As a Physician Lending Specialist with SunTrust Mortgage, Paul Godbold helps physicians achieve their homeownership goals with the Doctor Loan Program, a unique program offering up to 100 percent financing and no mortgage insurance requirements. NCMS members may be eligible for relationship discounts and competitive pricing via this new member benefit program.

As a full-service lender, SunTrust Mortgage provides financing solutions for every stage of homeownership. Whether you are considering building or renovating a home, purchasing a second home or investment property, or refinancing your existing mortgage, Paul will work with you to understand your needs and help you identify the best mortgage to meet your individual goals.

Click here for more information about the SunTrust Mortgage Doctor Loan Program or contact Paul Godbold, Physician Lending Specialist, at 704.362.5461 or paul.godbold@suntrust.com.

The Nominating and Leadership Development Committee is seeking nominations from physician members for NCMS leadership positions that will become vacant in 2012. The deadline for receiving all nominations is July 1. If you are interested in serving in the following positions, please submit a nomination form to John R. Mangum, MD, Chair of the Nominating and Leadership Development Committee, NCMS, PO Box 27167, Raleigh, NC 27611-7167.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

▪ Officers

President-Elect (1-year term)

▪ Region and At-Large Members (3-year term)

Region 1 Representative (1)

At-Large Member (1)

OTHER POSITIONS:

▪ AMA Delegates (3) (2-year term)

▪ AMA Alternate Delegates (2) (2-year term)

The NCMS Board of Directors is seeking nominations for the following positions. If you are interested in serving in these positions, please submit a nomination form and resume to Robert W. Monteiro, MD, President, NCMS, PO Box 27167, Raleigh, NC 27611-7167.

NORTH CAROLINA MEDICAL CARE COMMISSION (1)(4-year term)

NOMINATING AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (5) (2-year term) 
     - Region 1 (2)
     - Region 2 (1)
     - Region 3 (1)
     - Region 4 (1)

 Region 1: Beaufort, Bertie, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Columbus, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Duplin, Edgecombe, Gates, Greene, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, Martin, Nash, New Hanover, Northampton, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrrell, Washington, Wayne, Wilson

Region 2: Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Davidson, Davie, Durham, Forsyth, Franklin, Granville, Guilford, Johnston, Lee, Montgomery, Orange, Person, Randolph, Rockingham, Stokes, Vance, Wake, Warren

Region 3: Anson, Bladen, Cabarrus, Cleveland, Cumberland, Gaston, Harnett, Hoke, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Moore, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson Scotland, Stanly, Union                                                                         

Region 4: Alleghany, Alexander, Ashe, Avery, Burke, Buncombe, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rowan, Rutherford, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin, Yancey

For a nomination form for any of the above positions, please contact Linda Carter, Executive Assistant to EVP, CEO, at 800-722-1350 or by email at lcarter@ncmedsoc.org.

 Legislation to avoid mandatory cuts awaits budget panel, 5-1-12, Modern Healthcare
Writer Jessica Zigmond reports that the House Budget Committee will consider legislation that includes healthcare spending reductions and the repeal of some provisions of the reform law as part of a package to avoid across-the-board cuts to federal programs set to begin next year.

Finance Committee to seek provider input on fraud prevention, 5-1-12, Modern Healthcare
Writer Joe Carlson reports that the Senate Finance Committee planned to issue an open letter to US healthcare providers earlier this week to broadly solicit advice on the best ways to prevent waste, fraud and abuse in federal healthcare program.

Health centers for poor, uninsured see ranks swell, 5-1-12, Reuters
Reporter David Morgan writes that community health centers that cater to the poor and uninsured saw their patients’ ranks swell by nearly 18 percent from 2008 to 2011 as job losses left more Americans without health insurance.

Cognitive Medical Systems to implement wireless decision support platform for Perinatal Quality Collaborate of North Carolina, 5-1-12, Healthcare IT News
Cognitive Medical Systems reported that they will implement a wireless clinical decision support platform for the Perinatal Quality Collaborate of North Carolina (PQCNC), which will help improve the care of mothers and infants admitted to labor and delivery.

Study questions quality of medical evidence found in clinical trials, 5-3-12, CBS News
Reporter Ryan Jaslow writes about the findings of a new study that claims most major medical studies that guide doctors and lead to new treatment advice are not as sound as patients might expect.

NC’s Blue Cross fights lawsuit over pricing power, 5-2-12, Bloomberg Businessweek
Writer Emery P. Dalesio reports that Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina and the national Blue Cross licensing organization asked a federal court to reject a lawsuit claiming the company’s network of insurance plans across the country are limiting competition.

Poll: More in NC oppose health care law than support it, 5-2-12, Times-News
Reporter Mike Wilder reports findings from an Elon University poll that showed North Carolina residents are more likely to oppose than support national health care reform.

Stop suing patients, NAACP tells Carolinas HealthCare System, 5-1-12, The News and Observer
Reporter Ames Alexander writes that the NAACP and other groups representing low-income and working families called on Carolinas HealthCare System to stop suing patients who can’t afford to pay their hospital bills.

Houston hospitals, doctors infected by social media, 5-4-12, The Houston Business Journal
Reporter Molly Ryan writes that many Houston physicians and hospitals are considered to be “from the frontline of social media and medicine.”

Brandon collects large donations from out of state, 5-2-12, News and Record
Blogger Doug Clark writes about donations given to House District 60 candidate Democrat Marcus Brandon by many out-of-state contributors as well as in-state contributors, which included the NCMS.

NC HIE Roadshows, held by the North Carolina Health Information Exchange (NC HIE), will provide numerous sessions across North Carolina during the month of May to teach health care professionals about how NC HIE strives to implement the access, exchange and analysis of health information to improve the quality of care to patients. Click here to view the schedule and to register.

Upcoming ICD-10 Training Sessions for Practice Administrators: Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) across the state will be holding ICD-10 training and implementation sessions for medical practices. The sessions will assist practice administrators, managers, coders, billers and clinical staff understand ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes and identify documentation and implementation issues that may impact a practice. The program costs $135 for early registration and $150 up to ten days before the event. Click here for training session schedules, session agendas and to learn more about awarded continuing education credits.

North Carolina Health Information Exchange (NC HIE) Participation Agreement webinar, hosted by the North Carolina Society of Health Care Attorneys (NCSHCA) will be held on Tuesday, May 8, 2012, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm, to discuss the efforts of NC HIE in providing secure and private exchange of health information across care settings. Health care professionals participating in NC HIE must sign this agreement so it is imperative that it is easily understood. The webinar fee is $35.00 for NCSHCA members $45.00 for non-NCSHCA members. Click here for more information and to register.

First Spine Care Conference, offered by the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Multidisciplinary Spine Center, will be held from Friday-Saturday, May 11-12, 2012 at Kiawah Island, South Carolina. The conference will focus on diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, both operative and non-operative, for patients suffering from spinal disorders. Click here to register. Questions can be directed to Pamela Benjamin, MUSC CME Program Coordinator, at 843-876-1925 or benjamin@musc.edu.

NC Hospice Free Pain Assessment Workshop, hosted by the Association for Home and Hospice of North Carolina and the Hospice and Home Care Foundation of North Carolina, will be on Wednesday, June 13, 2012, 12:30 pm – 3:30 pm at the Hospice of Wake County, Raleigh, NC. The workshop will focus on pain management and assessment in patients with dementia. Click here to register.

“What’s Up, Doc, with the Future of Healthcare Law?”, a CME program hosted by the North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA), the North Carolina Society of Healthcare Attorneys, and Duke University, will be held on Friday, June 15, 2012, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, at the Duke University – North Pavilion. The program allows physicians and lawyers to discuss healthcare reform, malpractice reform and other current healthcare issues. Participants can receive up to 7.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Click here to register.

2012 Sports Medicine Symposium, an event sponsored by the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians, the Southern Regional Area Health Education Center (SR-AHEC) and the NCMS Sports Medicine Committee, will be held Saturday-Sunday, July 7-8, 2012, at Kingston Plantation Embassy Suites Hotel, Myrtle Beach, SC. Attendees can receive up to eight AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Click here for more information and to register.

North Carolina Dermatology Association (NCDA) 2012 Summer Meeting, sponsored by the Wake Area Health Education Center (Wake AHEC), will be held Friday-Sunday, July 13-14, 2012 at the Homestead Resort, Hot Springs, VA. Attendees can receive up to 10.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Click here for discussion topics; meeting schedule and fees; accommodations information and to register. Contact Nancy Lowe, NCMS Associate Director, Specialty Society and Meeting Services, at 800-722-1350 or nlowe@ncmedsoc.org for more information.

‘Alcohol Misuse and Abuse Affects Us All’ Patient Resources: ACTnowNC has launched an initiative to build awareness and communication about alcohol issues. Visit http://www.actnownc.org/ or contact Tayna Roberts, MSW, ICPS, NC ABC Commission Contractor, at 252-665-3424 or taynaroberts@gmail.com for these alcohol education resources.

Join the NCMS Foundation and Abbott Laboratories for a free webinar teleconference regarding the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s (NCQA) Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) 2011. Part one of the webinar will be offered Wednesday, May 2, 2012 and part two will be held on Wednesday, May 16, 2012. Both parts will be at 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm. The teleconference will assist practices in becoming familiar with PCMH 2011 standards and guidelines.

DAH Solutions LLC CEO Donna Hedrick, RN, BSN, CDE, will provide a hands-on review of the processes surrounding PCMH 2011 and will address issues practices are having with PCMH 2011 implementation. Click here to register. Registration is required once for both webinars.

The North Carolina Society of Health Care Attorneys (NCSHCA) will be holding the North Carolina Health Information Exchange (NC HIE) Participation Agreement webinar Tuesday, May 8, 2012, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm, to discuss the efforts of NC HIE in providing secure and private exchange of health information across care settings. Heath care professionals participating in NC HIE must sign this agreement so it is imperative that it is easily understood. The webinar fee is $35.00 for NCSHCA members and $45.00 for non-members.

Webinar speakers include Jeffrey D. Miller, NC HIE CEO, Linda Attarian, NC HIE Policy Director, Frederick Zufelt, JD, of Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, LLP and Patricia Markus, JD, of Smith Moore Leatherwood. The webinar will focus on the goals and strategies of NC HIE and provide an overview and insight into the HIE Participation Agreement, which governs the use of the HIE network.

Click here to register.

The Medical Board Review Panel is seeking candidates to fill Board seats, which will become available in November 2012. Candidates are needed for two physician Board positions and one Board seat for a physician assistant (PA) or nurse practitioner (NP). The incumbents are not eligible to apply for another term.

“The NCMB has a vitally important job of regulating the practice of medicine. I encourage NCMS members to consider serving their profession by taking a leadership role with the Medical Board,” said NCMS President Robert Monteiro, MD.

Candidates must have an active North Carolina medical license or, if applying for the PA/NP seat, an active physician assistant or nurse practitioner license. Candidates must be practicing at least part-time and have no history of public discipline for the past 10 years. Candidates should be aware that serving on the NCMB requires a significant commitment of time and those who are interested should possess both the ability and willingness to dedicate this level of service to the people of North Carolina, as well as the medical profession.

The process, established by North Carolina General Statutes  90-2 and 90-3, requires anyone interested to apply through the Review Panel, which screens applicants, conducts interviews, and makes recommendations to the Governor, who then makes appointments to the Medical Board. The application is available at: http://www.ncmedboardreviewpanel.com/ and is due by July 2, 2012. The Review Panel will interview all qualified applicants in Raleigh on August 25, 2012.

For more information, contact David Feild, the administrator for the Review Panel, at 919-414-4259.

NCMS and Pitt County Medical Society members who participated in the 22^nd Doctors on Call on Wednesday, April 25, 2012, assisted nearly 400 patients in eastern North Carolina while taking phone calls at the WITN-TV studio in Greenville, NC. Members from various specialties spent three hours answering patient questions and concerns. The NCMS, Pitt County Medical Society and WITN-TV would like to thank the following volunteers for their time and hard work:

Daniel Acosta, MD; Robert Bauer, MD; Raymond Baule, MD; Ramesh Daggubati, MD; Alex Dalzell, MD; Tracy Eskra, MD; Robert Frere, MD; Andre Hnatov, MD; Kurt Jackson, MD; Folashade Jose, MD; Geeta Katwa, MD; Eric Lindbeck, MD; Mark Manwaring, MD; Robert Monteiro, MD; Frank Parker, MD; John Pender, MD; Noel Peterson, MD; Charles Phillips, MD; Timothy Reeder, MD, MPH; David Ryan, MD; Jessica Scott, MD, JD; Jonathan Taylor, MD; Ricky Watson, MD and Charles Willson, MD.

Participating physicians received phone calls from male and female patients ranging in age from 19 to over age 75 and answered questions pertaining to dermatology, orthopaedics, family medicine, geriatrics, urology, neurology, dental, oncology, arthritis, cardiology, endocrinology, obstetrics/gynecology, ENT, infectious diseases, rheumatology, gastroenterology, ophthalmology, mental health, nutrition and wellness and more.

The NCMS facilitates Doctors on Call in conjunction with county medical societies and news stations across the state. Stay tuned to upcoming Bulletin publications for information about the next Doctors on Call event.

The North Carolina Institute of Medicine (NCIOM) recently released a data snapshot pertaining to uninsured individuals in North Carolina by age, residence and other characteristics to assist health care professionals, insurers and state and local policymakers better understand the current condition of the healthcare system. The data findings are from 2009 and 2010. Click here for the estimated rates and risk-levels of children and adults in North Carolina’s 100 counties who are uninsured. Click here for data findings conveying the common characteristics of uninsured North Carolinians.

The 2012 Sports Medicine Symposium, an event sponsored by the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians, the Southern Regional Area Health Education Center (SR-AHEC) and the NCMS Sports Medicine Committee will be held Saturday-Sunday, July 7-8, 2012 at the Kingston Plantation Embassy Suites Hotel, Myrtle Beach, SC. Attendees can receive up to eight AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.

The symposium will allow health care professionals practicing sports medicine to:

• Analyze and report on the elements of the Concussion Release for Return to Play forms;
• Recognize signs of complicated concussions;
• Comprehend the complexity of tendon injury;
• Identify exercises to treat tendinopathy;
• Become familiar with the ultrasound used to diagnose tendon tears.

Click here for more information and to register. Contact Nancy Lowe, NCMS Associate Director Specialty Society and Meeting Services, at 800-722-1350 or nlowe@ncmedsoc.org with questions or concerns.

Join the North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA), the North Carolina Society of Healthcare Attorneys, and Duke University for the “What’s Up, Doc, with the Future of Healthcare Law?” CME program on Friday, June 15, 2012, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, at the Duke University – North Pavilion. Attendees can receive up to 7.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.

The program allows physicians and lawyers to discuss healthcare reform, malpractice reform and other current healthcare issues. This is an opportunity for both physicians and lawyers to interact and develop a better understanding of each party’s concerns.

For more information and to register, click here.

The Association for Home and Hospice of North Carolina and the Hospice and Home Care Foundation of North Carolina will be hosting a free workshop on pain assessment and management in patients with dementia on Wednesday, June 13, 2012, 12:30 pm – 3:30 pm at the Hospice of Wake County, Raleigh, NC.

Workshop speaker Joseph Shega, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Chicago, will discuss the following topics:

• Hierarchy approach to pain assessment
• Modifications to nocioception
• Risks and benefits of commonly used analgesics
• Alternative expressions of pain
• Differences between dementia and confusion
• Benefits of pain treatment

Click here for more information and to register.

Due to a high volume of questions coming in through the Member Resource Center, the NCMS features a Frequently-Asked-Question (FAQ) for its members each week to share information about current medical and health care issues that their colleagues are having.

Q: If I am concerned about the health and well-being of my physician colleague, how can I make sure that he/she gets the help that they need?

A: The NCMS, along with the NCMB and the North Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants, support and endorse the North Carolina Physicians Health Program (NCPHP), an organization that helps physicians and physician assistants (PAs) whose health and/or effectiveness has been significantly impaired by alcohol, chemical dependency, behavior issues, aging or other illness. When a possibly impaired physician or PA is reported to the NCPHP, and if an issue exists, an assessment and the proper course of treatment is made available. Confidentiality and anonymity are key elements of the program. NCPHP also offers advocacy for successful participants with the NCMB, insurance companies, employers, families and others.  

Visit http://www.ncphp.org/ or contact Warren Pendergast, MD, NCPHP Medical Director and CEO, at 919-870-4480 or penderw@ncphp.org for more information about the program.

Have a question? Contact the NCMS Member Resource Center at 919-833-3836 or kfreeman@ncmedsoc.org.

The NCMS is accepting nominations for the E. Harvey Estes, Jr., MD, Physician Community Service Award. This award recognizes the many and varied services rendered by physicians to their communities apart from their practice of medicine. The recipient must be a physician licensed in North Carolina; must not have received the award previously; and must have compiled an outstanding record of community service, which, apart from his or her specific identification as a physician, reflects well on the medical profession.

Nominations must be received by July 1. For a nomination packet, please contact Linda Carter at 919-833-3836 or 800-722-1350 or lcarter@ncmedsoc.org.

 Health care law to yield $1.3 billion in insurance rebates, 4-26-12, The News and Observer/Tribune Washington Bureau
Reporter Noam N. Levey writes that US consumers and businesses will receive an estimated $1.3 billion in rebates from insurance companies this year, according to a new study quantifying a key early benefit of the health care law.

NC Pediatric Society announces opposition to Amendment One, 4-26-12, Mountain Xpress
Reporter David Forbes publishes an announcement from the Coalition to Protect All NC Families based on a press conference that took place at the NCGA explaining the NC Pediatric Society’s, as well as other professional organizations, opposition to Amendment One.

Campbell medical school OK to recruit NC students, 4-26-12, The Charlotte Observer/ Associated Press
The Associated Press reported that NC Campbell University’s medical school is getting the go-ahead to start recruiting students as it plans to become North Carolina’s fifth training institution for doctors.

Asheville doctor cited for overprescribing painkillers, falsifying records, 4-20-12, The Citizen-Times
Writer Clarke Morrison reports that the NCMB issued an emergency order prohibiting an Asheville doctor from prescribing controlled substances after finding he violated ethical and professional standards by overprescribing painkillers and falsifying patient records.

Sick of status quo, doctors test no-insurance models, 4-25-12, San Antonio Express-News
Reporter Patrick Danner writes about a small group of primary care physicians in Texas who have ditched health insurance for a “direct pay” model. One physician even utilizes North Carolina-based Physician Care Direct (PCD), a company that provides direct pay to doctors.

Alleghany woman pleads guilty to health care fraud conspiracy, 4-25-12, Wilkes Journal-Patriot
The Wilkes Journal-Patriot reported that Ann Cook of Sparta, owner of Alleghany-based Families First Home Health Care, pleaded guilty to health care fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, according to US attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Advocates push for NC patient protection, 4-26-12, The News and Observer
Reporters Ames Alexander, Karen Garloch and Joseph Neff publish investigation findings that show North Carolina hospitals are getting tax breaks but doing little to help the poor.