Bowtie Briefing for April 29, 2016

Chip Baggett, NCMS Director of Legislative Relations, summarizes a busy opening week at the legislature, covering five topics including the Governor's proposed budget, Medicaid Reform, addressing the opioid epidemic, occupational licensing boards, and federal rule changes.

Bowtie Briefing for April 22, 2016

With the 2016 short session of the General Assembly beginning on Monday, April 25, Chip Baggett outlines the legislative priorities for the NCMS. For more information on your legislators, visit www.ncleg.net and go to "Who Represents Me".

Bowtie Briefing for April 15, 2016

NCMS Director of Legislative Relations, Chip Baggett, focuses on five important developments in this week's legislative briefing: Medicaid audit results, LME-MCO consolidation, Medicaid reform public hearings, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse recommendations at the General Assembly, and grassroots communication with legislators. Watch below! For more information on the Medicaid Reform public…

Bowtie Briefing for April 8, 2016

Chip Baggett provides an update on the DHHS Listening Sessions on Medicaid Reform and also highlights upcoming committee meetings at the General Assembly that occur before the short session begins on April 25. For more information on the Medicaid Reform public hearings, visit http://www.ncdhhs.gov/nc-medicaid-reform/public-hearings. To submit an online comment about the proposed plan, visit…

Bowtie Briefing for April 1, 2016

Chip Baggett shares his advice on how to best communicate with your legislator regarding issues such as the Medicaid Reform draft waiver. Below are some helpful links. Review the NCMS Medicaid draft waiver talking points here Dates and locations of upcoming public hearings reagarding the draft waiver  

Bowtie Briefing for March 24, 2016

No bowtie and a day early -- Chip Baggett, NCMS Director of Legislative Relations, throws us some curve balls in this week's legislative briefing, where he focuses on the NCMS talking points regarding the Medicaid Reform draft waiver. Share your thoughts below on this reform plan, or visit this week's Bulletin article on the topic for more details and to comment there. To vote on your favorite…

Bowtie Briefing for March 18, 2016

Check out this week's legislative update with NCMS Director of Legislative Relations Chip Baggett. NC Doctor of the Year:  The 10 finalists have been named! To vote for your favorite physician, visit www.ncdoctorsday.org. NCMS Board Meetings:  Want  more details on tonight's March Madness Mixer? Visit www.ncmedsoc.org/mixermadness.

Bowtie Briefing for March 11, 2016

NCMS Director of Legislative Relations Chip Baggett shares developments regarding the Medicaid reform draft waiver and recent scope of practice testimony provided at the General Assembly. Want to sign up to get the Bowtie Briefing emailed to you every Friday? Email [email protected], put "Bowtie Briefing" in the subject line,  and we'll add you to the list.

Final Bowtie Briefing for 2015

Chip wraps up his inaugural series of legislative briefings and has a guest to share in his send off. Check it out below! Don't forget to register today for the North Carolina Medical Society Annual Meeting! See also: What's Your Annual Meeting Personality Type?

Chip Baggett's Bowtie Briefing for September 25, 2015

As Chip relates, "the end is near" for the legislative session. Watch the video for this week's developments in government affairs and share your thoughts below. As mentioned in the video, the NCMS Annual Meeting is only a month away. Interested in attending the NCMS PAC breakfast and Legislative Summit at the NCMS Annual Meeting? Register online today or download a registration brochure (PDF).

Bowtie Briefing for September 11, 2015

NCMS Legislative Relations Director Chip Baggett shares his thoughts on this 14th anniversary of 9/11 and urges action on two important items currently missing from the state budget in regard to Medicaid reform. Want to sign up to receive Chip's Bowtie Briefings on a weekly basis? Send [email protected] your name, practice/business name and preferred email address.

Bowtie Briefing for August 28, 2015

This week's briefing is a quick one, focusing on some new developments in Medicaid reform and updating the status of the Medical Board bill. For information on contacting your legislator regarding Medicaid reform, click here.

Bowtie Briefing for August 21, 2015

It's Friday, which means it's time for another Bowtie Briefing. Chip Baggett shares this week's legislative update, where there were dramatic developments in the Medicaid Reform plan. You can share your thoughts with the legislators mentioned in this video.  Download the list of requests that the NCMS would like to see in Medicaid Reform to help you with your conversations with your elected…

Bowtie Briefing for July 24, 2015

Get the latest update on two bills, one impacting physician assistants and the other on how you talk to your patients about guns in the home. To sign up to receive this video briefing by email, please contact [email protected] and provide your name and email address, placing "Bowtie Briefing" in the subject line. Interested in attending a White Coat Wednesday? Get more details or contact Chip…

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…

Legislature Back in Session Starting Today

The NC General Assembly officially reconvenes today, but don’t expect any big legislative moves. Legislators will spend the first couple of weeks getting organized, selecting new leaders, committee members and deciding on the rules for this long session. The business of legislating will begin in earnest on Jan. 30. As a North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) member, you have several special…

Senate Delays Vote on Health Care Bill; Read the NCMS Position on BCRA

The Senate has decided to postpone its vote on the proposed Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), which will provide more time for the NCMS to communicate its grave concerns to our Senators. To ensure the best outcome in reforming our health care system, a more deliberative approach must be taken. Political expediency will likely create new problems and add to the problems with previous……

Legislative Update: Staying Vigilant After ‘Crossover’

Last Thursday the General Assembly passed the Crossover milestone in this long legislative session. Crossover is an arbitrary date by which any bill without a fee or appropriation must make it through one legislative chamber in order to continue its progress toward becoming a law. Watch last week’s Bowtie Briefing filmed at the Legislative Building immediately after the crossover deadline to get…

Legislative Update: Now You Have the Tools to Be Informed and Take Action Quickly!

The General Assembly is beginning to hit its stride with more bills being filed that might affect your practice. The North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) tracks them all and keeps you updated on each bill’s progress – or demise – as well as how to engage with your legislator. It’s all on our 2017 Legislative Session Blog, which is updated regularly. Here are some highlights: Optometrists want to…

NCMS Closely Tracks — and Acts — on Proposals Affecting Your Practice

Your North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) Government Affairs staff continues to closely watch the action at the NC General Assembly during this long session.  We currently are tracking more than 30 bills filed that may impact your practice. Now, you can easily follow along on our website as we routinely update these and many more bills we’re tracking. Under the Advocacy tab on our homepage…

NC Medical Board Refines Safe Opioid Prescribing Initiative Criteria

The North Carolina Medical Board (NCMB) voted last month to refine how they determine who will be investigated under their Safe Opioid Prescribing Initiative (SOPI). Read the proposed rule changes here. The Board will accept comments on the proposed changes through May 1. Please email comments to [email protected]. A public hearing on the changes will be held at 10 a.m. on May 1. According to…

Get Ready: Legislative Long Session Begins In Earnest Today

As lawmakers return to Raleigh today to get down to the business of introducing bills and writing a budget for the coming biennium, the North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) wants you to be informed and ready to take action if necessary to help ensure your interests as physicians and PAs are well represented and protected. Read our new Legislative Update blog on our web homepage and watch the…

NCMS Weekly Legislative Update – January 20, 2017

Welcome to a new blog series to inform you about the legislative activities that the North Carolina Medical Society is focusing on each week! This will be in addition to the regular Bowtie Briefing videos. We hope this series of articles will be able to provide you with more detail than time allows in the video blogs. We have five main areas of priority that we expect to address in the upcoming…

NCMS Weekly Legislative Wrap-Up for January 20, 2017

Welcome to a new blog series to inform you about the legislative activities that the North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) is focusing on each week!  This will be in addition to the regular Bowtie Briefing videos.  We hope this series of articles will provide you with more detail than time allows in the video blogs. We have five areas of priority we expect to address in the upcoming legislative…

Legislative Long Session Begins Today; Cooper Moves to Expand Medicaid

The General Assembly convenes in Raleigh today to officially begin its long session. This promises to be a contentious session with many legislators at odds with newly elected Governor Roy Cooper’s agenda. Even before the start of the session last week, Gov. Cooper moved to expand Medicaid in the state and began the expansion process by sending a public notice to be posted on the Department of…

APRNs In VA System Granted Independent Practice

The Veteran Affairs Department recently finalized a controversial rule allowing advanced-practice registered nurses (APRNs) to practice independently at VA facilities throughout the country. The new rule, which takes effect on Jan. 14, 2017, will not include certified registered nurse anesthetists. Read the policy here. The change permits APRNs to practice to the full extent of their education,…

ICYMI: NCMS President’s Post-Election Message

North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) President Paul Cunningham, MD, sent all NCMS members a post-election video message and email outlining the impact the recent national election might have on health care issues important to you and your practice. Watch the video here. Review the email below: In the wake of the contentious election you can still be sure of two things: The North Carolina…

What the National and Local Elections Might Mean for Physicians and PAs

While you may feel inundated with information about November’s national and local elections, be sure to subscribe to North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) Director of Legislative Relations Chip Baggett’s popular Bowtie Briefing. These weekly videos focus on the timely legislative and advocacy issues of particular interest to you as physicians and physician assistants. Stay informed during this…

NCMS Pushed for Statewide Standing Order for Naloxone

Article by Minali Nigam, 2016 NCMS Foundation Medical Journalism Intern Last Monday at a press conference at the Guilford County’s Sheriff Office, Governor Pat McCrory signed Senate Bill 724, which allows people in North Carolina to get naloxone at pharmacies without a prescription. Naloxone is a drug that acts as an opioid antagonist and can be used to treat drug overdoses. The bill received…

NC Legislative Session Now Underway — What to Watch

North Carolina’s state senators and representatives returned to Raleigh on Monday April 25, to begin the 2016 short legislative session. Several items are worth noting as the session gets underway: Medicaid reform: As the work to reform the state’s Medicaid program continues, the North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) remains steadfast in advocating for sensible regulation of the program through…

Legislative Round-Up: Short Session Begins Monday

As the General Assembly prepares to reconvene in Raleigh on Monday, April 25 for its short session, several important events have taken place. The North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) has been monitoring them carefully. Below is a brief summary in anticipation of the session. DHHS Listening Sessions on Medicaid Reform Waiver: The NC Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) wrapped up its…

NC DHHS Unveils Medicaid Reform Draft Plan

Today the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services unveiled its multi-year draft plan to reform the state’s Medicaid program to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and NC Health Choice. As Dee Jones, Chief Operating Officer for DHHS’ new Division of Health Benefits, described it this plan is simply the “end of the beginning” of the reform process. Read the 69-page…

NC HIEA Participation Agreement Update

As the March 1 transition to a state-run Health Information Exchange (HIE) rapidly approaches, the North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) has been working closely with the HIE Authority (HIEA), the new state entity that will oversee the HIE, to help pave the way for a smooth transfer for participants. An issue with the insurance provisions in the participation agreement was resolved last week as…

NCMS Working to Ensure Sensible Medicaid Reform

The North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) is meeting regularly with state officials charged with constructing the new capitated Medicaid framework mandated by the General Assembly as well as with other stakeholders and the managed care entities likely to be pursuing a contract with the state. We are monitoring and working to influence their objectives to make sure they are in keeping with our…

What's Your Annual Meeting Personality Type?

Find the right Annual Meeting events to suit your personality: ·        The Advocate ·        The Over-Achiever ·        The Fun Seeker Advocate Personality Traits Advocates have a desire to affect change and a keen interest in all things legislative and regulatory. Many tend to sport a bow tie or appreciate the fashion statement thereof and regularly watch Chip Baggett's "Bowtie Briefings"…

Time Is Running Short To Get Medicaid Reform Right

Legislators are still optimistic a Medicaid reform bill will be passed before this extra-long session ends. Two sticking points between the House and Senate seem to have been resolved. First, it is agreed the state will no longer assume the risk for Medicaid and will ‘outsource’ that risk to other entities. Second, both chambers now appear to agree to a hybrid model in which managed care…

100 Legislative Days — With No End in Sight

Today marks the 100th day the North Carolina Legislature has been in session this year with no clear end in sight. The continuing resolution passed at the beginning of July to keep the government running absent a new state budget is set to expire on August 14.  With no progress in resolving major differences between the House and Senate on issues like Medicaid reform, that deadline seems more and…

Update on State Employee Health Plan Changes

With the General Assembly temporarily in session to take up issues like voter ID and hurricane relief, there has also been a rich discussion behind the scenes about changes to the State Employee Health Plan (SHP). State Treasurer Dale Folwell has said the plan will reimburse providers through reference-based pricing beginning in 2020. Based on feedback from our North Carolina Medical Society…

Legislative Session Ends With a Last Minute Flurry of Activity

The seemingly endless North Carolina Legislative Session finally came to a close last Wednesday – the longest session since 2001. Watch this video to hear what North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) CEO Robert W. Seligson and NCMS Director of Legislative Relations Chip Baggett had to say at the conclusion of the session. Over the last nine plus months, legislators established the framework for…

Medicaid Reform Progress — Don’t Give Up Now

As legislators reach consensus on a state budget, the debate over Medicaid reform has progressed to a point where several big questions appear to have been decided – the state will no longer assume the financial risk for Medicaid and will transfer that risk to a mix of managed care and provider-led entities. This does not mark the end of the battle for a Medicaid system that puts patients at the…