Welcome to a new week of NCMS Morning Rounds.

Feb. 22, 2021

NCMS Legislative Update

Last week, a steady flow of legislative proposals continued to be filed. Remember, you can see summaries of all the bills we’re monitoring that could impact your practice and/or your patients on our regularly updated NCMS legislative blog.

One bill of particular note, HB93 – Require Naloxone Scripts with Opiod Scripts, would mandate clinicians co-prescribe the opioid antagonist naloxone anytime an opioid is prescribed. The NCMS opposes this mandate and will be sending a letter to legislators to describe our opposition to this sort of prescribing requirement that does not allow for physician discretion. Our advocacy team is also considering mobilizing through grassroots efforts, so watch your email for an Action Alert in which you can reach out directly to your legislator with your thoughts on this bill.

Another proposal we’re watching closely is HB96 – Allow Pharmacists to Administer Injectable Drugs, which seeks to expand the statutory definition of the “practice of pharmacy” to include the ability to administer injectable drugs.

Finally, SB37—In Person Learning Choice for Families passed both chambers and was sent to the Governor for his consideration. The bill requires all local school districts to offer in-person instruction for children in grades K-12 for the remainder of the school year. In a statement last week, Governor Cooper signaled that he may veto the bill and stated that it “falls short” in “adhering to the Department of Health and Human Services’ health safety guidance for schools and protecting the ability of state and local leaders to respond to emergencies.” Watch your NCMS Morning Rounds for more on this in the coming days.

New COVID-19 Resources en Espanol

The NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has added new resources to its Spanish language COVID-19 vaccination website, including a new video on COVID-19 vaccines. Read about the new resources here.

Protégete a ti y a los demás. ¡VACÚNATE! is aimed at providing everyone with access to COVID-19 information and vaccines. To support this guiding principle, North Carolina is drawing upon the experience and expertise of Latinx/Hispanic leaders to develop and implement its vaccine plan.

The new resources are designed to help Spanish speakers learn about the COVID-19 vaccines, find out when they are eligible, determine when and where they can get vaccinated and find resources to encourage vaccination within their communities.

Consider Your Practice Administrator for Administrator of the Year

NC Medical Group Management Association (NCMGMA) is seeking nominations for its 2021 Administrator of the Year award. Each year, the NCMGMA and Curi recognize outstanding performance by an individual with the Administrator of the Year Award. This year, the honor will be presented at the NCMGMA’s Annual Conference, to be held May 19-21, at the Marriott Myrtle Beach Resort & Spa at Grande Dunes.

The award recognizes a health care administrator, affiliated with the NCMGMA, who has exhibited exceptional leadership management proficiency and enhanced the effectiveness of health care delivery in his/her practice and community through recent, noteworthy achievements.

Nominations are due by March 19. Learn more and access the nomination form here. For questions, please contact the NCMGMA offices at [email protected].

In the News

Current Systolic Blood Pressure Guideline Too High For Women, Study Suggests, Becker’s Hospital Review, 2-17-21

Learning Opportunity

Tobacco Use – Evidence-Based Interventions: Cessation and the Truth about E-Cigarettes (Virtual), March 3, 5:30 – 8:45 p.m.

This program is designed to provide medical providers and other health care professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to counsel patients who use tobacco and other nicotine delivery devices.

Learn more and register here.

 

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