AMA Advocacy Update

 

Medicare Payment Reform

Encourage your representative to sign “Dear Colleague” letter supporting Medicare payment reform
The deadline for signing onto the “Dear Colleague” letter to House leadership is July 27—contact your representative now.
Read more.

Transitioning to value-based care: Clinical data registries
The latest in a series of “Medicare basics” issue briefs providing an in-depth look at important elements of the Medicare physician payment system is now available.
Read more.

More information available about new Making Care Primary (MCP) model
The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation has now posted slides and a transcript of its June 27 webinar describing the recently announced MCP alternative payment model, which will start in eight states in July 2024.
Read more.

National Update

Concerns over CMS increasing prior authorization requirements
The AMA recently urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) not to increase prior authorization (PA) requirements in Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS). While the AMA supports technology solutions that would modernize access to Medicare FFS PA and claims requirements, the AMA strongly objects to PA policy changes that would negatively impact both Medicare beneficiaries and physicians.
Read more.

Federal administrative simplification recommendations align with AMA comments
Recommendations from the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics (NCVHS) to the Secretary of Health and Human Services regarding adoption of updated electronic transaction standards and new and updated operating rules completely aligned with the AMA’s written comments and hearing testimonies. The AMA’s successful advocacy with NCVHS will result in reduced administrative burdens, while also protecting practices from mandates to adopt costly, unproven new technology.
Read more.

Departments release new FAQs and report to Congress on No Surprises Act
The FAQs clarify that under the Transparency in Coverage provisions of the law, health plans are required to make price comparison information for covered facility fees available to patients through an internet-based self-service tool and in paper form, upon request. Additionally, physicians and facilities are required to provide good faith estimates to self-pay or uninsured patients in connection with facility fees.
Read more.

AMA responds to OSTP request for information on national priorities for AI
AMA comments highlighted current AMA policy on augmented intelligence and brought attention to new policy on AI oversight from the June 2023 House of Delegates meeting.
Read more.

HHS OIG issues information blocking enforcement regulation for HIEs/HINs and health IT developers
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) published a final regulation around enforcement of the 21st Century Cures Act information blocking provisions and civil monetary penalties up to $1 million per violation. In instances where physicians believe an EHR vendor is blocking information unnecessarily or using legal or financial roadblocks to prevent access to patients’ medical records, that EHR vendor may be an information blocker and subject to enforcement.
Read more.

Federal proposals would strengthen Medicaid and CHIP coverage
The AMA recently weighed in on two proposed rules from CMS that would aim to strengthen payment adequacy and expand coverage for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) beneficiaries.
Read more.

New modifier 25 brief
A brief on modifier 25, developed based on a referred resolution from which the Council on Medical Service developed a report that was adopted during the June 2023 Annual Meeting, is now available.
Read more.

Registration open for AMPAC Campaign School
At the 2023 AMPAC Campaign School, which will be taking place in-person on Oct. 12-15 at the AMA offices in Washington, D.C., participants will learn everything they need to know to run a successful campaign. The deadline to register is Sept. 18.
Read more.

State Update

23 medical boards make changes to support physician well-being
Nearly two dozen state medical boards have made changes to their licensing applications to help support physicians who seek care for mental health or a substance-use disorder. States have changed their licensure applications as organizations such as the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation, the AMA and the Federation of State Medical Boards have pushed for officials to take a look at the questions they ask physicians seeking licensure and to eliminate or reword intrusive questions.
Read more.

How states can boost telehealth with more flexible licensure
An AMA issue brief outlines the spectrum of approaches states are adopting for telehealth licensure and provides model language for states to consider when seeking to implement licensure flexibilities.
Read more.

Judicial Update

Don’t criminalize pregnant patients with substance-use disorders
In a win for pregnant patients and their physicians, an Ohio appellate court has overturned a jury verdict that would have sent a woman to prison after she disclosed that she used illicit drugs during her pregnancy.
Read more.


Want to Know More About The Collaborative Care Model? There's an Informercial For That.

 

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has partnered with NC AHEC to provide educational and practice-based support to primary care practices interested in implementing the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM).

Collaborative Care Model is an integrated modality that provides patients with medical and behavioral health care in a primary care setting.

Benefits of CoCM include better patient outcomes, improved patient and provider satisfaction, and reduction in health care costs. In addition, using CoCM may reduce health disparities in access to behavioral health.

To learn more about CoCM and how it’s being implemented in practices statewide, visit the website to view a collection of informercials.


Have Patients Losing Medicaid Coverage Who Still Need Prescriptions Filled?

The North Carolina Drug Card could help!

Program Highlights

  • Save up to 80% on prescriptions
  • Free pharmacy coupon card
  • Discounts on brand & generic drugs
  • Accepted at over 68,000 pharmacies nationwide
  • No restrictions & HIPAA compliant

For more information contact: [email protected]

To learn more and get the Free Prescription Savings Coupon Card visit: NORTHCAROLINADRUGCARD.COM or scan QR code.


AMPAC Campaign School Now Open for Registration

 

 

AMPAC is excited to announce that the 2023 Campaign School will be returning in-person October 12-15 at the AMA offices in Washington, DC and registration is now open!

Running an effective campaign can be the difference between winning and losing a race. That's why the Campaign School is designed to give you the skills and strategic approach you will need on the campaign trail. Our team of political experts will teach you everything you need to know to run a successful campaign.

Participants range from those attracted to grassroots efforts to those considering becoming a candidate for public office. No matter where you are in the process, you will develop a new understanding of how campaigns are run. As a graduate of the AMPAC program, candidates will rely on you to give them advice on strategy, message, and campaign plans.

Registration fee is $350 for AMA Member/$1000 for non-AMA members. This fee is waived for AMA residents and students; however, space is limited and the AMPAC Board will review and select four participants from the pool of qualified resident and student applicants.

The deadline to register is September 18 (or sooner if maximum capacity is reached).

Learn more about the 2023 AMPAC Campaign School and how to register here.


FDA Approves First Over-the-counter Birth Control Pill

 

The FDA has approved the first nonprescription birth control pill available over the counter. Opill, also known as the "mini-pill," contains one hormone, progestin, and is taken daily. It was first approved by the FDA as a prescription in 1973.

The approval marks a major win for medical groups, including the American Medical Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which have been pushing for years for an over-the-counter birth control pill.

The FDA said it is approving the over-the-counter version for all users of reproductive age, including teenagers,

The maker of the Opill, Perrigo’s HRA Pharma, said it doesn’t expect it will be available until “early 2024.”

Read the full article here.

 

Related stories:

FDA Advisers Vote Unanimously in Support of Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill


Interested in a Leadership Role? Wake County Medical Society Looking for New Officers

The Wake County Medical Society is looking for great physicians and surgeons to become its next generation of leaders. Officers will be elected at the October 2023 general meeting.

WCMS President, Dr. Ted Kunstling says, “Serving in leadership positions can gave purpose and meaning to your professional life, very important in this era of burn-out. I have never regretted opportunities to serve my colleagues and my community.”

A Nominating Committee consisting of three past presidents including Drs. Robert Munt, David Gremillion, and Peter Morris is in the process of identifying candidates for Officer and at-large Executive Council positions.

WCMS active members in good standing and life members who might be interested in serving in a leadership role or who wish to make a nomination should contact Dr. Kunstling or any other member of the Nominating Committee.

A slate of candidates will be communicated to the membership prior to the October 17, 2023, general meeting at which time eligible members present shall vote. Officers and EC members will be installed at the December meeting of WCMS.


NCMS PAC Thankful Thursday!

 

On this Thankful Thursday, we are recognizing some of our NCMS PAC Investors! Thank you for your continued investment in your patients and profession. Contact Hannah Rice ([email protected]) to learn more about how you can make a difference.

Ketarah C. Robinson, MD
Lorin E. Johnson, MD
Nerva Augustin, MD
Noel Peterson, MD
Susan H. Andersen, MD


ACTION ALERT: Medicare Payment Fix is Long Overdue

A Medicare Payment Fix is Long Overdue.

Contact Your Member of Congress Today!

 

Physicians are the only providers whose Medicare payments do not automatically receive an annual inflationary update. As a result, Medicare physician payments have lagged 26% behind the rate of inflation growth since 2001.

The North Carolina Medical Society joins the AMA, other state medical societies and national specialty academies in seeking congressional action to remedy this payment disparity. Specifically, we are encouraging our members of Congress to support H.R. 2474, legislation that would reform this flawed system and provide annual inflationary updates, based on the Medicare Economic Index (MEI).

This legislation is a step toward fixing payment inequities and injecting more financial stability into physician practices, allowing them to invest in new ways of providing care and ultimately assuring Medicare beneficiaries have access to high-quality care.

We are asking NCMS members to contact members of Congress and urge them to help fix the flawed Medicare physician payment system by supporting H.R. 2474 today! Click below to take action TODAY and let members of the house know why they should support this bill.

Thank you for supporting our advocacy efforts and for encouraging your colleagues to do likewise.


TBT: Celebrating 20 years of Leadership in Medicine! Here is Dr. Derek Clar's MEDTalk from 2019

This year the North Carolina Medical Society is celebrating 20 years of Leadership in Medicine!

Here is a Throwback Thursday to Dr. Derek Clar's MEDTalk from 2019 on "Anesthesia, Pain and Fewer Opioids."  Look for a new TBT every Thursday until the 2023 LEAD Conference, October 13-14.

https://youtu.be/FrltHMwceiQ

 

The 2023 LEAD conference registration is NOW OPEN.  Click here for more information. 

Please contact Erica Hall at NCMS to organize a class table at the LEAD Gala of your own. 

 


NC Medicaid Tailored Plan Update: Delay in Implementation

 

To ensure beneficiaries can seamlessly receive care on day one, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is delaying the implementation of the NC Medicaid Managed Care Behavioral Health and Intellectual/ Developmental Disabilities Tailored Plans (Tailored Plans) scheduled for Oct. 1, 2023, but will now go forward at a date still to be determined.

Tailored Plans will provide the same services as Standard Plans and will also provide additional specialized services for individuals with complex behavioral health conditions, Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DDs) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Our highest priority is making sure that the transition to Tailored Plans is as seamless as possible for the beneficiaries they will serve. The individuals who will be served by Tailored Plans often have complex behavioral and physical health needs, and as a result their care is often more complex too. This increases the importance of a smooth transition with minimal disruption.

In late February 2023, when the Department made the decision to delay to October 1, leadership identified three key areas of work that needed to be completed to ensure a smooth transition. First, that the LME/MCO provider network and technical capability readiness needed to improve; second, that the Department had the appropriate legal tools to ensure the life and safety of beneficiaries if an LME/MCO is failing to provide services; and third, that the LME/MCOs were focused on providing services for the populations they are best positioned to manage successfully.

While gaps remain in provider networks, progress has been made by the LME/MCOs on technical capabilities. While the Department has been working collaboratively with the legislature to achieve the necessary tools to administer the Tailored Plans on par with other managed care plans, they still have not been achieved. Further, uncertainty with the budget, which will fund transformation costs and rebase for the Medicaid program, creates additional needs for launching Tailored Plans. Because there remains no clarity on when those issues will be fully resolved, the Department is announcing the delay in Tailored Plans now but is not able to announce a certain go-forward date.

Beneficiaries who will be covered by the Tailored Plans will continue to receive behavioral health care as they do today. North Carolina’s unique Tailored Care Management model, which launched Dec. 1, 2022, will continue developing and supporting beneficiaries by providing a care team to coordinate care across providers.  Additionally, on July 1, 2023, the LME/MCOs began to provide 1915(i) services to offer Medicaid beneficiaries with serious mental illness, severe substance use disorders, intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) an array of home and community based (HCBS) services.

NCDHHS understand that uncertainty is challenging for beneficiaries, especially those with complex medical needs. They will continue to work closely with LME/MCOs to launch Tailored Plans on the fastest possible timeline that can guarantee a smooth transition.

For more information about Tailored Plans, visit NC Medicaid’s Tailored Plan website. For more information about 1915i services, visit NC Medicaid’s recent provider bulletin.


Celebrating 20 Years of Leadership Training. KIPL Alumni Spotlight: Kristen Dorsey, MD, FAAP

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP TRAINING!

Kristen Dorsey, MD, FAAP

Kristen Dorsey, MD, FAAP

 

As a young child, I always wanted to be a Pediatrician. As I worked my way through undergrad and medical school, I realized that the field of medicine needed more diversity. Now that I have been practicing and serving for the last ten years in a medically underserved area, I know that my mission is to bring quality medical care to those who are vulnerable and who need it the most, while being a role model to African-American children who might not otherwise see individuals that look like them practicing medicine.

The Kanof Institute of Physician Leadership (KIPL) has influenced my current work by empowering me with skills that have allowed me to move into a leadership role as Chief Medical Officer within my organization. In this role, I am responsible for helping to nurture and develop the leadership skills of the providers within our organization. I had to learn about my leadership style through the KIPL to be successful in my current role.

Knowing that I am making a difference in the health and lives of the children and families I see and the community I serve motivates me to do the work I do!

You can’t know everything within medicine, but you should know your resources and who to ask.

 

To learn more about leadership training opportunities at NCMS click here.

To register for the 2023 LEAD Conference and Golden Stethoscope Awards Gala or to become a sponsor click here.


Carbon Monoxide ... Colorless, Odorless, Deadly

How can you protect yourself, your family, and your patients?

According to the CDC, each year, more than 400 Americans die from unintentional Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning not linked to fires, more than 100,000 visit the emergency room, and more than 14,000 are hospitalized.

CO is and odorless, colorless gas that can be deadly. It's found in fumes produced by burning fuel in cars or trucks, small engines, stoves, lanterns, grills, fireplaces, gas ranges, or furnaces.

Anyone is at risk for CO poisoning, even animals. Infants, the elderly, people with chronic heart disease, anemia, or breathing problems are more likely to get sick from CO.

The CDC offers guidance to prevent CO poisoning in your home and avoiding CO poisoning from your car or truck. Visit their Carbon Monoxide Poisoning webpage here.


North Carolina Named America’s Top State For Business!

 

 

CNBC has named North Carolina as America’s Top State for Business in 2023 for the second year in a row.

The CNBC study looks at 86 metrics in ten categories of competitiveness. North Carolina ranked #1 in workforce and highly in the economy, technology and innovation, and access to capital categories. This is the second year in a row that CNBC has named North Carolina as America’s top state for business and only the second time in the ranking’s history that a state has received the top spot two years in a row. Since 2017, North Carolina has placed in the top five of state rankings four times.

Read the full press release here.


Local Health Systems Receives Newsweek's America's Best Cancer Hospitals 2023 Distinction

 

Duke Health, UNC Hospitals, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and CarolinaEast have been named best cancer hospitals by NewsWeek.

Statista and Newsweek provided the list of America's Best Cancer Hospitals 2023. This ranking awards leading hospitals providing cancer care in the United States. Results were compiled, and awards were presented based on three data sources—a nationwide online survey, hospital quality metrics and patient experience.

Duke University Hospital ranked 14, UNC Hospitals ranked 42, Duke Regional ranked 80, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist ranked 143, and CarolinaEast Medical Center ranked 165.

See the complete list here.


“The Tree of Hope” Memorializes Late NCMS Lifetime Member Dr. Bill Bowman

Greensboro – A new stainless-steel sculpture shimmers in the Cone Health Cancer Center at Wesley Long Hospital Healing Gardens. The 12 ft. tree was created by Greensboro artist and cancer survivor Lawrence Feir in memory of Dr. Bill Bowman.

When Bowman died unexpectedly in 2021, 87 family and friends donated money for a memorial. Since Bowman spent every Thursday at the healing garden there was little doubt where the memorial should go. Gardeners had talked of a sculpture of a tree to fill an empty wall near the cancer center and they knew exactly where to find one. Feir is a cancer survivor who wanted to express his thanks for the care and compassion of staff. Between chemotherapy and radiation treatments in 2018, he found refuge in the tranquil gardens--sketching trees.

"I wanted to give back to all the doctors, nurses and patients who supported me through a very difficult time. They saved my life,” says Feir. “It was an honor to be selected to create a sculpture in memory of Dr. Bowman.”

Gay Bowman is thrilled with the result honoring her late husband who was a prominent Greensboro surgeon for 30 years. The silver silhouette of the tree reflects the light around it. At times, it has a green, almost moss-like border. At midday it turns silver. To Gay, the windswept, plasma cut branches carry a necessary reminder of not to stop when times get tough — but to move through them. “That was hard,” says Gay reflecting on the loss of Bill. “That’s what we want for the patients and families, to find hope, peace and tranquility, and to move forward.”

The Healing Garden at Cone Health Cancer Center was designed by landscape designer Sally Pagliai and has become a locally renowned place of respite and beauty. [source]


Prescription Assistance for Your Low-income, Uninsured Patients

Do you have patients needing help with prescriptions or even over-the-counter medications? Direct them to NC MedAssist.

NC MedAssist is a nonprofit pharmacy program providing access to lifesaving prescription medications, patient support, advocacy and related services to poor, vulnerable, and uninsured North Carolina residents. NC MedAssist seeks to ensure that no eligible person in North Carolina has to choose between purchasing food or their needed medication.

Theirs programs include:

  • The Free Pharmacy program provides free prescription medication to North Carolina residents who are low-income, uninsured and fall at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.
  • The Senior Care program is a pharmacy resource for adults 65 and over. If Medicare Part D prescription benefits run out during the year, seniors can utilize the program to learn about other prescription medicine options. The Mobile Free Pharmacy provides adults and children who are low-income and in need with free over the counter medicine. Medicine such as aspirin, children’s cough syrup, allergy medicine and vitamins are just a few items given to families who need assistance.

Visit their website here to learn more about their programs and services.


Sign Up Now for Our 1st Virtual KIPL Alumni Event This Month!

 

If you are a Kanof Institute for Physician Leadership (KIPL) Alumni/Scholar, we have some wonderful opportunities for you, starting with a free virtual training workshop next month. This workshop is presented in partnership with the NC Professionals Health Program (NCPHP) and the NC Medical Society (NCMS).

Join us for our first KIPL Alumni event, a free comprehensive workshop on suicide prevention for clinicians. This 90-minute virtual event is designed to provide you with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to identify, assess, and support colleagues who may be at risk of suicide.

Suicide is a growing public health concern and each year in the U.S., roughly 300 – 400 physicians die by suicide. As clinician leaders, it is crucial to be able to recognize the warning signs and provide the appropriate interventions to prevent suicide. This workshop will provide you with the latest evidence-based practices and strategies for preventing suicide.

(courtesy: UNC Greensboro)

Led by Dr. Rebecca Mathews, PhD, LCMHCS, LPC-S, CBGT, CHST – Clinical Assistant Professor with the Counseling and Educational Development (CED) Department at UNC Greensboro, Dr. Mathews is highly experienced and knowledgeable in the field of suicide prevention and will provide you with practical tools and strategies that you can apply in your clinical practice.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to enhance your knowledge and skills in suicide prevention. This training workshop is suitable for all clinicians in any role.

Two dates are available for the Question, Persuade, Refer: Suicide Prevention Training:

July 25, 2023 | 3:30pm - 5:00pm | Zoom Meeting
July 26, 2023 | 6:30pm - 8:00pm | Zoom Meeting

Space for these exclusive virtual workshops is limited to just 35 attendees per session; please register soon!

For questions or more information, please contact us at [email protected]. We look forward to seeing you there!

 


Medicare to Cover FDA-Approved Alzheimer’s Drug Leqembi

 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given full approval to an Alzheimer’s treatment that will expand access to the expensive drug for older Americans.

Leqembi is the first Alzheimer’s antibody treatment to receive full FDA approval. While it's not a cure, the treatment slowed cognitive decline from early Alzheimer’s disease by 27% over 18 months during Eisai’s clinical trial. The antibody, administered twice monthly through intravenous infusion, targets a protein called amyloid that is associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Notable, Leqembi is the first such drug to receive broad coverage through Medicare. Shortly after the FDA approval, Medicare announced it is now covering the antibody treatment. However, several conditions apply. To be eligible for coverage, patients must be enrolled in Medicare, diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or mild Alzheimer’s disease, and have a doctor who is participating in a data-collection system the federal government has established to monitor the treatment’s benefits and risks.

Leqembi has an annual list price of $26,500. Medicare coverage will allow many more seniors access to this potentially life-altering treatment.

Read more about Leqembi and Medicare's coverage of the groundbreaking treatment here.


NCDHHS Receives Huge Honors for Its COVID-19 Web Messaging and Campaigns

 

 

NCDHHS received ClearMark Awards from the Center for Plain Language for its COVID-19 website and Spanish-language COVID-19 spring /summer educational campaign.

The judges noted that the web content helps readers succeed in their tasks, including self-testing, finding out how to take care of themselves when they get sick, or getting information on COVID rates in the state.

Additionally, NCDHHS was recognized as a Spanish Language Winner for a campaign created to encourage Spanish speakers of the Hispanic/Latino community to get their COVID vaccines ahead of summer.

 


Foundation Friday! Thank You to These NCMS Foundation Donors.

 

 

Today, the NCMS Foundation recognizes donors who have joined us on the journey to help make health and well-being attainable for all North Carolinians. These individuals are contributing to make sure clinicians are where they are needed most and that clinician leaders are lighting the way.

Christopher M. Cerjan, MD
Louis P. Clark, Jr., MD -- Life Member
Robert H. Gaither, MD -- Life Member
Damian F. McHugh, MD, FACEP
Bryan R. Neuwirth, MD, DDS

Thank you for your continued support to help North Carolinians lead healthier lives!

Learn more about how YOU can make a difference too here.


2023 AMA Annual Meeting Report from the NCMS AMA Delegation

Headlining the national scene in June was the 2023 Annual Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates. The House is a democratic forum and process that invites the views and interests of a diverse group of member physicians and students from more than 170 constituencies, including state medical societies and national specialty societies. The House of Delegates meets twice per year to establish policy on health, medical, professional and governance matters, as well as the principles which guide the AMA’s activities and engagement. 

Delegate representation is allocated on a proportionate basis with one delegate seat allowed for every 1,000 AMA members. Presently, the NC Medical Society has 6 delegates to the AMA and 6 alternate delegate slots allotted too. The NC Delegation is chaired by Rebecca Hayes, MD, of Charlotte, NC and includes: 

E. Rebecca Hayes, MD / Chair
Delegate / Concord, NC
Mary Ann Contogiannis, MD
Delegate/ Greensboro, NC
John A. Fagg, MD
Delegate / Winston-Salem, NC
Darlyne Menscer, MD
Delegate / Charlotte, NC
Karen Smith, MD
Delegate / Raeford, NC
Royce Syracuse, MD
Delegate / Charlotte, NC
Arthur Apolinario, MD, MPH
Alternate Delegate / Clinton, NC
Eileen Raynor, MD
Alternate Delegate / Durham, NC
Michael Utecht, MD
Alternate Delegate / Durham, NC
John Meier, IV, MD
Alternate Delegate / Raleigh, NC

North Carolina AMA Delegation 2023 AMA Annual Meeting

For 2023, the NC delegation also welcomed Alex Soltany, medical student delegate to the AMA from Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Art Apolinario, MD
NCMS President and NC AMA Delegation Member

The House accepts several hundred Reports and Resolutions for consideration at each meeting, and the deliberative process includes a series of Reference Committee hearings to allow open debate to reach consensus. There were a total of 490 items of business at the recent 2023 Annual Meeting which touched on a variety of topics impacting patient care and the medical profession. Highlighting the items on the agenda were: 

 Medicare Payment Reform 

The Role of BMI (Body Mass Index) as a Measure in Medicine 

Physician Mental Health – Licensing and Credentialing 

Use of Artificial Intelligence in Prior Authorization 

Telehealth – Access to Care 

Qualified Supervision of Emergency Care Services 

Promoting Equitable Care 

Diversity in Medicine 

Non-competes 

Definition of “Employed Physician” 

Medicare Coverage of Dental, Vision and Hearing Services 

Physician Unionization 

Medical Use of Psychedelic Agents 

Access to Care for Incarcerated Patients 

Long-term Care for Dementia Patients 

Oversight of Non-physician Practitioners 

Telemedicine and Health Equity 

CMS Interpretation of the Stark Law 

Foster Care Services 

Access to Naloxone in Schools 

Gender Affirming Care 

Substance Abuse Disorder Treatment Stigma 

Repeal of the Physician-owned Hospital Ban 

Management and Leadership Training in Medical School 

GME (Graduate Medical Education) Funding 

International Medical Graduates 

Unmatched Medical Students 

Gun Violence 

Abortion 

Substance Use / Overdose 

Kratom Regulation 

Health System Consolidation 

 The AMA House of Delegates will convene for the 2023 AMA Interim Meeting over the dates of November 11-14 at the Gaylord National in National Harbor, Maryland.


Time is Running Out! Submit Your Abstract in the AMA Research Challenge and You May Win $10,000!

 

Enter the AMA Research Challenge for the chance to showcase your research, enhance your CV and win a $10,000 grand prize!

The AMA Research Challenge is the largest national, multi-specialty medical research conference for medical students, residents and fellows, and international medical graduates to showcase and present research.

Submit an abstract under one of six topics: basic science, clinical and translational research, clinical vignettes, health systems science, medical education, public health and health policy.

Learn more and how to submit here.

Hurry! The submission deadline is July 11, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. Central.


TBT: Celebrating 20 years of Leadership in Medicine! Here is Geoffrey Slaughter, MD's MEDTalk from 2020

This year the North Carolina Medical Society is celebrating 20 years of Leadership in Medicine!

Here is a Throwback Thursday to Dr. Geoffrey Slaughter's MEDTalk from 2020 on "Let's Intend to End Unintended Pregnancy."  Look for a new TBT every Thursday until the 2023 LEAD Conference, October 13-14.

https://youtu.be/-HrjSxzsYU8

 

The 2023 LEAD conference registration is NOW OPEN.  Click here for more information. 

Please contact Erica Hall at NCMS to organize a class table at the LEAD Gala of your own. 

 


UNC: Experimental Drug Could Boost Therapy Against Some Cancers

 

The University of North Carolina and the University of Wisconsin have collaborated on developing a new anti-cancer drug candidate, called CB-2PA-NT, that may have a wide application.

This research lays the groundwork for future studies to use CB-2PA-NT in human imaging, although, regulatory approval is still needed before these studies can commence.

New study findings, presented at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Annual Meeting (SNMMI 2023), position CB-2PA-NT as a promising candidate for an innovative theranostics strategy.

Theranostics presents a powerful strategy in the fight against cancer, combining two essential elements. It involves identifying cancer cells throughout the body and administering specialized radiation to eliminate them.

Read the full article here.


Telehealth Services Still Booming in N.C.

 

RALEIGH, N.C. — Psychiatrists say remote mental health treatment soared during the pandemic and it’s still booming now more than ever.

A study conducted by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology found 87% of office-based physicians used telemedicine in 2021 compared to 15% in 2018 and 2019.

Dr. Nate Sowa with UNC Health says using technology such as telehealth and virtual visits allows existing providers to reach a lot more patients than they did previously.

In-person visits remain high. Sowa, a physician with the UNC Health Department of Psychiatry, says there’s been a surge in demand for behavioral health care and services.

“Unfortunately, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve seen huge increases in the amount of depression and anxiety symptoms amongst certain age groups, especially amongst young men and women, adolescents and in their early 20s,” said Sowa.

Sowa says using technology such as telehealth and virtual visits allows existing providers to reach more patients than they did previously.

“Especially individuals who live in rural communities who may not otherwise have access to care,” Sowa explained.

There can be barriers to telemedicine. Some patients said they encountered difficulties in using the technology, and others said limited internet access and speed were a problem.

“We continue to face some challenges. One of the things we realized during the pandemic, while those challenges still exist, [is] more people than we really thought could access virtual care,” Sowa said.

Sowa says they used telehealth to increase access to services within some of their UNC Heath-affiliated hospitals in rural areas, and are providing services to emergency departments.

They are trying to develop models where they’re providing telehealth psychiatrist services in schools in rural settings where kids may not have access to these resources. [source]

 

We want to know ...

How has telehealth impacted your practice?


CMS Announces New Payment Model: Making Care Primary

 

On June 8, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new voluntary primary care payment model for Medicare called Making Care Primary (MCP) that will be tested in eight states, including North Carolina.

CMS is offering this model for qualified Medicare providers in North Carolina beginning in July 2024.

The MCP model will provide a pathway for primary care clinicians with varying levels of experience in value-based care to gradually adopt prospective, population-based payments, while building infrastructure to improve behavioral health and specialty integration and drive equitable access to care. The 10.5-year model will improve care management and care coordination, equip primary care clinicians with tools to form partnerships with health care specialists, and leverage community-based connections to address patients’ health needs as well as their health-related social needs (HRSNs) such as housing and nutrition.

Learn more about the new MCP model here.


New Addiction Medicine CME Series Helps You Meet Updated DEA Requirements

 

The North Carolina Medical Board and Wake AHEC, in collaboration with the North Carolina Medical Society and the Addiction Medicine Fellowship program at UNC School of Medicine, have developed an eight-hour CME series that meets the new training requirement recently established by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

On December 29, 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 enacted a new one-time requirement for active DEA registrants to complete eight hours of education on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders. DEA registrants who renew on or after June 27, 2023, will be asked to certify that they have completed the required hours.

The new Addiction Medicine Series offers education on a variety of key topics in addiction medicine, including the impacts of stigma, integrating addiction treatment in the primary care setting, and treatment of substance use in special populations.

Here is the full list of classes available in the series:

1. The End of a Bygone Era: Removal of the X-waiver Next Steps in Buprenorphine Prescribing
2. Addiction In Primary Care
3. Treating Chronic Pain and Addictions
4. Responding to Pediatric Substance Use
5. Understanding the Impacts of Stigma: Substance Use Disorder
6. Addiction and Mental Illness
7. The Impact of Stigma and Bias on Substance Use Disorder Diagnosis and Treatment
8. Current State of MOUD Access

Learn more and how to register here.


Sign Up Now for Our 1st Virtual KIPL Alumni Event This Month!

 

If you are a Kanof Institute for Physician Leadership (KIPL) Alumni/Scholar, we have some wonderful opportunities for you, starting with a free virtual training workshop next month. This workshop is presented in partnership with the NC Professionals Health Program (NCPHP) and the NC Medical Society (NCMS).

Join us for our first KIPL Alumni event, a free comprehensive workshop on suicide prevention for clinicians. This 90-minute virtual event is designed to provide you with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to identify, assess, and support colleagues who may be at risk of suicide.

Suicide is a growing public health concern and each year in the U.S., roughly 300 – 400 physicians die by suicide. As clinician leaders, it is crucial to be able to recognize the warning signs and provide the appropriate interventions to prevent suicide. This workshop will provide you with the latest evidence-based practices and strategies for preventing suicide.

(courtesy: UNC Greensboro)

Led by Dr. Rebecca Mathews, PhD, LCMHCS, LPC-S, CBGT, CHST – Clinical Assistant Professor with the Counseling and Educational Development (CED) Department at UNC Greensboro, Dr. Mathews is highly experienced and knowledgeable in the field of suicide prevention and will provide you with practical tools and strategies that you can apply in your clinical practice.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to enhance your knowledge and skills in suicide prevention. This training workshop is suitable for all clinicians in any role.

Two dates are available for the Question, Persuade, Refer: Suicide Prevention Training:

July 25, 2023 | 3:30pm - 5:00pm | Zoom Meeting
July 26, 2023 | 6:30pm - 8:00pm | Zoom Meeting

Space for these exclusive virtual workshops is limited to just 35 attendees per session; please register soon!

For questions or more information, please contact us at [email protected]. We look forward to seeing you there!

 


You Can Help Guide the Next Generation of Healthcare Professionals

 

If your health center is interested in training the next generation of clinicians, but is not ready to host students, employing a MedServe Fellow might be a good option for you!

MedServe Fellows are recent college graduates who have completed a pre-medical curriculum and are taking time off before medical school to get clinical experience.

Fellows spend two years as full-time employees in a clinic setting, in both clinical (e.g. medical assisting) and public health (e.g. outreach) roles.

The cost of hosting a Fellow is shared with MedServe's philanthropic funds.

To learn more about hosting, please visit MedServe here.


Time Is Running Out! Apply Now for Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies Program

 

 

Qualified organizations have an opportunity to apply for funding under the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies (RMOMS) program.

The purpose of the RMOMS program is to establish or continue collaborative improvement and innovation networks to improve access to and delivery of maternity and obstetrics care in rural areas.

RMOMS program goals are to:

  • Identify and implement evidence-based and sustainable delivery models for the provision of maternal and obstetrics care in rural hospitals and communities;
  • Enhance and preserve access to maternal and obstetric services in rural hospitals that includes developing an approach to aggregate, coordinate, and sustain the delivery and access of preconception, prenatal, pregnancy, labor and delivery, and postpartum services;
  • Provide training for professionals in health care settings that do not have specialty maternity care;
  • Collaborate with academic institutions that can provide regional clinical expertise (such as specialty expertise and provider support using a variety of modalities including telehealth services) and help identify barriers to providing maternal health care, including strategies for addressing such barriers; and
  • Assess and address disparities in infant and maternal health outcomes, including among rural racial and ethnic minority populations and underserved populations.

Learn more and how to submit here.

Application Deadline: July 7, 2023


CDC: Traveling This Summer? Here is Guidance on Measles.

 

In response to an increase in measle cases domestically and abroad, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory Message, providing guidance on measles prevention for those traveling this summer.

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that can lead to death. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), most measles-related fatalities occur in children under five.

CDC's message encourages people to ensure they’re fully vaccinated against the disease, particularly if they plan on traveling internationally. Clinicians and public health officials are also urged to make people aware of the risk of measles contraction and potential outcomes.

So far, 16 measles cases have been reported in the US this year, with 14 of these linked to international visits. The CDC estimates that twice as many Americans are planning on international travel this year compared to last.

Read the full article here.


Happy Birthday to These NCMS Members Celebrating This Month!

Grab your party hats and noise makers and let’s celebrate!

 

David S. Abernathy, MD
Sunil V. Abraham, MD
S. A. Abrons, MD
Olufunsho D. Adamolekun, DO
James G. Adams, MD
Tim E. Adamson, MD
Rustan O. Adcock, MD
Monica D. Agarwal, MD
Quara T. Ain, MD
Richard E. Alexander, MD
Steven T. Alexander, MD
Asra A. Ali, MD
Ashley N. Allen, MD
Kristin M. Alves, MD
Richard D. Anderson, MD
James P. Aplington, MD
Arthur E. Apolinario, MD, MPH, FAAFP, CH
Anuradha N. Arcot, MD
Edouard F. Armour, MD
Prashanti Aryal, MD
Anthony Atala, MD
Luna D. Bailey, MD
Brenda G. Baker, MD
Christopher R. Ball, MD
Daniel A. Bambini, MD
Andrew D. Barton, PA-C
W. Bryson Bateman, Jr., MD
Melisa K. Bates, MD
Michael D. Bates, MD
David R. Beckham, MD
Andrey Belayev, MD
Jessica M. Belk, PA-C
Michael J. Bell, MD
Molly A. Benedum, MD
Mary H. Berg, MD
Seth A. Bernstein, MD
Timothy R. Bevis, MD
Shaily P. Bhatnagar, MD
Abhijeet R. Bhirud, MD
Daniel S. Biggerstaff, MD
Eric M. Bishop, MD
Melinda A. Blietz, MD
William E. Bobo, MD
Anette Bodoky, MD
Matthew T. Boes, MD
Andrew M. Bohunicky, PA-C
Gideon J. Bollino, MD
Robert B. Boswell, MD
Scott A. Bovard, MD, FACS
Emily Jane H. Box, MD
Diana F. Bradley, MD
Preston H. Bradshaw, Jr., MD
Adam C. Braithwaite, MD
Aaron J. Braunsteiner, MD
Jeffrey H. Breiner, MD
Charles B. Brett, MD
Laura D. Brown, MD, FACS
Michael D. Brown, MD
Morry D. Brown, MD, PhD
Ryan M. Brown, MD
Amy M. Bruton, MD
Halie S. Bryan, PA-C
Robert C. Buresh, DO
Margaret O. Burke, MD
Stuart H. Burri, MD
Frederick C. Butler, Jr., MD
Elise Caceres-Mason, PA-C
Gabriel T. Cade, MD
Anthony J. Caprio, MD
Khary S. Carew, MD
Edgar S. Caro, MD
Cody G. Carpenter, MD
Daniel P. Carpenter, MD
Robert A. Cerwin, MD
Robert J. Chamberlain, MD
Chitrabharathi Chandrasekaran, MD
Rhoda Y. Chang, MD
Christopher P. Chao, MD
Jack M. Chapman, Jr., MD
Shana N. Chase, PA-C
William W. Cheatham, Jr., DO
Earl M. Chester, MD
Alan W. Chiemprabha, MD
Vincent M. Chiodo, MD
Seung S. Choi, MD
Krista Civiletti, DO
Thomas V. Clancy, MD, FACS
Christian Clark, MD
David A. Clark, MD, FACS
Herbert W. Clegg, II, MD, FAAP
Tracey S. Cloninger, PA-C
S. Ray Coleman, MD, FAAP
Ann M. Collins, PA-C
Diane H. Conley, MD
Mary Ann Contogiannis, MD
Joseph W. Cook, MD
Wesley A. Cook, Jr., MD
Edwin B. Cooper, Jr., MD
J. Nathan Copeland, MD
William B. Costenbader, Jr., MD
Donald J. Costic, MD
Austin T. Cox, MD
Carlton A. Crain, PA-C
Richard D. Crane, MD
Thomas Craven, Jr., MD
William L. Crawford, Sr., MD
John N. Crook, MD
John R. Crouse, III, MD
Amanda R. Crow, MD
Paul R. G. Cunningham, MD
Sunny R. Darji, MD
George A. Dasher, MD
Lisa M. David, PA-C
Gabriela R. de Boer, MD
Cedric R. Deang, MD, FACS
Brendan M. DeCenso, MD
Shari A. Del Do, MD
Rosemary E. DeLeon, MD
Robert J. Denton, MD
Michael C. DeSantis, MD
Gregory Diamonti, MD
Christoph R. Diasio, MD, FAAP
Robert A. Dilorenzo, MD
Maureen D. Dollinger, MD
Jaclyn M. Dovico, MD
Paul M. Dunneback, III, PA-C
Richard J. Dwane, MD
Veronica A. Dziminski, PA-C
Anna B. Edhegard, MD
George J. Ellis, Jr., MD
Mark C. Ellis, MD
Erin K. P. Ennis, MD
Charles R. Epes, MD
Nurum F. Erdem, MD
James A. Fagan, MD
Jerrod J. Felder, MD
Molly C. Fike, PA-C
Michelle M. Fillion, MD, FACS
Alison M. Flanagan-Singletary, DO
Matthew K. Flynn, MD
Lisa E. Fogel, MD
William F. Folds, MD
Emily A. Fontinha, PA-C
Raetta B. Fountain, MD
Kyla R. Freeman, MD
Gloria D. Frelix, MD
John W. French, MD
Robert R. Friedrichs, MD
Angela M. Frierson, MD
Alessia Gallo, PA-C
Venu Gopala Reddy Gangireddy, MD
Chandana Ganguli, MD
Gary B. Garison, MD
Winston J. Garris, MD
Benjamin T. German, MD
Nevil N. Ghodasara, MD
Ajmal M. Gilani, MD
Robert S. Gilgor, MD
Matthew Giordanengo, DO
Wanda L. Godfrey, MD
Raleigh K. Godsey, Jr., MD
William K. Goglin, Jr., MD
Swaroop S. Gonchikar, MD
Joel S. Goodwin, MD
Kristi D. Gordin, MD
Robert P. Gossett, MD
Kristin M. Gowin, MD, MSCE
Allen T. Grady, MD
Walter B. Greene, MD
David A. Gregg, MD
Chanda A. Griessel, MD
Grace E. Gronvold, PA
Ashlyn A. Gruber, PA-C
Philip M. Guilford, DO
Richard J. Guillot, MD
Gordon Z. Guo, MD
Blaine P. Hall, MHS-CL, PA-C
Aimee H. Han, PA-C
Daniel W. Hankley, MD
Matthew D. Hannibal, MD
Olin L. Harbury, MD
Stephen P. Hardy, MD, FAAP
Larry O. Harper, MD
Alan D. Harrell, MD
Christopher W. Harris, MD
William R. Harris, IV, MD
Robert W. Hart, III, MD
Charles M. Hassell, Jr., MD
Eddie K. Hasty, MD
David M. Hatch, MD, MBA
R. Dax Hawkins, MD
Carl L. Haynes, Jr., MD
John L. Hazlehurst, MD
William B. Hebda, MD
Kristin K. Hedge, MD
Andrew Z. Heling, MD
Jefferson B. Helms, Jr., MD
Jennifer L. Helton, MD
Shaw C. Henderson, MD
Adam R. Henn, MD
Cyrus Heravi, MD
Brandon D. Herb, MD
R. McPhail Herring, Jr., MD
Willard G. Hession, MD
Matthew J. Heuton, MD
Sarah E. Hicks, PA-C
Hector J. Hidalgo, MD
Jonathan S. Hines, MD
Michael M. Hirsch, MD, FACP
Victor W. Ho, MD
Shawn B. Hocker, MD
Dustin C. Hoffman, MD
Ross M. Hoffman, MD
Michael L. Holdeman, MD
Robert H. Hosea, MD
Christopher G. Houdek, DO
Brenna K. Houlihan, MD
Edwin Houng, MD
Donald D. Howe, MD
Frederick L. Howell, MD
Diana Hsu, MD
J. Slade Hubbard, MD
Kenneth R. Huber, MD
Debera L. Huderly, MD
Elizabeth M. Hueman, MD
Jerry P. Huey, MD
Allan D. Huffman, MD
Stephanie A. Hughes, DO
Kurt L. Hunsberger, MD
Michael B. Hussey, MD
Mary Helen A. Hutchinson, MD
Angela N. Hutzenbuhler, MD
William M. Isbell, MD
Bradley E. Jacobs, MD
Leslie Jacobson, MD
Evan W. James, MD
David L. Jaroszewski, MD
Carlton A. Jenkins, MD
Holly P. Johnson, MD
Thomas L. Jolly, MD
E. Bruce Jones, MD
Gwendolyn R. Jones, MD
Michelle F. Jones, FAAFP, MD
Scott T. Josephs, MD
Deepa Kabirdas, MD
Frederic R. Kahl, MD
Antonios Z. Karamalegos, MD
Nancy L. Keaton, MD
Cameron W. Keller, MD
Paul J. Kerner, MD
James L. Kesler, MD, FACS
Kenneth S. Keyes, MD
Laith W. S. Khoury, MD
W. Kirby Kilpatrick, Jr., MD
Jeremy I. Kim, MD
Emily M. King, PA-C
Jefferson B. Kiser, Jr., MD
Brian T. Klausner, MD
Kenneth L. Klein, MD
Jeffrey K. Kobs, MD
Wayne C. Koontz, MD
Caroll D. Koscheski, MD
Sriyesh Krishnan, MD
Lindsay A. Kruska, MD
John M. Lafferty, MD
Jeffrey S. LaFuria, PA-C
Michael J. Lalor, MD
Karah M. Lanier, MD
Curtis R. Lashley, MD
Michael D. Lauffenburger, MD
Michael T. Lavelle, MD
Dick R. Lavender, MD
Philip H. Lavine, MD
Samuel M. LeBauer, MD, MACP
Shiley A. Lechner, MD
Barry R. Lee, MD
K. Stuart Lee, MD
Lyndsie L. Leinen, PA-C
Mark L. Lessne, MD
Allison Levi, MD
Christian T. Lige, MD
Richard V. Liles, Jr., MD
Wei-Chen Lin, MD
W. Michael Lindel, MD
Donald F. Little, MD
Elizabeth G. Livingston, MD
Brittany C. Lloyd, MD
Adair Q. Locke, MD
Charlene R. Locklear, MD
Catherine R. Long, MD
Ronald M. Long, MD
Robert W. Lonon, Jr., MD
Clemenceau D. Lopes, MD
Edward M. Lopez, II, DO
Jonathan L. Lozevski, MD
Robert E. Lubanski, Jr., MD
K. Jean Lucas, MD
Robert T. Lucas, Jr., MD
Mark L. Lukens, MD
Andrew G. Lutz, MD
Mark I. Macpherson, DO
Vinaya C. S. Maddukuri, MD
Eugene D. Maloney, MD
Patrick J. Maloney, MD
Anton T. Manasco, MD
John R. Mangum, MD
Richard H. Mann, MD
Sinthia Mannan, MD
Stephenie T. Manns, MD
Kayla N. Manring, PA-C
Minal J. Manvar, PA-C
Russell R. Margraf, MD
Eduardo O. Marsigli, MD
Eric M. Martin, MD
Emma O. Martinelli, PA-C
Douglas J. Martini, MD
Stephanie E. Mason, PA-C
Althea H. Massenburg, MD
Bushra Mastoor, MD
Sarah R. Mastronardi, PA
Anya C. McBrayer, PA-C
Taylor S. McCauley, MD
James A. McCool, MD
Lauren K. McCormack, MD
Elizabeth J. McDowell, PA-C
John A. McGee, Jr., MD
Michael H. McGraw, MD
Edward J. McGrory, Jr., MD
Donald L. McLamb, Jr., MD
Michael G. McLaughlin, MD
Tonya S. McLeod, MD, MPH
Noelle T. McNaught, PA-C
John F. McQuade, III, MD
Isaias E. Melo-Lizardo, MD
David E. Melon, MD
Jon K. Melvin, MD
Gina M. Menia, PA-C
Betsy S. Merrell, MD
James M. Merritt, MD
Rosa Y. Messer, MD
Jeffrey D. Mewborne, MD
Angela M. Meyer, MD
Christopher G. Meyer, MD
Jared J. Meyer, MD
Jeremy J. Miles, MD
Ann E. Miller, MD
Calvin H. Mitchell, MD
Julie A. Monaco, MD
Kent E. Moore, MD, DDS
Michael C. Moore, DO
Thomas P. Moore, MD
Robert F. Mooring, III, PA-C
H. Grady Morgan, Jr., MD
Kevin G. Morrison, PA-C
Sarah T. Morrow, MD, MPH
Albert R. Munn, III, MD
William A. Munn, PA-C
Warren E. Murray, Jr., MD
Matthew M. Musulin, MD
Veresa T. Myers, MD
Herbert L. Myles, Jr., MD
Shiny Narahari, MD
John P. Nazarian, MD
Samuel C. Newsome, MD
Dennis B. Nicks, MD
Lucybeth Nieves- Arriba, MD
Pouneh M. Nikrooz, MD
Kathleen W. Nissman, MD
Richard C. Noble, MD
Sezmin S. Noorani, MD
Julia E. Norem, MD
Neelesh C. Nundkumar, MD
Benjamin R. Olinger, MD
Ryan M. Orgel, MD
Ralph E. Oursler, III, MD
William B. Owen, Jr., MD
Claire R. Owens, PA-C
Lisa E. Pack, MD
Travis M. Palmer, MD
Michael D. Paloski, DO, MBA
Liliana Pantea, MD
Robert R. Panten, Jr., MD
Malcolm P. Parada, MD
Christopher D. Parks, MD
Chinna P. R. Parvata, MD
Jirpesh Patel, MD
Mayur K. Patel, MD, Pharm. D
Vinay Patel, MD
Todd P. Peacock, MD
Francis S. Pecoraro, MD
Samuel J. Peeples, MD
David E. Peltzer, MD
Robert S. Perkins, MD
John E. R. Perry, III, MD, MS
Lloyd J. Peterson, MD
Carl S. Phipps, MD
Dustin R. Pierson, DO
Kelli C. Pitt, MD
Walter E. Pofahl, II, MD
Jason A. Poff, MD
Catherine J. Pointon, MD
Thomas D. Pope, MD
Clive F. Possinger, Jr., MD
Allison C. Posta, MD
William K. Poston, Jr., MD
Leo J. Potts, MD
Barry Powers, MD
Roshan S. Prabhu, MD
L. Andrew Prechtel, MD
Scott A. Prechter, MD
Philip C. Pretter, MD
James L. Price, III, MD
Nerissa M. Price, MD
Megan E. Pruette, MD
Kelsey M. Quaile, PA-C
Robert P. Quinn, MD
Arash Radparvar, MD
Yeddu Raju, MD
Jeevan B. Ramakrishnan, MD
Neil A. Ramquist, MD
Richard D. Redvanly, MD
Erin B. Reis, DO
Kyle E. Reynolds, PA-C
Joshua A. Rheinbolt, MD
Dana M. Ribaudo, MD
Donald A. Ribeiro, MD
Bassam H. Rimawi, MD
David B. Rion, MD
Rueben N. Rivers, MD, FAAFP
Jason M. Roberts, MD
Charles A. Robinson, MD
Shaun B. Robinson, MD
Andrea D. Roche, MD
Stephen C. Rochman, MD
Stephen R. Rogers, MD
Lucas B. Romine, MD
Amanda M. Rose, MD, FAAP
Richard J. Rosen, MD
Philip J. Rosenow, MD
Carolyn F. Ross, PA-C
James M. Ross, MD
John M. Ross, MD
Billy W. Royal, MD
John C. Rozier, Jr., MD
Elizabeth A. Rush, MD
John W. Rusher, MD, FAAP
Carl K. Rust, II, MD
Jason W. Ryan, MD
Sherry M. Ryter-Brown, MD
Neeraj Sachdeva, MD
Alan J. Sacks, MD
Reza Salari, MD
James A. Salisbury, MD
Vinay P. Saranga, MD
Danielle M. Sawrey-Kubicek, PA-C
John E. Scarff, Jr., MD
Andrew A. Schano, PA-C
Judy R. Schauer, DO
Jessica B. Schavone, PA-C
Robert K. Schellenberg, MD
Robert J. Schmitz, MD
Andrew M. Schneider, MD
Carol M. Schobert, MD
Lary A. Schulhof, MD
David M. Schultz, MD
John L. Schultz, MD
David I. Schulz, MD
Daniel L. Schwarz, MD
Ronald P. Schwarz, MD
Judith D. Sears, MD
Hope P. Seidel, MD
Stephen C. Seltzer, MD
Nicole M. Seminara-Zambrzycka, MD
Robert E. Sevier, MD
Heather M. Seymour, MD
Nirav P. Shah, MD
Shubi Shahida, MD
Dale R. Shaw, MD, FACR
Jafar M. Shick, MD
D. Brian Ellis Short, MD
William F. Shuford, Jr., MD
J. Lewis Sigmon, Jr., MD
Justin R. Sigmon, MD
Eric F. Silman, MD
William P. Silver, MD
Ranbir Singh, MD
Omatta M. Sirisena, MD
James R. Skahen, III, MD
Andrew C. Slocum, PA-C
Duane H. Smith, MD
Ira Q. Smith, MD
Jeffrey K. Smith, MD
Karla R. Smith, MD
Kevin S. Smith, MD
Marsha M. Smith, MD
Rodney W. Smith, MD
Terri S. Smith, MD
Vincent C. Smith, MD
Arnold I. Snitz, MD
Graham E. Snyder, MD
James W. Snyder, MD, FACC
Matthew J. Snyder, MD
John A. Spiggle, MD
Adam F. Spitz, MD
Constantinos T. Spyris, MD
Stuart M. Squires, MD
Leonard A. Stallings, MD
Carolyn Steinhauser, PA-C
Robert B. Stevens, MD
John S. Sullivan, MD
Frank M. Sutton, Jr., MD, MBA
Michael C. Tanner, MD
Mary A. Taylor, PA-C
Anthony G. Thaxton, MD
James J. Thomas, MD
Sandeep K. Tiwari, MD
Leandra Tonweber, PA-C
Glen A. Toomayan, MD
Donald E. Toothman, MD
Douglas E. Trent, MD
T. Brian Truluck, MD
John G. Tye, MD
Mary T. Tyson, MD
Bethany D. Vallangeon, MD
Dennis J. Van Zant, MD
Ying Vang, MD
Reed M. VanMatre, MD
George D. Veasy, MD
Joshua Vega, MD
Tyler B. Vereen, MD
Thomas L. Walden, Jr., MD
John M. Wallace, MD
Bradford B. Walters, MD, PhD, MBA
William H. Walton, II, MD
Eric A. Wang, MD
Matthew R. Waters, MD
Jonathan M. Watts, MD
James P. Weaver, MD
Landon E. Weeks, MD
Ashley A. Welch, PA-C
Mack W. White, III, MD
Nancy A. White, PA-C
David S. Whittaker, Jr., MD
Laura M. Williams, PA-C
L. Dale Williams, MD, FACS, RVT
Randolph M. Williams, MD
Leah R. N. Willis, MD
Emily C. W. Willner, MD
Clarence L. Wilson, II, MD
Katherine E. Wilson, PA-C
Mark L. Wood, MD
Rebecca L. Woodard-Staskelunas, PA-C
Erin L. Wooten, MD
Li Xu, MD
Kendall W. Yokubaitis, MD
Matthew M. Young, MD
Michael K. Yu, MD
Adam M. Zanation, MD
Michael N. Zarzar, MD
Michael J. Zellinger, MD
Carey M. Ziemer, MD
John E. Ziewacz, MD
Laura I. Zimmerman, MD, PhD
Sherri A. Zimmerman, MD
David A. Zuckerman, PA


NCDHHS Forms for Compliance with New NC Abortion Statute

 

Session Law 2023-14 (enacted Senate Bill 20) describes new requirements for informed consent, reporting, and patient information relating to abortions that will take effect July 1, 2023. The NC Department of Health and Human Services has developed materials to comply with these new requirements.

The required NCDHHS documents are listed below and are also available at North Carolina Reproductive Health Services (https://www.ncdhhs.gov/reprohealth).

NCDHHS Consent Forms:

NCDHHS Reporting Forms:

Additional Resources for Providers are Listed Below:

Questions may be directed to: [email protected]

 

**  Update 6/28/2023:  The General Assembly updated Senate Bill 20 and made changes to the regulation of medication abortion. A provision in the bill required physicians to verify the gestational age was less than 70 days before dispensing an abortion inducing medication. That provision has been removed. The change suggests that medication abortion will now be available in North Carolina for up to 12 weeks gestation 


It is Getting HOT! NCDHHS Has Advice to Prevent Heat-Related Illnesses

 

Public health officials with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) are advising North Carolinians to take precautions to protect themselves, their children and their pets from heat-related illness as temperatures across the state rise and remain high throughout the summer.

Prolonged exposure to heat can lead to dehydration, overheating, heat illness and even death. To reduce the risk of heat-related illness:

  • Increase fluid intake.
  • Take frequent breaks in cool and shady or air-conditioned places if spending extended time outside.
  • Reduce normal activity levels.
  • Speak with your physician about how to stay safe if you take medicines that make you more vulnerable to heat, such as tranquilizers or drugs for high blood pressure, migraines, allergies, muscle spasms and mental illness.
  • Check on neighbors, and if working outdoors, check on your co-workers.
  • Never leave children or pets unattended in vehicles, even for a few minutes, as temperatures inside a car reach a deadly level quickly. In the United States, approximately 38 children under the age of 15 die each year from heatstroke after being left in a vehicle.

Individuals should stay wary of signs of heat-related illness. Symptoms include muscle cramps, fatigue, weakness, dizziness, fainting, headaches, nausea and vomiting. Children, adults 65 and older, those without access to air conditioning, outdoor workers and those with chronic health conditions are most vulnerable. If you or someone you know experiences heat-related illness, move to a cool place, drink water, place cold cloths on the body and seek medical attention.

The North Carolina Heat Report shows there were already 361 emergency department visits for heat-related illness in the season through June 17, 2023. Visits to emergency departments frequently increase with spikes in the heat index. It is important to pay attention to the weather if spending time outside working or participating in recreation activities. Patients presenting at emergency departments with heat-related illnesses are mostly male, ages 25 to 44, and most have been seen in hospitals in North Carolina’s Piedmont and Coastal regions. [source]

To help combat heat-related illnesses, cooling assistance is available for those who are eligible:

 

Related links:

Keep Your Patients Cool this Summer with Help from Operation Fan Heat Relief!


FDA Approves Drug Used for Gout to Treat Heart Disease

 

A drug historically used as an anti-inflammatory and gout treatment has now been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reduce inflammation in the cardiovascular system that leads to heart attacks and strokes.

Colchicine (Lodoco) is approved for use by adults with atherosclerosis, a thickening and hardening of the arteries caused by plaque buildup inside blood vessels, the drug’s developer Agepha Pharma, said in a statement. The drug was also approved for adults with multiple risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

The FDA cleared 0.5 milligram once-daily Lodoco pills to be taken alone or in combination with cholesterol-lowering drugs like statins to attack inflammation in the cardiovascular system that leads to atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes. Colchicine was first approved by the FDA more than a decade ago as a gout treatment and is also approved for familial Mediterranean fever, an inflammatory disease that causes acute pain in the abdomen, chest, and joints.

Read more here to see if your patients could benefit from this new treatment?


TBT: Celebrating 20 years of Leadership in Medicine! Here is Kim Vuong, MD's MEDTalk from 2016

This year the North Carolina Medical Society is celebrating 20 years of Leadership in Medicine!

Here is a Throwback Thursday to Dr. Kim Vuong's MEDTalk from 2016 on Pediatric Nephrology Co-Management.  Look for a new TBT every Thursday until the 2023 LEAD Conference, October 13-14.

https://youtu.be/jwzVhlxEljU

 

The 2023 LEAD conference registration is NOW OPEN.  Click here for more information. 

Please contact Erica Hall at NCMS to organize a class table at the LEAD Gala of your own. 

 


NCMS PAC Thankful Thursday!

 

On this Thankful Thursday, we are recognizing some of our NCMS PAC Investors! Thank you for your continued investment in your patients and profession. Contact Hannah Rice ([email protected]) to learn more about how you can make a difference.

Ambrose S. Okonkwo, MD
Janice Huff, MD
Kelley B. Singer, MD
Lisa P. Shock, DrPH, PA-C, MHS
Tracie C. Bryson, MD


NCDEQ: Avoid These Two Carolina Coast Spots this Fourth of July

 

There are two places along the coast that North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) says could make you sick this fourth of July.

NCDEQ has published an advisory against swimming at a sound-side site in Kills Devil Hills. Water quality officials found bacteria levels in the water that exceed the state’s and Environmental Protection Agency’s recreational water quality standards.

The advisory is for an area at the Colington Harbour swim beach at the end of Colington Drive in Kill Devil Hills. Water samples there showed enterococci levels that exceed the state and federal standards.

The second area to avoid is further south in the Jockey’s Ridge Soundside Access in the Nags Head area.

The agency warned that swimming or playing in waters with bacteria levels higher than the standards have an increased risk of developing gastrointestinal illness or skin infections.

Read the full article here.


Iredell Wellness & Diabetes Center Earns ADA Recognition

 

The American Diabetes Association (ADA), the nation’s leading organization committed to fighting diabetes, has recently announced the recognition of the Iredell Wellness & Diabetes Center through the Education Recognition Program.

Iredell Wellness & Diabetes Center’s Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) service was originally recognized in 1996. The center has continuously maintained this recognition for 27 years by assuring the program always met national standards. The goal of the diabetes center DSMES program is to provide participants and their families with training tailored to help them understand and manage their condition.

The ADA’s Education Recognition Program promotes quality diabetes self-management, education, and support for people with diabetes by certifying that services adhere to the National Standards for DSMES. Services certified by the Education Recognition Program offer a staff of knowledgeable health professionals who can provide participants with comprehensive information about diabetes management.

“Daily self-management skills are absolutely essential for people to effectively navigate the 24/7 challenges of living with diabetes, helping to keep them healthy and prevent or delay the serious complications of diabetes,” said Linda Cann, MSEd, the ADA’s senior vice president of professional services. “We applaud the Iredell Wellness & Diabetes Center for its commitment to providing high-quality, evidence-based education and support for people with diabetes by meeting the National Standards for DSME/S and earning the ADA’s ERP recognition.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are 30.3 million people in the United States who have diabetes. While an estimated 23.1 million have been diagnosed, unfortunately, 7.2 million people are not aware that they have this disease. Each day, more than 4,110 Americans are diagnosed. Many will first learn that they have diabetes when they are treated for one of its life-threatening complications – heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, nerve disease, and amputation. Diabetes continues to be the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S.

“Diabetes impacts a large number of our community members. The Iredell Wellness & Diabetes Center personalizes your care so that you understand your diabetes. There are a million books you can read and education handouts you can memorize. But, we teach you how to apply all of that knowledge to your everyday life and to live the best life you can! Change is hard. But we are here to walk that journey with you,” said Amy Brant, corporate wellness nurse and diabetes program manager at Iredell Wellness & Diabetes Center. [source]

If you would like to learn more about the Iredell Wellness & Diabetes Center, please call the center at 704-878-4556.


Duke Health: AI Models Show Promise of Improving Surgical Scheduling

 

A team of Duke Health data scientists, clinicians, administration leadership, and researchers trained three AI models on thousands of surgical cases as part of a recent study focused on usefulness of algorithms. The findings could help streamline the use of one of the most expensive resources in a hospital setting -- operating rooms.

“One of the most remarkable things about this finding is that we’ve been able to apply it immediately and connect patients with the surgical care they need more quickly,” said Daniel Buckland M.D., Ph.D., corresponding author and assistant professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine and Department of Surgery at Duke University School of Medicine.

According to the article, machine-learning algorithms are 13% more accurate in predicting the surgical time needed in the operating room compared with human schedulers.

Read the full article here.


CMS Releases New Diabetes Prevalence Infographic

The new Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services diabetes prevalence infographic highlights existing health disparities as well as prevention resources to address the epidemic. The infographic also spotlights how the increased prevalence of non-gestational diabetes among minority populations has led to additional health complications. Finally, the infographic includes information on the increased impact that diabetes has on Medicare enrollees and the disparities that are observed among various subpopulations in the Medicare community.

In addition to the infographic, CMS has released the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) Public Use File on diabetes prevalence and self-management among Medicare beneficiaries living in the community in 2020. This file presents estimates on diabetes prevalence, diabetes-related health issues, and diabetes knowledge and self-management by a variety of beneficiary characteristics including race/ethnicity, income, and primary language spoken at home.

You can find more information and access the Public Use File and supporting documentation here.


Need Medical Office Furniture and Supplies?

 

NCMS members Dollinger & Tove Family Medicine Associates is closing.  The family medical practice near the Cary/Apex border is having a sale!

Next month it will be selling all furniture and supplies, including reception furniture, office desks and chairs, exam room tables and stools, CBC machine, EKG, spirometry, nebulizer, autoclave, baby and adult scales, refrigerator, blood drawing chair, copy/fax/scan machine, washer and dryer, hearing screener, chart racks, surgical equipment, metal speculums, and much more.

To find out more call  919-303-1231 or [email protected]. Pictures of any requested item are available via e-mail, or you are welcome to come by the office to look.

Prices are negotiable. 


Are You Screening Your Patients with Diabetes for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease? The ADA Says You Should.

 

A recent American Diabetes Association (ADA) update advises that all adults with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes be screened for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

This update emphasizes the importance of early detection of NAFLD in people with diabetes as well as appropriate management modalities. Early detection allows for timely treatment, reducing the chance of developing other serious complications.

Liver disease affects up to 70% of people with type 2 diabetes. NAFLD, which includes nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is the most common form of liver disease in people with diabetes. NAFLD can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer and is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death.

Read more about the update here.


Federal Loan Repayment Program for Behavioral Health Providers

 

The Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program (STAR LRP) provides loan repayment for individuals working in a full-time substance use disorder (SUD) treatment job that involves direct patient care in an area where the average drug overdose death rate exceeds the most current national average overdose death rate per 100,000 people.

Up to $250,000 in educational loan repayment is offered in exchange for six years of full-time service at an approved facility. Behavioral health clinicians, paraprofessionals, clinical support staff, and others trained in substance use disorder treatment are encouraged to apply.

Get more information and apply to the Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program here.

The deadline to apply is July 13, 7:30 p.m. ET.

 


NC Medicaid Credentialing Reminder from DHHS

Avoid Suspension and Termination
by completing reverification upon notification!

 

Re-credentialing/reverification is an evaluation of a provider’s ongoing eligibility for continued participation in NC Medicaid, normally conducted every five years as mandated 42 CFR 455.414. The COVID-19 federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) paused reverification from March 2020 through May 11, 2023, delaying the due date for nearly 30,000 providers over that three-year period. Now that the federal PHE has ended, NC Medicaid must ensure that all enrolled providers, including those whose reverification was delayed, are compliant with the federal regulation.

Reverification is required for continued participation with NC Medicaid programs. Providers for whom reverification was delayed have been organized into groups to ensure the timely completion of the reverification process.

  • Providers should monitor their secure NCTracks Message Inbox for notifications and the Re-verification section of their NCTracks Status and Management page for the option to reverify.
  • Reverification notifications are sent to the provider 70 days prior to the reverification due date, with reminders at 50 days, 20 days and five days.
  • Non-responsive providers receive a notice of suspension offering an additional 50 days to submit their reverification application before being terminated from the program.
  • Including the notice of termination, and depending on the provider’s responsiveness, each will receive up to 6 targeted notifications over the 120-day reverification period.
  • If terminated, the provider may re-enroll at any time.

For help with the reverification process, providers can refer to the Provider Re-credentialing/Re-verification webpage in the NCTracks public facing portal. Providers are also encouraged to review Provider Announcements, User Guides and Frequently Asked Questions.

As a convenience, NC Medicaid offers a list of “Active Provider Re-Verification Due – July 2023 – Dec 2023” dates (updated biannually). The reverification due date displayed is also the suspension date if no action is taken to submit the reverification application under the applicable NPI. If the provider record is suspended, claims payment will stop until the reverification application is submitted.

Providers are encouraged to review the reverification due date list, and frequently check their NCTracks Provider Message Inbox for notifications or the reverification section of the Status and Management page in the NCTracks Secure Portal for the option to reverify.


NCMS Member Dr. Anthony Atala Sits Down for a Power List Interview

Nido Qubein (l); Dr. Anthony Atala (r) (image credit: Business North Carolina)

 

Any conversation that arises about medical research, Dr. Anthony Atala's name is likely to come up, as he's considered a superstar within the medical research community.

He's edited 25 books, published 800 journal articles, and received more than 250 patents. Scientific American named him one of the most influential people in global biotech. Time has cited his work twice among the Top 10 medical breakthroughs of the year.

The director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine recently joined High Point University President Nido Qubein in a Power List interview. Read about Atala's work with regenerative medicine and more here.


Worried About Climate Change and Climate-Related Health Inequities? Here is How to Help.

 

The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) is currently accepting applications for a new network aimed at addressing the impact of climate change and climate-related health inequities.

Climate Communities Network (CCN) will elevate community expertise, experience, and efforts to address the structural drivers of climate-related health inequities at the local level. Alongside representatives from government, philanthropy, academia, and industry, CCN Members will catalyze innovation, inform policy, drive funding, and co-design solutions.

CCN Members will represent their organization and serve as liaisons to the community their organization serves. Once selected, Members will be paid an honorarium for their work.

Learn more about the Climate Communities Network and apply here.


COVID-19 Scam that Could Affect Your Practice and Your Patients

Scammers are targeting patients over unpaid (many times nonexistent) medical bills and threatening to put them in jail if they don’t pay.

The Better Business Bureau says it has received reports of fake medical bills and debt collectors attempting to join bank card information and personal information like Social Security numbers.

The scammers make contact by phone and attempt to convince the recipient they have an outstanding COVID test bill. In many cases, the tests have never been performed.

Read the full article and what you and your patients need to look out for here.


Overwhelmed By Your EHR System? These Recommendations Could Help.

Overwhelmed By Your EHR System?

 

 

A recent article published in an edition of the Annals of Family Medicine highlights ways to reduce workload measures and burden.

Three recommendations were made regarding EHR workload measures that are intended to capture time working in the EHR outside time scheduled with patients, formally defined as work outside of work (WOW):

  •  Separate all time working in the EHR outside of time scheduled with patients from time working in the EHR during time scheduled with patients.
  •  Do not exclude any time before or after scheduled time with patients.
  •  Encourage the EHR vendor and research communities to develop and standardize validated, vendor-agnostic methods for measuring active EHR use.

The article suggests attributing all EHR work outside time scheduled with patients to WOW, regardless of when it occurs, will produce an objective and standardized measure better suited for use in efforts to reduce burnout, set policy, and facilitate research.

Read what else is detailed in the article here.


NCMS Member Dr. Pam Oliver Appointed Novant Health EVP and Chief Medical Officer

Pamela A. Oliver, MD (image credit: Novant)

 

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Novant Health has appointed Dr. Pam Oliver as executive vice president and chief medical officer. In this role, she will have oversight of safety and quality as well as credentialing and engagement of the medical staff across the Novant Health enterprise, one of the largest health care systems in the Southeast. She will also continue leadership over health equity, medical education and clinical research. Oliver previously served as executive vice president of Novant Health and president of the Novant Health Physician Network. She is also a board-certified and practicing OB-GYN.

"Dr. Oliver’s expertise as a skilled OB-GYN and years leading the Novant Health Medical Group have positioned her well to lead as chief medical officer for Novant Health,” said Carl S. Armato, president and CEO, Novant Health. “She has been a constant champion for our patients, as well as a courageous voice for our physicians and advanced practice providers, so that they may provide the safest care possible to the communities we serve. I am confident that as chief medical officer, Dr. Oliver will continue to be a remarkable conduit for enhancing the patient experience through collaboration with all of Novant Health’s physicians.”

Oliver has practiced at Novant Health WomanCare since 2005. She has also served in various leadership capacities at Novant Health, including as submarket leader for specialty clinics in the greater Winston-Salem market, physician service line leader of women’s services for the greater Winston-Salem market and senior physician executive for the Novant Health Physician Network, supporting clinical and business strategy across the system.

“I have had the pleasure of leading the Novant Health Physician Network for the past four years, a role that reinforced my commitment to high quality patient care and physician leadership,” Oliver said. “As chief medical officer, I’ll have the opportunity to expand my focus on safety and quality, medical education, clinical research and health equity, which remains the driving force behind my work as both a physician and a woman of color. I look forward to leading our care teams through an ever-changing industry, so that everyone in our communities has access to and receives remarkable care.”

In addition to her work at Novant Health, Oliver has become an advocate for addressing disparities in Black maternal health, both locally and nationally. She has briefed U.S. congressional committees on Black maternal mortality and participates in panels with physicians and advocates from around the country.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper appointed Oliver as vice chair of the State Health Coordinating Council. She is a board member for United Way of Forsyth County and the Boston-Thurmond Community Network focused on revitalization of the oldest African American neighborhood in Winston-Salem. Previously, she served as a consultant for the OWN TV network’s “Own Her Health” project.

A native of eastern North Carolina, Oliver received her undergraduate degree in biology and her medical degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was a Morehead Scholar and Board of Governors’ scholarship recipient. She also earned her master’s degree in public health (maternal and child health concentration) from the UNC School of Public Health, now called Gillings School of Global Public Health, while enrolled in medical school. (source)

Congratulations, Dr. Oliver!