Know an Exceptional Group Practice Administrator? Tell the World About Them!
The 2024 Administrator of the Year award, sponsored by Curi, recognizes a medical group practice administrator affiliated with the North Carolina Medical Group Management Association (NCMGMA). This person has exhibited exceptional leadership management proficiency and enhanced the effectiveness in the delivery of health care in his/her practice and community through a recent, noteworthy…
Toby Keith and King Charles Bring Attention to Cancer in Men
How to help your patients when they receive a cancer diagnosis
With the announcement of the death of country music superstar Toby Keith from Stomach Cancer and the cancer diagnosis of Britain's King Charles, the spotlight is shining brightly on men's health. Men are less likely than women to address their health. A recent study by the Cleveland Clinic found that only 3 out of 5 men get annual…
New Medicaid Managed Care Tailored Plans Launch Soon
Are You Ready For Changes Coming This Summer?
North Carolina will launch the NC Medicaid Managed Care Behavioral Health and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Tailored Plans on July 1, 2024. This is an integrated health plan for individuals with behavioral health needs and intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DDs).
NCDHHS recently consolidated the state’s Local Management…
NCDHHS Livestream Fireside Chat and Tele-Town Hall: Get Covered, Get Care: NC Medicaid for More People
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live fireside chat and tele-town hall Tuesday, February 6, from 6 to 7 p.m., to discuss Medicaid expansion updates and resources, who is newly eligible and how to apply for health coverage.
Event participants include:
Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson, M.D., State Health Director and Chief Medical Officer, NCDHHS…
ICYMI: Brain Chip Implanted in First Human Patient
Could this be the answer for people with quadriplegia?
Neuralink founder Elon Musk recently announced on X, a social media company also owned by Musk, that the first patient to receive the company's implanted brain chip “is recovering well.”
The company received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for trials last May. The clinical trial known as PRIME — Precise Robotically…
North Carolina Among States Rethinking Reading
States, including NC, rethink reading
(Axios, Erica Pandey) -- Dozens of cities and states across America are overhauling the way their schools teach reading — attempting to close gaps exacerbated by the pandemic.
Why it matters: Nearly 40% of U.S. fourth graders are below the basic proficiency level for reading, according to a standard national exam.
By the numbers: 37 states and D.C.…
ICYMI: CMS Finalizes Prior Authorization Rule
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized the Interoperability and Prior Authorization Final Rule on January 17, 2024. The rule impacts the following government funded insurance programs and plans:
Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations,
Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) fee-for-service (FFS) programs,
Medicaid managed care…
NCMS Member Dr. Seth Hawkins Inducted as a Fellow of The Explorers Club
Seth C. Hawkins, MD
Morganton doctor named Fellow of The Explorers Club
(The News-Herald) -- Dr. Seth Collings Hawkins of Morganton was recently inducted as a Fellow of The Explorers Club.
The Explorers Club is headquartered in New York City where it was founded in 1904. With current Chapters across the globe, The Explorers Club has been…
World’s First Malaria Vaccine Program for Children Begins
Health officials prepare to vaccinate resident in Malawi village of Migowi. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
Cameroon starts world’s first malaria vaccine program for children
(ASSOCIATED PRESS) -- Cameroon will be the first country to routinely give children a new malaria vaccine as the shots are rolled out in Africa.
The campaign due to start Monday was described by officials as a milestone in…
There Could Soon be a Blood Test that Screens for Alzheimer’s
Testing a person’s blood for a type of protein called phosphorylated tau, or p-tau, could be used to screen for Alzheimer’s disease with “high accuracy,” even before symptoms begin to show, a new study suggests.
The study involved testing blood for a key biomarker of Alzheimer’s called p-tau217, which increases at the same time as other damaging proteins — beta amyloid and tau — build up in…
Know an Exceptional Group Practice Administrator? Tell the World About Them!
The 2024 Administrator of the Year award, sponsored by Curi, recognizes a medical group practice administrator affiliated with the North Carolina Medical Group Management Association (NCMGMA). This person has exhibited exceptional leadership management proficiency and enhanced the effectiveness in the delivery of health care in his/her practice and community through a recent, noteworthy…
Healthcare Innovations: New Treatment Option for Extreme Cardiac Patients
(From WWAY News in Wilmington) -- Novant Health’s Heart and Vascular program in Wilmington is introducing a new treatment option for heart failure. Darryl Hampton from Novant Health talked with WWAY Anchor Matt Bennett to shed light on this groundbreaking treatment.
Heart failure, as explained by Hampton, is a condition where the heart fails to pump sufficient blood to meet the body’s oxygen…
NCDHHS to Livestream Fireside Chat and Tele-Town Hall on Mental Well-being
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live fireside chat and tele-town hall on Thursday, January 25, from 6 to 7 p.m., to discuss how people can support and improve their mental well-being, where to find resources, when to reach out for help and how to support loved ones who are struggling or in crisis.
Event participants include:
Kelly Crosbie,…
Carolina Complete Health Implements Tobacco-free Policy for Contracted Medicaid Providers
Effective April 1, 2024, Carolina Complete Health (CCH) will require contracted Medicaid Providers to implement a tobacco-free policy covering any portion of the property on which the Provider operates that is under its control as owner or lessee, to include buildings, grounds, and vehicles. Carolina Complete Health will monitor compliance with the tobacco-free policy requirement through the…
FDA Authorizes Hand-Held AI-powered Device Used to Detect Skin Cancer
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the first artificial intelligence-powered medical device to help doctors detect the most common forms of skin cancer in patients.
The technology, from Miami-based medical device maker DermaSensor, is used to further evaluate lesions that doctors have already flagged as suspicious and is not meant to be used as a screening tool,…
New Report: Colon Cancer Killing More Younger Women and Men Than Ever
Experts are stumped as to why colorectal cancer is rising dramatically among people in their 30s and 40s
(NBC - Erika Edwards and Jessica Herzberg) -- Colorectal cancer is the deadliest cancer for men under age 50 — and the second deadliest cancer among women in the same age group, behind breast cancer.
The incidence of colon cancer has been rising for at least the last…
CMS Finalizes Prior Authorization Rule
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized the Interoperability and Prior Authorization Final Rule on January 17, 2024. The rule impacts the following government funded insurance programs and plans:
Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations,
Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) fee-for-service (FFS) programs,
Medicaid managed care…
93-Year-Old Rowing Champ Has Scientists Reconsidering Beliefs About Aging
This 93-Year-Old Indoor Rowing Champion Has the Cardiovascular Engine of a 40-Year-Old
(Photo: Row2k.com)
In a recent study, scientists were shocked and had to reconsider two beliefs about aging and longevity.
(The Washington Post, Gretchen Reynolds) -- For lessons on how to age well, we could do worse than turn to Richard Morgan.
At 93, the Irishman is a four-time world…
Time is Running Out! Get Your Nominations in for Physicians Foundation Leadership Award Program
The Physicians Foundation has extended its call for nominations for the Leadership Award Program! New or early-career physicians are now encouraged to apply by January 31, 2024.
The Physicians Foundation’s Leadership Awards Program recognizes physicians for extraordinary actions in their practice or community. Award recipients will receive a $10,000 scholarship to elevate their…
NC System Utilizes New Tech to Detect Breast Cancer Earlier
Catawba Valley Health System has announced new technology that helps doctors find breast cancers earlier, when they may be more easily treated, with fewer false positives, which can be stressful for patients. The technology is the first of its kind in the Catawba County region, the next closest located in Greensboro.
Located at Catawba Valley Imaging Center (CVIC), a service of…
TODAY: NCDHHS Livestream Spanish-language Cafecito and Tele-Town Hall: North Carolina Medicaid for More People
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live Cafecito and tele-town hall TODAY, Thursday, January 11, from 6 to 7 p.m., to discuss Medicaid expansion, who is newly eligible, ways to apply and which qualified immigration statuses are eligible for health care coverage.
Event participants include:
Yazmin Garcia Rico, MSW, Director of Latinx and…
NCDHHS Hosts Livestream Fireside Chat and Tele-Town Hall TODAY
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live fireside chat and tele-town hall Wednesday, January 10, from 6 to 7 p.m., to discuss Medicaid expansion, including impacts on rural communities, who is newly eligible and ways to apply for health care coverage.
Event participants include:
Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson, M.D., State Health Director and Chief…
Do You Know? NC Medicaid Launches Expansion Enrollment Dashboard
Last month, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services launched a dashboard to track monthly enrollment in Medicaid for people eligible through expansion.
More than 600,000 North Carolinians are newly eligible for health coverage through the historic expansion of NC Medicaid. The NC Medicaid Expansion Enrollment Dashboard offers a detailed overview of enrollment…
Drop in Donations Leaves Red Cross Facing Severe Blood Shortage
Number of U.S. blood donors hits all-time low for past 20 years
The American Red Cross sounded the alarm over a severe blood shortage facing the U.S. as the number of donors dropped to the lowest levels in two decades.
The Red Cross said in an announcement that the number of people donating blood in the U.S. dropped 40 percent over the last 20 years, which can majorly…
Is There a Link Between ‘Good Cholesterol’ and Dementia?
Despite its nickname as the “good cholesterol” because of its cardiovascular benefits, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was linked to as much as a 42 percent increased risk for dementia in older people with very high levels of HDL, according to research published in a Lancet journal, the Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific.
Although HDL helps remove cholesterol from people’s…
NCTracks: Delay in Division of Health Service Regulation License Renewal Updates
NC Medicaid requires providers to keep credentials current on their NCTracks provider enrollment record. The expiring credential must be verified as renewed through the licensing entity prior to being updated on the NCTracks record. NC Medicaid is aware and collaborating with the Division of Health Service Regulation (DHSR) regarding the inventory of pending license renewal…
Want to Know More About NC Salary and Benefits Trends? NCMGMA Has New Survey Results Now
NCMGMA is pleased to announce the release of the Medical Employee Salary & Benefits Online Survey results. This data, collected from 2023 practice metrics, is designed to bring you the information you need to see trends specific to the healthcare industry, and provide comparative information your organization can use to assist in making crucial business decisions.
Attention…
New Law Helps Military Service Members, Spouses Who Work as Physicians and PAs Practice in NC
2024 Brings Changes for Military Physicians and PAs
(Alan Wooten, The Center Square) -- For practicing physicians on North Carolina’s military bases, the new year brings change in state law that will provide help to them and those that can use their services.
Much of a broad bill passed in the General Assembly this year and signed by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper on Sept. 29 went into effect…
Happy Birthday to These NCMS Members Celebrating This Month!
Grab your party hats and noisemakers and let’s celebrate!
Jeffrey C. Acker, MD
David F. Adams, MD
Saifullah K. Afridi, MD
Dorothy E. Agbafe-Mosley, MD
Bilal M. Agha, MD
Joseph E. Agsten, MD
Serdal Aktolga, MD
Siobhan E. Alexander, MD
Joselito Almario, MD
Devena E. Alston-Johnson, MD
Tarini Anand, MD
Susan H. Andersen, MD
Dudley B. Anderson, MD
Larry G. Anderson, MD…
State-Funded Businesses to Consolidate to Reshape NC’s Mental Health System
Consolidation to reshape NC’s mental health system
(NC Health News - Jaymie Baxley) -- Two state-funded businesses that manage behavioral health services for low-income residents say they will consolidate to create a single organization to serve 46 counties across eastern North Carolina.
Trillium Health Resources will take control of Eastpointe Human Services under the…
The Biggest Health and Medicine Stories of 2023. There is Plenty to be Awed by.
From new uses for weight-loss drugs to the first CRISPR gene editing therapy, these were some of the most impactful health stories of the year
In world with so much urgent and depressing news, it can be hard to take a moment and reflect on all of the encouraging scientific and medical progress that has happened. But looking back at 2023, there was plenty on the health beat to be awed by.…
10 Biggest Health Risks Many Face During Christmas
**This article is with thanks to the South Coast Medical Group
The 10 Biggest Health Risks Many Face During Christmas
Christmas is a wonderful time of year, but it is also a time when people make their way into the ER with some unusual injuries. Before you curl up on the couch with a loved one and enjoy Elf, Christmas Vacation or Miracle on 34th Street, please take 2 minutes…
Could A Saliva Test Help Diagnose Cancer in the Future?
A saliva or blood test looking for changes in the structure of sugar molecules could, in the future, help diagnose different forms of cancer early on
The global number of cancer cases is expected to hit 28.4 million by 2040.
For most cancers, early detection and treatment can provide better outcomes.
Researchers from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden have found that…
Just in Time for Holiday Travel: Coronavirus Subvariant JN.1 Growing Fast in US
The spread of JN.1 seems to be getting an assist from holiday travel and waning immunity.
(CNN - Brenda Goodman) -- The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the coronavirus subvariant JN.1 is now causing about 20% of new Covid-19 infections in this country, and it’s the fastest-growing strain of the virus. It’s already dominant in the Northeast, where it is…
A Shorter Scan Could End Your MRI Nightmares
A typical test could take 40 minutes; a “fast MRI” can be done in as little as 10.
(Katie Couric Media - Rachel Uda) -- Getting an MRI is not exactly a comfortable experience. You’re stuck in a big metal tube and instructed to remain perfectly still while what sounds like a car alarm triggered at arm’s length reverberates around you. But it can be a lifesaving test, especially for the…
Wake Forest University School of Medicine Research Roundup
Recently published findings and publications from Wake Forest University School of Medicine faculty
December 13, 2023
Study Finds Differences in Time Perception Consistent with Varying Clinical Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Dec. 13, 2023 – Scientists from Wake Forest University School of Medicine have shown that the way patients with Parkinson’s disease…
What to know about the RSV vaccine approved for pregnant people
The maternal RSV vaccine helps protect the unborn child from severe illness from birth through the first 6 months of life.
The RSV virus affects about 64 million people around the world each year, causing about 160,000 deaths.
RSV may cause severe symptoms, leading to hospitalizations and possible death, in newborn infants and older adults.
Health officials recommend…
NC Pushes Back Medicaid Unwinding for Children
Unwinding’ ends some children’s enrollment
The state also is pursuing waivers to protect children further by keeping them enrolled longer before eligibility reviews, reducing the times children may temporarily lose coverage.
(NC Health News, Jennifer Fernandez) -- North Carolina children insured through Medicaid will remain covered for another year as the state works its way…
Hospital-based Violence Intervention Program Making Difference in NC
Last year, 393 gunshot wound victims, mostly men and juvenile males of color, were brought to the emergency department at Duke University Hospital.
Duke University Hospital launched the Duke Violence Recovery Program in September 2022 to support the needs of patients admitted to the Level 1 Trauma Center. Spurred by $375,000 from the federal American Rescue Plan, the hospital-based…
Before You Buy! Toy Safety Warning
(Photo: Steven White/Getty Images)
Amazon, Walmart and Target stop selling water beads marketed toward children
(CNN, Ramishah Maruf) -- Amazon, Target and Walmart have voluntarily stopped selling water beads marketed for children after government officials, lawmakers and public health professionals called for a ban on the toys.
Water beads are tiny balls made out of extremely…
Advancements in Medical Care Could be Saving Lives Amid Conflicts Around World
Medical advances, portable labs, and even social media may be helping humanitarian crises around the word.
Innovations such as portable labs are helping save more lives, experts say
(ABC News, Mary Kekatos) -- Performing medicine can be difficult in any setting but perhaps no more challenging than during a humanitarian crisis.
Doctors, nurses, and other medical…
Dosher Hospital in Southport to Host American Red Cross Blood Drive
Dosher Memorial Hospital is hosting an American Red Cross Blood Drive.
The event will take place on Friday, December 29th from 8:30am -1:30pm at the Jaycee Building, located at 309 N. Fodale Ave.
Community members who would like to donate blood are encouraged to sign up online at www.redcrossblood.org and enter in zip code 28461 in the “Find a Blood Drive” search tool.…
Is An End to Breast Cancer in Sight? A Groundbreaking Vaccine Shows Promise
Vaccine created through decades driving innovation by targeting triple-negative breast cancer
(CBS News - Ashley Sharp) -- An estimated one in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, killing on average 42,000 women a year in the United States.
What if there was a vaccine that would significantly lower each woman's chance of ever getting it in the first place?…
Don’t Get Scrooged! Stay Alert Against this Growing Gift Card Scam!
Scammers are making the most wonderful time of the year complicated!
It's called card draining, and authorities nationwide are issuing a warning to those who have or plan to purchase gift cards this holiday season: exercise caution and look out for any signs of tampering, such as scuff marks or scratches near the bar code on the back of the card.
The card draining…
The Science of Swoon! New Discovery May Explain Why People Faint
A fibrous pathway between heart and brain may make you faint
(NPR - Jon Hamilton) -- A newly discovered pathway between the heart and brain may explain why healthy people faint.
The pathway appears to carry signals from the heart's lower pumping chambers to an area of the brainstem that controls heart rate, blood pressure and breathing, says Vineet Augustine, a neurobiologist at the…
NCMS Capitol Chronicle – The No Fees for EFTs Act Introduced in Congress
Under the Affordable Care act of 2010, all insurers had to provide an electronic payment option. This provision created a new payor business model whereby insurers began to charge physicians’ practices a fee for electronic transfer of the funds they are owed.
Led by Congressman Greg Murphy, MD (NC-3), a bipartisan group of members of the US House of Representatives has introduced…
Deadline Extended! More Time for Physicians Foundation Leadership Award Program
The Physicians Foundation has extended its call for nominations for the Leadership Award Program! New or early-career physicians are now encouraged to apply by January 31, 2024.
The Physicians Foundation’s Leadership Awards Program recognizes physicians for extraordinary actions in their practice or community. Award recipients will receive a $10,000 scholarship to elevate their…
U.S. Set to Approve First Gene-editing Treatment for Sickle Cell Patients
U.S. regulators are expected to approve exa-cel for use in sickle cell patients by the end of this week. The U.K. approved it under the brand name Casgevy last month.
Regulators in the U.S. are also reviewing another gene therapy from Bluebird Bio called lovo-cel. It works differently than exa-cel but is administered similarly and is also intended to eliminate pain crises. It's…
Are You Ready? Shipping Deadlines Start Next Week!
This could be your the last weekend to shop for holiday gifts that need to be shipped!
When is the Christmas shipping deadline for 2023? See the last days to order and mail packages.
The holiday shopping season is in full swing and it won't be long before time runs out on deadlines for mailing Christmas packages. Shippers, as well as retailers, have announced Christmas 2023 cutoff…
NC Study Awarded $21 Million to Reduce Inequities in Maternal Health Outcomes
A study between the UNC Chapel-Hill and Orange County Health Department, called “Thriving Hearts: Healing-Centered, Integrated, Community Maternity Care,” has been approved for a $21-million funding award from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), an independent, nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. The funding award will be used to reduce the incidence of…