Get your weekly advocacy "Bowtie Briefing" from NCMS Legislative Director Chip Baggett
To help you stay informed about what is going on at the North Carolina General Assembly and how it may affect your practice, Chip Baggett, NCMS Director of Legislative Relations, offers this 6-minute video update. Our intention is to offer these “Bowtie Briefings” each Friday for the remainder of the legislative session.
Please email us if you would like to continue to receive these videos each…
Accountable Care Investment Model Announced By CMS
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced expansion of new Accountable Care Organization (ACO) model as part of the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP). ACOs represent one part of a comprehensive series of initiatives in the Affordable Care Act designed to lower costs and improve care. When an ACO succeeds in both delivering high-quality care and spending health…
ICD-10 is Coming. Are You Ready?
To help ensure that you are ready for the Oct. 1, 2015 implementation of the new ICD-10 codes, The Physicians Foundation is promoting a free resource designed to help your practice make the transition. ICD10Charts.com was developed by a medical student, Parth Desai, who saw the need for such a resource while working in his father's medical practice.
ICD-10 Charts is a collection of innovative…
In 98 Days ICD-10 Will Be a Reality – Get Ready!
The North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) encourages you to get ready to make the transition to ICD-10 by the Oct. 1, 2015 deadline. The risk is that claims will be denied if providers don't make the switch.
All insurers, public and private, are affected.
In North Carolina, NCTracks currently is testing with providers and trading partners to make sure the system will be ready.
Providers who have…
NCMS Marketplace Welcomes New Bronze Level Partner Life Line Community Healthcare
The North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) is pleased to announce Life Line Community Healthcare is a bronze level partner as part of our Marketplace of products and services to benefit our members.
Life Line Community Healthcare offers NCMS member health systems, ACOs, IPAs, and physician practices a suite of Provider Support Services. These services equip our partners with an added value to help…
CMS, NCTracks Gearing Up for ICD-10 — And Want You To Join Them
The date for ICD-10 implementation is October 1, 2015, which is just around the corner. All indications are that implementation will not be delayed yet again, so please – get ready to transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10.
If you want some help counting down to ICD-10, there are timers you can download to your computer desktop. For instance both Free Countdown Timer and Time Left are free, and can…
NCMS Member Benefits for Retirees
The North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) offers its members health coverage and other benefits through the NCMS Employee Benefit Plan (NCMS Plan), a partnership with the MMIC Agency, LLC. The NCMS Plan provides our members with a value-added plan that is customized to meet your practice and employees’ needs.
One of the benefits of the NCMS Plan that stands out in the health insurance market is…
In the News
Government Backs Down On Some Requirements For Digital Medical Records, USA Today, 5-25-15
Doctoring Without The Doctor, The New York Times, 5-25-15
Second Opinions Often Sought, But Value Is Not Yet Proven, Kaiser Health News, 5-26-15
Medicare Recovery Audit Program Targeted For Reform Following Spike In Observation Stays, ModernHealthCare, 5-20-15
Interstate Medical License Compact Becoming A…
Credible Newest Gold Level NCMS Vendor Partner
Credible, the leading independent marketplace for student loan refinancing, is the newest gold level partner with the North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) to benefit members through the NCMS Marketplace. The partnership will help address the growing student debt issues of young doctors, who hold an average of over $170,000 of student debt at graduation.
Credible serves as a matchmaker between…
Learning Opportunities
NCTracks Training Courses Available in May 2015. Unless otherwise noted, all courses will be offered at the CSC facility (2610 Wycliff Road, Suite 102, Raleigh, NC 27607-3073) and involves hands-on training. Enrollment will be limited to 45 participants. To register for these courses, logon to the secure NCTracks Provider Portal and click Provider Training to access SkillPort. Open the folder…
The SGR Has Been Repealed. Now What?
With the long awaited and historic repeal of the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula two weeks ago, national health policy analysts and North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) staff have been digging through the legislation to uncover what it all means for you and your practice going forward.
First, add a new acronym to your vocabulary – MACRA, which stands for Medicare Access and CHIP…
Dispelling ICD-10 Myths
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) wants to dispel some of the myths surrounding the impending implementation of the new ICD-10 codes. Here are the facts about ICD-10:
No more delays -- the ICD-10 transition date is set for October 1, 2015.
The government, payers, and large providers alike have made a substantial investment in ICD-10. This cost will rise if the transition is…
ICD-10 Help From NCTracks
NCTracks Medicaid claims system staff is gearing up for the transition to ICD-10, and offers this advice to providers: Find out what your ICD-10 codes will be by using the latest version of the NCTracks ICD-10 Crosswalk.
The ICD-10 codes in the Crosswalk are the ones that will be used in NCTracks when it is switched to ICD-10 codes on October 1. A few non-specific ICD-9 codes are not in Crosswalk…
Tomorrow Is Health Care Decisions Day
North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory has proclaimed tomorrow, Thursday, April 16, 2015 Health Care Decisions Day. The special recognition is designed to raise public awareness of the need to plan ahead for health care decisions related to end-of-life care and medical decision making whenever patients are unable to speak for themselves. The proclamation also encourages the specific use of advance…
Credible — Newest NCMS Gold Level Partner
The North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) is pleased to announce Credible has become a new Gold level partner as part of our Marketplace to benefit our members.
Credible offers NCMS members the ability to easily save on their student debt. With Credible, you can easily submit a single form and receive offers from multiple lenders. The average medical school graduate who refinances with Credible…
In the News
HHS Takes Strong Steps To Address Opioid-Drug Related Overdose, Death and Dependence, HHS Press Release, 3-26-15
Affordable Care Act Hasn't Overwhelmed Doctors, Study Finds, USA Today, 3-24-15
CDC: Uninsured Drop By 11M Since Passage of Obama's Law, The Associated Press, 3-24-15
VA Says It Will Relax 40 Mile Rule For Private Medical Care, The Associated Press, 3-24-15
American Doctors Are Killing…
Huge Win On Workers’ Comp Medical Fee Schedule
After years of work by the North Carolina Medical Society’s (NCMS) staff and Workers’ Comp Task Force and negotiations with a wide variety of stakeholders, a new workers’ comp medical fee schedule was unanimously approved by the Rules Review Commission on February 19, 2015. The new schedule will take effect July 1, 2015, and bring North Carolina back on par with our neighboring states and the…
ICD-10 Preparedness: Are You Ready?
NCTracks Survey
The survey of NCTracks users on whether they are ready for ICD-10 implementation this October shows that of the 1,500 who responded the majority have taken steps to prepare, although 35 percent have not yet started the process. The most common reasons giving for not beginning to get ready for this change are: other priorities/competing projects; not enough staff/resources; don’t…
Total Merchant Services Offer NCMS Members Special Benefits
Total Merchant Services (TMS) has been the NCMS’ preferred payment system provider for the last six years, offering North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) members state-of-the-art, PCI Compliant, Smart Card Ingenico terminals at no cost (a $795 value). Additionally, TMS offers NCMS members many levels of benefits. Here are just a few:
Through NCMS preferred pricing, TMS will guarantee the…
PAI Advocates Reform of Medicare RAC Program
The Physicians Advocacy Institute (PAI) recently sent comments to the chair of the Health subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee, outlining critically needed reforms to the Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) program. North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) CEO Robert W. Seligson serves as PAI's President and signed the letter to Rep. Kevin Brady.
Since its inception eight years…
Prevention Partners Issues On-Line Report Card On NC's Health
A new, comprehensive look at North Carolina’s health as measured by tobacco use, nutrition, physical activity and obesity gives the state mediocre to dismal grades. The Prevention Partners “2015 NC Prevention Report Card,” however, shows “encouraging momentum around understanding the impact of poor health as an economic issue and the role that employers can play,” writes Meg Molloy, Prevention…
Flu Numbers Reach Epidemic Proportions
Latest Flu Information From NCDHHS:
Flu season in North Carolina has resulted in 90 reported deaths by early this month, and more are anticipated as the virus continues its spread. The following message is from Interim State Health Director Robin Cummings, M.D.:
Influenza activity has been widespread in North Carolina since late November. So far, the predominant virus circulating in North…