Welcome to a new week of NCMS Morning Rounds.

Dec. 14, 2020

NCMS Legislative Update

Last week, NCMS Director of Legislative Relations Sue Ann Forrest, MPA, was on several panels discussing the hot button issues likely to be addressed by the NC General Assembly when it reconvenes in 2021.

Forrest participated in the Raleigh News & Observer’s ‘NC Insider’ panel, which included legislators and other lobbyists. Topics included telehealth, access to broadband, Medicaid expansion and scope of practice. Here is the News & Observer’s coverage of the event. If you would like to watch the entire one-hour discussion, you can access it at this link.

Legislators are gearing up for the upcoming legislative session, which begins on Jan. 13. For instance, the NCMS will be monitoring the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and NC Health Choice meeting on Jan. 12. Watch your NCMS Morning Rounds for the agenda and further details.

Also last week as previously reported in this newsletter, the Governor’s NC Council for Health Coverage met for the first time. NCMS Board member Merritt Seshul, MD, and NCMS Executive Vice President and CEO Chip Baggett, JD, represent the NCMS on this bipartisan body, which is charged with finding consensus on health care coverage issues. The first meeting was recorded and, along with other materials related to the agenda, can be accessed here.

Don’t Miss this Professional Development Opportunity

Only several spots remain for the incoming 2021 class of Health Care Leadership and Management (HCLM) scholars. This NCMS Foundation program, part of the Kanof Institute for Physician Leadership, offers clinicians a critical framework based on economics, finance and leadership development so upon graduation participants have the necessary vocabulary for the business realm and are equipped to take on greater leadership positions in their career.

The curriculum has been adapted to accommodate remote learning, and the first half of the 2021 session, which begins in January, will be held virtually. Future sessions will be in person or virtual as necessary.

If you are interested in learning more or applying to HCLM, please simply complete HCLM Interest Form by this Friday, Dec. 18. NOTE: If you are practicing in a rural area and/or is a current or past participant in the CPP-program, you may further be eligible for a scholarship. Please state if you are interested in learning more about this opportunity on your interest form.

The HCLM program places greater emphasis on deeper leadership development and skills that include strategic planning, negotiation and financial literacy and application. The curriculum is project-based and participants will have the opportunity to identify current and future needs and/or challenges and develop and design new and innovative solutions to address these.

Learn more here.

Kick Off the New Year with A Good Book!

As you consider your New Year’s Resolutions, we invite you to join the NCMS Book Club! In this online community, you can connect with your colleagues while discussing a wide range of books. There is no cost to participate – you just have to get a copy of the book to enjoy.

You can sign up here by Jan. 7.

How it works
The book club will connect through a private online forum where participants can discuss the current book and learn from one another. Our book club will spend about 10 weeks on each book, so you’ll have plenty of time to read. You can sign up and learn more about our next book here.

Why should you join?
There are three main reasons we hope you’ll be excited to participate in the NCMS book club:
1) Read more in 2021 by staying accountable with our learning community;
2) Connect with fellow physicians and PAs, and
3) Discover new books that you might not otherwise read

Join here today!

In the News

Why Vaccinate Our Most Frail? Odd Vote Out Shows the Dilemma, CNN, 12-4-20

Learning Opportunity

DON’T FORGET: tomorrow, Tuesday, Dec. 15, from 6 to 7 p.m., State Health Director Betsey Tilson, MD, MPH, and other state health experts will hold a Zoom webinar for health professionals on North Carolina’s plan for the COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
• Here is the link to the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/131899801.
• Here is the call-in information: (646) 558 8656 (New York) Meeting ID: 131 899 801
• The one-tap mobile call in number is: +16465588656,,131899801#

 

If you have policies you’d like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!