Spring into Life Saving! Give a Little, Save a Lot!

  Spring into Life Saving Blood Drive   Iredell Health System, along with The Blood Connection, is hosting a blood drive on Tuesday, April 9, which will take place from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Iredell Mooresville, located at 653 Bluefield Road. You can make a life-altering difference in your community by donating blood. Donating blood is crucial for saving lives in emergencies,…

CDC Warns of Rise in Invasive Meningococcal Disease

  Healthcare Workers Should be on Alert, Even if Patient Shows No Signs   The CDC announced there has been an increase in cases of the rare “invasive meningococcal disease." According to an advisory, healthcare workers should be on alert, even if patients do not exhibit typical symptoms. "In 2023, 422 cases were reported in the United States, the highest annual number of cases…

NCDHHS: “Fight the Bite!” Avoid Tick- and Mosquito-Borne Disease

Warm Weather Means it is Time to 'Fight the Bite' As warmer weather approaches, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is urging North Carolinians to "Fight the Bite" by taking measures to reduce their risk of tick- and mosquito-borne diseases. In 2023, almost 900 cases of tick- and mosquito-borne illnesses were reported across the state. April is Tick and Mosquito…

It’s Official! Tailored Plans Launches July 1st.

It’s official! Tailored Plans will launch on July 1.   At a recent legislative committee hearing, NC Medicaid shared that the Local Management Entities (LMEs) that will run Tailored Plans – Alliance Health, Partners Health Management, Trillium Health Resources, and Vaya Health – are all ready to go live. Tailored Plans include services for people with serious mental health issues,…

Going to See the NC State Wolfpack (Men and Women – Woo Hoo!)? Here Are Some Tips for Your Trip

A Historic Weekend for NC State!  Both the Men's and Women's Basketball Teams are Playing in the Final Four!   RALEIGH -- Fans of North Carolina State are getting ready to switch into high gear.  On Friday, play begins for two teams hoping to make it to a National Championship!  First up will be the women on Friday at 7pm.  The Wolfpack take on Number One seed South Carolina.  If they…

Two NC Hospitals Make Business NC’s Top 20

(image credit: Hendersonville Lightning)   UNC Health Pardee and AdventHealth made the top 20 in the annual best hospital rankings by Business North Carolina. Pardee claimed the 12th spot, while AdventHealth ranked No. 19. Both made top 10 in patient satisfaction surveys with Pardee also winning a high ranking for two types of surgeries. In the magazine's annual ranking of the state’s…

More States Confirm Cases of Bird Flu as it Continues Spread Across Country

  Contaminated water or feed may have caused dairy cows to become infected with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. Recently, Texas officials issued a health alert about the first confirmed case of a human infection with a bird influenza virus that has found its ways into dairy cows. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) says it has confirmed that the virus has infected cattle at…

Join NCMS for a Regional Meeting With NHPCMS in Wilmington!

New Hanover-Pender County Medical Society and North Carolina Medical Society invite you to a joint meeting! Pine Valley Country Club 500 Pine Valley Dr. Wilmington, NC 28412 April 10th 6-8pm Are You Feeling More Like a Factory Line Worker Than a Health Care Professional? Join us to learn how we are working to put YOU back in health care decision making! Here's what you can expect:…

Measles Remain in Spotlight as Cases Continue to Rise Nationwide

  As cases of measles continue to rise, health officials continue to stress the importance of vaccinations. As of March 28, 2024, a total of 97 measles cases have been reported by several states: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York City, New York State, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and…

Register Now for NC Medicaid Managed Care Special Webinar

  Medicaid Managed Care SPECIAL WEBINAR: Total Cost of Care (TCOC) Dashboard Launch for Providers This month, NC Medicaid is launching a Total Cost of Care (TCOC) Dashboard for Advanced Medical Homes (AMHs). This tool will allow AMHs to access and analyze data related to resource use and total cost of health care received by Medicaid members assigned to their practices. The…

Join Us in Durham Next Week for the DOCMS Meeting at the University Club!

Join DOCMS at the University Club! Wednesday, April 10, 2024 | 6:00pm - 8:00pm University Club, 3100 Tower Boulevard, Suite 1700 Durham, NC 27707 AGENDA:  6:00pm- 6:30pm – Socializing & Housekeeping 6:30pm- 7:30pm – Dinner & Guest Speaker 7:30pm- 7:45pm – Q&A 7:45pm- 8:00pm – DOCMS 2024 Business REGISTER NOW - Hybrid…

Governor Roy Cooper Declares April Child Abuse Prevention Month

  PRESS RELEASE — Recognizing the role everyone plays in helping North Carolina’s children reach their full potential, Governor Roy Cooper declared April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. This Child Abuse Prevention Month, community organizations, government agencies, businesses, faith groups and other stakeholders will come together to focus on creating partnerships to prevent child…

2024 NCMS Candidate Series – Dr. Steven Feldman

2024 NCMS Candidate Series Featuring Dr. Steven Feldman   The 2024 North Carolina Medical Society Candidate Series has an exclusive interview featuring Dr. Steven Feldman who is running for North Carolina House District 10. In this episode, Dr. Feldman talks about his desire to reintroduce civility to national politics, the national debt and its impact on healthcare. He also offers…

Happy Birthday to Our Members Celebrating This Month!

Grab your party hats and noisemakers and let’s celebrate!   Zachary A. Aberman, MD Jennifer H. Adair, PA-C John E. Adams, MD Adeyinka A. Adegoroye, MD Muhammad N. Ahmed, MD Richard E. Akers, MD J. McClees Aldridge, III, MD Herbert R. Allen, Jr., MD James L. Allen, MD Nana Akua Amponsah, PA-C James D. Anderson, MD Eileen S. Andres, PA-C Rebecca Anketell, DO Vittorio…

Share Your Feedback on New Environmental Health Draft Policy

  The North Carolina Medical Society's (NCMS) Policy Committee is charged with developing policies that align with the NCMS Mission and the NCMS Guiding Principles. The Policy Committee recently came together to create a policy addressing environmental health. This policy will serve as an effective tool to guide and support NCMS advocacy efforts addressing environmental health in North…

Celebrating Women’s History Month with Dr. Cheryl Walker-McGill

To help celebrate Women's History Month, NCMS has an in-depth interview with NCMS member Dr. Cheryl Walker-McGill, Executive Producer of the acclaimed documentary "Someone Else's Shoes." The film focuses on the establishment of St. Agnes Hospital, one of the first Black-owned and operated hospitals in Raleigh. It also celebrates the achievements of Black pioneers in the field of healthcare and…

How Has Your Practice Been Impacted by the Change Healthcare Cyberattack? Take this Survey.

  Since the Change Healthcare cyberattack in February and resulting system outages, the American Medical Association (AMA) has urged federal and state regulators to support physician practices with financial assistance and flexibilities in administrative requirements. To assess the current level of workflow disruptions and financial impact on practices, the AMA is requesting those…

HHS Distributes Additional Provider Resources for the Change Healthcare Disruption

  The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) distributed additional resources to assist physicians, pharmacists, and hospitals with the aftermath of the Change Healthcare cybersecurity attacks. In addition, HHS is making available the voluntary Healthcare and Public Health Cybersecurity Performance Goals, designed to help healthcare organizations strengthen cyber preparedness,…

We Need Your Feedback on Fiscal Impact of Prior Authorization

  NCMS and the North Carolina Medical Group Managers Association have partnered to create a survey on the fiscal impacts of prior authorizations on practices. As we enter into short session at the legislature, we need to hear from YOU and your practice. Legislators in Raleigh need to be aware of the large impact this has on clinicians' ability to provide care. Please take 5-10…

Duke Awarded Up to $33 Million to Develop OA Therapies that Rebuild Bone and Joints

Along with Boston Children’s Hospital and UCLA Health, the federally funded project aims to alleviate the heavy cost burden of osteoarthritis (DukeHealth) --  Duke Health is part of a multi-institution research team receiving funding from the federal Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to develop an osteoarthritis treatment that regenerates joints. The research project,…

Doctors’ Day is Saturday, but You Can Thank Your Favorite Healthcare Hero with an E-Card Today!

Saturday, March 30, is the annual observance of Doctors’ Day, a time to honor you and the amazing work you do. And we want to give you an opportunity to recognize your colleagues. Consider sending an e-card to show a colleague you care and recognize their contributions in honor of Doctors’ Day. If you choose, their name will be publicized in our Morning Rounds newsletter and on our social…

NCTracks ALERT: Be Aware and Vigilant of These Phishing Attempts

ALERT: Phishing Attempt Targeting Medicaid Durable Medical Equipment/Prosthetics & Orthotics Suppliers Providers   NC DHHS has received notification of an email phishing attempt targeted at Durable Medical Equipment/Prosthetics & Orthotics Suppliers (DME/POS) providers. The email appears to be from NC Medicaid, complete with the NC DHHS name and logo, and offers a link…

New Report: Hospitals Are Adding Billions in ‘Facility’ Fees for Routine Care

Unsuspecting patients find themselves at the mercy of institutions tacking on the bills   (Wall Street Journal) -- Hospitals are adding billions of dollars in facility fees to medical bills for routine care in outpatient centers they own. Once an annoyance, the fees are now pervasive, and in some places, they are becoming nearly impossible to avoid, data compiled for The Wall Street…

Are the Days of Lyme Disease Numbered? Research Looks Promising!

Tick season is kicking off early this year — experts warn of Lyme disease risk   A vaccine for Lyme disease is not currently available, but two scientific initiatives to fight the condition are showing promising results, with one soon to be rolled out. Borrelia burgdorferi and, less commonly, Borrelia mayonii are the bacteria that spur Lyme disease. In the northeastern, mid-Atlantic…

Register Now for AMA Advocacy Insights Webinar

What We Need to do—Now—to Address the Maternal Health Crisis Monday, April 15 11:00 a.m. Central time With the U.S. having the highest maternal mortality and morbidity rates among developed countries, the AMA continues to sound the alarm to policymakers that a multi-faceted approach is needed, one which includes addressing the leading causes of preventable maternal deaths and investing in…

ECU Physicians hold “Chat With A Doc” to Improve Growing Health Care Workforce Shortage

(image credit: ECU Health) ECU Health Working to Solve Healthcare Workforce Shortage Like many health care organizations across the nation, ECU Health is facing an immense challenge: solving the growing healthcare workforce shortage. Through community partnerships, the health system is doing its part to grow its workforce, starting in eastern North Carolina. At ECU Health Medical…

FDA Authorizes New Drug for Pre-Exposure Prevention of COVID-19

  The FDA issued an emergency use authorization for Pemgarda (pemivibart) for the pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 in certain adults and adolescents. Pemgarda is authorized for individuals: who are not currently infected with SARS-CoV-2 and who have not had a known recent exposure to an individual infected with SARS-CoV-2; and who have moderate-to-severe immune compromise due…

With Cancer Diagnosis, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Shines Brighter Light on Rise in Disease Among Young People

  Over the past 30 years, early-onset cancer rose 79 percent, one global study found (Rachel Uda) --  When Catherine, Princess of Wales, revealed that she was diagnosed with cancer, it stunned the world. She’s active, she apparently maintains a diet rich in antioxidants and raw fruits and veggies, and she’s only 42. But sadly, the princess is part of an alarming global trend. Studies…

2024 Dirty Dozen List of Fruits and Vegetables, Clean 15 Released

Report:  Strawberries still have the most pesticides of any American produce (Business Insider - Lauren Edmonds) --  Strawberries continue to reign supreme on the Environmental Working Group's annual "Dirty Dozen" list, which ranks fruits and vegetables by pesticide contamination. The "Dirty Dozen" list is part of EWG's 2024 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce published on Wednesday. The…

Register Now for ‘Global Impact: Climate Change and Our Health’

Global Impact: Climate Change and Our Health, April 11 Thursday, April 11, 2024, 3:45pm EST VIRTUAL From poor air quality and flooding to extreme heat and years-long droughts, devastating weather events take a physical, emotional, and financial toll on populations across the globe and here in the U.S. especially in marginalized communities. Are increased extreme weather events leading to a…

Doctors Perform First-ever Kidney Transplant from Gene-edited Pig

  Doctors have performed the first transplant of a genetically modified kidney from a pig into a living human. The four-hour surgery was performed at Massachusetts General Hospital, which was also the first hospital to perform a kidney transplant in 1954. The patient, Rick Slayman, a 62-year-old manager with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation who had been diagnosed with…

NCTracks: Providers Should Use These Updated Consent Forms

Providers should use the latest version of the sterilization consent form to ensure that the correct version of the consent form is submitted to the NC Medicaid fiscal agent.   NCTracks is reminding providers that the sterilization consent form found on the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) website was updated in 2023. It is available in English and Spanish. These…

New Mobile Mammography Unit Brings More Access to Southeastern NC

Novant Health is hitting the road to protect women’s health.   Novant Health has unveiled its new mobile mammography unit. Novant’s new mobile mammography unit will provide quick and easy access to breast cancer screenings. This new bus includes new equipment such as 3D scanning, which will be less painful for patients and give clearer results. “Being able to take this technology to our…

Save the Date: Inaugural Collaborative Care Model Behavioral Health Care Manager Summit

SAVE THE DATE! Inaugural Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) Behavioral Health Care Manager (BHCM) Summit Thursday, May 16, 2024 9 am- 3:15 pm McKimmon Center 1101 Gorman St, Raleigh, NC 27606   Mark your calendars for the inaugural Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) Behavioral Health Care Manager (BHCM) Summit, presented jointly by NC AHEC and Southern Regional AHEC. This event will be…

Match Day Madness! NCMS Celebrates Milestone for All Physicians!

NCMS Match Day Social in Chapel Hill is Roaring Success! NCMS celebrated Match Day with members, physicians, PAs, students, residents, friends, and supporters.  It is a great example of the importance of being together!  The North Carolina Medical Society provides the space and community to come together, across all specialties, to enhance the profession of medicine as colleagues and medical…

Important Policy Updates for NC Behavioral Health Providers

  Clinical Coverage Policy 8A, Enhanced Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services was amended and promulgated on March 1, 2024, with a retroactive implementation date of Jan. 1, 2024. The clinical coverage policies amended includes:   Professional Treatment Services in Facility-Based Crisis Program (FBC) FBC was amended and promulgated on March 1, 2024, with a retroactive…

Diabetes Prevention Program Navigator Service Ending

  After 5 years, the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) Navigator service will be coming to an end on March 31, 2024. The DPP Navigator office will be reaching out to all physicians who have utilized the DPP navigator to connect them to local and state-wide DPPs where they can directly send referrals going forward. DPP services are still available to patients who have prediabetes or…

Mark Your Calendar: Statewide Assistive Technology Resource Fairs

  The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is hosting resource fairs where adaptive equipment and resources to make recreational and leisure activities accessible to people of all ages will be showcased. The resource fairs, presented by the North Carolina Assistive Technology Program, are free and open to the public. Those interested in accessible recreation, sports,…

Stanley Cup Owners Rejoice! What a CT Scan Reveals.

  Stanley cup owners can rejoice!   According to Lumafield, a startup that makes X-ray CT scanners for engineers, Stanley cup owners can rejoice, because the odds of getting lead poisoning from the viral tumblers are vanishingly small. Images from a recent industrial CT scan performed by Lumafield supports what Stanley has been saying from the beginning: The cups contain lead,…

NC Medicaid Information for Providers Impacted by Change Healthcare Disruption

  NC Medicaid continues to monitor the network interruption with Change Healthcare related to cybersecurity and the resulting decision to disconnect systems while the issue is resolved. It's focused on ensuring access to care for beneficiaries once electronic claims submission functionality resumes. To support providers during this transition, NCTracks will implement the following…

Match Day 2024: Record Number of Applicants and Residency Positions Offered

  Match Day 2024 proved to be a momentous day for the future of medicine as this year's Match Day saw record-high applicant participation, according to data from NRMP, the organization that facilitates Match Day. “The NRMP is proud to deliver the results of another successful Main Residency Match, and we congratulate all future physicians and training programs on this momentous…

NCMS Member Dr. David T. Tayloe Co-Authors Book

  NCMS member and pediatrician David T. Tayloe, Jr., MD, FAAP, has co-authored a book on the advocacy history of the NC Pediatric Society. Fifty Years of Advocacy: The North Carolina Pediatric Society is a collection of commentaries explaining the evolution of the infrastructure of the North Carolina Pediatric Society, the efforts of its leaders, the multitude of successful advocacy…

FDA Clears First Over-the-Counter Continuous Glucose Monitor

  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared for marketing the first over-the-counter (OTC) continuous glucose monitor (CGM). The Dexcom Stelo Glucose Biosensor System is an integrated CGM (iCGM) intended for anyone 18 years and older who does not use insulin, such as individuals with diabetes treating their condition with oral medications, or those without diabetes who want to better…