General Assembly Clears Regulatory Hurdles for Medicare ACOs
This week the General Assembly completed its work on House Bill 287 – Amend Insurance Laws. This…
State Health Plan Drops Humana; Moves to One Medicare Advantage Carrier
The State Health Plan Board of Trustees recently approved moving from two Medicare Advantage…
Bowtie Briefing for June 24, 2016
Melanie Phelps, JD, Deputy General Counsel at the NCMS, guest hosts today's Bowtie Briefing, which…
Helping Practices Make the Move to Value
The North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) and its Foundation are committed to helping physicians…
Update From the NC Health Information Exchange Authority
The North Carolina General Assembly created the NC Health Information Exchange Authority (NCHIEA)…
Support for Medicare Audit Reform
Members of the US Senate Finance Committee, including Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), highlighted a new…
Bowtie Briefing for June 3, 2016
Our first guest host shares the legislative and advocacy updates for the week.
Governor Signs Medicaid Waiver Application; Sent to CMS on June 1 Deadline
At a press conference at the Executive Mansion Wednesday morning, Governor Pat McCrory marked the…
Learn About MACRA and the Quality Payment Programs
To help make sense of what implementation of the massive MACRA legislation might mean to you and…
In the News
The Superbug That Doctors Have Been Dreading Just Reached the US, The Washington Post, 5-27-16 CVS…
Bowtie Briefing for May 27, 2016
NCMS Director of Legislative Relations, Chip Baggett, covers a fast-moving legislative week, with…
Bowtie Briefing for May 13, 2016
Get your weekly legislative update with Chip Baggett, NCMS Director of Legislative Relations! This…
CMS Releases Two Landmark Directives on Medicaid and Medicare
Last week the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published the final rule on Medicaid…
NC Legislative Session Now Underway — What to Watch
North Carolina’s state senators and representatives returned to Raleigh on Monday April 25, to…
Landmark Proposed Rule Outlines Future For Our Health Care System
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released their proposed rule…
Bowtie Briefing for April 29, 2016
Chip Baggett, NCMS Director of Legislative Relations, summarizes a busy opening week at the…
Bowtie Briefing for April 22, 2016
With the 2016 short session of the General Assembly beginning on Monday, April 25, Chip Baggett…
Legislative Round-Up: Short Session Begins Monday
As the General Assembly prepares to reconvene in Raleigh on Monday, April 25 for its short session,…
CMS Launches New Initiative For Primary Care
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced the launch of a new program…
Mapping Tool Reveals Disparities in Health Care
A new interactive tool from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) allows users to…
Bowtie Briefing for April 15, 2016
NCMS Director of Legislative Relations, Chip Baggett, focuses on five important developments in…
Bowtie Briefing for April 8, 2016
Chip Baggett provides an update on the DHHS Listening Sessions on Medicaid Reform and also…
DHHS Is Listening: Tell Them Your Thoughts on the Medicaid Reform Waiver
The NC Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) ‘Listening Sessions’ to gather feedback on…
Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Initiative Underway In Certain NC Markets
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) began its Comprehensive Care for Joint…
Now Is The Time to Review/Dispute Open Payments Information
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced the beginning of the 45 day…
Bowtie Briefing for April 1, 2016
Chip Baggett shares his advice on how to best communicate with your legislator regarding issues…
Bowtie Briefing for March 24, 2016
No bowtie and a day early -- Chip Baggett, NCMS Director of Legislative Relations, throws us some…
NCMS Talking Points on Draft Medicaid Reform Waiver
The North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) has formulated talking points (PDF) to help you as you…
CMS Releases 2016 Value-Based Payment Modifier Results
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released the 2016 Value-Based Payment…
Bowtie Briefing for March 11, 2016
NCMS Director of Legislative Relations Chip Baggett shares developments regarding the Medicaid…
NCMS Summarizes Medicaid Reform Draft Waiver
To highlight the important points contained in the state’s draft Medicaid reform waiver application…
Bowtie Briefing for March 4, 2016 – Weekly Legislative Update
Chip Baggett focuses on four new developments in this week's legislative update: election…
NC DHHS Unveils Medicaid Reform Draft Plan
Today the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services unveiled its multi-year draft plan…
DMA Finally Publishes Guidance on Medicaid Recoupment
Two months after NC Medicaid hit physicians with a surprise year-end recoupment, the Division of…
NC Medicaid on Budget Target For Third Consecutive Year
Leaders from the NC Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) presented a number of reports…
New Participation Agreement for HIE Required by Feb. 19 for Current Users
The North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) has been monitoring and working closely with the state as…
NCMS Urges Guidance from Medicaid on December Recoupment
Anticipates Good Result on Denied TPL Claims As 2015 was winding down, physicians were hit with an…
NC Makes Strong Showing On CMS' List of New and Renewing ACOs
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on Monday that three accountable…
Audit of ACA Enhanced Payments for Primary Care Begun
Last week, NC Medicaid began the process of auditing physicians, physician assistants and nurse…
In the News
AMA Launches Company In Silicon Valley, MedPage Today, 1-12-16 Medicare Expands Coordinated Care…
Audit of ACA Enhanced Payments for Primary Care Coming this Week
In the coming days NC Medicaid will perform an audit of physicians, physician assistants, and nurse…
NCMS Working to Ensure Sensible Medicaid Reform
The North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) is meeting regularly with state officials charged with…
PAI Pushes for RAC Audit Reform
The Physicians Advocacy Institute (PAI) submitted additional comments this month on the Audit &…
Palmetto Posts 2016 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Files
Palmetto’s 2016 Medicare Part B Physician Fee Schedules (MPFS) are now available in their Medicare…
Primary Care Bonus for Medicare Patients Ends With New Year
The 10 percent bonus that many primary care practitioners have been receiving to care for Medicare…
NC Medicare Shared Savings Program Council Members Share Best Practices
Last month, representatives from North Carolina medical groups that participate in the Medicare…
Medicaid Physician Drug Program Reimbursement — Is It An Issue for Your Practice?
Due to a rate freeze in Medicaid’s Physician Drug Program that occurred in 2010, a growing number…
Medicaid Re-Credentialing Efforts Resume on Large Scale
Re-credentialing necessary for continued participation in Medicaid/CHIP Thousands of Medicaid…