MEDTalks 2019: Odera Umeano, MD -- "Protocol for COPD"
Dr. Umeano, a general practice physician in Wilmington, shares the her Leadership College project, "Outpatient Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Exacerbations: Protocols to Decrease Hospitalization and Increase Ease Of Disease of Management For Primary Care Providers"
Political Pulse for Sept. 13, 2019
Welcome to Friday the 13th — and a rare full moon. Maybe that's the explanation behind a crazy and contentious week down at the NC General Assembly. Chip Baggett and Sue Ann Forrest share the important health care developments from the last few days.
Political Pulse for Sept. 6, 2019
Sue Ann Forrest and Chip Baggett bring you the latest details on a stormy week here in North Carolina. Get updates on Hurricane Dorian response, the new delay in Medicaid Transformation and this week's bipartisan three-judge decision that ruled NC's redistricting map unconstitutional.
Related Information:
NC DHHS Hurricane Dorian Recovery Page
Political Pulse for July 26, 2019
The legislature is still in session as the showdown with the Governor over the budget and expanding Medicaid continues. Nonetheless, some legislative business was accomplished last week. Listen as your NCMS government relations team updates you on the status of the NC Medical Board bill, CON legislation, stopgap funding measures to ensure federal money can continue to fund important state programs without a state spending plan in place as well as the latest on the State Health Plan.
Related Links:
NC State Health Plan Network Increases Payments to Hospitals and Reopens Sign-Up Period (NC Dept. of State Treasurer news release)
HB 228/SB 178 Modernize NC Medical Board Laws
HB 126 – Amend Certificate of Need Laws
HB 961 – Ensuring Authorization of Federal Funds
HB 655 NC Health Care for Working Families
Political Pulse for July 12, 2019
Yes, the legislature is still in session dealing with budget drama around Medicaid expansion as well as several other health care related bills. Our legislative relations team explains why we think HB 655 NC Health Care for Working Families may be the answer to the access to care question around Medicaid expansion. They also update you on birth center regulation and the removal of the narrow network provision thanks to your response to our Action Alert.
Political Pulse for July 3, 2019
It’s a waiting game at the General Assembly to see if the legislature can override the Governor’s veto of their budget. Still many bills are moving, including Sen. Phil Berger’s Rural Hospital Stabilization proposal and some changes to CON laws. Thanks to your quick response to our Action Alert this week, a proposal that would have allowed narrow networks was removed for the moment, but could be back. The week ahead is going to be busy! Watch as head of our legislative relations team, Chip Baggett, fills you in on the details.
Political Pulse for June 28, 2019
Watch as our legislative team offers the latest look at where key health care legislation stands as NC legislators begin to wrap up the long session. Chip and Sue Ann also explain proposals to address surprise billing currently being debated in the US House and Senate.
Political Pulse for June 21, 2019
Bills are moving, a signal that the legislative long session may be nearing its end. Watch as our legislative team reviews key proposals likely to make it through to the end, including bills involving Medicaid transformation; response to the opioid crisis; birth center licensure and death by distribution.
Political Pulse for June 14, 2019
The atmosphere at the General Assembly seems to indicate the session will be winding up in the next few weeks. The budgeting process is fully underway, while several health care related bills are moving. Watch as Chip and Sue Ann update you on the latest on the NC Medical Board bill, legislation that makes technical changes to the Medicaid transformation process and the chance for proposed CON changes.
Political Pulse for May 31, 2019
It’s budget time at the NC General Assembly! Watch as Chip and Sue Ann explain significant health care related items in the Senate’s budget, which was released this week. Two other bills of note came closer to becoming law this week: the legislation expanding the types of vaccines pharmacists can administer is on its way to the Governor’s desk, and the proposal extending the deadline for some groups to connect to NC HealthConnex is likely to pass soon. Get the details in this edition of the NCMS’ Political Pulse.
Political Pulse for May 24, 2019
The Senate continues to work on its budget so things were a bit subdued at the NC General Assembly this week. Watch as NCMS Assistant Director of Legislative Relations Sue Ann Forrest reviews several bills of note to NCMS members that did move and other highlights of the week. Enjoy the long weekend!
Political Pulse for May 17, 2019
In the wake of last week’s flurry of activity in advance of crossover, this week was a bit quieter at the legislative building. Our legislative affairs team offers insight into what bundle of health care policies may end up being part of the budgeting process and they reveal a unique partnership created to increase access to telemedicine throughout the state. They also recognize the 100+ physicians who were in Raleigh on Wednesday to advocate on behalf of their patients and profession.
If you're interested in attending a White Coat Wednesday, sign up online or contact Sue Ann Forrest.
For more advocacy news, visit the Legislative Blog.
Political Pulse for May 3, 2019
This week saw a flurry of bills pass through committees in anticipation of the ‘crossover’ deadline on Tuesday, when it will be decided which proposals will continue to be considered. Watch as Chip Baggett and Sue Ann Forrest, who are on the frontlines at the NC General Assembly advocating on your behalf, give a rundown on the status of legislation that could impact your practice.
View the NCMS Legislative Blog for the latest news.
View our Spring 2019 NCMS Bulletin Online Magazine - Innovation & Connectivity
The Spring 2019 NCMS Bulletin is now available, focusing on Innovation and Technology.
Articles include:
Finding a Way Out of Addiction: NCMS Innovation In Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) Treatment In North Carolina featuring Shauna Guthrie, MD
Our Community Health Initiative: Community Partnerships For Better Health
YMCA Success Story: Helen lost 50 pounds as a result of the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program
Be Our Guest: Musings from NCMS Members — Guest Columnist: Jack Faircloth, MD
NC Innovations in the Heart of Tobacco Country: Clinicians Are Gathering Data on Lung Cancer
Screening — And Saving Lives
Political Pulse for April 26, 2019: Tort Trouble
Thanks to an unusual staggered spring recess, legislators are meeting today, Friday, as they hurry to push bills through committee and to the chamber floors before crossover deadline on May 9. One bill is particularly significant – HB611 -Amending Rules of Evidence – which would dismantle a key provision of our 2011 tort reform victory. NCMS Senior VP for Advocacy and Advancement Chip Baggett explains more in this edition of the NCMS Political Pulse.
Political Pulse for April 18, 2019
Legislators headed home for the spring recess, but not before filing a flurry of bills before the deadline on Wednesday. Watch as NCMS Assistant Director of Legislative Relations Sue Ann Forrest provides an overview of the proposals most important to NCMS members and their patients.
For more information on any of the bills mentioned in this video, please visit our Legislative Blog.
Political Pulse for March 29, 2019
Our legislative relations team recounts the action at the NC General Assembly this week. Many new bills were introduced and some other important legislation moved closer to a chamber vote. For instance, the much-watched State Health Plan study bill moved out of House Health. Watch and learn more.
For the latest updates on all of this session's bills, access the Legislative Blog.
Political Pulse for March 22, 2019
Chip Baggett and Sue Ann Forrest cover the highlights of this week's legislative action, which included the introduction of several public health bills. The NCMS also extends its thanks to the large group of attendees at this week's White Coat Wednesday, which included representatives from the Campbell University PA Program, the Western Carolina Medical Society and the NC Chapter of the American College of Physicians (see photos below).
Related Links
HB 401 - Enact Medical Cannabis Act
HB 126 - Organ & Tissue Donation
HB 228 / SB 178 - Modernize NC Medical Board Laws
SB 168 - Expand Allowable Medical Uses of CBD Oil
Political Pulse for March 15, 2019
Watch as our government affairs staff gives you a quick update on several key bills that moved at the General Assembly this week and what’s ahead for the coming week. Plus, a shout out to the NC Medical Group Management Association members and our NCMS President-elect Palmer Edwards, MD, all of whom visited with legislators this week to help educate them on issues of importance to you.
Political Pulse for March 8, 2019: Governor's Budget Released
Another busy week at the NC General Assembly. Watch as the NCMS staff on the frontlines of the action, Chip Baggett and Sue Ann Forrest, recount proposed legislation most important to your practice, including the release of Governor Cooper's budget and bills that make changes to nurses’ scope of practice; the medical practice act and association health plans.
Related Links:
Action Alert: Take Action Against Nurse Independent Practice
HB 185 / SB 143 - Nurse Scope Expansion
Governor's Budget Proposal Health Overview
HB 228 / SB 178 - Modernize NC Medical Board Laws (summary)
Sign up for a White Coat Wednesday
Political Pulse for March 1, 2019: Filing Frenzy
It's been a busy week at the NC General Assembly. Watch as Chip Baggett and Sue Ann Forrest bring you the latest on recently filed bills including those related to association health plans, the NC Medical Board, the State Health Plan and independent practice for advanced practice registered nurses.
Related Items:
Action Alert on Nurse Independent Practice
HB SB 143 – Nurse Scope Expansion
HB 184 - Study State Health Plan Design
Political Pulse for Feb. 22, 2019
Watch as Chip Baggett and Sue Ann Forrest recount what happened during this very busy week at the General Assembly. The action included bills filed on association health plans and NC HealthConnex exceptions, presentation of a study on naturopaths and committee fireworks over the State Treasurer’s Proposal on provider reimbursement for the State Health Plan.
Related Items:
NC Senate & House Health Committee - Testimony on State Health Plan - part 3 (Michael Waldrum, MD)
Political Pulse for Feb. 15, 2019
Chip Baggett and Sue Ann Forrest provide their weekly recap of legislative activities, including information regarding recently proposed bills on school safety as well as healthcare-related committee developments.
Political Pulse for Feb. 8, 2019: Medicaid Transformation
This week was largely focused on Medicaid Transformation with the announcement that NC DHHS awarded four statewide contracts and one regional contract to manage the state’s Medicaid program. Learn more about the implications this could have for you from Chip Baggett and Sue Ann Forrest in today's Political Pulse.
Learn more by visiting the NCMS Medicaid Transformation page.
Political Pulse for Feb. 1, 2019: Now in Session...
The NC General Assembly was back in full swing this week, with over 10 bills introduced, including bills in the House and Senate on Medicaid expansion. Chip Baggett and Sue Ann Forrest give you this week's legislative highlights in today's Political Pulse.
Political Pulse for Jan. 25, 2019: Importance of Advocacy
Chip Baggett and Sue Ann Forrest focus this week's legislative update on the importance of political advocacy, highlighting last weekend's Specialty Summit and encouraging involvement in upcoming White Coat Wednesdays.
Political Pulse for Jan. 18, 2019: NCMS 2019 Legislative Priorities
Chip Baggett and Sue Ann Forrest highlight some of the Medical Society's legislative priorities for the 2019 session.
NCMS Political Pulse for Jan. 11, 2019: Long Session Starts
New year, new look, same legislative update! Chip Baggett and Sue Ann Forrest debut the Political Pulse, a video summary of the week's developments at the General Assembly.
In today's Political Pulse, Sue Ann and Chip highlight the start of the new long session of the NC legislature and encourage NCMS members to take part in a White Coat Wednesday event.
And here is the full list of NC House and Senate leaders for the long session:
NC Senate
President Lt. Gov. Dan Forrest (R)
President Pro Tempore Sen. Phil Berger (R-Rockingham)
Deputy President Pro Tempore Sen. Ralph Hise (R-Mitchell)
Majority Leader Sen. Harry Brown (R-Onslow)
Majority Whips Sen. Rick Gunn (R-Alamance)
Sen. Jerry Tillman (R-Randolph)
Democratic Leader Sen. Dan Blue (D-Wake)
Democratic Whip Sen. Jay Chaudhuri (D-Wake)
NC House
Speaker Rep. Tim Moore (R-Cleveland)
Speaker Pro Tempore Rep. Sarah Stevens (R-Surry)
Majority Leader Rep John Bell (R-Wayne)
Deputy Majority Leader Rep. Brendan Jones (R-Columbus)
Majority Whip Rep. Jon Hardister (R-Guilford)
Democratic Leader Rep. Darren Jackson (D-Wake)
Deputy Democratic Leader Rep Robert Reives (D-Durham)
Democratic Whips Rep. Cynthia Ball (D-Wake)
Rep. Deb Butler (D-New Hanover)
Rep. Carla Cunningham (D-Mecklenburg)
Rep. Garland Pierce (D-Hoke)
Rep. Amos Quick (D-Guilford)
MEDTalks 2018: Shauna Guthrie, MD - "Increasing Access to Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder"
Shauna L. Guthrie, MD, MPH, FAAFP, shares her Leadership College project on "Increasing Access to Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder in a Rural Health Department Setting." She details the implementation an Outpatient-Based Opioid Treatment (OBOT) program in Vance county to increase local access to treatment services.
MEDTalks 2018: Roy Strowd, III, MD - "The Navigating Medical School Program"
Dr. Roy Strowd shares the results of his Leadership College project that focused on "The Navigating Medical School Program: Developing Emerging Clinician Leaders for Tomorrow by Supporting Students with Near-Peer Mentoring Today."
MEDTalks 2018: Robert Frere, MD - "Establishing a Comprehensive Stroke Care Service"
Dr. Robert Frere, a neurologist in Greenville, presents his Leadership College project on "Establishing a Comprehensive Stroke Care Service and Certification at a Large Community Hospital without Neurology Residents and Fellows."
MEDTalks 2018: Rajavi Parikh, DO - "Creating a Leadership Structure"
Leadership College scholar Rajavi Parikh, DO, presents her project on "Creating a Leadership Structure Using Provider-Administrative Dyads to Lead Service Lines and Improve Patient Care and Outcomes."
MEDTalks 2018: Scott Paviol, MD - "Creating Space for Mindfulness"
Leadership College scholar Scott Paviol, MD, shares how he transformed his office space and incorporated mindfulness techniques among staff. He shares the results of how these changes impacted the well-being of those who participated.
MEDTalks 2018: Marc Carruth, MD - "Lean Transformation in a Small Healthcare Practice"
Dr. Marc Carruth shares his Leadership College project on "Lean Transformation in a Small Private Practice Healthcare Setting: Our Journey and Assessment of Staff Perceptions of Change."
MEDTalks 2018: Latonya Beatty, MD - "Postpartum Depression Screening at Well Child Visits"
Dr. Beatty presents the results of her Leadership College project on "Postpartum Depression Screening at Well Child Visits: A Quality Improvement Project with a Focus on Assessing and Improving the Clinic Workflow."
MEDTalks 2018: Kristen Dorsey, MD - "Medical and Dental Integration in a Rural Pediatric Clinic"
Dr. Kristen Dorsey shares the results of her Leadership College project on "A Retrospective Look at the Impact of Medical and Dental Integration in a Rural Pediatric Clinic." Her project had two main goals, 1) to make dental care easily accessible and 2) to increase the number of patients that received dental sealants as a means of preventing dental decay in the pediatric patients served by Rural Health Group in Roanoke Rapids.
MEDTalks 2018: Helen Powell - "Public Skin Cancer Screenings"
Helen Powell, an MD/MPH student at the UNC School of Medicine, shares the results of her Leadership College project on "Public Skin Cancer Screenings with the Polka Dot Mama Melanoma Foundation."
MEDTalks 2018: Heather Davis, DO - "Lean In: A Journey to Improving the Safety of Care"
Dr. Heather Davis presents her MEDTalk: "Lean In: A Journey to Improving the Safety and Quality of Care Leading to Increased Utilization of a Critical Access Hospital." Dr. Davis shares her experiences at Pender Memorial Hospital in Burgaw, NC.
MEDTalks 2018: Eleanor Greene, MD - "Decreasing the Numbers of Uninsured"
Dr. Eleanor Greene shares her conclusions that physicians must come together in a collaborative way in North Carolina on the common ground that they share: the desire to see more patients insured and thus reduce unnecessary deaths and preventable illness. Her Leadership College project looked at ways to promote physician collaboration and to engage legislators in addressing increased access to health care.
MEDTalks 2018: Darcy Burgard, PA-C - "Advanced Practice Providers Utilization"
Darcy Burgard, PA-C, presents her Leadership College project on "Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Utilization: Where We Are and Where We Can Improve; Potential Solutions for a Physician Shortage."
MEDTalks 2018: Cynthia Gary, MPH, PA-C - "Linking Behavioral Health Patients with Primary Care Services"
Cynthia Gary, MPH, PA-C, shares the results of a pilot program where the Johnston County Public Health Department (JCPHD) in Smithfield, NC had a dedicated physician extender assigned to work within its mental health division.
MEDTalks 2018: Bryan Zorko, MD - Transporation as a Social Determinant of Health in Pitt Co., NC
Dr. Bryan Zorko describes his Leadership College project that aimed to emphasize the link between transportation and health outcomes via a discussion of the general health of Pitt County, NC, a review of the barriers to adequate transportation within, and the currently available options for medical transportation available to the indigent and underserved populations.
MEDTalks 2018: Babak Mokari, DO - "Physician Perspectives on Integrative Medicine"
In his talk "Legitimate or Snake Oil? Physician Perspectives on Integrative Medicine Services and Products," Dr. Babak Mokari shares the results of a 2017 survey of North Carolina physicians that gauged their knowledge and opinion about their patients’ utilization of integrative or alternative medicine services and products.
MEDTalks 2018: Andrew Sumich, MD: "The State of Medical Marijuana"
Dr. Andrew Sumich presents the results of his Leadership College project on the topic of medical marijuana, which explored:
- the distant as well as modern history of medical cannabis;
- the pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of cannabis as well as the available literature;
- and how all these components affect the ongoing debate both at the national and local level.
NCMS Spotlight: Learn more about MEDTalks
Watch as Gerri Mattson, MD, co-chair of the North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) Foundation’s Leadership College, and Kristina Natt och Dag, PhD, MA, vice president for Leadership Development at the NCMS, explain what MEDTalks are all about and why those who give MEDTalks and those who hear them both learn so much. In this month’s Spotlight video our guests share where you can attend this year’s MEDTalks as well as access previous talks on the NCMS website.
Bedside Manners: Medication Assisted Treatment As An Answer to the Opioid Epidemic featuring Blake Fagan, MD
Dr. Blake Fagan makes the case for Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) as the way physicians may help those with opioid use disorder regain control of their lives and health.
- Find out more about the upcoming MAT training in June through MAHEC here, and other courses at the MAHEC website.
- Also, watch the North Carolina Medical Society Bulletin (also available on the NCMS website) under the Learning Opportunities section for other upcoming MAT courses.
- Project OBOT or Office-Based Opioid Treatment, a project of the NCMS Foundation, is another important resource to investigate. Learn more.
NCMS Spotlight: Dan McKearney, PA-C
This month we feature Dan McKearney, PA-C, for his thoughts on why and how to improve the state’s Controlled Substance Reporting System (CSRS). Learn more about this 2017 Leadership College alumnus’ research on one way to alleviate the opioid abuse epidemic in our state.
For more information on Mr. McKearney's Leadership College project, watch his MEDTalk.
Next month’s Spotlight will focus on John L. Reynolds, MD, our 2018 NCMS President. Meet Dr. Reynolds, learn about his leadership style and his goals for his year as NCMS President.
MEDTalks 2017: Richard Bunio, MD, Anne Cotter, MD & Miriam Schwarz: Opioid Prescription Practices Western NC
Miriam Schwarz and Drs. Bunio and Cotter share their Leadership College project on "Opioid Prescription Practices in Western North Carolina."
MEDTalks 2017: Nada El Husseini, MD on Self-Managed Time Off
Dr. Nada El Husseini, a vascular neurologist at Wake Forest Baptist Health, delivers her MEDTalk on "Faculty Perception of Self-Managed Time Off: Experience from a Single Academic Medical Center".
MEDTalks 2017: M. Lynn Silkstone, MD on Implementing Screening Tools
Dr. Lynn Silkstone, a pediatrician in Winston-Salem, shares her findings from her Leadership College Project: "Implementing a Screening Tool for Identifying Psychosocial Concerns in Children".