Atrium Health Levine Children’s Opens Union County’s First and Only Pediatric Emergency Department
Atrium Health Levine Children’s Opens Union County’s First and Only Pediatric Emergency Department
(Atrium Health News) — Families in Union County now have access to emergency care designed just for children for the first time. Atrium Health Levine Children’s Emergency Department Union has officially opened its doors as the first and only pediatric emergency department in Union County —…
States Brace For Added Burdens Of Trump’s Tax And Spending Law
States Brace For Added Burdens Of Trump’s Tax And Spending Law
(New York Times, David W. Chen and Pooja Salhotra) — The ink is not even dry on the far-reaching domestic policy law that President Trump signed on Friday, and already state governments are bracing for impact as Washington shifts much of the burden for health care, food assistance and other programs onto them.
Gov. JB Pritzker,…
Physician = Health Policy Official
Physician = Health Policy Official
Your path to running for office lies ahead
Ever wonder what it takes to become a candidate for elected office and run a successful campaign? AMPAC, the political education and advocacy program of the American Medical Association, is a go-to resource for guidance and expertise. AMPIC annually hosts a Campaign School to help physicians have a greater…
NCMS Joins Stakeholders In Backing Vaccination Against Respiratory Viruses
NCMS Joins Stakeholders In Backing Vaccination Against Respiratory Viruses
With respiratory viruses expected to surge in the fall, the North Carolina Medical Society joined 79 affiliated societies in expressing support for vaccination to protect against the flu, COVID-19 and RSV and their potentially serious complications. The NCMS and partner organizations call on insurers, hospitals, and…
Proposed Federal Cuts Put Rural Behavioral Health Resources On The Line
Proposed Federal Cuts Put Rural Behavioral Health Resources On The Line
(Daily Yonder, Madeline de Figueiredo) — Ten years ago, Nancy Winmill’s son survived an opioid overdose. In her search for support, she found almost nothing available in her Burley, Idaho community.
“I had no idea what to do or where to go. I had no help. I had no resources,” Winmill said.
That experience pushed her to…
ICYMI — Message From The President
ICYMI — Message From The President
Dear NCMS Members,
I am pleased to announce that our Board of Directors has named Stephen W. Keene, JD, LLM, MBA as Chief Executive Officer of the North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) effective June 26, 2025. We are thankful for his leadership, dedication, and service to NCMS over the past three months as Interim CEO.
As many members…
DOJ Fraud Takedown – No North Carolina Physicians Among Named Defendants
DOJ Fraud Takedown – No North Carolina Physicians Among Named Defendants
On Monday, June 30, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) held a press conference and issued a press release to announce the results of its largest-ever national health care fraud takedown. The operation resulted in charges against 324 individuals with fraud allegations exceeding $14.6 billion. Charges stemmed from schemes…
NCMS to Congress: Protect Medicaid, Reform Medicare Payment … Help North Carolina
NCMS to Congress: Protect Medicaid, Reform Medicare Payment ... Help North Carolina
The President's tax bill, H.R. 1 / One Big Beautiful Bill, which passed both the US Senate and US House and signed into law on July 4th, has drawn considerable attention since it was introduced on May 20, 2025. The bill was presented to Congress to make tax cuts enacted in 2017 permanent, while also…
ECU Graduate, Deallaney Hudson, Continues To Defeat More Odds Through ECU Health Internship
ECU Graduate, Deallaney Hudson, Continues To Defeat More Odds Through ECU Health Internship
(WITN, Merit Morgan) — The inspiring story of East Carolina University graduate Deallaney Hudson is one WITN has been following for months.
Hudson has faced uncertainty since her birth and the diagnosis of Neonatal Progeroid Syndrome, a rare disorder characterized by accelerated aging.
Following her…
Duke Regional Hospital Gets Top Rank In National Survey
Duke Regional Hospital Gets Top Rank In National Survey
(Business North Carolina, David Mildenberg) — Duke Regional Hospital ranked No 1 in social responsibility in a national survey of nearly 2,700 acute-care hospitals, marking the third straight year the Durham hospital has received the top honor.
The survey by the Needham, Massachusetts-based Lown Institute looks at data from various…
Kyphoplasty Turned Runner’s Back Injury Into Comeback
Kyphoplasty Turned Runner’s Back Injury Into Comeback
(Novant Health, Carole Tanzer Miller) — When David Freeze recently took the baton in a Southwest relay to run a leg that gained more than 1,150 feet in elevation over a scant 3.4 miles, it was just his latest uphill battle to conquer.
The 72-year-old distance runner and cross-country cyclist spent the past year recovering from a catastrophic…
Child Visiting NC Diagnosed With Measles As Vaccination Rates Decline
Child Visiting NC Diagnosed With Measles As Vaccination Rates Decline
(WFMY 2, Ben Briscoe, Madelyn Ricket) — The state health department confirmed a child visiting Guilford and Forsyth counties has the measles.
This case comes as a growing number of parents across the country and here in North Carolina decide not to vaccinate their kids for the Measles.
WFMY News 2's Ben Briscoe…
UNC Study Shows Promise for Patients Who Struggle to Manage Type 2 Diabetes
UNC Study Shows Promise for Patients Who Struggle to Manage Type 2 Diabetes
(UNC Health Care, Brittany Phillips) — One of the biggest struggles for people with type 2 diabetes is to manage blood glucose levels to the general target of less than 7% on the A1c test. About half of people with type 2 diabetes do not achieve an A1c less than 7.5%, even though many are treated intensively with…
‘They Can Just Be Kids’: Summer Camps in ENC Provide Refuge For Pediatric Patients
'They Can Just Be Kids': Summer Camps in ENC Provide Refuge For Pediatric Patients
(Reflector, Kim Grizzard) —The room grew quiet Thursday when Tamika Mackey interrupted a craft activity for pediatric hematology and oncology patients to announce that someone needed to get a few shots.
Nevah Hill stopped coloring and sat wide-eyed, worried about what might come next. The 7-year-old’s smile…
Alert – Medicare Fraud Scheme
Alert - Medicare Fraud Scheme
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued an alert for all Medicare providers. CMS has identified a fraud scheme targeting those enrolled as Medicare providers as well as Medicare suppliers where scammers are impersonating CMS. The fraudulent ploy includes a phishing fax request for medical records and documentation, falsely claiming to be…
First Case of Measles Identified in North Carolina
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Released A Report of the First Measles Case in NC
RALEIGH — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed a case of measles in a child who was visiting Forsyth and Guilford counties. The child became ill while traveling to NC from another country where measles outbreaks have recently been reported. To protect…
New Research: Diabetes Medication Shows Promise In Cutting Migraine Days By More Than Half
New Research: Diabetes Medication Shows Promise In Cutting Migraine Days By More Than Half
(News Medical, European Academy of Neurology Congress 2025) — A diabetes medication that lowers brain fluid pressure has cut monthly migraine days by more than half, according to a new study presented today at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress 2025.
Researchers at the Headache Centre of…
Carolina SeniorCare Helps Residents in Seven NC Counties Age At Home
Carolina SeniorCare Helps Residents in Seven NC Counties Age At Home
(The Sun Journal, Caramia Valentin) — Carolina SeniorCare-East, an EveryAge Program, is now open and serving seniors ages 55 and older in seven area counties.
Carolina SeniorCare, located at 3681 Neuse Blvd. in New Bern, provides the Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly, also known as PACE.
The…
Duke Researchers: Severe Heat is Here! Learn What’s Important for Living Under Dangerous Conditions
Duke Researchers: Severe Heat is Here! Learn What’s Important for Living Under Dangerous Conditions
(Duke Today, Ashley Ward) — Plus: Duke guidelines on working outside in severe heat
It’s going to be blazing this week, as what meterologists call “a heat dome” settles in across the country, putting some 200 million Americans at risk for severe heat.
Forecasters predict 100 degree…
Health Plans Take Action to Simplify Prior Authorization
New Commitments Aim to Accelerate Decision Timelines, Increase Transparency, Expand Access to Affordable, Quality Care
Additional reading from HHS, PBS, and others at bottom of this release
(AHIP, 6/23/25 Press Release) -- Health insurance plans today announced a series of commitments to streamline, simplify and reduce prior authorization – a critical safeguard to…
New Atrium Health Hospital Set To Open July 1
New Atrium Health Hospital Set To Open July 1
(WCNC, Hank Lee) — Atrium Health Lake Norman, the Charlotte area's newest hospital, will open its doors to patients on July 1, Atrium Health announced.
Located near Lake Norman between Huntersville and Cornelius, Atrium Health Lake Norman offers state-of-the-art technology and care for patients in northern Mecklenburg County and surrounding…
UNC School of Medicine OBGYN is Making Pregnancy Sonograms More Accessible
UNC School of Medicine OBGYN is Making Pregnancy Sonograms More Accessible
(UNC, Alyssa LaFaro) — When Dr. Jeffrey Stringer was in the middle of his medical program at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in the mid-1990s and distraught at the death of a patient, his chief resident led him away from the deathbed to another part of the hospital: the nursery.
“It was a circle of life moment,”…
New Study: Immune Changes Predict Heart Risks In Cancer Patients
New Study: Immune Changes Predict Heart Risks In Cancer Patients
(News Medical, European Society of Cardiology) — New research has uncovered immune changes in cancer patients that could help identify which patients are most at risk of dangerous heart complications from cancer drugs, known as immune checkpoint inhibitors.
The study was led by Assistant Professor Pilar Martín, Head of the…
Prior Authorization Reform Champion Amanda Watson Dies After Long Battle With Breast Cancer
Amanda Watson shares her prior authorization journey at NCMS press conference
Amanda Watson, mother of two, NCMS Prior Auth Reform Speaker Dies After Cancer Battle
Prior authorization reform champion, Amanda Watson, passed away on June 23, 2025, after a battle with breast cancer. Her physician, NCMS Member Representative Dr. Grant Campbell put out the following statement on social media:…
Duke University is Betting on High Schoolers. Is This Good News for the Medical Profession in NC?
Duke University is Betting on High Schoolers. Is This Good News for the Medical Profession in NC?
(Becker's Hospital Review, Kelly Gooch) — In the past few years, a number of health systems have partnered with schools and nonprofits to support healthcare-focused high schools — and leaders say the results have been promising on a number of levels.
Dallas-based Baylor Scott & White Health…
NCDHHS Director of Mental Health Responds to Elimination of Federal Funding for 988 Suicide Lifeline Dedicated to LGBTQ+ Youth Services
NCDHHS Director of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services on Elimination of Federal Funding for 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Dedicated to LGBTQ+ Youth Services
(NCDHHS, June 20, 2025) -- The United States Department of Health and Human Services recently announced it would eliminate federal funding for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline service…
UNC Study: Alzheimer’s Risk Gene May Disrupt Brain Health
Sarah Cohen’s lab at UNC School of Medicine is studying the impact of the APOE4 protein on brain cells in its search for treatments.
(UNC, Scott Jared) -- A discovery by a UNC School of Medicine cell biology lab could reshape how scientists understand and treat Alzheimer’s disease.
The research team is led by Sarah Cohen, assistant professor in the medical school’s cell biology and physiology…
FDA approves new twice-yearly HIV shot. What You and Your Patients Need to know
It is expensive, but could it be what your patients are looking for?
(USA Today, Ken Alltucker) -- The Food and Drug Administration has approved Gilead's HIV prevention drug lenacapavir, a twice-a-year injectable medication that clinical trials show prevents new infections.
The drug will be marketed under the name Yeztugo and sell for an annual price of $28,218, or $14,109 per injection. Gilead…
In Memoriam: NCMS Member, Golden Stethoscope Award Winner Dr. Joseph “Joey” Bell
Dr. Joseph "Joey" Bell Won the 2023 NCMS Golden Stethoscope Award
(Locklear and Son Funeral Home) -- Dr. Joseph “Joey” Tyron Bell, 66, of Robeson County, NC — beloved husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, dedicated physician, and proud member of the Lumbee Tribe — left the loving arms of his family to be welcomed home by his heavenly Father on June 16, 2025 at the Durham VA Hospice…
NCDHHS-DHB Stakeholder Teleconference Scheduled for June 25
NEW WEBINAR SERIES
NC Medicaid Provider Enrollment
NCDHHS-DHB Credentialing Committee Initiative Stakeholder Engagement Session #3
Please join NC AHEC and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), Division of Health Benefits (DHB), for the third stakeholder teleconference on June 25 from 2-3 p.m. to continue the discussion of a new initiative led in…
NCCPRW
We Exist for You
CENTERING CLINICIAN AND PHYSICIAN WELL-BEING IN NORTH CAROLINA
The NCCPRW Consortium exists to support the well-being of North Carolina’s clinical professionals. We work to foster a culture that reduces stress, improves retention, promotes well-being, and creates healthier work environments so our clinicians can thrive in their careers and their lives.
THE…
Deserts For Women’s Health Care Services Expand In Rural NC Counties
Deserts For Women’s Health Care Services Expand In Rural NC Counties
(Carolina Public Press, Jane Winik Startwell) — Rural hospitals could be putting pregnant women and babies at risk by slashing labor and delivery services across North Carolina.
Natasha Fuller delivered her two children at Charles A. Cannon Memorial Hospital in remote and mountainous Avery County in 2011 and 2014. Now, she…
NCMB Extends Deadline for Physician Board Member Applications
NCMB Extends Deadline for Physician Board Member Applications
Application deadline extended! Physician applications for NCMB now due by June 30
Applicants are needed for three physician seats on the North Carolina Medical Board for terms beginning Nov. 1.
All positions must be filled by the process set down in statute (N.C. Gen. Stat. 90-2 and 90-3), which requires interested parties to…
Updated NC Medicaid Standard Plan PCP Change Forms
Updated NC Medicaid Standard Plan PCP Change Forms
The Standard Plans (SP) have updated their PCP Change Forms. These forms may be submitted when a member requests to change their Primary Care Provider (PCP), thereby adding the member to the provider’s panel.
In response to provider feedback, the forms have been revised to allow PCPs to attest to verbal member consent in cases where a written…
NCDHHS Launches PATH NC
NCDHHS Launches PATH NC
(NCDHHS) — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced the launch of PATH NC (Partnership and Technology Hub for North Carolina), a new statewide information system that marks a major step forward in modernizing the administration of child welfare services. PATH NC equips child welfare staff with real-time data and decision-making tools to better…
Empowering Future Clinicians: NC Advocacy in Medicine Fellowship Seeking Applicants
Empowering Future Clinicians: NC Advocacy in Medicine Fellowship Seeking Applicants
A groundbreaking new initiative is uniting all five North Carolina medical schools and physician assistant programs to train the next generation of healthcare advocates. The NC Advocacy in Medicine Fellowship is a state-wide program designed to equip medical and PA students with the tools to engage…
With Intense Heat On The Way, Local Doctor Shares Ways Your Patients Can Stay Safe
With Intense Heat On The Way, Local Doctor Shares Ways Your Patients Can Stay Safe
(WTOC 11, Brontë Sorotsky) — It’s almost officially the first day of summer, but the Southeast is already starting to see those feel like temperatures get into the triple digits.
When it gets this hot, health experts say it can lead to more health concerns like heat exhaustion, especially for more vulnerable…
Nanoneedle Patch Could Replace Painful Traditional Biopsies
Nanoneedle Patch Could Replace Painful Traditional Biopsies
(News Medical Life Sciences, King's College London) — A patch containing tens of millions of microscopic nanoneedles could soon replace traditional biopsies, scientists have found.
The patch offers a painless and less invasive alternative for millions of patients worldwide who undergo biopsies each year to detect and monitor diseases…
Funding Cuts Force One Of North Carolina’s Only Long Covid Clinics To Shut Its Doors
Funding Cuts Force One Of North Carolina’s Only Long Covid Clinics To Shut Its Doors
(The News and Observer, Nora O'Neill) — Finding treatment may soon become more difficult for the thousands of North Carolinians battling long-term COVID-19 symptoms. The UNC COVID Recovery Clinic, one of the only clinics in the state designed to treat patients with Long COVID, closed on June 16 due to funding…
NCCPRW Is Proud to be a Platinum Sponsor at the Joy and Wholeness Summit, July 23-25 in Asheville
NCCPRW is proud to be a Platinum Sponsor at the Joy and Wholeness Summit!
Crowne Plaza, Asheville, NCDates: July 23-25, 2025
The Joy & Wholeness Summit is a heartfelt gathering where healthcare professionals, including physicians, advanced practice providers (APPs), and leaders, come together to reimagine what it means to thrive in medicine. Held July 23-25, 2025, at the stunning…
Digital Tool May Predict Childhood Asthma
Digital Tool May Predict Childhood Asthma
(HealthDay, Dennis Thompson) — A new digital tool can flag kids who are at risk for developing childhood asthma, researchers report.
The tool scans electronic health data records and calculates an asthma risk score for children, according to results published recently in eClinical Medicine.
It relies on information that’s routinely collected as…
Six 1st-Of-Its-Kind Procedures Performed In 2025, Including One at Duke
Six 1st-Of-Its-Kind Procedures Performed In 2025, Including One at Duke
(Becker's Hospital Review, Mariah Taylor) — In the first half of 2025, eight systems have performed first-of-their-kind procedures and clinical treatments.
1. Morgantown, WV-based WVU Heart and Vascular Institute physicians completed the world’s first robotic transcatheter aortic valve replacement explant and aortic valve…
Cuddling With Your Sweetheart Before Sleeping May Decrease Relational Stress, Study Says
Cuddling With Your Sweetheart Before Sleeping May Decrease Relational Stress, Study Says
(Nice News, Rebekah Brandes) — If you share a bed with your sweetie, consider incorporating this step into your nighttime routine if you aren’t already: a snuggle sesh before sprawling out in starfish position or firing up the CPAP machine. A study found that couples who cuddled prior to drifting off…
Twin Doctors Commit To Rural Healthcare In WNC Amid Provider Shortage
Twin Doctors Commit To Rural Healthcare In WNC Amid Provider Shortage
(ABC News 13, Neydja Petithomme) — The shortage of medical providers in rural Western North Carolina has been a long-standing challenge.
At least 34 physicians, dentists, and pharmacists plan to remain in Western North Carolina after completing their residency or fellowship training, according to the Mountain Area Health…
NCDHHS Secretary Visits Western NC Programs Supporting Helene Recovery
(NC DHHS Release, Raleigh} -— North Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai toured western North Carolina last week, where he learned more about two critical support programs for people recovering from the devastation left behind by Hurricane Helene.
First, Secretary Sangvai went to Love and Respect Community for Recovery and Wellness in Henderson County to highlight…
Researchers Identify Cellular Hotspots That Trigger Ferroptosis
Researchers Identify Cellular Hotspots That Trigger Ferroptosis
(News Medical) — Researchers at the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology have uncovered how a unique interaction between two cellular compartments, namely the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria, can act as a central ignition point for ferroptosis, a form of cell death driven by lipid oxidation and iron. In a study…
What Doctors Wish Patients Knew About Tendinitis
What Doctors Wish Patients Knew About Tendinitis
(AMA, Sara Berg, MS) — Whether you’re chasing home runs like Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton or just chasing your kids around the yard, tendinitis doesn’t play favorites. This painful tendon inflammation can strike anyone—regardless of age or fitness level.
While it’s often brushed off as a sign of “getting older,” tendinitis is linked to…
Advice For Trying GLP-1 Drugs For Weight Loss From A Doctor Who’s Been There
Advice For Trying GLP-1 Drugs For Weight Loss From A Doctor Who's Been There
(NPR, Andrea Muraskin) — Dr. David A. Kessler has always been in the business of keeping people healthy – but by his own admission, he hasn't always applied that to himself.
Kessler's problem was with food. In medical school, greasy French fries and salted roast beef helped him stay up studying and researching late…
AI Tool Developed by Johns Hopkins and Duke Predicts Infectious Disease Outbreaks More Accurately Than Current Methods
AI Tool Developed by Johns Hopkins and Duke Predicts Infectious Disease Outbreaks More Accurately Than Current Methods
(Gene Online, Mark Chiang) — Researchers at Johns Hopkins and Duke universities have developed an artificial intelligence tool designed to improve the forecasting, tracking, and management of infectious disease outbreaks. The tool reportedly outperforms existing state-of-the-art…
NC Advocacy in Medicine Fellowship
Bridging all five NC medical schools and physician’s assistant programs, this is a state-wide initiative that aims to help students acquire the foundations to engage in state health policy action and the opportunity to develop as advocates for themselves and their patients. Upon attending all workshops, students will be awarded a certificate.
Primary Program Objectives:
Understand the…