Finally Friday! Here’s your NCMS Morning Rounds.

April 30, 2021

Clarification: The headline in yesterday’s story about prescribing buprenorphine for opioid use disorder was misleading. The new guidelines may exempt you from certain certification requirements related to training and counseling, but an X-waiver is still required. Learn more here.

A Message to YOU from NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH

NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Secretary Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH speaks to primary care physicians and PAs in this video about providing the COVID-19 vaccine through your office. The goal is to make it easily accessible to as many people as possible.

Watch as Sec. Cohen describes a new vaccine allocation process and how you can participate in this important effort. To get all the details, please visit the step-by-step ‘roadmap’ to enroll in the NC Vaccine Management System (CVMS) and to request vaccine once enrolled and activated. Access that roadmap here.

Your Input is Important

Over the last year the NCMS, the NC Medical Group Management Association and Curi have consistently looked to you for input on the issues facing your practice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We have gathered important data that has helped inform policymaking and resource development. Please take just a moment to complete our latest survey.

Thank you for your time and for your commitment to your communities. We’re in this together and are proud to support you and your practice through this tumultuous season.

TAKE THE SURVEY.

Information Blocking Regulations Begin Now

The NC Health Information Exchange Authority (NCHIEA) or HealthConnex is committed to interoperability and information sharing, and has studied and monitored the 21st Century CURES Act information blocking regulations.

As of April 5, 2021, health care providers, health IT developers of certified health IT, and health information networks/health information exchanges are required to comply with the Cures Act. Additionally, health care stakeholders and participants will now benefit from more easily accessible electronic health information (EHI).

Until October 5, 2021, a portion of EHI that isn’t “blocked” and limited to the data elements based on the United States Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI Version 1) will be evaluated. This evaluation period will give participants an opportunity to gain more experience and education on information blocking regulations prior to the entire regulation coming into effect, including what is required for an exception.

For all technical questions about NC HealthConnex or its data-sharing capabilities, please contact the NC HIEA Provider Relations team at [email protected] or (919) 754-6912.

NC HealthConnex participants can find the Request for Release of Electronic Protected Health Information form here. All updated policies, including the NC HIEA Privacy and Security Policy and User Access Policy, can be found here.

In the News

Doctors More Likely to Prescribe Opioids to Covid ‘Long Haulers,’ Raising Addiction Fears, Kaiser Health News, 4-28-21

Learning Opportunity

Join us for this free webinar: “An Insider’s View of the Medical Team Task Force” Wednesday, May 5, 2021 | 6 to 7 pm
Several legislative proposals under consideration at the NC General Assembly this session focus on modifying the regulation of Advanced Practice Providers (APP). Attend this webinar to learn more about the work of the NCMS’ Medical Team Task Force as its chair, Robert ‘Charlie’ Monteiro, MD, reviews the task force’s charge, the key issues it has addressed and its recommendations to the NCMS Board of Directors on PA team-based care.

Register today for what is sure to be an informative conversation.

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