It’s Tuesday and time for your NCMS Morning Rounds!
August 11, 2020
Survey Tracks NC Practices’ Continuing COVID-19 Journey
Sixteen weeks ago the NCMS along with the NC Medical Group Management Association (NCMGMA) and Curi began surveying NC medical practices on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This summary of the data collected since March give a snapshot of the changing landscape and the continuing challenges NC practices have experienced over the past four months. Review the data summary report.
Survey data shows that ‘patient volume,’ ‘financial concerns’ and ‘personal protective equipment (PPE) access’ consistently were the top three concerns for responding practices. In recent weeks, two concerns, not previously in the top three, have been rising: ‘staffing’ increased from 5 percent (week of June 22) to 15 percent (week of July 20th) and ‘Access to COVID Testing’ increased from 4 percent (week of June 22) to 10 percent (week of July 20th).
THANK YOU to those who have been responding to the surveys regularly to help track this valuable information to help us respond to your practice needs and to share with key policymakers and legislators.
We continue to send the survey every other week and encourage you to complete it. In addition to the regular, recurring questions, several surveys included additional questions focused on particular areas of concern. See the analysis of those ‘deep dive’ survey results below.
• Financial Summary Report
• Telehealth Report
• Practice Reopening Report
• Practice Well-being Report
Updated PPP Loan Forgiveness FAQs
The Small Business Administration (SBA) last week updated its Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) page with guidance to address borrower and lender questions concerning forgiveness of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. Access the FAQ document here.
The PPP was a loan program designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll during the shutdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The SBA will forgive loans if all employee retention criteria are met, and the funds are used for eligible expenses. Click here to read more about the PPP and loan forgiveness.
NC Medicaid Offers Updates; Tips on Improving Immunization Rates
The NC Department of Health and Human Services staff and NC Medicaid Chief Medical Officer Shannon Dowler, MD, will be available Thursday, Aug. 13 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. to offer timely updates on topics including the extension of rate changes to Sept. 30 and temporary policies to the end of the year as well the process and timeline for making some of the policies permanent. The webinar will also cover the latest on the state’s move to managed care and an overview of telehealth data.
The other part of the session will be spent discussing ways to improve well-child visits and immunization rates as the school year is set to begin, albeit with remote learning in many areas. Learn more about the state’s innovative ways to get children in for recommended care during the COVID-19 pandemic here.
Tune into this important and informative webinar by clicking here or dialing in at 312-626-6799 and entering webinar ID: 848 964 708.
In the News
COVID-19 May Never Go Away – With or Without a Vaccine, NPR, 8-9-20
Learning Opportunity
Everyone has implicit biases, but it is important to become mindful of how they can show up and impact our work with others. ‘How Implicit Bias Affects Our Work: Engagement with Communities’ is a webinar series, hosted by the Pacific Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center and will explore the dynamics of implicit bias and its impact on decision-making. The first session is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 27 at 6 p.m. Learn more and register here.