Problem Solved: Are There Guidelines For Closing Or Departing a Medical Practice?

If you need an answer or a problem solved regarding your practice, as a North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) member you have access to our Solution Center Coordinator, Belinda McKoy, who is standing by to help you solve the problem or answer your question. Call (919-833-3836 x142) or email Belinda the next time you need a problem solved. Here is a common question Belinda receives: Question: Are…

NCMS Plan Health Promotion Coordinator Named To Top 100

NCMS Plan Health Promotion Coordinator Jason Horay was named as one of the Top 100 Health Promotion Professionals by the Wellness Council of America (WELCOA) for promoting well-being among NCMS Plan members. WELCOA’s Top 100 were selected based on peer voting and a judging panel that reviewed the applications. To qualify, the health professionals must coordinate ongoing health programs, implement…

In the News

Prescription Drug Spending Jumps 13% To Record $374 billion in 2014, The Los Angeles Times, 4-14-15 Oncologists Weigh In On Ken Burns' Cancer Documentary, MedPage Today, 4-13-15 Survey: Nearly 9 in 10 Adults Now Have Health Insurance, The Associated Press, 4-13-15 The County Doc With A $10 Billion Budget, MedPage Today, 4-12-15 Health IT Interoperability Remains Elusive, ModernHealthCare,……

Learning Opportunities

NCMS Legislative Update, TOMORROW, Thursday, April 16, noon- 1p.m. Join Jennifer Gasperini, NCMS Director of Health Policy, for this free webinar in which she will discuss the latest updates on Medicaid reform and other legislative issues being discussed by the North Carolina General Assembly in the 2015 long session. You must register here to attend. How to Register for the PQRS Group…

Thank your legislators for the repeal of the SGR

Please reach out to thank the Senators and Representatives who voted in favor of HB2 and repeal of the SGR. A sample message may read: Thank you for your support of HB2. This is historic legislation that finally brings an end to an era of uncertainty for Medicare beneficiaries and their physicians and puts us on the road toward implementation of innovative care models that will improve care…

SGR Repeal Passes Senate

Tonight, on a bipartisan vote of 92 to 8, the Senate passed H.R. 2, the “Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act,” or MACRA. Although six amendments were considered on the floor, none reached the threshold required for passage. As a result, the Senate passed bill was identical to the version that passed the House of Representatives by an overwhelming 392-37 margin on March 26. We expect the…

Multiple Medicaid Reform Bills, Nursing Bills Gain Traction at the NC General Assembly

Four separate Medicaid reform bills have been filed at the General Assembly, three of which would rely on corporate Managed Care entities as the vehicle for transforming the current Medicaid system. At the same time, a number of other bills addressing important issues like physician supervision of nurses and other non-physician practitioners were introduced following the Senate bill filing…

Dr. Gloria Graham Named NC Doctor of the Year

By popular demand, Dr. Gloria Graham was named NC Doctor of the Year on March 30 in honor of Doctors’ Day. The 80-year-old Graham was presented with the award and a $5,000 check to be used toward her medical or professional mission at her office, Eastern Dermatology and Pathology in Morehead City. “It’s been a great pleasure and I really think it was a great idea you all had ” she said. Dr.…

NCMS Helps Dozens of Practices Improve Care and Increase Revenue

Terri Gonzalez In her role as NCMS Foundation Director of Practice Improvement, Terri Gonzalez, has helped dozens of practices achieve National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) recognition. Receiving this recognition means the practice or clinician values quality health care delivery and uses the latest clinical protocols to ensure patients receive the best care at the right time. This…

Where Do We Stand With the SGR?

Very early on the morning of March 27, after completing a lengthy round of votes on the budget resolution, a handful of Senators blocked efforts to reach agreement on the rules for debate on H.R. 2, the “Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act,” which passed the House on March 26 by an overwhelming margin of 392-37. Congress is now adjourned for its April recess. In statements made on the…

CQU Class of 2016 Announced

Seven teams from across the state have been named to participate in the 2015-16 Clinical Quality track of the Kanof Institute for Physician Leadership – also known as CQU. Each team, which includes one physician, will undertake a project aimed at improving the quality of care provided to patients. The 12-month program consists of a mix of face-to-face learning at the North Carolina Medical…

New Resources from the Toward Accountable Care Consortium

Two new Toward Accountable Care Consortium and Initiative (TAC) guides are now available: Accountable Care Guide for Pediatric Care (PDF) and Accountable Care Guide for Child Psychiatry (PDF). These guides are located with the other 16 guides on the TAC website. The NCMS Foundation Associate Executive Director and NCMS Deputy General Counsel and the person spearheading the TAC Initiative,…

NC Doctors’ Day Tribute Cards Benefit the NCMS Foundation

Donors contributed hundreds of dollars to purchase tribute cards and e-cards to thank a special physician during the final two weeks of online voting for the NC Doctor of the Year Award. Proceeds from the cards will be used by the NCMS Foundation to grow our work to improve access to quality health care for North Carolina’s most vulnerable patients. In 2014, the Foundation’s Community…

Have You Considered Joining a Patient Safety Organization?

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) enacted the Patient Safety & Quality Improvement Act, which creates a voluntary reporting program in which health care providers can share information relating to patient safety events with a patient safety organization (PSO) on a privileged and confidential basis. The goal is to bolster efforts to improve the quality and safety of health…

Need PQRS Reporting Help? This is Free!

You may have received a negative payment adjustment letter from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding your 2013 Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) participation. If you received such a letter, Alliant Quality, the QIN-QIO (Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization) for North Carolina can help you avoid future payment adjustments. We are offering…

What Would You Like to Learn At The NCMS Annual Meeting?

Please take our quick survey to let us know what CME you would like at the 2015 NCMS Annual Meeting. Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Problem Solved: Are Category 2 CME Hours Required?

Online Courses Help You Gain a Better Understanding of the MOST Form

The North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) Foundation in conjunction with the North Carolina Partnership for Compassionate Care are sponsoring a two-part E-learn course to help you get a better understanding of the MOST form and how it ties into advance care planning. To learn more about the Partnership and these courses, click here. Register for “Understanding MOST: Part 1“ (Why MOST is an…

Register Now for the Ob/Gyn 2015 Annual Meeting, April 17-19

It’s a rapidly changing health care world out there! To help you get the knowledge you need and provide the best care for your patients, this meeting includes 12 hours of CME! The North Carolina Ob/Gyn Society (NCOGS) and NC Section/ACOG proudly welcome special guests speakers Dr. John Jennings, Dr. Matthew Hanley, and Dr. Robin Cummings to the 2015 Annual Meeting program. Matthew Hanley, MD,…

Kudos to Two Leadership College Alumni

Two graduates of the North Carolina Medical Society Foundation’s Leadership College were recently honored. Robin G. Cummings, MD Robin G. Cummings, MD, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary for Medicaid and Leadership College class of 2005, spoke at the 12th annual World Health Care Congress in Washington, D.C., March 22-25. He sat on a panel that shared…

Tax Scam Is Back; Be Prepared

Unfortunately the North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) has fielded five calls this tax season from doctors who have reported being victims of an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax scam. According to the reports, which are similar to those last year, someone is filing fraudulent federal income tax returns using physician names, addresses and Social Security numbers. The scam is not targeted at…

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…

Learning Opportunities

Behavioral Health and Faith Summit, April 16, 8:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., Greensboro College, 815 W. Market St., Greensboro. The goal is to bring those involved in both mental health and faith communities together to share ideas to promote mental wellness. Learn more. Register here. MAHEC's Spring CE offerings: February 19th – May 28: “MAHEC Motivational Interviewing for Health Care” April 30:…

SGR Update

The US Senate did not follow the House of Representatives and pass HB 2 last night leaving the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula in place, at least for the moment. According to U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, Congress will likely take up the issue when they return from their spring recess on April 13. The current "patch" to forestall the scheduled 21 percent reduction in physician Medicare…

Congress is 'Half Way' to Repealing the SGR

Earlier today the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2, the “Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act,” by a substantial bipartisan margin—392 to 37. This legislation would end the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula, used to calculate physicians’ Medicare payments, and would institute changes in the Medicare reimbursement structure. “This bill replaces arbitrary cuts with actual…

NCMS Library Dedicated in Honor of Medical School Supporters

Deans in attendance included (left to right):Dr. John M. Kauffman, Dean, Campbell University, Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine; Dr. Paul Cunningham, Dean, East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine; Dr. Edward Abraham, Dean, Wake Forest School of Medicine; Dr. Nancy Andrews, Dean, Duke University School of Medicine. A special ceremony was held on Friday, March 20,…

National Call to Action: Repeal the SGR

If you want the Medicare Sustainable Growth rate (SGR) to end, today is the day to make your voice heard. The AMA has organized a National Call to Action Day today, Tuesday, March 24. Please join your colleagues in North Carolina and across the country by calling your US Representatives and Senators and urge them to eliminate the flawed SGR formula. Last week, lawmakers in both the…

NCMS Foundation Seeks Rural Providers for ACO Opportunity

The North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) Foundation seeks to identify rural providers interested in learning more about developing an Accountable Care Organization (ACO). The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced a new funding opportunity specifically for rural providers. CMS wants to encourage providers to form Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) ACOs in…

CMS Announces Next Generation ACO

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center introduced the “Next Generation Accountable Care Organization” model of payment and care delivery on March 10, 2015. This initiative is for ACOs experienced in coordinating care for populations of patients and will allow these provider groups to assume higher levels of financial risk and reward than are available under the…

Is Repeal of the SGR Finally Possible This Year?

With a flurry of editorials and intense lobbying efforts in Washington, DC, hope springs eternal for repeal of the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) this year. The latest “patch,” enacted last year to forestall the deep reductions in Medicare reimbursements, will expire on March 30, giving Congress just a few more weeks to repeal the SGR once and for all this year. Over 750 medical societies,…

Funding for National Health Service Corps Set to Expire

Founded in 1972, the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) was designed to bring primary care health workers to the most underserved communities of the country. In exchange for their medical expertise, the Corps helps these professionals alleviate debt accumulated during the course of their education, much like the North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) Foundation’s Community Practitioner Program,…

Cast Your Vote for NC Doctor of the Year

Ten finalists for the NC Doctor of the Year Award, were announced on Monday, March 16. Now is the time to cast your vote for the one doctor who you think should receive the NC Doctor of the Year Award from among this distinguished group of physicians who represent a variety of specialties and come from across the state. Read about each finalist and learn about NC Doctors Day at…

NC ACO Collaborative Draws Crowd to Raleigh

Attendees of the March 5 NC ACO Collaborative meeting On Thursday, March 5, members of the NC ACO Collaborative packed the auditorium of the North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) Center for Leadership in Medicine in Raleigh for the first of its twice- yearly meeting. The gathering brings together ACOs, aspiring ACOs, ACO participants and other interested parties like the representatives from…

Honor a Special Physician for NC Doctors’ Day 2015!

Join in the NC Doctors’ Day fun by sending the outstanding physician in your life a NC Doctors’ Day tribute card. For donations of $10 and $15, the NCMS Foundation will send an e-card or traditional mailed greeting card to a physician you think is “AHHSOME”! The cards have a great new look this year and can be ordered online through our simple, secure process. Check them out at…

NCMS Hosts Successful NC Medical Group Managers Advocacy Conference

NCMGMA White Coat Wednesday attendees For its 2015 Advocacy Days Conference, the North Carolina Medical Group Managers Association convened this week at the NCMS Center for Leadership in Medicine. The conference was attended by a strong contingent of advocacy-oriented medical practice leaders from across North Carolina. Cam Cox of MSOC Health and NCMGMA’s Advocacy Liaison moderated the……

Don’t Miss Meaningful Use Attestation

March 20 is the last day to attest to meaningful use for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program’s 2014 reporting year. This extended deadline does not affect deadlines for the Medicaid EHR Incentive program. Attesting by the deadline will ensure you earn an incentive payment, if applicable, and avoid the Meaningful Use penalty which will be applied in 2016 (based on 2014 performance). Understanding…

Gain a Better Understanding of the MOST Form With These Online Courses

Problem Solved: CMV Certification

Wanted: Nominations for NCMS & AMA Leadership Positions

The Nominating and Leadership Development Committee is seeking nominations from physician members for NCMS leadership positions that will become vacant in 2015. The deadline for receiving all nominations is July 1. If you are interested in serving in the following positions, please submit your nomination form to Devdutta G. Sangvai, MD, Chair of the Nominating and Leadership Development…

NC Ob/Gyn Society To Honor Dr. Harold C. Pollard, III

Dr. Pollard Harold C. Pollard, III with its 2015 Distinguished Service Award for his remarkable contributions to women’s health care on Saturday, April 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort. The banquet honoring Dr. Pollard is in conjunction with the society’s annual meeting. Learn more about the meeting and register here. Dr. Pollard was born and raised in Burlington, NC. He…

"Operation Medicine Drop" This Saturday in Cary

The Town of Cary Police Department joins the North Carolina Department of Insurance, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and SafeKids North Carolina twice a year to sponsor local pill take-back events called Operation Medicine Drop. These events provide sites to safely and legally dispose of unused and outdated prescription medication. There will be four Operation Medicine Drop sites…

In the News

Supreme Court Ruling On Affordable Care Act Could Leave Thousands In North Carolina Without Insurance, The Fayetteville Observer, 3-15-15 Funding, Focus Lacking for Health Care That Gets Results, USA Today, 3-15-15 Wake County EMS Has One Solution to Overcrowded Emergency Rooms, The Raleigh News & Observer, 3-14-15 Progress Is Slow At VA Hospitals In Wake of Crisis, The New York Times,…

Learning Opportunities

NCMS Plan Free Wellness Webinar: Using the Six Principles of Influence to Optimize Employee Health Tuesday, March 24, 2015 | 12:00-12:45pm Influencing others, even towards positive behavior change, is often a challenge, which is why it's valuable to understand the psychological principles behind human motivation and behavior. The NCMS Plan is pleased to welcome Patty Purpur de Vries, Director,…

NCMS Works To Repeal 3 Percent Retroactive Medicaid Reimbursement Cut

The North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) Government Affairs staff is working with key legislators to repeal the 3 percent retroactive cut to Medicaid reimbursements. In August 2014, the General Assembly mandated a 3 percent cut to physician payments to be effective retroactively to Jan. 1, 2014. The 3 percent reduction in physician payments going forward started on Monday, March 2. The recoup of…

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…

Medicaid Recredentialing Period Extended

The NC Division of Medical Assistance (DMA) has changed the length of time required before a provider must recredential in NCTracks, the Medicaid claims processing system, from three years to five years. The North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) applauded the move, which became effective on February 18, 2015. For several years, the NCMS had been calling for such a change to help ease the…

NCMS President Meets with White House Staff

Robert E. Schaaf, MD, FACR North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) President Robert E. Schaaf, MD, FACR and NCMS CEO Robert W. Seligson were in Washington, D.C. last week to discuss policy issues like reforms to the Medicare Recovery Audit Program (RAC), repeal of the Sustainable Growth Rate, meaningful use, implementation of ICD-10 and ensuring that any increases in compliance or reporting…

Supreme Court’s Ruling Will Have Repercussions

The US Supreme Court ruled on Feb. 25 that the North Carolina Dental Board illegally suppressed competition when it told non-dentists to stop offering teeth-whitening services at mall kiosks. The 6-3 decision came in the case of North Carolina Board of Dental Examiners v. Federal Trade Commission. The FTC had deemed the dental board's actions an illegal suppression of competition. It's common for…

CMS Extends Deadline for Meaningful Use and Some PQRS Measures

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is giving physicians an extra three weeks to attest they have made "Meaningful Use" of electronic health records, the agency announced Wednesday. "Eligible professionals now have until 11:59 p.m. ET on March 20, 2015, to attest to meaningful use for the Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program 2014 reporting year," CMS said in…

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