Happy Friday! Enjoy your
NCMS Morning Rounds.
April 24, 2020
NCMB Seeks Physician Applicants for Board
The Review Panel for the NC Medical Board is seeking physician applicants for three seats on the Board, for three-year terms beginning Nov. 1. In accordance with state law, one of the available seats must be filled by a physician who is a member of the Old North State Medical Society. Two of the physician Board Members currently serving are eligible for reappointment; one incumbent physician Board Member is not eligible for reappointment.
The Review Panel will consider only physicians who hold active, unrestricted NC professional licenses, and have practiced in the state for at least five years. Applicants must currently be practicing clinical medicine at least 20 hours per week and plan to continue at least that level of practice in North Carolina for the duration of their service on the Medical Board. In addition, applicants must have no history of disciplinary action (in any jurisdiction) within the past 10 years. The Review Panel will interview qualified applicants Aug. 22 and 23.
Learn more about what is involved in serving on the Board here.
The Review Panel, which operates independent of NCMB, will accept applications online through July 1. Submit your application here.
NC Committee Passes First Draft of COVID-19 Legislation
At its meeting yesterday the NC House COVID-19 Health Committee reviewed draft legislation that addresses many of the issues facing you and your practice during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
NCMS advocacy staff has been working closely with committee members to ensure your interests are protected in this draft legislation. In particular, the NCMS’ areas of focus have been medical liability, financial relief, telemedicine parity and tax deferral.
The draft bill addresses some of our priorities. Other areas in the draft include increasing the state’s stockpile of personal protective equipment; expand COVID-19 testing capabilities; who might be permitted to administer a COVID-19 vaccine once it is approved; a study of how the health delivery system and health care workforce has been impacted by the pandemic; Medicaid coverage for COVID-19 prevention, testing and treatment for the uninsured.
Watch your Political Pulse Video and your NCMS Morning Rounds for further details as this legislation evolves.
Additional Allocation of CARES Act Provider Relief Fund
Yesterday, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provided additional information about allocation of the $100 billion CARES Act Provider Relief Fund.
As previously reported in your NCMS Morning Rounds, half or $50 billion of the Provider Relief Fund is allocated for general distribution to Medicare facilities and providers impacted by COVID-19, based on eligible providers’ 2018 net patient revenue.
The new allocations include an additional $10 billion to rural hospitals and rural health clinics based on their operating expenses, and $400 million directed to Indian Health Service facilities.
Some portion of the remaining funds is being used to cover the costs of caring for uninsured patients with COVID-19 such as office and emergency visits, including those provided via telehealth, will be reimbursed based on Medicare payment rates. These funds may be claimed beginning April 27. Learn more here.
An unspecified portion of the remaining funding will be used for clinicians, such as obstetrician-gynecologists, and facilities that rely more on Medicaid than Medicare revenues.
Learn more about the latest allocations here.
In the News
Inside America’s Unending Testing Snafu, Politico, 4-22-20
Learning Opportunity
DON’T MISS TODAY’S POWER HOUR!! This week’s NCMS Foundation Kanof Institute for Physician Leadership Power Hour from 1 to 2 p.m. on Friday will focus on what is happening in emergency departments across the state as the physicians who work there are grappling with treating patients today while also bracing to treat a potential surge in COVID-19 cases. The conversation brings together four emergency medicine physicians to more fully understand how they are dealing with the current situation while maintaining a sense of balance and self. Learn more and register. Also, you can access last week’s Power Hour: Stress in the Time of COVID-19 here.
On Monday, April 27, NCAHEC and the NC Office of Rural Health are offering their next telehealth focused webinar from noon to 1p.m. This one will focus on telehealth best practices in responding to COVID-19. Join the webinar through Zoom by clicking here.