program (VFC) (CDC VFC List) for beneficiaries ages 18 and younger. Based on updated Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) guidance related to the PREP Act, NC Medicaid will cover pharmacy point-of-sale claims for COVID-19 vaccines for beneficiaries ages 3 and older through Dec. 31, 2024. Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, NC Medicaid will only cover COVID-19 vaccines for beneficiaries ages 19 and older in the pharmacy point-of-sale setting.

Read the full NCDHHS bulletin here.


Atlas of Cells Offers Milestone Leap in Understanding of Human Body

Scientists have mapped the gastrointestinal tract using from data from 1.6 million cells, including gut tissue pictured here.
Scientists have mapped the gastrointestinal tract using from data from 1.6 million cells, including gut tissue pictured here. A. Oliver/N. Huang, R. Li, et al. (2024)

Could discovery lead to new treatments?

(CNN, Katie Hunt) --  Each human is a finely tuned orchestra of more than 37 trillion cells. Mapping this little-known world is one of biology’s greatest challenges — and one in which scientists say they just made a significant dent.

More than 3,600 researchers from over 100 countries have analyzed more than 100 million cells from over 10,000 people, according to the latest update from an ambitious project launched in 2016 to produce an atlas of every single kind of cell in the human body.

New research based on the findings, published in several papers in Nature and its sister journals, represents a “leap in understanding of the human body,” according to the Human Cell Atlas consortium. The endeavor is similar in scale and scope to the Human Genome Project, which took two decades to complete.

“Cells are the basic unit of life, and when things go wrong, they go wrong with our cells first and foremost,” said Aviv Regev, founding cochair of the Human Cell Atlas and executive vice president for research and early development at Genentech, a biotechnology company based in South San Francisco, California.

The project has already led to some significant breakthroughs, including the discovery of a previously unknown cell type in the <a href="https://hms.harvard.edu/news/new-lung-cell-type-discovered" target="_blank">respiratory tract called an ionocyte</a>, pictured here.

“The challenge we’ve had is that we didn’t know the cells well enough to understand how variants and mutations in our genes are really affecting disease. Once we have this map, we’re able to better find the causes of disease,” she said at a news briefing November 20, 2024.

Update to a ’15th century map’

Regev compared scientific knowledge of cell biology before the Human Cell Atlas initiative with a “15th century map.”

“Now, years later, the resolution of the map is a lot higher,” she said. “It’s more like Google Maps, where you have a very high-resolution view of the real topography, and then on top of that, you have the street view that really explains to you what is going on there. And on top of that, you can even see the driving patterns, like the dynamic changes that happen during the day,” she added.

“That is the leap that we have done … but we still have work to do.”

A challenge is that different types of cells can look morphologically indistinguishable under a microscope but can vary dramatically at the molecular level. What’s more, cells change as humans age and in relation to the external environment.

Advances in single-cell sequencing technology allow scientists to understand how genes in an individual cell are switched on and off by analyzing RNA, which reads the DNA contained in each cell. This technology, combined with powerful computing and artificial intelligence methods, allows researchers to create an ID card for each cell type.

It was once thought there were only 200 or so different types of cells. Scientists now know there are thousands.

The consortium is building maps of 18 biological networks, the most complex of which is the brain, and the first complete draft of the Human Cell Atlas will be published in 2026, Regev said. The cell atlas aims to fill in a missing link between genes, diseases and treatment therapies.

“This is just an incredibly exciting journey, in terms of our voyage through the human body and discovery of fundamental new insights into our cells,” said Sarah Teichmann, founding cochair of the Human Cell Atlas and a professor at the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute at the UK’s University of Cambridge.

Milestones could unlock new treatments

The milestones made public Wednesday include mapping all the cells of the gut; producing a blueprint of how human skeletons form in utero; understanding the basic structure of the thymus, an organ that plays a key role in how the immune system functions; mapping the molecular architecture of the placenta; and building an atlas of human vascular cells.

The gastrointestinal tract atlas, which includes the tissues of the mouth through to the esophagus, stomach, intestines and colon, was created with data from 1.6 million cells and revealed a cell type that might play a role in chronic conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease.

The early skeleton map found certain genes activated in early bone cells that might be linked to an increased risk of developing hip arthritis as an adult. “Having a clearer picture of what is happening as our skeleton forms, and how this impacts conditions such as osteoarthritis, could help unlock new treatments in the future,” said Ken To, a researcher at the Wellcome Sanger Institute in England who coauthored that research, in a statement.

A 3D-rendered image of a developing skeleton shows cartilage and bone.

English scientist Robert Hooke discovered cells in 1665, looking at cork under a microscope. He introduced the word cell because the patterns made by the cellulose walls of dead cork reminded him of blocks of cells used by monks. However, it was 200 years later when scientists finally understood that cells were the fundamental unit of the human body.

Unlike the original draft human genome, which was predominantly based on a single individual, the cell atlas aims to be globally representative and involves researchers and human tissue samples from around the world.

The project has already led to some significant breakthroughs, including the discovery of a previously unknown cell type in the respiratory tract called an ionocyte. Study of this rare cell type could lead to new ways to treat cystic fibrosis, a genetic condition caused by a gene that affects the movement of salt and water in and out of cells.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Human Cell Atlas community used the available data to reveal that the nose, eyes and mouth were most vulnerable to infection.

“It was only clear through the Human Cell Atlas data that those cells were … entry points before the virus continued into the internal organs. That really illustrates quite simply how important a healthy reference map of the human body is, and a deep molecular understanding of ourselves,” Teichmann said.

Jeremy Farrar, chief scientist at World Health Organization, who was not involved in the research, agreed that insights emerging from the atlas are “already reshaping our understanding of health and disease.”

“This landmark collection of papers from the international Human Cell Atlas community underscores the tremendous progress toward mapping every single kind of human cell and how they change as we grow up and age,” Farrar said in a statement.


Want to be Part of a Dynamic Team? Join Ours! The North Carolina Medical Society is Hiring!

 

The North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) is looking for talented, driven individuals to help us shape the future of healthcare in North Carolina. We are currently hiring for two key positions: Coordinator, Association Management and Manager, Financial Operations.

 

Manager, Financial Operations - NCMS Foundation

The Manager, Financial Operations manages day to day financial transactions of the North Carolina Medical Society Foundation (NCMSF) and other affiliated organizations. Processes accounts payable and receivables, reconciles bank statements, performs accounting and audit functions and other financial administration of the Enterprise.

Get a full description of the Manager, Financial Operations - NCMS Foundation position here.

Coordinator, Association Management

The Coordinator, Association Management manages the day-to-day needs of the Association Management department. This department manages and operates 14 component associations. Duties include project coordination, conference and event support, membership recruitment and retention, daily accounting functions, responding to member and prospective member inquiries, and preparation and follow-up activities associated with board and committee meetings.

Get a full description of the Coordinator, Association Management position here.

How to apply:

Send your resume to [email protected].


Truist Bank Announces Hundreds of Millions in Loans for Residents and Businesses Affected by Hurricane Helene in NC

Workers survey damage where a road once existed in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, in Chimney Rock Village, N.C. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
(Photo: Mike Stewart/AP)

Charlotte-based bank announces more than $650 million in loans

(WUNC, by Associated Press) -- Truist Financial Corporation has announced that it is making hundreds of millions of dollars in loans available to residents, businesses and local governments affected by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina.

The Charlotte-based bank said in a news release Wednesday that it will lend more than $650 million and offer more in grants and investments over three years.

Meanwhile, state legislators have approved hundreds of millions of dollars in aid for Helene relief and recovery, while the governor's office says more is needed. Disaster recovery can take years, as evidenced by ongoing needs from hurricanes that affected the eastern part of the state years ago.

The Truist initiative includes $340 million in lending for small businesses, home mortgages and commercial real estate. It will offer another $310 million in low-cost, tax-exempt loans to municipalities for infrastructure.

Meanwhile, another $50 million in loans or investments will come from its Truist Community Capital subsidiary and $25 million in charitable grants will come from the Truist Foundation.

The resources will be made available starting in December.

"Through this new initiative, Truist will address areas of critical need in Western North Carolina, including a focus on small businesses as well as housing and infrastructure projects," Truist Chairman and CEO Bill Rogers said in a news release.

Helene brought widespread devastation to western North Carolina, damaging roads and water systems and temporarily knocking our electricity and cellular service to a wide swath of counties. It also disrupted transportation networks across the region by damaging at least 6,000 miles (9,650 kilometers) of roads and more than 1,000 bridges and culverts, the state budget office has said. More than 100 people were killed in North Carolina.

 


Register Now: NC Medicaid Community Partners Webinar

 

Community Partners Webinar – An Update on Medicaid: December 5, 2024

The Community Partners webinar series is designed to provide updates on NC Medicaid and key Medicaid initiatives.

Join us Thursday, Dec. 5 from 3-4 p.m. for the next session in our ongoing webinar series. The webinar will provide an informational overview on Medicaid.

To register for the webinar, simply click on the registration link below. Feel free to share the webinar invitation and registration link with other community partners you think would be interested in attending.

Community Partners Webinar – An Update on Medicaid

 Thursday, December 5 from 3-4 p.m.

Click here to register

For more information or questions contact us at [email protected]

*Close captioning is available in English and Spanish. If additional accessibility and communication accommodations are needed, please email [email protected] with the details of your request.


Rates of Postpartum Depression Have Doubled in the Last Decade. Many are Asking Why.

 

Rates of postpartum depression -- a serious mood disorder affecting new moms within the first 12 months after childbirth -- have doubled over the last decade, according to a new study of more than 440,000 people from Kaiser Permanente Southern California. The rate of diagnosis jumped from about 9% in 2010 to 19% in 2021.

This is part of a larger trend. Mental health conditions are now the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Postpartum depression symptoms can include persistent feelings of sadness, lack of interest in activities, eating and sleep disturbances and excessive irritability or crying. It's more serious than the temporary and mild sadness of the "baby blues," according to the American Psychiatric Association.

Read the full article here.


Renewal Season is underway, and NCMS has made it easier than ever!

For your convenience, we have consolidated your memberships into one simple invoice!

This year you we have made it EASIER FOR YOU to renew with all of your memberships on one form.  Renew everything at once!

You can renew:

  • Your NCMS membership
  • Your County Society
  • Your Specialty Society

Your emailed and mailed paper invoice offer all of your available options. You can also renew anytime online and select all of the memberships you wish to renew by adding each to your cart.

Check your inbox today and look for your renewal invoice! Need an invoice sent to you again? Please contact [email protected] and request one be sent to you.

You can also ROUND UP WHEN YOU RENEW and help your colleagues in Western North Carolina rebuild after the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene.

RENEW TODAY!

 


Join DOCMS at the University Club Wednesday, December 11!

 

Join DOCMS at the University Club!

Wednesday, December 11, 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


"Doctors and Empathic Communication: An Oxymoron?

Reading the Room, the skill you were never taught!"

 

Speaker:

Anthony N Galanos, MA, MD Professor of Internal Medicine, Duke University

 

Dr. Galanos (Dr G) came to Duke in 1989 to do a Fellowship in Geriatric Medicine and has never left. He started the Ger Med Consult Service at Duke Univ Hospital in 1995 and started Duke Palliative Care in 1998.He retired from Clinical Med in 2023 and has stayed on to teach, debrief and mentor housestaff, Fellows and Faculty. He has always been interested in clinical teaching and often employs role play and rapping to hold the interest of his audience. He is here to demonstrate the efficacy and fun of role play while teaching a concept like “reading the room”.


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)


NCMS Recognizes NCMS Disaster Relief Fund Contributors

A heartfelt THANK YOU to these individuals and organizations for their contribution to the NCMS Disaster Relief Fund. Your generous donation is far more than just a financial contribution; it’s a lifeline for the many affected by Hurricane Helene, and vital in providing support to healthcare professionals and communities impacted by this disaster.

We invite you to spread the word about the NCMS Disaster Relief Fund and stay engaged with us as we work together to help restore our Western North Carolina neighbors.

We are grateful to have you in our community!

 

  • Bangladesh Medical Association of North Carolina
  • Rebecca S. Carlin, MD
  • Carolina Complete Health Inc.
  • Anonymous
  • James M. Provenzale, MD
  • Moulton Family Fund
  • Puraven Beauty and Wellness
  • UBS Financial Services, Inc.
  • Donald P. Wilcox
  • American Medical Association Foundation
  • Atlantic Internal Medicine
  • Amar M. Amaresh, MD
  • Edwin C. Bartlett, Sr., MD
  • Deanna M. Boyette, MD
  • Edwin K. Burkett, MD
  • Cobb County (GA) Medical Society
  • John A. Fagg, MD
  • Barbara Hodde
  • Martha G. Peck, MD
  • Gary Price, MD
  • Eugene E. Wright, Jr., MD
  • Kathy F. Wright
  • Curi
  • Anonymous
  • Christopher T. Grubb, MD
  • Lyndon K. Jordan, III, MD, FACR
  • Katie Lowry, MD, MPH
  • Laura J. Luckadoo, MD
  • Robeson Pediatrics
  • Kirby Sheridan
  • Catherine L. Sotir, MD
  • Vinod C. Vallabh, MD
  • Ian D. Archibald, MD
  • Preecha Bhotiwihok, MD, MPH
  • John W. Black, MD
  • Anonymous
  • Gay M. Bowman
  • Georgi N. Brockway, MD
  • Michael T. Brohawn
  • Anonymous
  • Carolina Complete Health Network
  • Sharon M. Foster, MD, FAAP
  • Donna C. Graves, MD
  • M. Mark Hester, MD
  • Suneya G. Hogarty, DO
  • Marius J. Ilario, MD
  • Linda W. Lawrence, MD
  • Douglas S. McFarlane, MD
  • Mark B. Moeller, MD
  • Anonymous
  • Raleigh Orthopaedic Clinic, PA
  • Timothy J. Reeder, MD, MPH, FACEP
  • Alan J. Rosenbaum, MD
  • Anonymous
  • Marshall Z. Schwartz, MD
  • Douglas D. Sheets, MD, FACOG
  • W. Alan Skipper, CAE
  • Jennifer K. Stoddard, MD
  • STUSQU, PLLC
  • Lisa W. H. Thompson, MD
  • Cheryl L. Walker-McGill, MD, MBA
  • Craig E. Webb, MHS, PA-C
  • Johnathan D. Williams, MD
  • Anonymous
  • Idil Aktan, MD
  • R. D. Almkuist, II, MD
  • American Board of Pediatrics Inc
  • Caroline D. Ames, MD, FACS
  • James H. Antoszyk, MD
  • Joy Avery
  • Timothy M. Beittel, MD
  • Anonymous
  • Anonymous
  • Cedar Mount Behavioral Health, PA
  • Center For Pain Management, PLLC
  • Melissa M. Coale, MD
  • Anonymous
  • Kim D. Dansie, MD
  • Jackie M. Davis-Jones
  • Jessica F. Doerrler, PA
  • Patricia Duncan
  • Peter A. Eweje, MD
  • Mark W. Featherston, MD
  • Anonymous
  • Joanne M. Fruth, MD
  • Lisa M. Gangarosa, MD
  • Highland Medical Associates
  • Anonymous
  • Joseph P. Hunstad, MD, FACS
  • Kitsie Jones
  • Christopher P. Jordan, MD
  • Kerry Kendall
  • Eugenie M. Komives, MD, FAAFP
  • Ted R. Kunstling, MD, FCCP
  • Andrew S. Lamb, MD
  • Keith LaScalea, MD
  • Anonymous
  • Elizabeth G. Livingston, MD
  • Anonymous
  • Laura L. Martinez, MD
  • Darlyne Menscer, MD
  • Ashley Newton
  • J. Thomas Newton, MD
  • Carolyn O'Conor, MD
  • Michael K. Patrick, MD
  • Patricia Petrick, MD
  • Emily Rayes-Prince, MD
  • Anonymous
  • Corianne D. Rogers, MD
  • Nimesh B. Shah, MD
  • Kristen M. Shipherd
  • Maria J. Small, MD
  • Anonymous
  • Michol Stanzione, DO
  • Steele Creek Dermatology
  • Al Steren, MD and Diane Snyder Steren, MD
  • Martha Strange, MD
  • Thomas M. Swantkowski, MD, AGAF, FACG
  • Marian L. Swinker, MD, MPH
  • Christopher L. Tebbit, MD
  • Monecia Thomas, PhD
  • Dimitri G. Trembath, MD
  • Michael J. Utecht, MD, FACEP
  • Lynnea Villanova, MD
  • Bonnie E. Wagner, PA-C
  • Rebecca Y. Weinshilboum, DO
  • Carl J. Westcott, MD
  • Thomas R. White, MD
  • Anonymous
  • Women's HealthCare Consultant PC
  • Nagarjuna Yerra, MD
  • Michael Bartiss, MD / Family Eye Care of the Carolinas
  • David Boone, MD
  • Carolina Complete Health
  • Karl Chiang, MD
  • John Chretien, MD
  • Anonymous
  • Kelly Fedoriw, MD
  • Carolyn Ferree, MD
  • Alison Gardner, MD
  • John Goldfield, MHS, PA-C
  • Akilah Grimes, MD
  • Sandra Jackson / Eastern Pediatrics
  • Matthew Katz, MS / MCK Health Strategies
  • Melissa Kenny
  • Donna McGee, MD
  • Larry Napolitano, Jr., MD
  • Michael P. Reddy-Miller, MD
  • Anonymous
  • Andrew Pasternak, MD
  • Antonio Ramirez, MD
  • Beth Remhof
  • Jennifer Root, MD
  • Richard Savage, MD
  • Anonymous
  • Soma Sengupta, MD
  • Nimesh Shah / Noble Hospitality Investment
  • Amanda Trimpey, MD, MPH, FACOEM
  • Yunxiang Zhu, MD

 

*Please note: List reflects donations received through Tuesday, November 19.


Did you see this? Renewal Season is underway and you don't want to miss it!

Did you see this on Wednesday?  It is your NCMS Renewal form!

 

Check your spam file today!  It is time to Renew your NCMS membership!

This year you we have made it EASIER FOR YOU to renew with all three NCMS membership categories in one form.  Renew everything at once!  Organized medicine is simplified by the NCMS because we know we are better together.  You can renew:

  • Your NCMS membership
  • Your County Society
  • Your Specialty Society

You can also ROUND UP WHEN YOU RENEW and help your colleagues in Western North Carolina rebuild after the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene.

 

The NCMS is working harder than ever to make your life easier!