CDC Issues New Guidelines for Physicians on Pain Involved in IUD Insertion

Social Media Posts, Public Outcry Lead to New Guidelines for Physicians   Over the past several years, as more women have turned to IUDs for birth control, many have posted videos of themselves crying, screaming, and complaining about the excruciating pain of having the devices inserted. This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published new guidelines urging physicians…

83-Year-Old Duke Scientist’s Brain Cancer Research Helps Drug get FDA Approval

83-Year_old Duke Physician-Scientist Drell Bigner Collaborated on drug called Voranigo (Axios, Zachery Eanes) -- Brain cancer research by a Duke scientist who's spent more than six decades at the university helped a drug receive FDA approval this week. Why it matters: The approval is the first major advancement in low-grade brain cancer treatment in more than two decades, according to news…

CDC Issues Health Alert on Deadlier Strain of Mpox

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to notify clinicians and health departments about the occurrence, geographic spread, and sexually associated human-to-human transmission of Clade I Monkeypox virus (MPXV) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). MPXV has two distinct genetic clades (subtypes),…

Message from 2024 DOCMS President Priscille Schettini, MD

Priscille Schettini, MD2024 DOCMS President Dear DOCMS Members, This year, our vision is to prioritize social and health justice by highlighting the incredible work being done by local providers and leaders in medicine.  We are excited to have an inspiring group of speakers join us again.  We hope that by learning more about the communities we serve, the policies that impact them, and…

2022 NC Medicaid Annual Health Equity Report Outlines Health Disparities

      To help identify and address health disparities and improve the health of populations that have been historically marginalized, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Division of Health Benefits (DHB) developed the 2022 Annual Health Equity Report, which outlines health disparities across the entire NC Medicaid beneficiary population.…

Life Changing Moments: A Culture of Care with Dr. Christina Bowen

Dr. Christina Bowen   Chief Wellness Officers: Strategizing, Developing, and Implementing   Dr. Christina Bowen, Chief Wellbeing Officer at East Carolina University Health, and President of the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Clinician & Physician Retention and Well-being (NCCPRW) Consortium was recently featured on the Rx for Success Podcast’s, “Life Changing…

Registration NOW OPEN! Are You Ready for NCMS LEAD 2024? It’s Our 175th Anniversary!

REGISTER TODAY! 2024 Marks the 175th Anniversary of the North Carolina Medical Society! November 1-2, 2024 Grandover Resort, Greensboro, NC    We're planning a sensational celebration in honor of this milestone occasion, and we want you to be a part of it! Join us for: Cutting-edge workshops to make your practice better; The latest on AI and how you can enhance your…

Copays Removed for Drugs Used to Treat Opioid Use Disorder and Nicotine Replacement Therapy

  Effective August 1, 2024, NC Medicaid is removing copayment requirements for opioid antagonists, nicotine replacement therapy and medications used to treat opioid use disorder. This change applies to both NC Medicaid Direct and NC Medicaid Managed Care beneficiaries who are covered under the Outpatient Pharmacy benefit. Currently, an eligible Medicaid beneficiary who receives…

Get Covered and Get Care: Spanish-language Cafecito and Tele-town Hall

  The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live Spanish-language Cafecito and tele-town hall on Tuesday, August 6, from 6 to 7 p.m., to discuss who is newly eligible for Medicaid under expansion, ways to apply, how to access application support in Spanish and which qualified immigration statuses are eligible for health care coverage. Event participants…

Register Now! NCTracks August 2024 Provider Training Schedule

Registration is now open for the NCTracks August 2024 training courses. The courses are virtual, via Zoom, and can be attended remotely from any location. Courses offered this month include: Submitting a Prior Approval Private Duty Nursing Fingerprinting Required Submitting an Institutional Claim Dental Helpful Hints Prior Approval Medical For a detailed description of…

Register Now! 36th Annual Fall Foliage Cancer Conference

36th Annual Fall Foliage Cancer Conference - Update on Prostate and GU Cancers   Omni Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa 290 Macon Ave Asheville, NC 28804   The 36th Annual Fall Foliage Cancer Conference - Update on Prostate and GU Cancers will be held on October 25-26, 2024, at the Omni Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa. The event has been approved for 10.0 AMA PRA…

Apply Now! NCMB Seeking Applicants for Perfusionist Advisory Committee

  The North Carolina Medical Board is seeking applicants to fill a vacancy for a licensed perfusionist on the Board’s Perfusionist Advisory Committee. The appointment is for a three-year term ending October 31, 2027. The appointed perfusionist will be eligible to serve an additional three-year term after the completion of the first term. Applicants must have an active, non-limited…

Happy Birthday to Our Members Celebrating This Month!

Grab your party hats and noisemakers and let’s celebrate!   Maureen L. Aarons, MD Brian C. Adair, MD Danielle D. Adkins, PA-C Asma Afzal, MD Onyinyechi B. Agbara, MD Daniel J. Albright, MD James F. Alderman, MD Kyle A. Aldinger, MD Andrew H. Allen, PA-C Elms L. Allen, MD Christian G. Anderson, MD Sayeh S. Araghi, PA-C Jihad O. Arteh, MD Gale J. Ashley, MD Kim L. Askew,…

Don’t Miss Tomorrow’s Fix Medicare Now August Recess Campaign Webinar!

  AMA’s August Recess Campaign: Fix Medicare Now August 1st, 2024 8:00 PM ET   Join the AMA for an informative virtual session that will review the current state of federal legislation and ways in which physician advocates can engage their members of Congress during the month of August, whether their lawmaker is a champion of physician policy priorities or not. Also learn…

Register Now! Medicaid Billing and QI Measure for Prenatal/Postpartum Care

SPECIAL WEBINAR: Updates to Clinical Coverage Policy 1E-5 Obstetrical Services Tuesday, August 6 | 1-2 p.m.   Join this webinar to hear updates to the Obstetrical policy including Group Prenatal Care, update on Doula services, the addition of VBAC codes, F codes for maternal tracking and clarification of postpartum period versus postpartum extended health coverage.

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…

Register Now! NC Academy of Physician Assistants Summer Conference

  August 18, 2024 – August 23, 2024 Embassy Suites 9800 Queensway Boulevard Myrtle Beach, SC 29572 This year’s conference is offered as a hybrid event so attendees have the opportunity to register as in-person or virtual attendees.   The NC Academy of Physician Assistants Summer Conference provides PAs and NPs an opportunity to enhance their skills, stay up to date on…

Court Rules Against Chemours’ Attempt to Strike Down GenX Health Advisory

  Chemours Fails to Convince Appeals Court in Case Against the Environmental Protection Agency (PortCityDaily, Peter Castagno) -- Local environmentalists applauded an appeals court decision to reject Chemours’ lawsuit alleging the Environment Protection Agency acted unlawfully by issuing a drinking water health advisory for GenX. Chemours sued the EPA shortly after the agency announced…

Exploratory Analysis Associates HIV Drug Abacavir with Elevated Cardiovascular Disease Risk

Findings from large global trial add to body of evidence on cardiovascular risk factors for people with HIV   Transmission electron micrograph of HIV-1 virus particles (teal) budding and replicating from a segment of a chronically infected H9 cell (tan). Image captured at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility in Fort Detrick, Maryland.NIAID Current or previous use of the…

The 2024 Paris Olympics are Two Days Away. Meet the Olympians and Paralympians with Ties to the Tar Heel State

  The 2024 Olympic Games kick off with the opening ceremony Friday night (Axios Charlotte) -- Here are the athletes with North Carolina ties competing in the Olympics and Paralympics. Editor's note: Athletes are listed alphabetically and will compete for Team USA unless otherwise noted. Liel Abada Charlotte FC's forward will represent Israel at the Olympics. They open their Olympics…

NC Medicaid Renewal Strategy Results in Minimal Issues During Unwinding

  While other states slashed Medicaid rolls, North Carolina’s insured population grew — and faster than DHHS had predicted. (Editor's Note:  NCMS worked with our members, legislators, and many partner organizations to get Medicaid expansion passed and to help the people of North Carolina live healthier and happier lives.  Look at bottom of this article for additional reading on Medicaid…

Duke Scientists: Interleukin Linked to Muscle Loss, Fat Accumulation

Duke-NUS Medical School Scientists May Have Found Way to Increase Lifespan (DukeHealth News, SINGAPORE) — An aging population will bring colossal health, social, and economic challenges over the coming decades. As people live longer, anything that might stave off physical decline and frailty to increase life expectancy by just one year is estimated to be worth $38 trillion. A team of…

New Study: Long Covid Risk Dropping Over Time, but Remains Substantial

New study suggests risk of developing persistent symptoms after Covid-19 infection has dropped, but not gone away. (CNN, Brenda Goodman) -- With a summer wave of Covid-19 infections sweeping the country, a timely new study has looked at the risk of getting long Covid and whether those odds have changed over time. It found that the likelihood of developing long Covid has dropped since the start…

Apply Now! NCMB Seeking Applicants for Perfusionist Advisory Committee

  The North Carolina Medical Board is seeking applicants to fill a vacancy for a licensed perfusionist on the Board’s Perfusionist Advisory Committee. The appointment is for a three-year term ending October 31, 2027. The appointed perfusionist will be eligible to serve an additional three-year term after the completion of the first term. Applicants must have an active, non-limited…

Political Shakeups, New Candidates, and a Historic Election on the Horizon. Here is a look at the NCMS Member Candidates on the Ballot

Get to Know the North Carolina Medical Society Member Candidates   With the historic changes occurring in the presidential race, it is good to remember that every North Carolina House and Senate seat is up for election.  The North Carolina Medical Society has many members running for office across the state.  Here are interviews with all our member candidates to help you make your…

988 Crisis Lifeline Answers 10 Million Contacts Since its Debut, NCDHHS Responds to Nearly 190,000

Editor's Note:  If you are struggling with mental health issues, the North Carolina Medical Society has a Physician Support Line.  Click here for help. After Two Years, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is Answering Millions of Calls, Chats, and Texts (Read to bottom for NCDHHS and NCMS efforts)   (CNN) --  Two years after the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline launched, the service has…

SPECIAL NOTICE: NCMS Issues Initial Slate of Nominees

  The NCMS Nominating and Leadership Development Committee convened via Zoom on June 1, 2024, and again on Wednesday June 19, 2024, to interview candidates and vote for the initial slate of nominees for officers, directors, and AMA delegates. Per NCMS Bylaws, Component Societies and Specialty Societies may submit additional nominations for these positions between now and August 9, 2024.…

Physician Burnout Statistics Fall, NCMS and NCCPRW Continue Efforts to Improve Well-Being

  Illustration: Francis Scialabba, Photo: Getty Images Physician burnout falls to lowest levels since pandemic Burnout Costs the US Health System an Estimated $4.6 Billion Annually (Healthcare Brew, Maia Anderson) -- Physician burnout is on the decline after spiking to unprecedented levels during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a survey from professional group the American…

US News 2024-2025 Best Hospitals Honor Roll Released, NC Hospital Near Top of List

America's Best Hospitals: the 2024-2025 Honor Roll and Overview (US News) -- Duke University Hospital in Durham is on the Best Hospitals Honor Roll. It is nationally ranked in 11 adult and 10 pediatric specialties and rated high performing in 1 adult specialty and 19 procedures and conditions. It is a general medical and surgical facility. It is a teaching hospital. The evaluation of Duke…

NCDHHS Launches New Toolkit to Share Disaster-Specific Mental Health Resources

Tips, guidance, and resources to support mental and emotional health before, during and after a disaster (NC DHHS) -- Natural disasters and incidents of mass violence continue to impact individuals, families and communities. NCDHHS launched a new, multilingual Disaster and Behavioral Health Resources Communications Toolkit to provide communities with tips, guidance and resources to support…

Being Regular is Good For You, New Study Shows

'Staying Regular' Is Good for Good Health (HealthDay, Dennis Thompson) -- Being regular is good for you, a new study shows. Predictable bowel movements could be tied to your long-term health, allowing your body to absorb essential nutrients without producing harmful organ-damaging toxins, researchers found. The “Goldilocks zone” of bowel movement frequency, once or twice a day,…

New Trial: Magnetic Therapy Might Help Treat Bipolar Disorder

  Powerful magnetic stimulation can help treat people with bipolar disorder (HealthDay News, Dennis Thompson) -- Powerful magnetic stimulation can help treat people with bipolar disorder, according to results from a small trial. The therapy, called accelerated intermittent theta burst stimulation, involves magnetic waves delivered to specific regions of the brain using an…

Helpful Guidance for Recreational Water Safety This Summer

  As temperatures remain high, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is encouraging residents to enjoy recreational waters safely and be aware of possible health risks, including harmful algal blooms. Certain infections are also more common during summer such as primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), vibriosis and cryptosporidiosis. "Our goal is to help North…

CDC Warns of Increased Risk of Dengue Virus Infections in the US

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to notify healthcare providers, public health authorities and the public of an increased risk of dengue virus (DENV) infections in the United States in 2024. According to the CDC, in the setting of increased global and domestic incidence of dengue, healthcare providers should…

Stay Alert! Medical Records Request Phishing Scam

  CMS identified phishing scams for medical records. This may include scammers faxing fraudulent medical records requests to get you to send patient records in response; see example (PDF). When you review any requests, look for signs of a scam, including: Directing you to send records to an unfamiliar fax number or address Referencing Medicare.gov or @Medicare (.gov)…

New Study: Blood Test Predicts Knee Osteoarthritis Years Before X-ray

    Researchers at Duke Health have published a study showing knee osteoarthritis can be predicted in women with a blood test up to eight years before it can be detected by X-ray. Osteoarthritis is a joint disease caused by a combination of cartilage wearing away, bone thickening and inflammation, and can cause debilitating pain for those affected. Dr. Virginia Byers Kraus,…

New Procedure for Physician Assistant Transcripts

  Effective July 1, 2024, NCTracks will be using the American Medical Association (AMA) website to obtain Physician Assistant Profiles (transcripts). If the PA has an AMA profile and it lists the provider's education, NCTracks will no longer be requesting a transcript. Note: PA applications currently returned to providers for transcripts are also being reviewed. The application has…

Happy Birthday to Our Members Celebrating This Month!

Grab your party hats and noisemakers and let’s celebrate!   David S. Abernathy, MD Sunil V. Abraham, MD S. A. Abrons, MD Olufunsho D. Adamolekun, DO Tim E. Adamson, MD Rustan O. Adcock, MD Leon C. Adelman, MBA, MD, FACEP, FAAEM Babar K. Afridi, DO Monica D. Agarwal, MD Richard E. Alexander, MD Steven T. Alexander, MD Ashley N. Allen, MD David S. Allenger, MD Kristin M.…

Register Now for this Important Webinar! Workplace Violence – CMS and JC Standards

  Workplace violence has escalated over the past 15 years, especially in the health care arena. Providers and staff as well as family members and bystanders (including other health care providers) frequently experience this violence. In November 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a memo on workplace safety that addressed care in a safe environment. On…

NCDHHS Releases Statement on Expanding Coverage for Syphilis Testing

  The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services continues to respond to the recent increase in syphilis and congenital syphilis cases with NC Medicaid now covering point of care rapid testing for syphilis and HIV. This new coverage, effective January 1, 2024, allows Medicaid recipients to access rapid testing directly from their Medicaid-enrolled provider. In response to…

C.H.A.M.P: Carolina Hepatitis Academic Mentorship Program Virtual Orientation Bootcamp

  C.H.A.M.P: Carolina Hepatitis Academic Mentorship Program - One-Day Virtual Orientation Bootcamp July 26, 2024 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Virtual Event   The Carolina Hepatitis Academic Mentorship Program (C.H.A.M.P) mission is to improve the health of underserved communities in NC by building a primary care workforce with the expertise to manage and cure persons infected with…

NCMS Wants You to Stay Safe this Fourth of July! Here Are a Few Tips on How.

Planning to celebrate with fireworks this Fourth of July? Grilling for family and/or friends? Here are a few tips to help you stay safe this Independence holiday! Fireworks Never let children light fireworks or use sparklers unattended. Use fireworks in a clear area outdoors, away from dry leaves, people, pets, buildings, vehicles, overhead obstructions, or anything combustible. Be…

Is this next for you? First US Hospital Offers Doctor Visit via Hologram

(photo: Holoconnects) Texas hospital is reportedly 1st in US to use holograms for doctor-patient visits (ABC News - Mary Kekatos) -- A Texas hospital could be the first in the United States to use a technology that allows doctors to visit patients via hologram. Crescent Regional Hospital, located in Lancaster -- about 13 miles south of Dallas -- has installed "Holobox," a 3D system that…

Register Now! 8th Annual Dr. Suzanne Landis Geriatric Summit – Mobility Matters

8th Annual Dr. Suzanne Landis Geriatric Summit – Mobility Matters Mountain Area Health Education Center Blue Ridge Room 121 Hendersonville Road Asheville, NC 28803-2868 Friday, November 1st, 2024   Join other healthcare and aging services professionals at this annual geriatric educational event. The focus this year will be on one of the "4Ms": Mobility (ensuring that older adults…

End-Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule

  On June 27, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule to update payment rates and policies and includes requests for information under the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System (PPS) for renal dialysis services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries on or after January 1, 2025. This rule also proposes an update to the acute…

Register Now! NCTracks July 2024 Provider Training

  Registration is now open for the NCTracks July 2024 training courses. The courses are virtual, via Zoom, and can be attended remotely from any location. Courses offered this month include: Submitting a Prior Approval Private Duty Nurses (Several Sessions Available) Re-verification Submitting a Time Limit Override How to Submit a Professional Claim NEMT For a detailed…

NC Medicaid Launches Behavioral Health and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Tailored Plans

  On Monday, July 1st, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will launch its Behavioral Health and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Tailored Plans, a new kind of NC Medicaid Managed Care health plan. "With Tailored Plans, we can invest in the health and well-being of more than 210,000 people by addressing their physical and behavioral health needs in one…

NCMS Helps Halt Legislation to License Naturopaths in NC

(RALEIGH) -- The North Carolina Medical Society continues to win battles for the safety of patients in the state! On Wednesday, members of the NCMS collaborated with members and other agencies to halt Senate Bill 607, the Regulatory Reform Act of 2024.  If successful, it would have allowed the creation of a new board to license Naturopaths to practice in the state without appropriate…