CDC: Health Workers Facing Mental Health Crisis

 New report from CDC says nearly half of health workers report feeling burned out in 2022 (CNN) --  Researchers from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are sounding the alarm on a mental health crisis for health workers around the country. Using nationwide survey data between 2018 and 2022, a new report from the agency found that nearly half of health workers reported…

New NC Law Expands List of Providers No Longer Required to Connect to NC HealthConnex

  The North Carolina Regulatory Reform Act became law (N.C.S.L. § 2023-137) in early October 2023. This law contains updates pertaining to the N.C. Health Information Exchange Authority (NC HIEA). The new law has expanded the list of providers who are no longer required to connect to NC HealthConnex to include chiropractors. The HIE Act (N.C.G.S. § 90-414.4) requires that providers who…

NCDHHS Issues Respiratory Season Guidance

  The NC Department of Health and Human Services has issued a notice to clinicians with updated information and guidance on influenza, COVID-19, and RSV for the 2023-2024 respiratory season. Topics covered include testing, clinical management, prevention and control measures including vaccines, and surveillance and tracking. The notice from NCDHHS is available here. Additional…

Registration Now Open for NCNS 2024 Annual Meeting!

Registration is now open! The NC Neurological Society's 2024 Annual Meeting February 23-25 at the Grandover Resort Greensboro, NC Register today! Enhance Your Neurology Practice! Online Registration Download the Agenda Poster Submission Form Accommodations: Secure your accommodations online by using this link, or call (336) 294-1800 and mention NC Neurological Society to receive the…

Registration is Open for NCDA 2024 Annual Meeting

Registration is Now Open! The NC Dermatology Association 2024 Annual Meeting January 26-28 at the Grandover Resort Greensboro, NC Register today! Online Registration Meeting Brochure Poster Submission Form Accommodations: Secure your accommodations online by using this link, or call (336) 294-1800 and mention NC Dermatology Association to receive the discounted group rate of just…

Wake Forest School of Medicine Receives Grant to Study Clinician Shortages in Rural Areas

There are many factors that contribute to poorer health outcomes for rural Americans compared to those who live in urban areas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One reason is a lack of physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners in rural areas, which leads to limited access to convenient health care for rural residents. To better understand why…

NCDHHS Encourages Mpox Vaccination for Those at Higher Risk

  Raleigh — Two cases of mpox were reported to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services over the past six weeks, the first cases in North Carolina residents since April 2023. In addition to the two cases, mpox virus was recently detected in one out of 12 wastewater sites where monitoring is being conducted. These cases and wastewater detections were all in different…

Duke’s first Nobel Prize Winner, Robert Lefkowitz, Celebrates 50 Years!

  Nobel Laureates Highlight Symposium Celebrating Robert J. Lefkowitz’s 50 Years at Duke   (Durham, Duke Med School - Dave Hart) -- After completing a residency and fellowship at Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital, Robert J. Lefkowitz, MD, arrived at Duke University School of Medicine to begin his first faculty job in the summer of 1973. He’s been here ever since —…

Duke School of Medicine Makes Surprise Discovery That Could Change MS Treatments

Surprise Discovery Reveals Key Factor in Multiple Sclerosis (Duke Med School - Shantell M. Kirkendoll) --  Researchers at Duke University School of Medicine studying multiple sclerosis made an unexpected discovery that could reshape the understanding of MS treatments. They identified a protein that boosts the aggressive migration of immune cells into the central nervous system which leads…

2023 LEAD Recap: State Health Director Gives Annual Report to NCMS

  The 2023 LEAD Conference featured several panels and speakers over two days and a highlight was the annual report from the Department of Health and Human Services.  On Saturday, Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson, MD, MPH, State Health Director and Chief Medical Officer offered the annual report to the NCMS.  Here are some highlights of her report:   EXECUTIVE SUMMARY As the world continues…

Joseph T. Bell, MD wins Region 3 Golden Stethoscope Award

Dr. Joseph T. Bell founded Pembroke Pediatrics in 1998. Now his practice has a staff of over 25 and offers childhood obesity prevention. He is a general pediatrician at Children's Health Pembroke and Managing Partner of Children's Health of Carolina. Dr. Bell is the first Lumbee pediatrician and first Native American pediatrician in North Carolina. In addition to working as a general…

Your Input Needed for the AMA Physician Practice Information Survey

  The American Medical Association (AMA) Physician Practice Information (PPI) Survey is underway, and we urgently need all selected physicians to actively engage in this effort. The intent of the survey, which has been endorsed by over 170 medical societies and other health care associations (see full list here), is to collect updated and accurate data on practice costs which are a key…

Registration Open for “What’s Next with Medicare Payment Reform” Webinar

  Payment cuts and temporary fixes have become predictable in Medicare physician payment over the past decade—leaving physician practices and patient access to care at serious risk. Register for the AMA Advocacy Insights webinar "What’s Next with Medicare Payment Reform" to hear about: Where Medicare payment reform stands now How the AMA, alongside state and national medical…

Wild Raccoons Rabies Vaccine Initiative Underway in Western NC. Find a Packet, Leave it!

  RALEIGH -- The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help prevent the spread of rabies. Wildlife Services will be distributing oral rabies vaccine for wild raccoons in Western North Carolina. Beginning Oct. 4, 2023, baits containing the oral rabies vaccine will be aerially distributed in Alleghany, Ashe, Buncombe,…

WakeMed and Siemens Healthineers Offer Free 3D Mammography Screenings

  RALEIGH – WakeMed and Siemens Healthineers, a leading medical device company and imaging innovator, are once again teaming up to bring 3D mammography screenings to the community. Last year, more than 250 women participated in the potentially life-saving screenings. From Oct. 23 – 27 (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Oct. 28 (8 a.m. to noon), and Oct. 29-Nov. 2 (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.), women over the…

Application Deadline Extended for The Physicians Foundation 2024 Fellowship Program

  The Physicians Foundation recently launched a call for applicants for the Fellowship Program! New or early-career physicians are encouraged to apply by November 16. With a focus on drivers of health (DOH), the Fellowship Program enhances physicians’ leadership skills so they can strengthen the physician-patient relationship, support medical practices’ sustainability and navigate the…

Links in Pink Breast Cancer Screening Event Happening this Month

  WILMINGTON — Novant Health and the Wilmington Chapter of Links, Incorporated will host Links in Pink next week, where locals can access mammogram screenings and health resources in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The event will take place on Saturday, October 21 at the MLK Center, 401 S. Eighth St. in Wilmington from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. During this time, Links members will…

2023 SHD Report, CPH Agenda Released for October 14 Meeting

State Health Director Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson, MD, MPH, has announced the CPH agenda and State Health Director Annual Report for the October 14 meeting in Durham. COMMISSION FOR PUBLIC HEALTH Commission Conjoint Meeting with the NC Medical Society October 14, 2023 9:00 a.m. Sheraton Imperial Hotel Raleigh-Durham Airport at RTP Room: Imperial 1234 4700 Emperor Boulevard Durham, NC 27703…

Get Ready for December! NCDHHS Releases Medicaid Expansion Toolkit

Starting December 1, North Carolina is expanding health care coverage. RALEIGH -- The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has released a Tool Kit for the long-awaited expansion of Medicaid in the state.  The bilingual kit includes all you need to know to spread the word to your patients and answers some frequently asked questions. The kit includes:   Day 1 Flyer:…

AMA: MIPS Review Deadline is October 9

  On August 10, 2023, CMS made available 2022 MIPS performance feedback, which determines whether physicians will receive a positive, neutral or negative payment adjustment on Medicare services furnished in 2024. The AMA has heard alarming reports of physicians facing MIPS penalties in 2024 for the first time since the program started. We strongly encourage you to view this information as…

Curi Holdings, Inc. & Constellation, Inc. Complete Merger

  Raleigh, N.C. – Curi Holdings, Inc. (Curi) and Constellation, Inc. (Constellation), two of the nation’s leading providers of medical professional liability (MPL) insurance, today reported the closing of their previously announced merger. With merger effectiveness, the combined company now operates under the name Curi, creating a national brand that seamlessly delivers the products,…

Dosher Memorial Hospital Hosts Blood Drive This Month

SOUTHPORT—Dosher Memorial Hospital will host an American Red Cross Blood Drive on Friday, October 27th from 8:30am -1:30pm at the Jaycee Building at 309 N. Fodale Ave., down the street from the main hospital campus. 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. Look…

NCTracks: Copays No Longer Required for Adult Vaccines and Vaccine Administration

As of Oct. 1, 2023, copays are no longer required for adult vaccines and vaccine administration.     On June 27, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released guidance on mandatory coverage requirements for adult vaccines. As part of this guidance based on statutory amendments made by section 11405 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the Advisory…

NC Medicaid: Hospital at Home Program Re-Launching

  During the Public Health Emergency, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) instituted the Hospital Without Walls initiative, known in North Carolina as the Acute Hospital Care at Home (HAH) program. Acute HAH was made available temporarily during the early COVID-19 surge as a Medicaid tool to provide relief to hospitals with limited bed capacity. This coverage ended on…

Duke Health Study Could Advance Research in Blood-Brain Barrier

  DURHAM – Up to 40% of older surgery patients develop postoperative delirium, a syndrome of confusion that typically occurs in the first few days after surgery. Postoperative delirium is associated with longer hospitalizations, significant distress, and major postoperative complications, but its underlying causes have been elusive. Previous studies in mice revealed that postoperative…

NC Medicaid: New Billing Guidelines for Risperidone Extended-Release Injectable Suspension

  Effective with date of service May 26, 2023, the NC Medicaid programs cover risperidone extended-release injectable suspension, for subcutaneous use (Uzedy) for use in the Physician Administered Drug Program (PADP) when billed with HCPCS code J3490 - Unclassified drugs. Strength/Package Sizes: Extended-release injectable suspension: 50 mg/0.14 mL, 75 mg/0.21 mL, 100 mg/0.28 mL, 125…

Wake County Medical Society: Proposed Bylaws Update for 2023

WCMS BYLAWS – PROPOSED REVISION 2023 View the 2006 Bylaws View the Updated 2023 Bylaws The Wake County Medical Society observes 120 years of existence in 2023. In recent years it has undergone significant changes in composition and function. Our current Bylaws were last revised in 2006. The Executive Council (EC) felt that a revision of the WCMS Bylaws is necessary to reflect these changes and…

Novant Health Cruises into Better Healthcare

Novant is taking healthcare on the road.     CHARLOTTE — Bringing health care to those that need it -- that's what Novant Health's second Community Care Cruiser aims to do. A celebration was held Monday as the new hospital room on wheels hit the road. Novant Health, in partnership with Truist, revealed a brand-new Community Care Cruiser to improve access to care for…

UNC Researchers Develop AI Model to Improve Tumor Removal Accuracy During Breast Cancer Surgery

 Is Artificial Intelligence the next step in breast cancer surgery? Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning tools have received a lot of attention recently, with the majority of discussions focusing on proper use. However, this technology has a wide range of practical applications, from predicting natural disasters to addressing racial inequalities and now, assisting in cancer…

New CMS Value-Based Care Model for North Carolina Primary Care Practices

  The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a new voluntary value-based primary care model called Making Care Primary (MCP). With a planned launch date of July 1, 2024 in eight states including North Carolina, the 10.5-year model aims to improve care management and care coordination, equip primary care clinicians with tools to form partnerships with health care…

Take Precautions! West Nile Virus Cases on the Rise in North Carolina.

Early fall is one of the most common times to become infected with mosquito-borne diseases. NCDHHS urges North Carolinians to take precautions.     RALEIGH — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reminds people to take precautions against mosquito bites following recent reports of West Nile virus infection in the state. Late summer and early autumn are…

Biden administration seeks to remove medical bills from credit reports

If approved, consumer credit companies would be barred from including medical debt and collection information on reports that creditors use to make underwriting decisions.   (CNN-Tami Luhby) --  Millions of Americans with unpaid medical bills would no longer have that debt show up on credit reports under proposals being considered by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.  The…

NCTracks: Avoid Delays, Issues, Additional Fees with Your Reverification Application

  To prevent delays and problems with processing reverification applications, clinicians should thoroughly review their record in NCTracks prior to submission, including taking the following actions to ensure its accuracy: Confirm that all active taxonomies are used by the provider. Each service location must have at least one active taxonomy, but some require additional credentials,…

NC Health Officials Encourage North Carolinians to Get Fall COVID-19 Vaccine and Flu Shot

RALEIGH - Everyone 6 months and older should get the fall COVID-19 vaccine with their flu shot. Because the COVID-19 virus continues to evolve, the updated COVID-19 vaccine is designed to match the changed virus and help protect people from serious illness, hospitalization and death. The vaccine becomes available at a time when North Carolina is seeing an increase in COVID-19 infections according…

State Treasurer Report: NC Hospitals Charge Huge Markups, Hide Prices. NC Healthcare Association Responds.

NC State Treasurer Dale R. Folwell, CPA, released report showing extreme variations in hospital prices, huge price markups from Medicare rates, and widespread failures in price transparency. NC Healthcare Association:  Hospitals are not price setters and do not negotiate with Medicare nor Medicaid; transparency is a work in progress and a majority of NC hospitals are already in compliance.……

FDA: Common Over-the-Counter Decongestant Doesn’t Work

Phenylephrine is found in a number of over-the-counter cold and allergy medications.   (NBC News - Berkeley Lovelace, Jr.) --  A key ingredient in many over-the-counter cold and allergy medications called phenylephrine doesn’t work to get rid of nasal congestion, a Food and Drug Administration advisory panel concluded Tuesday. The unanimous vote, which specifically declared oral…

As Hurricane Season Peaks, Is Your Practice Prepared?

Is Your Practice Ready to Face a Hurricane? North Carolina is in the middle of Hurricane Season and in a period of active tropics.  Natural disasters can happen anywhere, at any time—and they can create widespread damage.  A disaster can overwhelm an office practice, causing physical damage such as shattered windows, flood debris, power outages, disrupted telephone service, computer and…

Where Should Opioid Settlement Dollars Be Spent?

NC To Get $1.5 Billion in Opioid Settlement Funds   (Healthcare Brew, Shannon Young) -- With states set to receive more than $50 billion in opioid settlement funds over the next 15 years, advocates are urging policymakers to ensure the money is spent on public health interventions, like harm reduction efforts, and other programs that directly help people affected by substance use…

What Can We Learn From Death of Jimmy Buffett?

Merkel Cell Carcinoma is Uncommon, But Rates Have Tripled in Past Two Decades Jimmy Buffett had been battling the cancer for four years, according to his website.   (ABC News, Mary Kekatos) -- "Margaritaville" singer Jimmy Buffett died on Sept. 1 after a four-year battle with a rare skin cancer. Buffet's website revealed he had been diagnosed with Merkel cell carcinoma, but had…

Scientists grow whole model of human embryo, without sperm or egg

A stem-cell derived human embryo model showing blue cells (embryo), yellow cells (yolk sac) and pink cells (placenta). Scientists have grown an entity that closely resembles an early human embryo, without using sperm, eggs or a womb. (BBC News, James Gallagher) -- The Weizmann Institute team say their "embryo model", made using stem cells, looks like a textbook example of a real 14-day-old…

CDC Health Alert Network Advisory: Increased RSV Activity in Southeastern US. New Prevention Tools Available

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to notify clinicians and caregivers about increases in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity across some parts of the Southeastern United States in recent weeks, suggesting a continued shift toward seasonal RSV trends observed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Historically, such…

New Study: Eye-Tracking Tool May Help Diagnose Autism Quickly and Accurately

Eye-tracking tool could help clinicians diagnose children as young as 16 months             (Jacqueline Howard and Deidre McPhillips, CNN) -- Most families of children with autism may face long wait times to diagnose their child with the disorder, and once a diagnosis is made, it sometimes may not be definitive. Now, two studies released…

Duke School of Medicine Brings Leaders From Around the World Together to Talk Mental Health

  From Left: David Johnson, a deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Kody Kinsley, North Carolina Secretary of Health and Human Services; Ling-Fong Lee, Senior Counselor to the Minister of Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare; Jilma Meneses, secretary of the Washington Department of Social and Health Services; and Chris Jones, commissioner of…

First Lady Tests Positive for Covid-19 as World Faces Fourth Virus Season Since Pandemic

  First lady Jill Biden tested positive for Covid-19 Monday, President Joe Biden tested negative, per the White House.  Her diagnosis comes amid renewed attention to Covid-19 as the world approaches the fourth virus season since the height of the pandemic. It also comes as concern grows about the Covid-19 variants EG.5 and BA.2.86. In August, EG.5 became the dominant variant in the…

Area L AHEC Provides Free SUD Courses for Healthcare Clinicians

Area L AHEC has developed two substance use disorder (SUD) educational programs meant to help healthcare clinicians better under and treat their patients suffering with SUD: A Whole-Person Approach to Recovery and The Growing Threat of Xylazine: What Healthcare Providers Need to Know. A Whole-Person Approach to Recovery Drug dealer selling pills,marijuana and cocaine During this online…

Duke Health Makes Major Advancement in Parkinson’s Disease

  DURHAM – Researchers have developed a blood test that detects Parkinson’s disease, potentially establishing a way to help diagnose the condition before nervous system damage worsens. A new blood-based diagnostic test would be a major advancement for Parkinson’s disease, which afflicts 10 million people worldwide and is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after…