Share Your Thoughts on New Environmental Health Draft Policy

  The North Carolina Medical Society's (NCMS) Policy Committee is charged with developing policies that align with the NCMS Mission and the NCMS Guiding Principles. The Policy Committee recently came together to create a policy addressing environmental health. This policy will serve as an effective tool to guide and support NCMS advocacy efforts addressing environmental health in North…

Feedback Wanted on Fiscal Impact of Prior Authorization

  TELL US YOUR THOUGHTS ON PRIOR AUTH PRACTICES NCMS and the North Carolina Medical Group Managers Association have partnered to create a survey on the fiscal impacts of prior authorizations on practices. As we enter into short session at the legislature, we need to hear from YOU and your practice. Legislators in Raleigh need to be aware of the large impact this has on clinicians'…

New Career Opportunities Here in North Carolina

  Walk in with a resume, walk out with a job   Join Cape Fear Valley on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month from 9 a.m. to noon for Walk-in Wednesday. Walk in with a resume at one of their four locations and walk out with a job. Walk-in Wednesday locations: Cape Fear Valley Medical Center Front Lobby: 1638 Owen Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28304 Betsy Johnson Hospital: 800…

Register Now! Talking About Physician Suicide and “The Illusion of the Perfect Profession”

  The North Carolina Medical Society Alliance is planning a free event on May 15 in Greensboro to address an important topic, physician suicide. This event features speaker and author, Betsy Gall with a follow-up discussion from Dr. Joseph Jordan, CEO of the North Carolina Professionals Health Program (NCPHP). Greensboro History Museum 130 Summit Ave. Greensboro, NC 27401 May 15……

Preparing for the Possibility of Measles in NC

  These days, many doctors have only seen measles in textbooks.   The CDC reports measles cases in 18 states across the country, and some doctors believe it’s only a matter of time before the illness appears in North Carolina. Now, the Orange County Health Department is preparing doctors to identify and treat an illness most of them have never seen. “We haven’t seen an actual case…

PAI Regulatory Advocacy Update

The latest Physician Advocacy Institute advocacy and federal regulatory developments. PAI Files Amicus Curiae Brief in No Surprises Act Qualifying Payment Amount (QPA) Case Before U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit PAI’s brief supports the Texas Medical Association’s (TMA) challenge to certain QPA calculation factors that allow insurers to skew the benchmark downward. Read more.…

NC Commission for the Blind Call for Nominees

  The NCMS has an opportunity to appoint a new member to the NC Commission for the Blind. This appointment will fill an unexpired term until 6/30/25. Learn more about responsibilities of the NC Commission for the Blind here. The commission serves in an advisory capacity on issues relating to services for persons with disabilities, especially independent living programs and services.…

Register Now for Navigating Communication and De-Escalation Webinar

  Navigating Communication and De-Escalation Wednesday, May 29, 2024 • 1 - 3 p.m. • Live Webinar Wednesday, June 12, 2024 • 1 -3 p.m. • Location: Live Webinar Friday, May 31, 2024 • 1 - 4:15 p.m. • Location: SR-AHEC Friday, June 21, 2024 • 1- 4:15 p.m. • Location: SR-AHEC Today people are offended more easily and a lot less tolerant of anything that disrupts their day. In an…

We Want to Hear YOUR Prior Authorization Stories!

Are you frustrated with administrative headaches and how they impact your patients? Have you faced denials for a care plan within standard practice for a patient?   We want to hear your story! As NCMS continues to push for passage of HB 649 in the coming legislative session, we need to hear how you and your patients have been impacted by prior authorization. We are looking for stories…

NCMB Issues Call for Physician and PA Candidates

  Applicants are needed for two physician seats, one physician assistant (PA) seat and one nurse practitioner (NP) seat on the North Carolina Medical Board for terms beginning November 1.   All positions must be filled by the process set down in statute (N.C. Gen. Stat. 90-2 and 90-3), which requires interested parties to apply via the Review Panel for the North Carolina Medical…

AMA Provides Follow-up Information & Resources on Change Healthcare Cyberattack

  In follow-up to a virtual meeting held Wednesday, April 10, in conversation on the Change Healthcare cyberattack with Jon Blum, CMS’s Principal Deputy Administrator & Chief Operating Officer, and Roger Connor, Optum Insight’s Chief Executive Officer, the AMA is making the following information and resources available: The AMA Press Release on most recent Change Healthcare…

Duke Health Researchers Publish Study on Hormone Modification

    Duke researchers published a study on using hormone-modification technology to enable transgender women to lactate. The report, titled “Novel Lactation Induction Protocol for a Transgender Woman Wishing to Breastfeed: A Case Report,” was published on March 27 in the National Library of Medicine. It is the fifth report ever published on lactation for a transgender woman, but…

Register Now for NC Medicaid Managed Care Special Webinar

  Medicaid Managed Care SPECIAL WEBINAR: Total Cost of Care (TCOC) Dashboard Launch for Providers This month, NC Medicaid is launching a Total Cost of Care (TCOC) Dashboard for Advanced Medical Homes (AMHs). This tool will allow AMHs to access and analyze data related to resource use and total cost of health care received by Medicaid members assigned to their practices. The…

NC Hospital System Recognized Nationally for Black Maternal Health Excellence

  CHARLOTTE – Two Advocate Health hospitals have been recognized for their efforts in supporting Black maternal health by U.S. News & World Report for Black Maternal Health Week 2024. Atrium Health Pineville in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Aurora Medical Center – Grafton in Grafton, Wisconsin, are two of 26 hospitals nationwide identified by U.S. News for achieving excellent…

App Offers eRecovery Support for Substance Use Disorder

This app is not a substitute for clinical treatment, rather an additional tool that can help people connect with peers and get additional recovery supports.   Through a new partnership, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is making available CHESS Health's proven eRecovery program to help thousands of North Carolinians struggling with substance use…

Available Now! NC Dementia and Brain Health Outreach and Awareness Tool

  NC DHHS has announced the availability of the North Carolina Dementia and Brain Health Toolkit. This resource is intended to increase awareness and promote education about: The importance of risk reduction, early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), Prevention and management of chronic conditions and avoidable hospitalizations, and The role of…

NCTracks: Re-Verification Terminations Will Extend to the DMH/DD/SUS

  The Affordable Care Act mandates that all Medicaid Providers must be revalidated every 5 years. This is to ensure that provider information is accurate and current. As part of this process, the provider’s credentials and qualifications will be evaluated to ensure they meet the professional requirements and are in good standing. The re-credentialing process also includes a criminal…

Meet Ali Ingersoll, the Quirky Quad, and Hear Her Take on Prior Auth Reform

  Ali Ingersoll, the Quirky Quad, tells her life story, advocates for Prior Auth Reform RALEIGH -- If you've never heard of Ali Ingersoll, this is your lucky day!  She is a force of nature who has overcome unbelievable obstacles to emerge as healthcare advocate, public speaker, podcaster, disability consultant, and Ms. Wheelchair America! Ali’s life took an unexpected turn when a tragic…

Opioid Settlement Fund

Resources CORE-NC: ncopioidsettlement.org NCACC OSTAT: ncacc.org/opioidsettlement NC DOJ MOA Resource Center: morepowerfulnc.org/opioid-settlements/nc-memorandum-of-agreement NC DHHS OSUAP Data Dashboard: ncdhhs.gov/opioid-and-substance-use-action-plan-data-dashboard Opioid and Substance Use Action Plan Data Dashboard | NCDHHS:…

NCMS CEO Chip Baggett Addresses NHPCMS, Invites You to White Coat Day in June

New Hanover and Pender County Medical Society Gets Outline of NCMS Priorities from Chip Baggett (WILMINGTON) -- North Carolina Medical Society EVP/CEO Chip Baggett greeted an excited crowd in Wilmington Wednesday night at the New Hanover Pender Counties Medical Society was treated to an evening hosted by NCMS. Baggett outlined the strategic priorities of the NCMS and answered questions from…

Shining Red Eyes and Deafening Noise! The Cicadapocalypse Coming Any Time Now

First Time This Has Happened Since Thomas Jefferson Was President! Southeast Should See Them Soon (CNN) -- In a matter of weeks, they will dig their way out from underground, red eyes shining, deafening song filling the air. It will be a confluence of creatures the likes of which hasn’t been seen in the United States since Thomas Jefferson was president — and won’t happen again until 2245.…

Duke Researchers Lead International Study on Jardiance and Heart Failure

Therapy Shows Promise in Delaying Hospitalizations for Heart Failure Diabetes drug did not prevent all cardiovascular outcomes, but it did affect hospitalizations (DukeHealth News & Media) -- About 800,000 people in the U.S. suffer a heart attack every year, and about 30% of them will go on to develop heart failure. There are limited treatments to prevent or slow that development. A…

Mortality Gap Widens Amid Holes in Rural Healthcare Access, South Has Widest Gap

City-country mortality gap widens amid persistent holes in rural health care access   In Matthew Roach's two years as vital statistics manager for the Arizona Department of Health Services, and 10 years previously in its epidemiology program, he has witnessed a trend in mortality rates that has rural health experts worried. As Roach tracked the health of Arizona…

EPA Takes Action on PFAS Pollution in Drinking Water, NC Response

EPA Administrator Michael Regan shares details on the drinking water standards the EPA is implementing for PFAS chemicals at the Hoffer Water Treatment Facility in Fayetteville on April 10, 2024 (Photo: Tony Wooten/City View Today) EPA Announces First-Ever National Standard to Address PFAS in Drinking Water, Delivers an Additional $1 Billion through President Biden’s Investing in America…

New Resources Ahead of July 1st Tailored Plans Launch

  Tailored Plans are a new kind of NC Medicaid Managed Care health plan for approximately 210,000 beneficiaries with a serious mental illness, a serious emotional disturbance, a severe substance use disorder, an intellectual/developmental disability or a traumatic brain injury in North Carolina. They will cover doctor visits, prescription drugs and services for mental health, substance…

Calling All NCMS Physician and PA Members! Nominations Open for Leadership Positions

Want to be an NCMS leader? Here's your opportunity to be a vital part of our 175-year legacy!   The NCMS Nominating and Leadership Development Committee submits the following: Call for Nominations: NCMS Board of Directors NC American Medical Association Delegation Nominating and Leadership Development Committee Overview The call for nominations for individuals to…

Are You Taking Advantage of Collaborative Care Model Training Series?

  The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has partnered with NC AHEC to provide educational and practice-based support to primary care practices interested in implementing the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) -- a team-based, interdisciplinary approach to deliver evidence-based diagnoses, treatment, and follow-up care for patients with mild to moderate behavioral…

NC Health System Performs First-in-the-State Valve Replacement

For the first time in the state of North Carolina, the structural heart team at UNC Hospitals has performed a transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement in the clinical setting. The implant, which was only the 12th in the United States, is a revolutionary treatment for patients living with tricuspid valve regurgitation (TR), a common type of heart valve disease. (Left to Right) Thelsa Thomas…

Mark Your Calendar: 2024 Second Primary Election

    To complete the state’s primary election cycle, a second primary (run-off election) will take place on May 14, 2024.  The statewide ballot will include the following contests: Republican nomination for lieutenant governor: Hal Weatherman Jim O’Neill Republican nomination for state auditor: Jack Clark Dave Boliek Republican nomination for U.S.…

NCMS Has Retirement Solutions for You!

Are you ready to retire? You can take advantage of all the power of the NCMS and plan for the future with our Retirement Solutions! Caleb Sanderson talks about our new program to help YOU be ready for your next chapter. Become a member of the North Carolina Medical Society and join thousands of your friends and colleagues. Click here for more reasons why you should join today.

Registration Closing Soon for the 2nd Annual Smoky Mountain Primary Care Conference

2nd Annual Smoky Mountain Primary Care Conference Kern Auditorium, Lake Junaluska Conference Center Lake Junaluska, NC April 27, 2024 The Smoky Mountain Medical Society is sponsoring a CME program on Saturday, April 27 at the Lake Junaluska Conference Center. This program is geared toward primary care providers and nurses in Western North Carolina, covering the topics of Diabetes & Weight…

NCMS Member Named Physician of the Year at AHHC H.O.M.E. Awards!

(Photo: Lower Cape Fear LifeCare) Dr. Deric Weiss AHHC H.O.M.E. Physician of the Year Congratulations to NCMS member Dr. Deric Weiss for being named Physician of the Year at the 2024 Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina (AHHC) H.O.M.E. Awards! Lower Cape Fear LifeCare says Dr. Weiss's unwavering dedication to his role as physician at LCFL’s Dr. Robert M. Fales Hospice…

NC Medicaid State Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Report Available Online

  NC Medicaid published its State Fiscal Year Annual Report on its website at medicaid.ncdhhs.gov/reports/annual-reports-and-tables. The public report summarizes the investments the Department has made in the health of North Carolinians and the impact of those investments. The report highlights key investments and efforts NC Medicaid made in its programs and services as part of the…

NCMS Member Dr. David Tayloe, Jr. Recognized in US Congressional Record

NCMS Member, Congressman Greg Murphy, MD, Recognizes Dr. David Tayloe in the Congressional Record April 7, 2024 -- Congressman Gregory Murphy, MD, honored NCMS member Dr. David Tayloe in the Congressional Record. Here is statement: "I was honored to recognize an incredible physician, Dr. David Tayloe, in the Congressional Record for his commitment to community healthcare and his passionate…

NCMS Member Dr. Leo Spector Featured in “Business NC”

OrthoCarolina’s CEO has MD-MBA cred OrthoCarolina’s new leader merges business acumen with a surgical background. (BusinessNC, Kevin Ellis) --  When Charlotte spine surgeon Leo Spector returned to the classroom more than four years ago, his fellow students in the Duke University Executive MBA program peppered him with questions. A disconnect existed, he says, about the business of healthcare…

2024 NCMS Candidate Series – Dr. Greg Murphy

2024 NCMS Candidate Series Featuring Dr. Greg Murphy   The 2024 North Carolina Medical Society Candidate Series has an exclusive interview featuring Dr. Greg Murphy, who is running for reelection to the third Congressional District of North Carolina. In this episode, Dr. Murphy talks about his career as a physician in Greenville and his plans to improve access to quality healthcare…

Health System Names New Chief Physician Executive Officer for Patient Experience

Roxie Cannon Wells, MD   Winston-Salem-based Novant Health has named Roxie Cannon Wells, MD, as chief physician executive officer for patient experience. In her new role, Dr. Wells will help steer the system's patient experience strategy, supporting both employed and independent clinicians. According to the press release, Wells has over 25 years of healthcare experience, most…

Dermatologists Encouraged to Consider Skin Cancer, Infection Risks in Posttransplant Skin Disease

  SAN DIEGO — The number of solid organ transplant survivors is on the rise, a dermatologist told colleagues, and they face unique challenges from higher risks for skin cancer and skin infections because of their suppressed immune systems. "There are over 450,000 people with a solid organ transplant living in the United States. If you do the math, that works out to about 40 organ…

Need Help? The Physician Support Line is Here for You!

  Physician Support Line is a national, free, and confidential support line made up of hundreds of volunteer psychiatrists joined together in the determined hope to provide peer support for physicians and medical students. Physician Support Line was created with the mission of physicians supporting physicians as they navigate the many professional and personal intersections of their…

Join Dr. Damon Tweedy for a Lively Conversation on His Latest Book Release

  From the New York Times bestselling author of Black Man in a White Coat comes a powerful and urgent call to center psychiatry and mental health care within the mainstream of medicine Quail Ridge Books-North Hills 4209-100 Lassiter Mill Road Raleigh, NC 27609 Tuesday, April 9, 2024 7:00pm ABOUT THE EVENT Tickets include a signed copy of FACING THE UNSEEN, guaranteed entry to…

NCDHHS Urges Vaccination for Mpox as Cases Increase Statewide

  NCDHHS Announces Statewide Increase in Mpox Cases, Urges Vaccine   The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is reporting a statewide increase in mpox cases. Over the past six months, 45 cases have been reported in 12 counties across North Carolina. The national mpox outbreak began in late May 2022 and peaked from July to August 2022. A total of 703 cases were…

BCBSNC: Additional Behavioral Health Care Services Reimbursable as Telehealth

  Starting April 10, 2024, Blue Cross NC will begin reimbursing additional behavioral health inpatient and outpatient services performed via Telehealth visits according to the updated Telehealth Reimbursement Policy. These additional behavioral health services include inpatient or outpatient daily care evaluative and/or discharge management services. Claims will still need to be billed…

Your Feedback Needed to Improve the Medicaid Clinician Experience

  NCMS's partners, Carolina Complete Health (CCH) and Carolina Complete Health Network (CCHN) will host their 2nd Annual Medicaid Managed Care Town Hall at the 2024 CPP Annual Meeting during NCMS LEAD Conference in November. In preparation for that session, we want to hear from clinicians across North Carolina who provide care to Medicaid enrollees. Please share your experiences,…

Spring into Life Saving! Give a Little, Save a Lot!

  Spring into Life Saving Blood Drive   Iredell Health System, along with The Blood Connection, is hosting a blood drive on Tuesday, April 9, which will take place from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Iredell Mooresville, located at 653 Bluefield Road. You can make a life-altering difference in your community by donating blood. Donating blood is crucial for saving lives in emergencies,…

CDC Warns of Rise in Invasive Meningococcal Disease

  Healthcare Workers Should be on Alert, Even if Patient Shows No Signs   The CDC announced there has been an increase in cases of the rare “invasive meningococcal disease." According to an advisory, healthcare workers should be on alert, even if patients do not exhibit typical symptoms. "In 2023, 422 cases were reported in the United States, the highest annual number of cases…

NCDHHS: “Fight the Bite!” Avoid Tick- and Mosquito-Borne Disease

Warm Weather Means it is Time to 'Fight the Bite' As warmer weather approaches, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is urging North Carolinians to "Fight the Bite" by taking measures to reduce their risk of tick- and mosquito-borne diseases. In 2023, almost 900 cases of tick- and mosquito-borne illnesses were reported across the state. April is Tick and Mosquito…

It’s Official! Tailored Plans Launches July 1st.

It’s official! Tailored Plans will launch on July 1.   At a recent legislative committee hearing, NC Medicaid shared that the Local Management Entities (LMEs) that will run Tailored Plans – Alliance Health, Partners Health Management, Trillium Health Resources, and Vaya Health – are all ready to go live. Tailored Plans include services for people with serious mental health issues,…