Welcome to a fresh, new week! Enjoy your NCMS Morning Rounds!

  August 10, 2020

NCMS Legislative Update

Be sure to join the Durham Orange County Medical Society this Wednesday, Aug. 12 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. as it hosts NCMS Director of Legislative Relations Sue Ann Forrest, MPA, and several NC legislators representing the area to discuss current health care issues of importance to you and your practice. The Zoom meeting is open to those outside of Durham and Orange counties, who may be interested in hearing from the legislators, several of whom serve on the NC House Health Committee. Learn more and register here.

Legislators invited to participate include: Rep. Graig Meyer (D-Orange), Rep. Verla Insko (D-Orange), Sen. Valerie Foushee (D-Orange), Sen. Mike Woodard (D-Durham), Rep. Vernetta Alston (D-Durham), Sen. Natalie Murdock (D-Durham).

This legislative forum is just one example of how the NCMS advocacy team stands ready to partner with you, your practice, health care organization or county medical society to offer valuable information and insights to help you effectively advocate on behalf of your profession. If you would like to learn how we can provide training, tools and resources to help, please contact Sue Ann Forrest at [email protected].

In addition to educating yourself on the issues, candidates and your options for voting in the rapidly approaching election, giving to the NCMS PAC is another important step to take in making sure health care issues are addressed by elected officials. If you haven’t already made your contribution, please do so today. Donate now.

NCMS Handy Guide to Telehealth Policies UPDATED

The NCMS’ popular and extremely useful guide to payer telehealth policies for all NC commercial payers and Medicare Advantage has been updated. You can access the updated grid here.

This one-stop resource allows you to quickly reference the multitude of policies and new deadlines for telehealth coverage as the pandemic continues. This valuable guide is always available on the NCMS COVID-19 webpage under Telehealth. Visit the NCMS COVID-19 webpage.

Truth Initiative® Presents “Black Lives Black Lungs”

‘Black Lives Black Lungs’ is a short documentary that explores the history, marketing tactics and impact of the tobacco industry targeting African-Americans with menthol tobacco products. Watch the 15 minute short film here.

Learn more about this documentary and the Truth Initiative here.

In the News

The Best (and Worst) States for Health Care, According to Wallet Hub, The Advisory Board Forum, 8-4-20 [Spoiler alert: NC doesn’t do so well in this ranking.]

Learning Opportunity

August is National Immunization Awareness Month and a good time to focus on helping to ensure that children and adults receive all recommended vaccinations. A webinar titled ‘Vaccine Hesitancy Confidence’ will be offered on Thursday, Aug. 13 from 10 to 11 a.m. Sponsored by Pfizer, the session will feature Amy Pisani, Executive Director of Vaccinate Your Family and a leading authority in vaccine advocacy. She will discuss existing best practices and strategies for vaccination confidence in a COVID-19 environment. Learn more and tune in here. The meeting access code is 1610345609. The meeting password is Pfizer123.

AND

This month’s NCMS Foundation and NC Medical Group Management Association Lunch & Learn webinar will feature the NCMS’ Pam Highsmith, MEd, CFRE and Frank Snyder on the topic ‘You Asked, We Delivered: FREE and other PPE Solutions.’ The NCMS received an appropriation from the North Carolina General Assembly to purchase and distribute PPE to independent practices in NC. Join the webinar on Tuesday, Aug. 18 from noon to 1 p.m. to learn how your practice can receive this FREE PPE. Not an independent practice? This webinar will also provide information on group purchasing and resources available through other professional associations. Please come prepared with tips and resources to share with the group and with your continuing challenges regarding PPE. Together is the only way we’ll find solutions! 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!