NCMS Morning Rounds 1-19-21
Welcome to your latest NCMS Morning Rounds.Jan. 19, 2021COVID-19 Vaccine UpdateLast week the state expanded eligibility for vaccination to include all health care workers and anyone 65 years and older. At the same time, state officials emphasized that while the goal is to vaccinate as many people as possible as quickly as possible, there still is a limited supply of vaccine available. Local health departments and hospitals in your community are the best way to access the vaccination, although the state has set up special mass vaccination sites throughout the state. Check the ‘Find Your Spot, To Take Your Shot’ webpage to find local vaccination sites. The NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is offering a variety of resources at its vaccine resource webpage here as well as the following videos to help you educate your staff and patients about the vaccine. • Older North Carolinians, You Have A Spot, Take Your Shot (English / Spanish / Captioned) For NCMS members who have questions or need help, please contact the NCMS’ Vice President for Member Services Ashley Newton at [email protected]. For those who have questions about the COVID-19 Vaccine Management System (CVMS) contact the NCMS’ Frank Snyder at [email protected]. Having NCMS staff to troubleshoot on your behalf is another valuable NCMS member benefit. NCMS Legislative UpdateIt was a busy week last week at the NC General Assembly as legislators returned to officially reconvene and name key leaders. The two chambers unanimously re-elected Sen. Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) for his sixth term as the Senate President Pro Tempore and Rep. Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) for his fourth term as Speaker of the House. In the Senate, the new majority leader is Kathy Harrington (R-Gaston), the first woman to hold the position. The Senate Health Care Committee will be chaired by Sens. Joyce Krawiec (R-Davie), Jim Burgin (R-Harnett) and Jim Perry (R-Lenoir). In the House the Health Committee will be chaired by Reps. Donny Lambeth (R-Forsyth ), Larry Potts (R-Davidson), Wayne Sasser (R-Rowan), who is a pharmacist, Donna White (R-Johnston) and Kristin Baker, MD, (R-Cabarrus), the only physician currently serving in the General Assembly. Dr. Baker also serves as a co-chair on the House Health Appropriations committee. If you live in any of these key leaders’ districts, now is a great time to reach out to them with a congratulatory note on their newly assigned position. In the coming session, your NCMS advocacy staff will be working closely with them on your behalf. This is a good opportunity for you, their constituents, to begin building a relationship with them. Also, as reported last week, the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and NC Health Choice met to get an update from NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH on the state’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout and from Deputy Secretary for NC Medicaid Dave Richard on Medicaid transformation. Read the NCMS Morning Rounds article on the meeting here, and the summary on our NCMS legislative blog. HHS Expands Access to Treatment for Opioid Use DisorderThe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently announced last week that it will publish Practice Guidelines for the Administration of Buprenorphine for Treating Opioid Use Disorder, to expand access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) by exempting physicians from certain certification requirements needed to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment. More than 83,000 drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States in the 12 months ending in June 2020, the highest number of overdose deaths ever recorded in a 12-month period, and an increase of over 21% compared to the previous year, according to recent provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The increase in overdose deaths highlights the need for treatment services to be more accessible for people most at risk of overdose and today's action will expand access to and availability of treatment for opioid use disorder. Without MAT, the chances of relapse for a person who suffers from OUD are significant; studies have shown that outcomes for people with OUD are much better with MAT. Read more about this announced change here. The NCMS Foundation through its Project OBOT helps facilitate MAT. Learn more here. In the NewsCan Vitamin D Really Prevent Covid-19? The Advisory Board Forum, 1-14-21 Learning Opportunity‘Evaluating Health Center Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic’ webinar --TODAY, Tuesday, Jan. 19 at 4pm. Learn how to gather information about successes and challenges in the health center’s response for COVID-19 and incorporate that information to improve your response going into 2021. You’ll receive an After-Action Report template to use to document your areas for improvement. Register here. Be sure to join the NCMS Foundation’s Kanof Institute for Physician Leadership’s Power Hour this Friday from noon to 1 p.m. when the conversation will focus on COVID-19 and Mental Health. Isolation due to the pandemic and increased stress due to financial and family pressures have taken an extraordinary toll on people’s mental health. Health care providers in particular have to deal with the added stressors of burnout and physical exhaustion from the worsening spread of COVID-19. Tune in for a discussion around caring for your mental health during such challenging times. Learn more and register here. If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!
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NCMS Political Pulse for Jan. 15, 2021
It was a busy week at the NC General Assembly as legislators returned to officially reconvene and name key leaders. Watch as NCMS Director of Legislative Relations Sue Ann Forrest, MPA, fills you in on who is going to head up important committees like the House and Senate Health Committees. She also discusses the meeting of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and NC Health Choice, which took up both the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and Medicaid transformation at its meeting this week.
NCMS Morning Rounds 1-15-21
It's the end of the week! Enjoy your NCMS Morning Rounds.Jan. 15, 2021The NCMS Center for Leadership in Medicine office will be closed and your NCMS Morning Rounds will not be published on Monday, Jan. 18, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Have a meaningful holiday! CDC Issues Advisory on Increase in Overdose DeathsThe US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Advisory is to alert health care professionals to four trends to be aware of: (1) substantial increases in drug overdose deaths across the United States, primarily driven by rapid increases in overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids excluding methadone likely illicitly manufactured fentanyl; Read the full CDC advisory here. The newly released provisional fatal overdose data, coupled with the known disruption to public health, health care and social services as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and related mitigation measures, highlight the need for essential services to remain accessible for those most at risk of overdose, the advisory states. Recommendations include expanding provision and use of naloxone and increase access to treatment for substance use disorder. Also, keep in mind this webinar on ‘Adolescent Substance Use: Current Trends and the Impact of COVID-19’ to be held on Thursday, Jan. 28 from 1 to 2 p.m. The session will provide an overview of current trends in psychoactive substance use among adolescents, including current data about what substances are being used and how trends differ across the country. The mechanism of action and associated impact of each major drug category will also be detailed. Additionally, time will be dedicated to discussing COVID-19 and its impact on rates of use and access to treatment. Learn more and register here. Spreading the Word about the COVID-19 VaccineThe newly installed president of the Durham-Orange County Medical Society and longtime NCMS member, Keely Godwin, MD, recently went on the radio to speak about the COVID-19 vaccine to offer the facts about the vaccine to the general public in the Durham Orange County area. The 14-minute interview on WCHL’s Aaron Keck Show aired on Wednesday, but you can listen to it here. Thank you Dr. Godwin! In Memoriam: James Bryan, II, MDDistinguished and highly respected physician and teacher, James Bryan, II, MD, passed away last Friday, Jan. 8. He was 88 years old. Dr. Bryan, a life member of the NCMS, had a distinguished career as a clinician and teacher at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill, that spanned 50 years. In noting his passing, the UNC Department of Medicine’s website said: “During his time as a physician and leader at UNC, Dr. Bryan set an example of humane and compassionate care that made him legendary and beloved at the university, in the community, and across the state. As one of his former colleagues said, ‘Dr. Bryan was the Bill Friday of medical practice and education in North Carolina.’” When hearing of his death, there was an outpouring of fond memories from Dr. Bryan’s NCMS and NC Chapter of the American College of Physicians colleagues. They remembered him as a ‘great teacher and inspiration;’ as a ‘role model’ and ‘hero.’ Among his many accomplishments, Dr. Bryan was influential in bringing hospice care to North Carolina, as part of a small group of advocates who helped establish a model for palliative care here. Within a few years, hospice care was available at locations throughout the state. And in 2017, the SECU Jim & Betsy Bryan Hospice Home of UNC Health opened in Chatham County. To learn more about Dr. Bryan and his distinguished career and life, read his full obituary here. Our sympathy and condolences to his family and many friends. In the NewsData Fuel Debate Over Whether J & J’s One-Dose COVID Vaccine Will Measure Up, STAT, 1-13-21 Learning Opportunity‘You Can’t Give What You Don’t Have: Self-Care Strategies for the Busy Health Professional’ a webinar and interactive workshop will be held Wednesday, Jan. 20 4p.m. and again on Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 11a.m. This session will help you identify and manage stress. You’ll identify common stress reactions and how our nervous system reacts to stress. You will also learn strategies for handling and preventing emotional distress and regulating the nervous system. Register for the Jan. 20 session here; and the Jan. 27 session here. If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!
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NCMS Morning Rounds 1-14-21
Enjoy your Thursday NCMS Morning Rounds.Jan. 14, 2021NC Legislature Back in SessionThe NC General Assembly officially reconvened yesterday at noon. On Tuesday, one day prior to the start of the session, the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and NC Health Choice met to receive updates on two issues sure to occupy legislators’ time this session – the COVID-19 vaccine distribution and the state’s transition to Medicaid managed care. View the meeting agenda here. NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Secretary Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH provided the Committee an overview of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution process. The rollout of the vaccine in North Carolina has come under the scrutiny of legislators as the state ranks toward the bottom nationwide for number of people vaccinated thus far. The latest vaccine administration statistics for each state can be seen at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC vaccine dashboard here. Sec. Cohen told committee members that the vaccination rate in the state is improving, with a 113 percent increase in vaccines given over the last seven days. To help get the available vaccine administered more quickly, Sec. Cohen said the state will soon be opening 10 vaccine administration sites that can handle 45,500 vaccinations a week out of the approximately 120,000 doses of vaccine the state expects to receive weekly. Locations of the sites will be in the following cities, counties or hospital systems: To further aide in the vaccination effort the National Guard is on site in Forsyth and Alamance counties. Review Dr. Cohen’s presentation to the committee here. Visit NCDHHS’ Find Your Spot To Get Your Shot website to learn more about who is currently eligible to receive the vaccine according to the state’s prioritization as well as where the vaccine is being offered. Key Dates as the State Moves to Medicaid Managed CareAt Tuesday’s meeting of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and NC Health Choice, the state’s Deputy Secretary for Medicaid Dave Richard assured committee members that Medicaid managed care is on track to ‘go live’ July 1, 2021. Review Richard’s presentation here. Richard noted several challenges such as getting practices stretched thin by the pandemic to sign on with the pre-paid health plans that hold contracts with the state to provide Medicaid services. Nonetheless Richard said the transformation to managed care is on schedule. He offered the timeline below with the upcoming deadlines for enrollment including provider deadlines for inclusion in the various stages of enrollment.
Study to Evaluate Telehealth Use and Documentation IssuesAmerican Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Foundation Research Network’s (AFRN) Population Health Committee is conducting a research study to evaluate telehealth use and documentation issues. Please consider taking this brief survey (one response per office) to help the researchers identify future office management best practices for telehealth. The deadline to complete the confidential survey is Jan. 26, 2021. If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Dr. Shannon Houser, AFRN Chair, by email at [email protected]. Your participation is greatly appreciated. Thank you for sharing your valuable information. In the NewsFeeling Left Out: Private Practice Doctors, Patients Wonder When It’s Their Turn for the Vaccine, Kaiser Health News, 1-13-21 Learning OpportunityThe North Carolina Allergy Asthma and Immunology Society invites you to participate in a Virtual Roundtable on Jan. 28 from 7-8:15 p.m. titled “Finding Solutions for AIT as we Emerge from the Pandemic.” Dr. Sally Bailey of Allergy Associates of Northern Virginia, Assistant Professor in the Division of Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology at Georgetown University School of Medicine and recognized as one of the leading Allergists in the region, will be a presenter. This virtual program will bring colleagues together to discuss the state of allergy practices in North Carolina and how to move forward in these unprecedented times. As a part of this virtual program, we will provide dinner delivered to your location. We will be hosting this event on Thursday, January 28th from 7:00-8:15pm EST. Please register here before Jan. 22 or contact Lille Tidwell, Medical Science Liaison, at [email protected]. If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!
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Joint Legislative Oversight Committee - Medicaid and NC Health Choice
The Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and NC Health Choice met on January 12, 2020.
View the metting agenda here. Watch the replay of the meeting here.
NC DHHS Secretary, Dr. Mandy Cohen, MD, provided the Committee an overview of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution process.
North Carolina Healthcare Association Vaccine Rollout
Leah Burns, Vice President of Government Relations for the NC Healthcare Association provided an update on the vaccine distribution process from the hospital's perspective. She explained the steps to the process of vaccinate the 1A population and the 75+ population. She shared that flexbility, the CVMS operability, and rural popuations are current challenges. She suggested that working with primary care providers and retail pharamcies could help with vaccinating more individuals more rapidly.
Dave Richard and Jay Ludlam from the Department of Health and Human Services shared a brief update about the NC Medicaid Transformation.
Day 1 Goal for Transformation: Patients get the care they need, and providers get paid.
Identified Medicaid Transformation Challenges:
- COVID-19
- Provider Contracting
- Legislative Changes
- State Budget
Transparent Communication & Engagement with Partners:
- Beneficiaries
- Providers
- Counties
- Health Plans
Proactive Comunication
- DHHS remains committed to transparency and frequent updates to the legislature and the general public.
Contracting During COVID-19
- Contracting during the pandemic has made it challenging for providers & health systems to focus on contracting.
- Plans are currently focused on open enrollment and contracting with primary care physicians and health systems.
- NC Medicaid is convening workgroups between prepaid health plans and certain provider groups to understand and resolve issues that may be standing in the way of contracting.
Coronavirus Relief Fund Update
NCMS Morning Rounds 1-13-21
Here's your Wednesday NCMS Morning Rounds.Jan. 13, 2021Accessing the COVID-19 Vaccine Management System (CVMS)The state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Management System (CVMS) Provider Enrollment Portal is now open for those clinicians eligible and interested in administering the COVID-19 vaccine. Any provider enrolling through the portal will be reviewed and considered for approval by the NC Immunization Branch to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. Initiate your enrollment here. As a reminder, COVID-19 vaccine providers must be qualified under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) agreement to prescribe COVID-19 vaccines and authorized under the appropriate NC licensing authority. Enrolled COVID-19 vaccine providers must be credentialed/licensed in North Carolina. While currently qualified providers are welcome to enroll, requests will be addressed in an order aligned with the prioritization phases and the timeline for approval will vary. The State will continuously reassess enrollment prioritization based on needs. Please visit the North Carolina Immunization Branch COVID-19 training website for Provider Enrollment Portal training content. Please note, any trainings you elect to review at this time are subject to be refreshed by the time you become an approved provider. You may need to revisit trainings depending on approval timelines. If you have concerns about this process you think the NCMS can help address, please contact the NCMS’ Frank Snyder at [email protected], who is serving as our point person for CVMS-related issues. Pediatrician Advocates for Getting COVID-19 VaccineLongtime NCMS member and vaccine advocate, David Tayloe, Jr., MD, FAAP, founder of Goldsboro Pediatrics, recently sent a letter to his local newspaper, the Goldsboro News-Argus, outlining his reasons for getting the COVID-19 vaccine and encouraging others to do so. The paper ran a front-page feature article with the headline ‘Physicians Support Science Behind COVID-19 Vaccine’ with a photo of Dr. Tayloe receiving his vaccine. Read Dr. Tayloe’s letter, ‘Why I Took the COVID-19 Vaccine – and You Should, Too’ here. Resources and Guidance on How to Relief Stress; Drive ChangeAs the pandemic continues to put significant strain on health systems and practices, health care leaders, frontline physicians and care team members are looking for best practices, emerging resources and evidence-based information to support their efforts. The American Medical Association (AMA) has designed a webinar series to deliver actionable, solution-based resources, helpful guidance for alleviating stress on health care systems and insights and expert perspectives on actions and interventions that drive proactive change. The next webinar will be held on Thursday, Jan. 14 from 1 to 2 p.m. and will focus on “Telehealth Policy & Coverage: What You Need to Know for 2021.” Telehealth was thrust onto the main stage in 2020 to keep people safe while still receiving care amidst the pandemic and it continues to cement its place in care delivery now and into the future. The AMA – and the NCMS -- has been instrumental in advocating for telehealth policies and coverage that support the long-term, sustainable use of telehealth as an option for physicians and patients. Learn the latest developments and updates on policy and coverage at the federal and state level to ensure your practice is prepared to successfully leverage telehealth in 2021. Presenters are AMA Senior Assistant Director of Federal Affairs Sandy Marks and AMA Senior Legislative Attorney, Advocacy Resource Center Kim Horvath, JD. Register here for this webinar and learn more about future Professional Satisfaction and Practice Sustainability sessions in the future. In the NewsGovernor’s Red Tape Blamed as Vaccine Doses Pile Up, Politico, 1-11-21 Learning OpportunityJoin the NCMS Foundation and the NC Medical Group Management Association for our first Lunch & Learn webinar of 2021. This month’s webinar will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 19 from noon to 1 p.m. and will be a Health Policy Update: COVID-19 & Its Impacts. Presented by Sam Cohen, JD, Senior Vice President for Health Policy at Curi, key topics will include: If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!
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NCMS Morning Rounds 1-12-21
Hello Tuesday! Here's your NCMS Morning Rounds.Jan. 12, 2021NC Council on Health Care Coverage Considers Guiding PrinciplesLast Friday, Jan. 8, the Governor’s Council on Health Care Coverage held its third meeting to discuss health care financing options and the draft guiding principles around expanding access to health care coverage for North Carolinians. NCMS Board member Merritt Seshul, MD, and NCMS Executive Vice President and CEO Chip Baggett, JD, are the NCMS’ representatives to the Council, which is a bipartisan group that includes 36 representatives from state health care organizations, business, nonprofits and government and reflects a variety of political perspectives. Mark McClellan, MD, PhD, of the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy at Duke University is convening the council. Here is the list of Council participants. After reviewing financing options previously outlined, the council members broke into small groups to discuss the draft guiding principles for the expanding access to care going forward. Review the slide presentation here, paying special attention to slide 31, which outlines the financing options, and slides 35-37, which include the draft guiding principles. The council’s last meeting will be held on Jan. 22, when the guiding principles will be finalized. You can access the materials from previous meetings and watch recordings of or livestream the proceedings at this link. Updated NC Medicaid Provider Playbook AvailableAs North Carolina moves closer to implementing Medicaid managed care, the state has published additional information in its NC Medicaid Provider Playbook to help you make the transition. The move to managed care is set to ‘go live’ July 1. One fast approaching date to keep in mind is Feb. 1, which is the deadline for you to contract with the pre-paid health plans (PHPs) if you want to be included in the open enrollment phase of the transition. More information on contracting and the timeline are included in these updated parts of the playbook: Additional information on North Carolina’s transition to Medicaid managed care is available NC Division of Health Benefits website. Also, the next in the series of webinars for Medicaid primary care staff and clinicians will be held this Thursday, Jan. 14 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and will focus on the Advanced Medical Home Tier Support Tool. The session will provide information on the Advanced Medical Home model and how to function at the highest AMH Tier possible when Medicaid Managed Care goes live. Register now. New Resources to Answer Your – and Patients’ -- COVID-19 Vaccine QuestionsA diverse coalition of leading health care organizations and medical institutions have come together with the Ad Council to create new video resources to answer your questions about COVID-19 vaccination in hopes of allaying any fears your patients may have. The collection of videos, with an introduction from the National Institute of Health’s Anthony Fauci, MD, and other experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Geared to the medical community, the aim of the videos are to increase understanding and confidence about the efficacy and safety of the new vaccines. Topics addressed include safety, availability, cost, side effects, vaccine administration, answering patients' questions and more. "I'm urging health care professionals to please get vaccinated," Dr. Fauci says in the video. "It's critical to protect yourselves and your family—but it's equally important as health care providers to show confidence in the vaccines so that other people will follow suit and get vaccinated. Together, we can help a substantial portion of the population decide to get vaccinated and ultimately end the pandemic as we know it in this country." Learn more about this effort here. To aide in our advocacy efforts on your behalf about the vaccination process here in North Carolina, we ask that you please share your experience and any concerns or challenges you and/or your patients may be encountering in this quick survey. TAKE OUR SURVEY here. Thank you for your input! In the NewsFor People with Type 1 Diabetes, CDC Guidelines for COVID-19 Vaccine Priority Are Puzzling, STAT, 1-11-21 Learning OpportunityFor specific questions you may have around COVID-19 vaccine safety, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and front line and clinicians will hold a “Fireside Chat” on Wednesday, Jan. 13 at 4 p.m. Register in advance for this call here. If you would like to submit questions for the panel to discuss please send them in advance to [email protected] . There will not be a Q&A session during the call. Also, DON’T FORGET to join the National Academy of Medicine's Leadership Consortium for a Jan. 13 from 1 to 4 pm to explore progress in achieving an inclusive culture of equitable engagement in health, strategies for achieving internal organizational equity and how to monitor national progress toward a culture of inclusion and equity in the health system. Learn more and register here. If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!
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NCMS Morning Rounds 1-11-21
Welcome to a new week and your NCMS Morning Rounds!Jan. 11, 2021NCMS Legislative UpdateThe horrifying events last week in the nation's capital shook us all. At the NCMS we have redoubled our resolve to pursue constructive, collaborative work to carry forth our vision for a healthier NC in the coming months and as the NC General Assembly reconvenes this Wednesday, Jan. 13 at noon. Before the opening of the session on Tuesday, Jan. 12 at noon, the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and NC Health Choice will meet. The meeting will stream live at this link, if you’d like to watch the proceedings. Watch your NCMS Morning Rounds later this week for any news out of this meeting as well as updates on the opening of this legislative session. The roll out of the COVID-19 vaccine has been a topic of much discussion with the NCMS listening and responding to your needs and feedback about the equitable distribution of the vaccine to you and your patients. Discussions with the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) are ongoing to help ensure that all practice staff and patients are vaccinated according to the prioritization plan and as supplies of the vaccine become available. Visit NCDHHS’ Your Spot Your Shot webpage to find out where those who are eligible for vaccination according to the prioritization plan can be vaccinated. [See the following articles in this newsletter for more on the COVID-19 vaccine roll out.] Last week Governor Roy Cooper announced his modified stay-at-home order under Executive Order 188, which requires people to remain at home from 10pm to 5am, will remain in effect until Friday, Jan. 29. Under Executive Order No. 188: NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH reinforced these measures by issuing a Secretarial Directive advising North Carolinians to avoid indoor spaces without masks; avoid social gatherings between households; and to stay home and limit public interactions to essential activities such as going to work or school, seeking medical care, or buying food. At the federal level, US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar extended the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency declaration for an additional 90 days, meaning it will remain in effect until at least April 21, 2021. This means that all telehealth and other waivers and flexibilities for Medicare implemented during the emergency will continue. We Need Your Input on the COVID-19 Vaccine Process So FarTo help in our advocacy efforts on your behalf, we need your input on any challenges or concerns you may have about the COVID-19 vaccination process thus far. Please take just a moment to complete our survey. Thank you! COVID Vaccine Management System Training SessionsThe NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Immunization Branch is offering special training sessions beginning tomorrow to help familiarize practices with the COVID Vaccine Management System (CVMS), which documents and tracks immunization with the vaccine. The agenda for the ‘Train the Trainer’ session is: Tomorrow’s session, Tuesday, Jan. 12, will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. and can be accessed at this Zoom link with the passcode: 202106. The next session will be held Thursday, Jan. 14, 9 a.m. to noon at this Zoom link with passcode 799559. In the NewsIn Los Angeles and Beyond, Oxygen is the Latest COVID Bottleneck, Kaiser Health News, 1-7-21 Learning OpportunityThe Annual Winter CME Conference co-hosted by the Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine, NCOMA, and NCS-ACOFP will be held on February 13 – 14 as a virtual event. Attendees can earn up to 16 hours of AOA Category 1-A credit or 16 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Conference registrants will have 30 days to view the conference content and earn CME credit. You can review the lecture topics on the proposed agenda here. Register by Jan. 15, 2021 to take advantage of the early bird registration rates. You can view the registration rates here. Register on-line on the NCOMA website at Attendee Registration 2021 Annual Winter CME Conference. If you have questions, contact Nancy Guy, Conference Coordinator at [email protected] of 910-893-7960. If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!
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NCMS Political Pulse for January 8, 2021
The horrifying events this week in the nation's capitol shook us all. We have redoubled our resolve to pursue constructive, collaborative work to carry forth our vision for a healthier NC in the coming months as the legislature comes back into session next week. Watch as NCMS Director of Legislative Relations Sue Ann Forrest, MPA, speaks about the Governor's extended Executive Order and the latest on the COVID-19 vaccination roll out.
NCMS Morning Rounds 1-8-21
Finally Friday and time for your NCMS Morning Rounds!
Jan. 8, 2021
COVID-19 Vaccine Resources
The NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) offers this webpage to quickly reference who is currently eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccinations as well as a list by county where the vaccine is currently being administered. NCDHHS continues to caution that supplies of the vaccine are limited, slowing the vaccination process. Learn more here.
For a bit more information from individual county health departments, check out this compilation of vaccination locations and instructions put together by North Carolina Health News, an online news source.
To familiarize yourself more fully with the currently available vaccines, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers COVID-19 Vaccine Self-Study Online Courses with Free Education Credits. The ‘COVID-19 Vaccine: What Healthcare Professionals Need to Know’ training is offered in two sections:
One for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, available here. And one for the Moderna vaccine available here.
NCMS Accreditation Program Welcomes New Director
The NCMS welcomes Russet Rogers, EdD, as the consulting director of the Society’s Accreditation Services Program. Dr. Rogers succeeds Harry Gallis, MD, who directed the program for many years.
The NCMS Accreditation Program does not provide Continuing Medical Education (CME); rather, it ensures that accredited organizations demonstrate they meet requirements for delivering independent CME that accelerates learning, change and improvement in health care. Learn more about the program here.
Dr. Rogers received her Doctor of Education in Adult and Community College Education with an emphasis in the health professions in 2016 from North Carolina State University. She earned her Master of Library Science degree in 1993 from North Carolina Central University. Dr. Rogers completed faculty development programs in Interprofessional Education and Health Literacy and Aging. Since 2009, she has served as a site surveyor for the NCMS Accreditation Program. In September 2020, after 28 years of service, Dr. Rogers retired from Southern Regional Area Health Education Center (AHEC) in Fayetteville, NC.
Dr. Rogers will work alongside Dr. Gallis as she assumes responsibility for assisting 10 NC accredited organizations with meeting CME programming requirements.
After retiring from Duke University and Carolinas HealthCare System, Dr. Gallis remained active in the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and as director of the NCMS program. He is known nationally for his expertise in CME accreditation and for his devotion to meaningful, continuous learning for physicians. An Infectious Disease specialist, Dr. Gallis was featured in an NCMS ‘Community Conversation’ article in which he shares his perspective on the COVID-19 epidemic. Read that piece here.
Kudos to the NCMS’ Pam Highsmith
NCMS Vice President for Advancement and Donor Relations Pam Highsmith, MEd, CFRE was recently named President of the Board of Directors for the Triangle chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). AFP’s mission is to empower individuals and organizations to practice ethical fundraising through professional education, networking, research and advocacy.
A native of Burgaw, NC, and graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Citadel, Highsmith has been with the NCMS for 17 years in a variety of roles. Congratulations, Pam!
In the News
How LatinX Health Care Providers United to Spread Information about COVID-19, Indy Week, 1-6-21
Learning Opportunity
Don’t forget to tune in to today’s (Friday, Jan. 8) Kanof Institute for Physician Leadership’s Power Hour from noon to 1 p.m. Today discussion will focus on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among minority communities. Guests include:
Chamaine Brooks-Locklear, MD - Family Medicine Physician, Pembroke Family Practice, Pembroke, NC
Artina Dawkins, PhD, MPA - Program Manager and Co-Director of Diversity & Inclusion, Orthopaedic Surgery, Wake Forest Baptist Health
Bryant A. Murphy, MD, MBA - NCMS Board Member and Anesthesiologist with UNC Healthcare
George Pride, PhD - Founder, Black Doctors USA
Karen L. Smith, MD, FAAFP - NCMS Board Member and Family Physician, Karen L. Smith, MD, PA, Raeford, NC
If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!
NCMS Morning Rounds 1-6-21
Enjoy Wednesday's NCMS Morning Rounds!
Jan. 6, 2021
Pharmacists May Administer COVID-19 Vaccine
The NCMS, along with other stakeholder groups, recently offered feedback on the state’s standing order allowing immunizing pharmacists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. Last May, before a COVID-19 vaccine had been approved, the NC General Assembly passed legislation authorizing immunizing pharmacists to administer the vaccine to expand immunization efforts throughout the state.
As result of negotiations with the NCMS and other groups, the final legislation stipulates that stakeholder groups like the NCMS must be consulted before implementing the standing order. Read the NCMS’ summary of the legislation, SB704, here. You may also read the pharmacy provision on page 22 of the full COVID-19 relief act here.
Last month, with two vaccines nearing approval and vaccinations about to begin, representatives from the NCMS, NC Academy of Family Physicians, the NC Pediatric Society, the NC Association of Community Pharmacists, the NC Association of Pharmacists and the NC Retail Merchants Association, offered verbal feedback on the standing order in a phone conversation with State Health Director Betsey Tilson, MD, MPH. Points raised by the NCMS during the call included:
• Encouraging vaccinating the public as safely as possible.
• Acknowledging that the two-dose immunization requirement makes information sharing incredibly important.
• Screening questions and procedures should be included in standing order.
• Discouraging the use of pharmacy technicians to administer the vaccine due to training concerns
• Informing the patient’s medical home of the vaccination to ensure safe follow up care
The order authorizes pharmacists licensed by the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy and practicing in the state of North Carolina to administer FDA-authorized or FDA-licensed COVID-19 vaccine(s) to eligible candidates according to the protocol outlined in the standing order. Read the order, which was signed Dec. 27, 2020, here.
Reach Out and Read Expands
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) recently received approval to use up to $3,013,000 in federal matching funds to expand services for Reach Out and Read, the evidence-based childhood brain development intervention initiative. This partnership with Reach Out and Read is one of the first in the country among Medicaid programs.
Reach Out and Read is an evidence-based intervention that partners with pediatric primary care locations to deliver training for medical providers, literacy tools for families and to encourage healthy routines and relationships through shared stories. In every well-visit, children and families receive a “prescription for reading” with new, developmentally appropriate books to help grow children’s home libraries.
Research shows that children who participate in this program have improved literacy and language comprehension, and clinics have improved patient-clinician relationships and well-child visit attendance.
For more information:
• Early Childhood Action Plan
• Reach Out and Read Carolinas
• NCDHHS press release
Kudos to Dr. White
Thomas R. White, MD, was recently honored by being named 2020 NC Family Physician of the Year by the NC Academy of Family Physicians at their Annual Meeting. The award recognizes a family physician who tirelessly promotes access to primary care services and shows a steadfast commitment to the community.
Dr. White is an NCMS Foundation Kanof Institute for Physician Leadership 2013 Leadership College alumnus. Watch the presentation of the award and Dr. White’s acceptance remarks here.
Congratulations, Dr. White!
In the News
Five Key Milestones in the COVID-19 Pandemic That We’re Anticipating in 2021, STAT, 1-4-21
Learning Opportunity
For the first Power Hour of 2021 this Friday, Jan. 8 from noon to 1 p.m., join a group of influential community health care leaders as they discuss ‘Overcoming COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Minority Populations.’
Moderated by NCMS VP for Rural Health Systems Innovation Franklin Walker, MBA, the conversation will include Program Manager and Co-Director of Diversity & Inclusion, Orthopaedic Surgery, Wake Forest Baptist Health Artina Dawkins, PhD, MPA, C-TAGME; NCMS Board Member and Anesthesiologist with UNC Healthcare Bryant A. Murphy, MD, MBA; NCMS Board Member and Family Physician in Raeford, NC Karen L. Smith, MD, FAAFP and George Pride of Black Doctors USA.
The KIPL Power Hour aims to provide a forum for ongoing conversation, collaboration, and community. Tune in to Power Hour every other week to hear from different experts, decision makers and influencers on a variety of topics. The format is informal and conversational and sessions are easy to access through Zoom. Power Hours will be recorded and made available to you through your NCMS Morning Rounds and on the KIPL webpage.
If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!
NCMS Morning Rounds 1-5-21
Welcome to your first NCMS Morning Rounds of 2021!Jan. 5, 2021Review of Current COVID-19 Vaccine Plan for NCBased on new federal recommendations issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) updated and simplified the vaccine prioritization plan at the end of last month. For the latest information, tune in tonight, Tuesday, Jan. 5, from 6 to 7 p.m. when State Health Director and Chief Medical Officer Betsey Tilson, MD, MPH, offers an update on the vaccine distribution plan. Dr. Tilson also will respond to questions during the session. Click here to join the meeting via Zoom. Or to join by phone call (646) 558-8656 and use webinar ID 131 899 801. North Carolina’s updated phases include: Currently there is not enough vaccine for everyone to be vaccinated at the same time, so NCDHHS will open the next phase of vaccinations (1b) in groups, starting only with persons above the age of 75 in order to best manage vaccine dose availability. To see all the groups for Phases 1b and Phase 2, please review this Infographic of Vaccine Phases. Watch your NCMS Morning Rounds for information on how North Carolinians over age 75 will access vaccinations beginning in early January. For those who engage this population, please consider sharing NCDHHS’ resources below in both English and Spanish to answer patients’ questions. All vaccine providers are expected to ensure the vaccine is equitably administered within each group. Longstanding and continuing racial and ethnic injustices in our health care system contribute to lack of trust in vaccines, and NCDHHS is focused on building trust with historically marginalized populations. The Department is partnering with trusted leaders and organizations to provide accurate information about the vaccine. More detailed information is available at yourspotyourshot.nc.gov and in the resources below: Here are additional vaccine resources to share with your staff and patients. NCDHHS’ Vaccines page is continually updated with more information and resources as they are available at yourspotyourshot.nc.gov. The page is also available in Spanish at covid19.ncdhhs.gov/vacuna. Unsure Where to Refer a Patient for Substance Use Disorder Treatment?Check out TreatmentATLAS.org, a free, not-for-profit, non-provider-funded website to help people find quality substance use disorder treatment in North Carolina, both for themselves and their loved ones. Visit the webpage to take a brief evidence-based assessment to understand the best treatment type for your patients. Search for and compare treatment facilities across North Carolina, using trustworthy information on treatment quality. Learn more about what to look for in SUD treatment facilities. Read reviews from actual patients and loved ones, and more. North Carolina is one of six states launching the ATLAS platform as part of a pilot project. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to Caroline Davidson ([email protected]) who leads the ATLAS implementation in North Carolina. Updates for Health Information Exchange ProvidersAs part of Session Law 2019-23, certain providers are required to connect to and participate in North Carolina's Health Information Exchange (HIE) Network known as NC HealthConnex. Based upon the provider’s taxonomy codes on file, some providers may voluntarily connect with the HIE while others are eligible for a Hardship Extension. Beginning Jan. 31, 2021, providers who wish to request a Hardship Extension will utilize a new process available through the NCTracks Secure Provider Portal. For more information about NC HealthConnex connectivity requirements, see the Medicaid Bulletin titled Legislation Gives Certain Providers More Time to Connect to NC HealthConnex. For detailed information about the processes available through the NCTracks Secure Provider Portal, see the corresponding job aid located on the User Guides and Fact Sheets page under Provider Record Maintenance. In the NewsMedical Professionals Take Initiative in COVID-19 Vaccine Persuasion, The Charlotte Post, 1-3-21 Learning OpportunityJoin the NCMS Foundation and the NC Medical Group Management Association for our first Lunch & Learn webinar of 2021. This month’s webinar will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 19 from noon to 1 p.m. and will be a Health Policy Update: COVID-19 & Its Impacts. COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on physician practices in 2020, and these impacts are likely to continue through at least the first half of 2021. This presentation will review the events of the past nine months to help practices understand how the situation has evolved over time and what the evolving circumstances may mean for the coming year. Presented by Sam Cohen, JD, Senior Vice President for Health Policy at Curi, key topics will include: If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!
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NCMS Morning Rounds 12-22-20
Enjoy Tuesday's NCMS Morning Rounds.Dec. 22, 2020Sticking With the COVID-19 Vaccine PlanThe NCMS has been in contact with the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) on behalf of members who contacted us regarding access to the COVID-19 vaccine. Some of these members have been notified they are eligible to be vaccinated in the first round of COVID-19 immunizations but are having difficulty getting the vaccination. Some believe they qualify as front-line outpatient clinicians but have not received proper clearance to be immunized. Here is what we can advise you: • The NCMS cannot register or authorize anyone to get the vaccine. That authority lies with the hospitals/health systems and/or your local county health department. Please contact the health system you are associated with if you are on the medical staff at the hospital or an employed physician or PA with that system. • If you are not affiliated with a health system, but feel you qualify under phase 1A, please reach out to your local health department. • We have encouraged NCDHHS to clarify the guidelines outlined in the vaccination plan and to ensure health systems and health departments are sticking with that plan. Here is the graphic showing who is eligible to receive the vaccine at each phase. • Keep in mind that supplies of the vaccine are limited at this point, so NCDHHS is urging patience as shipments arrive and they are distributed. This week, the state expects to receive 175,900 doses of the Moderna vaccine, which received emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday. Between 70,000 and 80,000 of those will go to local health departments and the 63 hospitals that did not receive any of the Pfizer vaccine last week, according to NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH. • As outlined on NCDHHS’ COVID-19 vaccine website, outpatient providers who have an increased risk of exposure beyond that of a typical general outpatient setting could be included in the first phase (1A). This could include outpatient providers who are focused on COVID patient evaluation, respiratory care such as respiratory diagnostic testing centers, members of a dedicated respiratory care team, or frequently involved in COVID testing sites. According to NCDHHS, Health care employers (e.g., health systems, medical practices, hospice providers, EMS) should: NCDHHS also states that “if a hospital is providing hospital-based outpatient/primary care, they should do the same for outpatient and community providers to provide equitable access to vaccine. They also should ensure that they are including the entire care team, not just the physicians.” For more information visit the NCDHHS COVID-19 vaccine webpage here. Surprise Billing Legislation CloseAs of yesterday evening, the US Congress was set to pass a massive government funding bill, which not only includes $900 billion in new COVID-19 relief, but also a provision on surprise medical bills. The NCMS has long advocated for reforms to protect patients from surprise bills, and in November 2019, the NCMS Board of Directors adopted a policy framework to guide our advocacy on this issue. We have long sought a solution that addresses the issue proactively by shifting the focus from reacting to the surprise bill after the fact, to preventing it in the first place. This could be accomplished by identifying the areas where surprise billing is most likely to occur and negotiating charges before they are billed, perhaps by requiring them to be arbitrated in advance of services being rendered. Learn more about the NCMS’ proactive approach to this issue. Preliminary reports on the legislation under consideration revealed that the latest version called for health insurers and providers to negotiate most billing disputes or bring them to a mediator. While final language in the surprise billing provision was not available, the proposed legislation doesn’t seem to fulfill the NCMS’ goals and objectives. Once the final language is clear, the NCMS will analyze the legislation’s impact and how it will shape decisions going forward. Watch upcoming issues of your NCMS Morning Rounds for details. Here is a media report with more information on the proposal: Surprise Medical Bill Prevention Included in Year-End Legislative Package, The Hill, 12-20-20 Guidance for Children with MIS-C Associated with COVID-19Earlier this month, the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) issued updated clinical guidance on identification and reporting of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) potentially linked to COVID-19. A possible link between COVID-19 and a serious inflammatory disease in children and teenagers has been reported in multiple countries and in the United States. While the specific features and range of disease manifestations are still being determined, most children and adolescents with this syndrome have gastrointestinal, dermatologic, and/or cardiovascular involvement including significantly elevated markers of inflammation and cardiac damage. Because the case definition is non-specific and clinical manifestations may overlap with acute COVID-19, Kawasaki disease or toxic shock syndrome, it may be difficult to distinguish MIS-C from these other conditions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1,163 cases of MIS-C and 20 deaths had been reported in the US as of Oct. 30, 2020. The mean age of cases was 8 years (range 0 – 20 years) and the majority of cases have occurred in children who are Hispanic or Latino (35.4 percent) or non-Hispanic black (31.7 percent). In a more detailed report in August 2020, the most common signs and symptoms reported were abdominal pain, vomiting, skin rash, diarrhea, hypotension and conjunctival injection. The majority of patients did not have an underlying medical condition. Read the NCDHHS memo here for more information. As a reminder, DHHS has requested voluntary reporting of cases of this syndrome to the Communicable Disease Branch at this link. If you have questions, please contact the Communicable Disease Branch epidemiologist on call at 919-733-3419. In the NewsPolice, Firefighters, Teachers Will Be Next in Line for COVID-19 Vaccine, USA Today, 12-20-20 Learning OpportunityMark your calendar for these upcoming NCMS-managed specialty society meetings: The NC Eye Physicians and Surgeon’s Annual CodeQuest meeting will be a one-day virtual training with Sue Vicchrilli, COT, OCS, OCSR on Jan. 23. Watch the NCMS Morning Rounds for details and updates on registration. The NC Dermatology Association’s Annual Meeting will be held Jan. 30-31. This first-ever virtual annual meeting features an impressive list of outstanding faculty addressing the latest dermatological topics in online sessions that offer up to 7.75 hours of CME credit. Click here to register for the meeting or get more information. If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!
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NCMS Morning Rounds 12-21-20
Welcome to Monday's NCMS Morning Rounds.
Dec. 21, 2020
NCMS Legislative Update
A lot was going on last week as the holidays approach and the NC General Assembly prepares to return to Raleigh in January. Here are some of the newsy highlights:
- NC legislators and the Governor worked together to ensure that nearly $30 million in funding will indeed be distributed to increase broadband access in rural communities. This is good news for those struggling to connect to the internet, a crucial service especially during the pandemic for those using telehealth and for students learning remotely.
The money will fund 18 broadband infrastructure projects with a goal of connecting 15,965 households and 703 businesses in rural North Carolina to high-speed internet. The grants are part of the 2020 Special Supplementary Round of the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) Grant program and will be distributed through the N.C. Department of Information Technology (NCDIT) Broadband Infrastructure Office (BIO).
- After several recounts, the extremely close election for NC Supreme Court Chief Justice was finally called with Justice Paul Newby being named the new chief justice. Incumbent Chief Justice Cherie Beasley conceded to Newby last Saturday.
- The first shipment of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines arrived in the state and frontline health care workers began being vaccinated against the virus. Pfizer, an NCMS Business Alliance member, offers the following information on their response to COVID-19 and their vaccine.
o Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Resources – www.pfizer.com/health/coronavirus
o U.S. Health Care Professional Information – https://www.cvdvaccine-us.com/
o Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers - https://www.cvdvaccine-us.com/images/pdf/fact-sheet-for-recipients-and-caregivers.pdf
o Medical Information - https://www.pfizermedicalinformation.com/
o Commitment to Diversity in Clinical Trials – https://www.pfizer.com/science/clinical-trials/diversity-clinical-trials
Three legislative committees held meetings last week – the Select Committee on Community Relations, Law Enforcement and Justice, which is co-chaired by NCMS member Rep. Kristin Baker, MD, (R-Cabarrus), the only physician in the NC House; the Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee and the NC Child Fatality Task Force. Watch our NCMS Legislative blog for summaries of those committee meetings.
NC Council for Health Care Coverage Holds Second Meeting
Last Friday, the NC Council for Health Care Coverage, a bipartisan, multi-sector council called by Governor Roy Cooper to examine how best to increase health care coverage in the state and develop principles to guide policymakers, met for the second time. View the meeting agenda here.
Participants on the council, which is facilitated by Duke University's Margolis Center for Health Policy, include legislators, representatives of the business, health care and nonprofit communities. The NCMS is represented by NCMS Board of Directors member Merritt Seshul, MD, MBA, FACS and NCMS Executive Vice President and CEO Chip Baggett, JD. See the list of participants.
This effort is in line with the NCMS’ collaborative approach to addressing issues like increasing health care coverage. You can watch a recording of Friday’s meeting here.
The Council will reconvene on Friday, Jan. 8.
Challenge: Increase Well-Child Visits and Immunizations
The federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has issued a challenge to primary care pediatric practices to come up with innovative approaches to increasing access to and utilization of well-child visits and/or immunization services. Vaccinations and well-child visits help prevent outbreaks of childhood diseases. Recent CDC data show that fewer children got vaccines on time this year compared to last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the first phase of this P4 Challenge initiative, up to 50 applicants will receive $10,000 to formulate their ideas and deploy them in Phase 2. Submissions must include a primary care provider who delivers health services to children as a key submitter or partner.
Learn more about the challenge and how to apply here.
In the News
Trusted Messengers May Help Disenfranchised Communities Overcome Vaccine Hesitancy, Kaiser Health News, 12-17-20
Racial Bias in Pulse Oximeters May Put Black Patients at Risk, Becker’s Hospital Review, 12-17-20
Learning Opportunity
The Roundtable on Population Health Improvement will host a 2-day virtual workshop addressing community-led initiatives for population health improvement on Jan. 28–29. Two sessions will be held daily: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. This event will feature presentations and discussions on community-led action around a variety of population health improvement areas, including the social determinants of health. Learn more and register here. A recording of the workshop will also be posted to the webpage two weeks after the event.
And DON’T FORGET to join State Health Director and Chief Medical Officer Betsey Tilson, MD, MPH, and other experts from the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) for the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan office hours on Tuesday, Dec. 22 from 6-7 p.m. Dr. Tilson will provide an update on North Carolina's COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan and respond to questions during a Q&A session. Click here for the Zoom link. For dial-in, call (646) 558-8656 and use webinar ID 131 899 801.
If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!
House Select Committee on Community Relations, Law Enforcement and Justice
The House Select Committee on Community Relations, Law Enforcement and Justice met on December 14, 2020.
Listen to the entire audio here.
The Committee approved a draft report to be presented to the NCGA.
- Create additional statwide law enforcement training require and provide additional educational and training resources
- Create requirements for law enforcement agencies to report disciplinary actions, resignations, and terminations
- Create whistlblower protection for officers that report misconduct
- Provide law enforcement with additional resources encountering mental health issues in the field
- Provide law enforcement with additional resources to recieve mental health treatment
- Increase availability of specialty courts
- Ban the use of chokeholds
- Require law enforcement to report use of force incidents
- Mandate the duty to intervene and the duty to report miscondcut
- Fund pilot program for student law enforcment career exploration
- Establish a system to allow infividuals to recieve notification of court dates
NC Child Fatality Task Force Intentional Death Prevention Committee
The NC Child Fatality Task Force Intentional Death Prevention Committee met on December 14, 2020 from 1:30-3:30.
Agenda Items
- Student Mental Health and Child Abuse Neglect Reporting
- Infant Safe Surrender
- Updates from NC Division of Social Services
View all of the sildes for this meeting here.
Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee
The Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee met on Decenber 14, 2020.
- Report Release Better Coordination with Nonprofit Volunteer Organizations During Preparedness Can Improve Disaster Recovery
- DOT Internal Audit: Highway Division Contract Pre-Award Process
- Bill Draft for Consideration
- Teacher Diversity/PED Reccomendations
- Directs the State Board of Education to develop an alternative plan for teachers to recieve a continuing professional license
- Directs NC Teaching Fellows Commission to select at least one minority serving institution to participate in the NC Teaching Fellows Program
- Teacher Diversity/PED Reccomendations
NCMS Political Pulse for December 18, 2020
A busy week this week with lots of news. Legislators and the Governor came together to ensure funding for broadband will be distributed, paving the way for better access to telehealth in rural communities throughout the state; the Pfizer vaccine arrived and the first group of frontline health care workers have begun to be vaccinated; three legislative committees met this week (visit the NCMS' legislative blog for details on those meetings). Listen as NCMS Director of Legislative Relations Sue Ann Forrest, MPA shares all the news to keep you informed.
NCMS Morning Rounds 12-18-20
Enjoy your Friday NCMS Morning Rounds.Dec. 18, 2020Distribution of Financial Recovery Program Funds BeginsThe NCMS Foundation-administered Financial Recovery Program (FRP) will begin distributing reimbursement funds within the week to eligible practices that applied for this state-allocated funding. From the beginning of October until the end of November, the FRP has been collecting and reviewing applications from medical practices statewide that have been struggling financially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning next week, 643 practices representing 3,830 providers will be receiving funds. The average grant per practice is just under $38,000. Nearly 70,000 requests were received through the FRP portal representing $44 million. This massive undertaking to distribute the $25 million allocated to the NCMS Foundation by the NC General Assembly in a matter of months involved 1,338 email conversations between NCMS staff and consultants and practices throughout the state. “The need is great among medical practices in our state and I am thrilled to begin the distribution of this money to help those struggling to stay afloat during the pandemic,” said NCMS Vice President for Innovative Solutions Franklin Walker, MBA. “The success of this program shows how effective and beneficial such collaborative work can be.” The NCMS advocacy team worked closely with the NC Academy of Family Physicians, the NC Pediatric Society, the NC College of Emergency Physicians, the NC Academy of Physician Assistants, the NC Obstetrics and Gynecology Society and the NC Dermatology Association in order to secure the state appropriation that funded the FRP. Walker also brought in Reynold Yordy and his team at Greenlight Ventures to create and launch -- in record time -- the portal necessary to accept and vet online applications from practices. The Greenlight Ventures also provides the technology that powers the NCMS Foundation’s Project OBOT and Our Community Health Initiative programs. "It was a privilege to be part of a project that provided so much assistance to our frontline health care workers," Yordy said. "By leveraging the technology we created, we were able to distribute a significant amount of money in a very short timeframe, while ensuring all auditing could be performed in an efficient manner." If you are a practice expecting FRP reimbursement funds, you should receive them in time to make your holidays a little brighter this year. Answers to Your COVID-19 Vaccine Questions and MoreIf you have questions on the COVID-19 vaccine, mark your calendar for Tuesday, Dec. 22 from 6 to 7 p.m. when NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Chief Medical Officer and State Health Director Betsey Tilson, MD, MPH, will host an update and Q&A session on the state’s COVID-19 vaccination distribution plans. This is in follow-up to this week’s webinar on the vaccine. Access the webinar on Tuesday at this Zoom link or by phone at (646) 558 8656; Meeting ID: 131 899 801 or one-tap mobile access +16465588656,,131899801# If you missed the earlier Dec. 15 briefing, you may listen to a recording of the session here or view the presentation slides here. If you have questions on the COVID-19 Vaccine Management System (CVMS), two office hours sessions are being held this morning, Dec. 18: For a more general update on the state’s COVID-19 response Dr. Tilson and State Epidemiologist Zack Moore, MD, MPH will hold a webinar today from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. In addition to the updates and open discussion, DHHS will provide a brief update on the program for reimbursement for COVID-19 related primary care services for individuals. To participate via zoom, click here. Or for audio only, dial (646) 558-8656 or (301) 715-8592 and use Webinar ID: 705 979 628. For more information on the vaccine distribution plan and resources to discuss the vaccine with your patients, visit https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/vaccines#resources. Racism and Discrimination in Health Care: Experiences Today; Actions Going ForwardTwo of the most pressing concerns currently facing the country are the long-standing issue of racial discrimination and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The issues have merged with the pandemic taking a disproportionate health and economic toll on people of color. To learn more about this topic listen in to this archived recording of the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) and the Morehouse School of Medicine’s Satcher Health Leadership Institute interactive web briefing, held last Friday to discuss addressing systemic racial discrimination in the health care system and meeting the moment to earn trust among individuals and communities as COVID-19 vaccines come to market. In the NewsAs COVID Strain on Health Systems Magnifies, Preventive Care Has Not Yet Bounced Back, NC Health News, 12-15-20 Learning OpportunityDON’T FORGET today’s Power Hour from noon to 1 p.m. when our guests, Emergency Medicine clinicians, will discuss how emergency departments are dealing with the surge in COVID-19 cases and what may lie ahead. Also, they will share how they are coping with their own stress and workload. Guests include Jennifer Parker Cote, MD, Vidant Health; Charul Haugan, MD, UNC Rex; Mike Utecht, MD; Veterans Affairs, Durham and Stephen Small, MD, Mid-Atlantic Emergency Medical Associates. This is an opportunity to share knowledge and learn from each other about the current situation and its impact. Learn more and register here. ALSO… The first Duke-UNC Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training Course for 2021 will take place beginning in March. Early bird registration is open through Jan. 15. The primary aim of the program is to train health professionals to provide evidence-based treatment for tobacco use and dependence. The program provides an impactful education experience for a wide variety of professionals, including clinicians, nurses, pharmacists, social workers and public health policymakers. This work is integral to women’s and children’s health. Learn more and register here. If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading! |
North Carolina Council for Health Care Coverage Second Meeting
The North Carolina Council for Health Care Coverage will meet on Friday, December 18th at 10:ooam.
NCMS CEO, Chip Baggett, JD, and NCMS Board Member, Dr. Merritt Seshul, MD, MBA, FACS are members of this Council.
The meeting will be live streamed on Youtube here.
View the agenda here. View the participant list here.
Future proposed meeting dates:
- Friday, January 8
- Friday, January 22
NCMS Morning Rounds 12-17-20
Happy Thursday! Enjoy your NCMS Morning Rounds.Dec. 17, 2020Update on COVID Vaccine for NC Medical PracticesOn Tuesday evening, State Health Director Betsey Tilson, MD, MPH and other state officials offered NC physicians and PAs an overview of the state’s plans to administer the COVID-19 vaccine, which began arriving in North Carolina in limited supplies this week. View the slides from the presentation here. Dr. Tilson began with the caution that the only certainty, at this point, is that there will be glitches. The mantra for the next few months should be ‘Keep Calm and Carry On.’ She thanked those on the call for their flexibility and understanding as the state undertakes the massive work of distributing and administering the COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Tilson also said she hopes to hold ‘office hours’ next week and in the weeks ahead to answer your questions and give updates on the vaccination rollout. Watch your NCMS Morning Rounds for information on how to participate in those calls. Here are some key points, based on common questions NCDHHS has received. The points are outlined in detail in the slide deck, which also includes links to more information and resources. The vaccine is safe: Who can get the vaccine: Vaccine reimbursement: Tracking vaccinations: Year-in-Review: NC HealthConnexThe NC Health Information Exchange Authority, which oversees NC HealthConnex, issued year-end numbers illustrating that even in a challenging year much progress was made in connecting practices to this state health data exchange. “This year has required the health care community to adapt to a rapidly changing environment where data has been at the center of decision making,” the NC HIEA stated in its most recent newsletter. “Never before have HIEs been in such demand for the utility to track health information in near real time across the care continuum.” By the numbers for 2020: Read all the news about NC HealthConnex here. Governor Expresses Appreciation for Health Care WorkersIn a brief, official note to health care workers, Governor Roy Cooper expressed his gratitude for all you do. “I am grateful for your professionalism, your caring concern for each patient and for the sacrifices you and your family are making,” the Governor writes in his note, dated Dec. 15, 2020. In the NewsPandemic Backlash Jeopardizes Public Health Powers, Leaders, Kaiser Health News, 12-15-20 Learning OpportunityPrevent Child Abuse North Carolina has partnered with NC AHEC to provide a Connections Matter training for medical and health professionals on Jan. 20 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!
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NCMS Morning Rounds 12-16-20
Enjoy your Wednesday NCMS Morning Rounds.Dec. 16, 2020More information on the COVID-19 VaccineThis week health care workers in North Carolina hospitals began to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last Friday. Read the FDA’s press release on the authorization here. The press release also provides information and discussion on available safety and effectiveness data. This represents the first vaccine authorized for the prevention of COVID-19. The FDA may issue an EUA for the vaccine developed by Moderna as early as this Friday, after review and recommendation by an independent panel of experts on Thursday, according to media reports. The FDA issued a fact sheet on administering the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for both physicians and PAs as well as information for vaccine recipients and caregivers. Access the physician/PA fact sheet here. Access the information for recipients and caregivers here. On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) held a call for clinicians on COVID-19 vaccine safety and how the agency monitors and tracks the safety of the vaccine. The slides from that call are available here and contain valuable information about safety monitoring. Watch your NCMS Morning Rounds for information from last night’s NC Department of Health and Human Services webinar on the vaccine and what you need to know about the state’s distribution and monitoring plans. NCMS Joins Business, Farming Organizations to Encourage COVID PreventionTaking a local approach to encouraging the public to follow public health guidelines to protect North Carolina communities, the NCMS recently joined forces with the NC Retail Merchants Association (NCRMA), the NC Farm Bureau Insurance Group and the NC Chamber in a joint media statement. Each organization provided local sources for the media to get a hometown perspective on why it is important for everyone to practice the 3 W’s – wear a mask, wash your hands, wait six feet apart. Here is the joint statement including a video of each organization’s leadership delivering the message: North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS), the North Carolina Retail Merchants Association (NCRMA), the North Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance Group and the NC Chamber have come together to strongly encourage the public to follow public health guidelines in order to help protect our communities against COVID-19 and keep businesses open. View a video from leaders of these groups: https://bit.ly/working-protecting. Wearing a mask, observing physical distancing and washing hands frequently are simple steps to mitigate the risk of transmitting the coronavirus and help ensure the health and safety of our community as we go about our daily business. Businesses, many of which have been struggling to stay afloat during the pandemic, are depending on customers to help them by shopping safely and following the public health guidelines. “There are many retail stores that were closed for weeks and are struggling to recover from the shutdown. They are anxiously awaiting customers to return to shop, and they need your help both economically and with compliance to the face covering requirement. These businesses simply cannot afford a civil penalty or a criminal penalty because of customers not abiding by Governor Cooper’s Order,” said Andy Ellen, president and general counsel of the North Carolina Retail Merchants Association. “Simply put, please wear a mask or face covering and be considerate if you are asked to do so when you are shopping. Together, we can make this a happy holiday for everyone.” Health care workers on the frontlines also ask the public to follow the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) 3 W’s – Wear a mask, Wash your hands, Wait six feet apart. “As an organization representing North Carolina’s physicians and PAs, we know that wearing a mask, physical distancing and washing your hands are common sense and scientifically proven methods of stemming the spread of infectious disease like the coronavirus,” said NCMS Executive Vice President and CEO Chip Baggett, JD. “We join with businesses throughout the state to help get the message out that by working together and following these simple steps, we can protect our community.” The NC Farm Bureau Insurance Group also is urging the public to work together to protect our communities. “At Farm Bureau, we’re in the people business. Helping people and protecting their families and livelihoods is not just what we do, it’s who we are,” said NC Farm Bureau President Shawn Harding. “That’s why we’re listening to health authorities and doing everything we can to keep people safe and businesses open. We hope you’ll join us in supporting local businesses this holiday season, and we urge you to follow all health protocols including wearing a mask and observing social distancing.” Since the start of the pandemic major companies in a variety of industries, including manufacturing and all types of retail have made wide-ranging changes in their operations with the health of employees and customers in mind. The business community calls on individuals to do their part so they can operate safely and continue to serve the public. “North Carolina employers know how to keep people safe and their success relies on it,” said Gary Salamido, president and CEO of the NC Chamber. “If all North Carolinians work together, we can protect lives and livelihoods.” “Get It, Got It, Good” Seasonal Flu Campaign MaterialsThe NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) recently launched a new public service campaign to encourage people to get their flu shot – especially this year. The ‘Get It, Got It, Good” campaign (watch the video here) talks about the importance of the seasonal flu vaccine as we near the traditional peak of the flu season in January and February. With hospital beds at a premium due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is especially important that people get their flu vaccines this year. NCDHHS has provided a toolkit with videos, graphics and social media posts to help get the word out in your community. Access the resources here. In the NewsThe Coronavirus at 1: A Year into the Pandemic, What Scientists Know About How it Spreads, Infects and Sickens, STAT, 12-14-20 Learning OpportunityJoin us for this week’s Power Hour on Friday, Dec. 18 from noon to 1 p.m. when our guests will be Emergency Medicine clinicians and how emergency departments are dealing with the surge in COVID-19 cases and what may lie ahead. Also, they will share how they are coping with their own stress and workload. Our guests include Jennifer Parker Cote, MD, Vidant Health; Charul Haugan, MD, UNC Rex; Mike Utecht, MD; Veterans Affairs, Durham and Stephen Small, MD, Mid-Atlantic Emergency Medical Associates. This is an opportunity to share knowledge and learn from each other about the current situation and its impact. Learn more and register here. The KIPL Power Hour aims to provide a forum for ongoing conversation, collaboration and community. Tune in to Power Hour weekly to hear from different experts, decision makers and influencers on a variety of topics. The format is informal and conversational and sessions are easy to access through Zoom. Power Hours will be recorded and made available to you through your NCMS Morning Rounds and on the KIPL webpage. If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!
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NCMS Morning Rounds 12-15-20
Happy Tuesday! Here is today's NCMS Morning Rounds.Dec. 15, 2020TONIGHT: From 6 to 7 p.m., State Health Director Betsey Tilson, MD, MPH, and other state health experts will hold a Zoom webinar for health professionals on North Carolina’s plan for the COVID-19 vaccine distribution. Pediatrician Named Chair of Carolina Complete Health BoardLast week, Yun Boylston, MD, MBA, FAAP, a longtime NCMS member and alumna of three NCMS Foundation Kanof Institute for Physician Leadership programs, was elected chair of the Carolina Complete Health (CCH) Board of Directors. Dr. Boylston, who is a partner at Burlington Pediatrics/Mebane Pediatrics, takes over the role of Board Chair from Abigail DeVries, MD, a family medicine physician with Piedmont Health Services, a community health center in Carrboro. “I am honored to serve as chair and have some big shoes to fill as Dr. DeVries has done an outstanding job as the founding chair of CCH. We are so grateful for her vision, dedication and service,” Dr. Boylston said upon accepting the chair position. “This is a challenging and also very exciting time for health care in North Carolina and I look forward to helping CCH fully realize its potential as an innovative physician-led health plan for the state.” CCH is one of the five state-contracted Pre-paid Health Plans (PHP) that are part of the state’s transition to Medicaid managed care, slated to begin in July 2021. The CCH Network is part of a joint venture with the NCMS and Centene. Learn more about the state’s Medicaid managed care transformation here. Dr. Boylston is an alumna of three KIPL leadership development programs – Leadership College, Health Care Leadership and Management and Clinical Quality University. She currently is a member of the NC Pediatric Society Board of Directors and in 2017 received the Society’s ‘Rising Star Early Career Physician Award.’ Dr. Boylston is heavily involved in her community through a variety of organizations including as a Cone Health System trustee and as a clinical preceptor for the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. As a pediatrician she has championed the medical home and advocated for children in various capacities. A magna cum laude graduate of Harvard University in biochemical sciences, Dr. Boylston completed her medical degree and pediatric residency at Baylor College of Medicine. She is a recent graduate of the executive MBA program at Duke University, and is a 2020 Margolis Scholar at the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy. “We are thrilled to have such an esteemed pediatrician chair the CCH Board of Directors,” said CCH CEO Chris Paterson. “Dr. Boylston is a true physician leader and the health plan will benefit from her leadership and physician perspective.” NC Sees Outbreak of Hepatitis ANorth Carolina has seen a marked increase in hepatitis A cases reported in 2020. You can find the latest data on the outbreak broken down by county here. In a memo last month, State Epidemiologist Zack Moore, MD, MPH, stated that hepatitis A outbreaks are expanding nationwide. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has received reports from multiple states of more than 35,949 cases of hepatitis A infections associated with person-to-person transmission beginning in late 2016. These outbreaks have been prolonged and costly. Cases have occurred primarily among three risk groups: (1) persons who use injection or non-injection drugs; (2) persons experiencing homelessness; and (3) men who have sex with men. In his memo, Dr. Moore outlines ways physicians and PAs can help in preventing and mitigating the outbreak, especially when faced with the additional challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read the memo here. Tracking the Impact of COVID on NC PracticesPlease take just a moment to complete our latest practice survey. Watch your NCMS Morning Rounds for an upcoming summary of the trends we have tracked since last March, when the NCMS along with the NC Medical Group Management Association and Curi, began the survey to assess the needs and challenges facing medical practices throughout the state as you grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic. The data gathered over the last nine months has proved valuable as each organization works to provide help and resources to you and as points of information for state officials and policymakers as they weigh how to respond. And thank you to the many practices that have already responded and have done so consistently over the past year. In the NewsGoing Home for the Holidays? For Many Americans That’s a Risky Decision, Kaiser Health News, 12-11-20 Learning OpportunityDON’T FORGET – today’s, Tuesday, Dec. 15, Lunch and Learn webinar from noon to 1 p.m. “Intentionally Creating Culture at a Startup Practice.” Scott Paviol, MD, and Pamela Myers, practice manager with Paviol Dermatology, will share their experience in establishing a new practice in place of a long-standing, well- established 44-year old dermatology private practice in the Charlotte area. They will discuss how they decided to pay tribute to the old while creating a new way to work with patients, staff. Learn more and register here. If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!
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NCMS Morning Rounds 12-14-20
Welcome to a new week of NCMS Morning Rounds.Dec. 14, 2020NCMS Legislative UpdateLast week, NCMS Director of Legislative Relations Sue Ann Forrest, MPA, was on several panels discussing the hot button issues likely to be addressed by the NC General Assembly when it reconvenes in 2021. Forrest participated in the Raleigh News & Observer’s ‘NC Insider’ panel, which included legislators and other lobbyists. Topics included telehealth, access to broadband, Medicaid expansion and scope of practice. Here is the News & Observer’s coverage of the event. If you would like to watch the entire one-hour discussion, you can access it at this link. Legislators are gearing up for the upcoming legislative session, which begins on Jan. 13. For instance, the NCMS will be monitoring the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and NC Health Choice meeting on Jan. 12. Watch your NCMS Morning Rounds for the agenda and further details. Also last week as previously reported in this newsletter, the Governor’s NC Council for Health Coverage met for the first time. NCMS Board member Merritt Seshul, MD, and NCMS Executive Vice President and CEO Chip Baggett, JD, represent the NCMS on this bipartisan body, which is charged with finding consensus on health care coverage issues. The first meeting was recorded and, along with other materials related to the agenda, can be accessed here. Don’t Miss this Professional Development OpportunityOnly several spots remain for the incoming 2021 class of Health Care Leadership and Management (HCLM) scholars. This NCMS Foundation program, part of the Kanof Institute for Physician Leadership, offers clinicians a critical framework based on economics, finance and leadership development so upon graduation participants have the necessary vocabulary for the business realm and are equipped to take on greater leadership positions in their career. The curriculum has been adapted to accommodate remote learning, and the first half of the 2021 session, which begins in January, will be held virtually. Future sessions will be in person or virtual as necessary. If you are interested in learning more or applying to HCLM, please simply complete HCLM Interest Form by this Friday, Dec. 18. NOTE: If you are practicing in a rural area and/or is a current or past participant in the CPP-program, you may further be eligible for a scholarship. Please state if you are interested in learning more about this opportunity on your interest form. The HCLM program places greater emphasis on deeper leadership development and skills that include strategic planning, negotiation and financial literacy and application. The curriculum is project-based and participants will have the opportunity to identify current and future needs and/or challenges and develop and design new and innovative solutions to address these. Kick Off the New Year with A Good Book!As you consider your New Year’s Resolutions, we invite you to join the NCMS Book Club! In this online community, you can connect with your colleagues while discussing a wide range of books. There is no cost to participate – you just have to get a copy of the book to enjoy. You can sign up here by Jan. 7. How it works Why should you join? In the NewsWhy Vaccinate Our Most Frail? Odd Vote Out Shows the Dilemma, CNN, 12-4-20 Learning OpportunityDON’T FORGET: tomorrow, Tuesday, Dec. 15, from 6 to 7 p.m., State Health Director Betsey Tilson, MD, MPH, and other state health experts will hold a Zoom webinar for health professionals on North Carolina’s plan for the COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!
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NCMS Political Pulse for Dec. 11, 2020
Watch as NCMS Director of Legislative Relations Sue Ann Forrest, MPA, offers details on several important meetings she participated in this week including one discussion on some hot topics likely to be taken up by the NC General Assembly in 2021. Also, mark your calendar for Jan. 12 when the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and NC Health Choice convenes as the legislature continues to gear up for the upcoming session.
NCMS Morning Rounds 12-11-20
Happy Friday! Here is your NCMS Morning Rounds.
Dec. 11, 2020
Curi Renews As Exclusive Agent of NCMS Employee Benefit Plan
Curi Benefits Solutions, the employee benefits consulting subsidiary of Curi, has renewed its agreement to be the exclusive agent of the NCMS Employee Benefit Plan (NCMS Plan). Starting Jan. 1, 2021, this five-year renewal marks the continuation of a long-term partnership between Curi and the NCMS to support the physician community across the state. Curi, which was founded as Medical Mutual Insurance Company of North Carolina in 1975, continues its commitment to meet the ever-evolving needs of physicians.
The NCMS Plan is the only statewide employee benefits plan designed specifically for North Carolina physicians, their practice employees and their dependents. Offering a unique combination of health, life, and dental programs, the NCMS Plan has benefit designs to meet the needs of a variety of practice sizes and budgets.
“Curi Benefits Solutions is uniquely qualified to meet the needs of the physician practices that rely on the NCMS Plan for their benefits,” said Robert Gossett, MD, Chairman of the NCMS Plan Board of Trustees and a Urologist with Carolina Urology Partners.
The NCMS Plan provides practices with flexible offerings that are not standard in the commercial marketplace, including special eligibility classes for retirees, surviving spouses and domestic partners; an option to offer two plans regardless of practice size; and guaranteed coverage for all qualifying practices. In addition, the plan also offers Practice Wellness programming to help practices promote employee well-being.
“Curi has and continues to be an important partner for us in the promotion of the NCMS Plan to our members,” said NCMS Senior Vice President, Member Services and Business Operations Shawn Scott, MBA. “We’re thankful for their partnership and dedication to our community of physicians, especially in this challenging season for many medical practices in our great state and beyond.”
Learn more about the NCMS Plan here. Curi Benefits Solutions also offers other employee benefit products, including disability insurance, long-term care, and voluntary benefits. Learn more about these offerings here.
CDC: Similarities in Symptoms of COVID-19 and Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reached out to physicians and PAs to make them aware of the overlap in symptoms between COVID-19 and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. With cooler weather upon us and the greater use of heating systems, CO poisoning incidence rises, so please be aware of this possibility.
Symptoms that may overlap between COVID-19 and CO poisoning include headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain and altered mental status with no alternative explanation. The CDC advises that when assessing a patient, if it is possible to obtain a focused history, the source of CO exposure may become apparent.
Physical findings coupled with confirmatory testing and a suggestive history likely indicate CO poisoning. A high level of suspicion is needed in patients who present with general or non-specific signs and symptoms, altered mental status, or both, as obtaining a detailed history may be difficult. The key to confirming a CO poisoning diagnosis is measuring the patient’s carboxyhemoglobin (COHgb) level. An elevated COHgb level of 2 percent for non-smokers and >9 percent COHgb level for smokers strongly supports a CO poisoning diagnosis.
For further information, please see the CDC’s Clinical Guidance for Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning.
NC Medical Board President’s Message on Self Care and Handling Stress
New NC Medical Board President Venkata Jonnalagadda, MD, recently issued a message encouraging physicians and PAs to seek the help they need to handle the stress of the ongoing pandemic and to support friends and colleagues in crisis.
She notes in her message the the NCMB has seen an uptick in the number of alcohol and substance use relapses among licensees with a history of substance use disorder. Stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms are all associated with an increased risk of relapse in individuals with substance use disorder. They also increase the chances that someone with no prior history of misuse may turn to alcohol or other drugs as an unhealthy way to cope.
“Please remember that it is possible to seek assistance for depression and/or substance use without your identity becoming known to NCMB and get help if you need it,” she writes. “Nor is it necessary to notify NCMB if you have initiated treatment. NCMB understands how important it is for its licensees to have the ability to get help without fear.”
Dr. Jonnalagadda also offers resources for help if you need them. Read her message and access the resources here.
In the News
Factbox: How the Novel Coronavirus Has Evolved, Reuters, 12-10-20
Learning Opportunity
Join us for the next NCMS and NC Medical Group Management Association Lunch and Learn webinar on Tuesday, Dec. 15 from noon to 1 p.m. when the topic will be “Intentionally Creating Culture at a Startup Practice.”
Scott Paviol, MD, and Pamela Myers, practice manager with Paviol Dermatology, will share their experience in establishing a new practice in place of a long-standing, well- established 44-year old dermatology private practice in the Charlotte area. They will discuss how they decided to pay tribute to the old while creating a new way to work with patients, staff. Learn more and register here.
If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!
NCMS Morning Rounds 12-10-20
Enjoy your Thursday NCMS Morning Rounds.
Dec. 10, 2020
COVID-19 Vaccine: What North Carolina Practices Need to Know
Mark your calendar: Next Tuesday, Dec. 15, from 6 to 7 p.m., State Health Director Betsey Tilson, MD, MPH, and other state health experts will hold a Zoom webinar for health professionals on North Carolina’s plan for the COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
• Here is the link to the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/131899801.
• Here is the call-in information: (646) 558 8656 (New York) Meeting ID: 131 899 801
• The one-tap mobile call in number is: +16465588656,,131899801#
Today, Thursday, Dec. 10, the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, which is made up of a group of independent medical experts, will meet to discuss the risks and benefits of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The goal of the daylong meeting is to make a recommendation on whether the FDA should grant Emergency Use Authorization for the vaccine. The FDA does not have to follow the committee’s recommendations, but usually does. Several media outlets have reported that a decision on the vaccine EUA approval will be made within four days of today’s meeting and vaccine distribution would likely take place within the week.
Here is the agenda for the meeting, which begins at 9 a.m. The meeting is open to the public and you can learn more and listen in at this link.
If you would like to learn more about the results of this vaccine’s clinical trials, you can access the FDA Briefing Document here.
A similar meeting for Moderna’s vaccine candidate is scheduled for next Thursday, Dec. 17.
Please Help Us Help You!
The NCMS staff is hard at work planning for 2021 and respectfully requests your input on our educational offerings in the coming months. This quick, 2-minute survey will help us understand what format, time and topics would be most beneficial to you.
If you haven’t already responded, please take just a moment to help us by completing the survey.
NCMS Calendar Goes Virtual This Year
As we hope you already know, the NCMS calendar, featuring amazing photographs taken by your colleagues, is virtual this year. You can access your calendar at this link.
While some will be disappointed not to receive the printed calendar in the mail to hang in your office, this virtual format offers some advantages. For instance, it can be updated regularly to reflect new meetings and learning opportunities; it can be downloaded to your computer for printing or as a screen saver (here is the printable PDF format to download); and, because we had more space flexibility, we were able to add the stories behind many of the photos. Hard-copy or virtual, the stunning images are the same. Let us know what you think of this format by simply responding to this email.
Please enjoy your NCMS calendar and have a safe, healthy and happy 2021!
In the News
A Child’s Death in the Heartland Changes Community Views About COVID, Kaiser Health News, 12-8-20
Learning Opportunity
On Thursday, Dec. 17 at 11 a.m., the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is hosting a one-hour webinar on the 2018 Quality Payment Program performance information recently published on the Doctors & Clinicians section of Medicare Care Compare and in the Provider Data Catalog (PDC), the successor websites to Physician Compare and the Physician Compare Downloadable Database. The webinar will include a live question and answer session and discuss the 2018 doctor and clinician performance information recently added to Care Compare profile pages and in the PDC. Learn more and register here.
If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!
NCMS Morning Rounds 12-9-20
Halfway through the week -- enjoy your Wednesday NCMS Morning Rounds.
Dec. 9, 2020
Several NC COVID-19 News Updates
North Carolina’s response to COVID-19 has been in the national eye lately. On Sunday, CNN featured an 8-minute interview with NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Secretary Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH about distribution of the first COVID-19 vaccines. Sec. Cohen detailed the “massive” logistical undertaking distributing the vaccine entails. Watch the interview here.
The first 85,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine will go to those workers at 50-60 hospitals statewide who are in direct contact with COVID-19 patients. On Monday, NCDHHS released the first 11 of those hospital slated to get the first shipment of vaccines:
Bladen Healthcare
Caldwell Memorial Hospital
CarolinaEast Medical Center
Catawba Valley Medical Center
Cumberland County Hospital System Inc.
Duke University Health System
Henderson County Hospital Corporation
Hoke Healthcare LLC
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority (Atrium Health)
University of North Carolina Shared Services
Wake Forest Baptist Health
The state also featured prominently in an Associated Press article over the weekend about the under-use of COVID-19 exposure tracking apps. The smartphone tool used in the District of Columbia, Guam and 16 states, including North Carolina where it is called SlowCOVIDNC, is meant to help in contact tracing. Learn more about SlowCOVIDNC, how it works and where to download it here.
Nationwide, the article notes that a small percentage of people – about 1 in 14 -- have downloaded the app in the 18 areas of the country it is available. In North Carolina, where the app launched in September, about 482,000 of the 10.5 million state residents have installed it through the end of November. Read the article here.
Would Your Patients Benefit from a Y Medical Membership?
If you are a Triangle-area physician, the YMCA of the Triangle in partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina has launched a Medical Membership pilot program, powered through the NCMS Foundation’s Our Community Health Initiative (OCHI) software platform. This platform allows you to refer a patient to an evidence-based program in diabetes prevention, weigh management, high blood pressure monitoring, falls prevention or support for cancer survivors. The software allows you to follow your patient’s progress toward their health goals in their program.
Medical Memberships are a bundled service that provide care coordination, a YMCA membership and the evidence-based as prescribed due to your diagnosis.
Enrollment is open now for both in-person and virtual programs in January and February 2021. Your patients can find out more about cost and program enrollment here. For additional questions please contact Medical Membership at [email protected] or at 919-582-9396
Today is ‘Release the Pressure’ Wellness Wednesday
Today is the official launch of the Release the Pressure (RTP) Wellness Wednesday initiative, which brings together a coalition of health care professional organizations and heart health experts to partner with black women to support their heart health. Coalition members include the AMA, AMA Foundation, Association of Black Cardiologists, American Heart Association, Minority Health Institute and National Medical Association.
With 49 percent of black women over the age of 20 living with heart disease, the RTP initiative aims to partner with them to make self-care a priority.
Today at 7 p.m. , AMA immediate-past president and the first black woman to hold that office, Patrice A. Harris, MD, MA, will speak radio talk show icon, Tom Joyner about a recent health scare that led to his support of the RTP campaign. The second half of the interview will air on Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. Learn more about this initiative and how to listen to the interview here.
In the News
The COVID-19 Vaccines Are A Marvel of Science. Here’s How We Can Make the Best Use of Them, STAT, 12-2-20
Learning Opportunity
The current president of the NCMS-managed NC Orthopaedic Association, Cynthia Emory, MD, MBA will be participating on a panel, ‘Advancing Women Surgeons to Leadership Positions’ TOMORROW, Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 7pm. This virtual event is sponsored by the Johnson & Johnson Institute and is free. The discussion will appeal to any physician, and the audience is not limited to surgeons. Learn more and register here.
If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!
NCMS Morning Rounds 12-8-20
Happy Tuesday! Enjoy today's NCMS Morning Rounds.Dec. 8, 2020Get Some Answers on the COVID-19 VaccineThe NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is planning a statewide physician update on the COVID-19 vaccine that will be hosted by NC AHEC on Tuesday, Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. Be sure to mark your calendar and watch your NCMS Morning Rounds in the coming days for updates on agenda and registration links. Distribution of the vaccine will begin with health systems and physician practices likely will be able to register to administer the vaccine later this month. NCDHHS has provided a list of basic FAQs about the vaccine on its website including some information about proper storage of the various vaccines. Access that information here. Volunteer to Help at MedAssistThe NCMS has a long history with NC MedAssist, the only statewide non-profit pharmacy in North Carolina. Founders of the program in 1997 included NCMS members in Mecklenburg County, and, more recently, NCMS staff have participated in a variety of fundraising and volunteer activities for the organization, which provides prescription and over-the-counter medications to those in need at no cost. If you are looking for a safe volunteer activity this holiday season, NC MedAssist is holding two Mobile Free Pharmacy events. The first is this Saturday, Dec. 12 in Wake County and the second is next Saturday, Dec. 19 in Mecklenburg County. The Mobile Free Pharmacy provides individuals and families who are low-income with free over-the-counter medicine such as pain relief, cold and cough medicine, allergy, digestive, vitamins and even children’s medicines. The primary purpose for this event is to identify participants that may qualify for the free prescription pharmacy program. Learn more about NC MedAssist and how you can help here. NCMS at the AMA’s Campaign SchoolNCMS Director of Legislative Relations Sue Ann Forrest, MPA, a graduate of the AMA’s Campaign School, is returning to the program this January to share her experiences with the program from the perspective of medical society staff involved with advocacy and health policy. Kudos! The extremely popular Campaign School, which will be held virtually this year due to the pandemic, is recognized as one of the top programs in the country in helping develop winning political strategies with the idea of helping to elect friends of medicine or offering physicians the tools needed to run successful campaigns for public office. The Campaign School is renowned for its use of a simulated campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives, complete with demographics, voting statistics and candidate biographies. This year’s class is full, but if you’re interested in what it takes to run for office watch for announcements when applications open for next year’s program. In the NewsWhat Happened When the Only ER Doctor in a Rural Town Got COVID, Kaiser Health News, 12-4-20 Learning OpportunityThe Families USA Health Action Conference will take place virtually Jan. 26-28. January 2021 will be a critical time for advocates to mobilize and continue to address the persistent health inequities and health system failures laid bare by the COVID-19 crisis. Join Families USA to learn from colleagues and speakers across the country, network with fellow advocates and gain the skills needed to secure profound policy change. Learn more and register. If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!
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NCMS Morning Rounds 12-7-20
Welcome to a new week of NCMS Morning Rounds.Dec. 7, 2020Governor’s Council for Health Care Coverage ConvenesNCMS Board member Merritt Seshul, MD, and NCMS Executive Vice President and CEO Chip Baggett, JD, are the NCMS’ representatives to Governor Roy Cooper’s Council for Health Care Coverage, a bi-partisan, blue ribbon commission charged with improving health care access through consensus legislation in the 2021 Legislative Session. Here is the list of Council participants. The Council convened for its first meeting last Friday. Read the agenda here. The Council includes 36 representatives from state health care organizations, business, nonprofits and government and reflects a variety of political perspectives. Mark McClellan, MD, PhD, of the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy at Duke University is convening the council. He has worked in both Republican and Democratic presidential administrations. “I think that there are core principles that we can agree to, like the fact that more people in North Carolina deserve health insurance,” Cooper said in an interview this week with The Associated Press. “This is not just purely a Medicaid expansion issue." Watch your NCMS Morning Rounds for updates on the Council’s work. NCMS Legislative UpdateA couple newsy items of note to report from last week. Governor Roy Cooper and NC Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH briefed the media last week on the distribution plans for the COVID-19 vaccine once it is approved by the federal government. North Carolina is slated to receive 85,000 doses in the first round, which will go to frontline health care workers. The following round of vaccines delivered to the state will be allocated to long-term care patients and those with two or more chronic diseases. Sec. Cohen indicated that more vaccines will be available later in January. Review the National Academy of Medicine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and NC Institute of Medicine’s Vaccine Prioritization Framework here. As reported earlier in your NCMS Morning Rounds (read the story here), the NCMS Policy Committee met last week to consider three draft policies: tobacco, telehealth and digital equity. Thank you to those who participated in the survey on these policies and submitted comments. The Committee approved the tobacco policy to be recommended to the NCMS Board of Directors. Discussions will continue in the committee on the other two draft policies. The tobacco policy to be recommended is: The NCMS supports a tobacco free society where all public spaces are free of tobacco in all forms (including smoke and vapor). The NCMS supports funding and access to initiatives and programs aimed at education, prevention and cessation to aid in the reduction of tobacco use across North Carolina, especially in children/teens. Finally, the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Education met last week and NCMS staff was there to listen in. The committee reviewed a NC Department of Public Instruction report, which indicated that students statewide are in need of more mental health services. Read our NCMS Legislative blog to learn more about this report and the committee’s work. NC Institute of Medicine Welcomes New President and CEOThe NC Institute of Medicine (NCIOM), the quasi-state agency that offers non-partisan information on issues of relevance to the health of North Carolinians, welcomes Kathy Colville, MSPH, MSW to its top leadership role. Colville takes the helm from interim director Michelle Ries, MPH, who has served in the post since August when long-time President and CEO Adam J. Zolotor, MD, DrPh departed. Ries returns to her previous position as Associate Director when Colville begins her new role on Jan. 4. “It is an honor to lead the NCIOM at such a crucial time for our state and country,” Colville said in a statement. “The NCIOM brings together people from all corners of NC who care deeply about the health and well-being of our communities, who find common ground and identify the changes we need to make together. I look forward to helping leaders across NC ask the crucial questions and make the tough calls we need in order to make strong systems that help us all thrive.” Colville most recently led the Healthy Communities department at Cone Health, leading teams that improved access to health care and improve social conditions that affect health. She previously worked in public health and hospital emergency preparedness. Learn more about Colville’s background here. And congratulations! In the NewsThe 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule: What You Need to Know, The Advisory Board Forum, 12-2-20 The 2021 QPP Rule: The 5 Big Changes You Need to Know, The Advisory Board Forum, 12-2-20 Learning OpportunityDON'T FORGET -- the NC Institute of Medicine’s Virtual Annual Meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, Dec. 8 from 2 to 4 p.m. Panelists and speakers will discuss the impacts of COVID-19 on population health and the financial impacts of foregone care. Register here. Upcoming Webinar: Promoting Vaccine Awareness on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at noon or Thursday, Dec. 10 at 3 p.m. Vaccine hesitancy and the resulting decline in vaccinations can leave young children and communities vulnerable to otherwise preventable diseases. In addition, declines in routine and preventive care visits during the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in an overall reduction in care, including maintaining vaccination schedules. This free webinar will focus on the factors leading to a decline in vaccination rates and some actionable strategies for improving vaccination rates particularly in health centers and free clinics. Resources to promote vaccine awareness and administration safety will be provided. Learn more and register here for the Dec. 9 time or here for the Dec. 10 time slot.
If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!
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NCMS Political Pulse for December 4, 2020
NCMS Director of Legislative Relations Sue Ann Forrest, MPA, shares news on COVID-19 vaccine distribution in North Carolina. Also, she details the latest policy recommendation of the NCMS Policy Committee on tobacco and reports on the work of the NC Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Education and what was discussed at their meeting this week.
NCMS Morning Rounds 12-4-20
Finally Friday and here is your NCMS Morning Rounds.Dec. 4, 2020Financial Recovery Program Applicants – Today’s the Day!If you applied to the North Carolina Medical Society Foundation (NCMSF)-administered Financial Recovery Program (FRP), today, Friday, Dec. 4, by 5 p.m. is the deadline to upload all your documented expenses in order to receive funding. Applicants will have the ability to challenge denials and update requests with insufficient details until 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 11. The state-funded FRP was designed to assist eligible independent practices throughout the state that are experiencing economic distress due to the pandemic. The awards for this grant program are based on reimbursement for COVID-19-related expenses incurred between March 1 and Nov. 30, 2020. For more information visit the FRP webpage here. Updated COVID-19 Guidance from the StateThe most recent guidance from the state includes information for you, your practice staff and patients on how to stay safe during the holidays in both English and Spanish. Other guidance documents include information on cloth face coverings and why they are necessary and effective. The NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) compiles all its latest COVID-19 guidance for the public and health care providers on its COVID-19 Guidance webpage here. Legislative Committee Reviews Remote Instruction DataThe Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Education met earlier this week to receive an update from the NC Department of Public Instruction on remote instruction data for 2020. NCMS staff is following the work of this committee since education, specifically reading proficiency, is a key health indicator in the NC Institute of Medicine’s Healthy NC 2030 report. The NCMS is using this report as a guide as we work to improve health in the state. The Committee learned that the majority of students (81 percent) are attending virtual education regularly. With state funding, 100,000 learning devices were purchased and distributed to help facilitate virtual learning and there are requests for more. Every county is struggling with connectivity and many schools have implemented ‘park and learn’ spaces for students to access broadband services, the committee learned. About 53 percent of students who qualify for free/reduced lunch are indeed receiving meals. Addressing access to healthy food is another Healthy NC 2030 health indicator. Learn more about this committee and its work on the NCMS Legislative Blog here. In the NewsWho’s Gotten a Coronavirus Vaccine? It’s a Simple Question -- But America May Not Be Ready to Answer It, The Advisory Board Forum, 12-1-20 Learning OpportunityJoin the Charlotte Area Medical Group Management Association on Thursday, Dec. 10 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for a webinar focused on ‘Utilization of PA/NP Workforce in the Current Healthcare Environment.’ Panelists will address the utilization of Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners in the future and how their roles may expand to support our future health care system. Learn more and register for this free virtual event here. Don’t forget today’s Power Hour at its NEW TIME – noon! Today we will continue to explore racism and health equity. The focus is on the need to actively engage in how to address this critical issue in North Carolina and what we as individuals, as organizations and as a society can do to actively drive change. Join our guests as they provide their thoughts and perspectives around the topic and share specific action. Learn more and register here. If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!
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NCMS Morning Rounds 12-3-20
Enjoy Thursday's NCMS Morning Rounds.
Dec. 3, 2020
NCMS Policy Committee Takes Up Tobacco, Telehealth, Digital Equity Policies
At its regular meeting on Tuesday evening, the NCMS Policy Committee reviewed three draft policies – tobacco, telehealth and digital equity. After a thorough discussion, the group did approve the tobacco policy to be recommended to the NCMS Board of Directors.
The policy to be recommended is:
The NCMS supports a tobacco free society where all public spaces are free of tobacco in all forms (including smoke and vapor).
The NCMS supports funding and access to initiatives and programs aimed at education, prevention and cessation to aid in the reduction of tobacco use across North Carolina, especially in children/teens.
Committee chair, Laura Gerald, MD, MPH, reiterated that this new committee is still perfecting its process, but is committed to making sure all committee members, who were selected for their policymaking expertise are heard, that NCMS member input is weighed, that all existing NCMS policies are considered and that the Guiding Principles document approved by the NCMS Board of Directors is followed to ensure the committee is addressing issues from a population health perspective.
“We want to be clear and transparent in our deliberations,” Dr. Gerald said.
The NCMS membership and specialty societies were surveyed and asked to comment on the draft policies prior to the meeting to help inform the committee’s discussions.
Both the draft telehealth and digital equity policies generated robust discussion around how telehealth and digital equity impacts patient access, safety and physician reimbursement. The committee agreed to continue discussion on these policies at its upcoming meeting. No recommendations to the Board of Directors were made on these policies at this meeting.
CMS Releases 2021 Medicare Physician Payment Schedule Final Rule
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2021 Medicare Physician Payment Schedule Final Rule earlier this week. The rule will take effect Jan. 1, 2021. Read the rule here.
NCMS and AMA staff continue to analyze the provisions, so watch your NCMS Morning Rounds for updated summaries in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the AMA has offered a brief overview of some key elements here.
Permanently Adding Coronavirus as Reportable Disease
The NC Commission for Public Health has proposed a rule amendment seeking to permanently include novel coronavirus infections and novel coronavirus infections causing death on the list of reportable diseases and conditions. These changes were originally made under emergency and temporary rulemaking. Review the proposal in the NC Register (Vol. 35, Issue 11) on pages 1107 to 1110 here.
A public hearing will be held Dec. 18, 2020 at 10 a.m. by teleconference. You can dial in at (919) 715-0769 (no access code is necessary). Comments also may be submitted to: Virginia Niehaus, CPH Rulemaking Coordinator, 1931 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1931; email [email protected] Comment period ends: Feb. 1, 2021
The proposed effective date for this permanent amendment would be April 1, 2021.
In the News
CDC to Shorten COVID-19 Quarantine to 10 Days; 7 With Test, The Associated Press, 12-2-20
The PPE Crisis Didn’t Go Away: Across the US, Grassroots Networks Are Trying to Fill the Void, STAT, 12-1-20
Learning Opportunity
Join a lively and informative session with the Durham-Orange County Medical Society on Wednesday, Dec. 9 from 6 to 8 p.m. During this virtual meeting the group will welcome Executive Dean at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine Cristy Page, MD, MPH, Professor and best-selling author Nicole Swiner, MD and NCMS Director of Legislative Relations Sue Ann Forrest, MPA to the discussion. For those in the area, dinner is available for pick-up at the University Club. CME also is available. Learn more and register here.
If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!
NCMS Morning Rounds 12-2-20
Here is your Tuesday NCMS Morning Rounds.Dec. 2, 2020State Funds for Uninsured Needing COVID-related Primary CareThe NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) reminds you that you may receive reimbursement for COVID-19 related primary care services provided to individuals who are uninsured and living in North Carolina. The $7.8 million in funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis until Dec. 30, 2020. So far, only about $60,000 has been spent leaving the bulk of the funding still available. COVID-19 related primary care services can include but are not limited to the following situations: The Department encourages you to submit your claims for reimbursement through the NCTracks secure portal. To assist with the submission process, please use the Job Aid (ORH COVID-19 Claim Submission) located under the heading Claims Submission on the User Guides & Fact Sheets page. The Job Aid will also be accessible in SkillPort (the secure NCTracks Learning Management System) shortly. For weekly funding updates, check the COVID-19 Related Services for Uninsured Individuals webpage. Safe Medication Storage Resource for PatientsThe NC Medical Board has distributed over 8,100 safe medication storage and disposal pad to help educate patients on how to store and dispose of unused or expired medication safely. The NCMB collaborated with several partners, including the NCMS, to develop this resource. Information is printed on a two-sided color tearsheet, which can be given to patients when prescriptions - especially for frequently abused medications such as opioids, benzodiazepines and stimulants - are issued. Download a tearsheet in English (or Spanish) to give to your patients. Or order, free of charge, pads with 50 tearsheets each for your practice here. Learn more about safe medication storage and disposal at the NC Medical Board website here. NC Health Care Policy Legislative PreviewThe NCMS will be participating in a 2021 Health Care Policy Preview forum to be held Wednesday, Dec. 9 beginning at 1 p.m. Hosted by The Insider, a daily online newsletter covering state government, NCMS Director of Legislative Relations Sue Ann Forrest, MPA, will be a featured guest along with Sen. Joyce Krawiec (R-Forsyth), chair of the NC Senate Health Care Committee and Rep. Gale Adcock (D-Wake), a member of the NC House Health Committee and others. Topics to be discussed are those likely to come up when the General Assembly reconvenes for its regular legislative session in January including Medicaid and deregulation efforts. Insider editor Colin Campbell will moderate. Attendees of this free event are encouraged to submit questions in advance by emailing them to Campbell at [email protected]. In the NewsThe Race to Make Vials for the Coronavirus Vaccine, The New Yorker, 12-7-20 Learning OpportunityPlease join us this Friday, Dec. 4 at noon -- a new time -- for our KIPL Power Hour when we will continue to explore racism and health equity. the focus will be on the need to actively engage in how to address this critical issue in North Carolina and what we as individuals, as organizations and as a society can do to actively drive change. Join our guests as they provide their thoughts and perspectives around the topic and share specific action. Learn more and register here.
If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!
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Joint Legisative Overisight Committee - Education
The Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Education met on Tuesday, December 1, 2020.
The NC Department of Public Instruction provided an update to the Committee on remote instruction data for 2020.
Here are a few key findings:
- 36% of students are learning all virtual, 59% in person
- 81% of students are attending virtual education regularly
- Less than 1% of students are unaccounted for in NC's public schools with a range reporting from .7% to less than 1%
- 53% of students who qualify for free/reduced lunch are recieving meals
- Public School Units (PSUs) have created focused mental health support and counseling for students on social emotional learning
- Equipment - based on NCGA funding in HB 1043, 100,000 devices for learning were purchased and distributed, there are more requests for devices
- Broadband - every county is still struggling with connectivity, many schools have implements "park and learn" spaces for students to use broadband services
This report provides a summary of all of the Committee meetings this legislative session.
Key reccomendations from the report:
Lunch Periods
- The School Nutrition Associaiton and the CDC recommend students be given at leart 20 minutes for eating lunch after being seated. The Committee encourages local education leaders to work collaboratively to find ways to ensure students have adequate time to eat lunch.
Breakfast
- Only 30% of eleigible students participated in the National School Breakfast Program
- Committee encourages local education leaders to allocate time for breakfast.
Meal Debt
- Total statewide meal debt was $1.9 million for the 2018-19 school year.
- The NCGA allocated $3.9 million for schools ot provide lunches at no cost to students of all grade levels for reduced price meals.
- The NCGA allocated $75 million dollars from federal relief for emergency school nutrition services.
Digital Learning Access
- Committee recommends public school units to report information on student digital learning access to better address this issue.
Computer Science
- Committee reccommends an annual report on computer science implementation.
NCMS Morning Rounds 12-1-20
Welcome to your first NCMS Morning Rounds of December.
Dec. 1, 2020
Advisory Group Discusses COVID Vaccine Allocation
Today at 2 p.m. you can listen in on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee On Immunization Practices (ACIP) via webcast as the group discusses allocation of initial supplies of COVID-19 vaccines. Review today’s agenda here.
Both Pfizer and Moderna are seeking FDA emergency authorization for the vaccines they have developed, which require two doses within three to four weeks of each other. While no serious safety concerns have been reported from Pfizer or Moderna’s clinical trials, patients reported side effects that are common with vaccinations, including pain at the injection site, muscle aches, low-grade fever, fatigue or headaches. Both companies recently announced that clinical trials show their vaccines are more than 90 percent effective.
The ACIP group said last week that patients need to be warned about the potential side effects of getting a COVID-19 vaccine so they are not discouraged from getting a second dose.
ACIP is made up of medical and public health experts who develop recommendations on the use of vaccines in the US civilian population. The recommendations stand as public health guidance for safe use of vaccines and related biological products. Before recommending any vaccine, ACIP considers many factors, including the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine.
Listen in on the ACIP’s meeting today beginning at 2 p.m. at this link.
Medicaid Managed Care Plan Provider Manuals Now Available
All five of NC Medicaid’s managed care pre-paid health plans (PHPs) have finalized and the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has approved their provider manuals, which include the most current and comprehensive information for you and your practice.
PHPs are contractually obligated to maintain the content of the manual to offer providers the tools and resources necessary for the delivery of quality care and services to Medicaid and NC Health Choice beneficiaries. Likewise, providers must use the manual for each contracted PHP as a means of remaining current on PHP policies, which will reflect any changes in state and federal regulations.
The manual for each PHP includes, among many other items:
• Clinical practice standards and utilization management programs;
• Covered services, additional benefits and carved-out services (services that will remain fee for service, or Medicaid Direct;
• Provider responsibilities;
• Primary care provider responsibilities;
• Network requirements, including nondiscrimination, on-call coverage, credentialing, re-credentialing, access requirements, no-reject requirements, notification of changes in address, licensure requirements, insurance requirements, and required availability;
• Telemedicine guidelines.
Statement on Essential Surgeries During a Pandemic
Last week the American College of Surgeons, the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses and the American Hospital Association issued a joint statement outlining a roadmap for maintaining essential surgeries during a pandemic.
Prompted by the recent resurgence of the COVID-19 virus across the US, the statement says that many health care facilities are again struggling to meet the needs of patients presenting for essential surgery.
“Now in their ninth month of stretching to treat growing numbers of COVID-19 patients, health care organizations, physicians and nurses must be able to meet the escalating demands for patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and those in need of essential surgical services,” the statement said. “The need for centralized coordinated governmental action to deploy necessary supplies and alleviate the financial burden on physician practices, health care providers and facilities is critical so the health care community can continue to meet the increasing demands for care of COVID-19 patients both in the operating rooms and throughout the facility.”
The statement lays out a series of principles and considerations for health care professionals as they strive to care for patients during a pandemic. Read the entire statement here.
In the News
Thousands of Doctors Offices Buckle Under Financial Stress of COVID, Kaiser Health News, 11-30-20
Learning Opportunity
A series of webinars on the Advanced Medical Home model for Medicaid Managed Care will begin on Thursday, Dec. 10 at 5:30 pm. This series will provide staff and physicians from primary care practices with more information on the Advanced Medical Home model and how to function at the highest AMH Tier possible when Medicaid Managed Care goes live in July 2021. Register for the webinars here.
If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!
NCMS Morning Rounds 11-30-20
Welcome to a new week of NCMS Morning Rounds.November 30, 2020Financial Recovery Program Deadline DetailsThe NCMS Foundation administered Financial Recovery Program (FRP) portal will close to new registrants at midnight tonight, Monday, Nov. 30. All applicants will have until 5 p.m. this Friday, Dec. 4, to upload their documented expenses. Applicants will have the ability to challenge denials and update requests with insufficient details until 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 11. Independent practices throughout North Carolina are eligible for state funds through the FRP with a maximum payout of $160,000 for tier 1 practices and $120,000 for tier 2 practices. These state funds must be spent by the end of the year, so please act TODAY before the midnight deadline. And please spread the word to colleagues who may qualify. The NCMS lobbying team worked closely with the NC Academy of Family Physicians, the NC Pediatric Society, the NC College of Emergency Physicians, the NC Association of Physician Assistants, the NC Obstetrics and Gynecology Society and the NC Dermatology Association in order to secure the state appropriation that funds the FRP. Community Health Grants Available to Safety Net OrganizationsThe North Carolina General Assembly has Community Health Grant funds available through the state’s Office of Rural Health to help assure access to primary and preventive care for the state’s most vulnerable populations. If you are part of a primary care safety net organization caring for underserved and medically indigent patients, you are eligible to apply for this funding to pay for patient care through encounter-based reimbursement or through reimbursement for eligible expenses. You may request up to $150,000 per year. New Power Hour Time – Please Join Us!Our ongoing Power Hour sessions are moving to a new time – Friday from noon to 1 p.m. We hope you can join us this Friday, Dec. 4 when we will continue our crucial conversation around health equity and racism. This week, as we continue to learn and explore this topic, our guests will focus on the need to actively engage as individuals, organizations and as a society to address health equity and racism in NC. Moderated by NCMS Vice President for Rural Health Initiatives Franklin Walker, MBA, guests include Chief Executive Officer of Wake Forest Baptist Health, Dean of Wake Forest School of Medicine, and Chief Academic Office of Atrium Health EnterpriseMD Julie Freischlag, MD, FACS, FRCSEd (Hon), DFSVS; and Vice President and Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer, Wake Forest Baptist Health David McIntosh, Ph.D. Other participants include NCMS President Philip Brown, MD, FACS and NCMS Board member Karen Smith, MD, FAAFP as they provide their thoughts and perspectives around the topic and share specific actions to drive positive change. The KIPL Power Hour aims to provide a forum for ongoing conversation, collaboration and community. Tune in to Power Hour weekly to hear from different experts, decision makers and influencers on a variety of topics. The format is informal and conversational, and sessions are easy to access through Zoom. Power Hours will be recorded and made available to you through your NCMS Morning Rounds and on the KIPL webpage. In the NewsA Revamped Strategic National Stockpile Still Can’t Match the Pandemic’s Latest Surge, NPR, 11-23-20 Learning OpportunityThe Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is offering a conference call to review updates to the Physician Self-Referral Law, commonly called the Stark Law on Wednesday, Dec. 2 from 2 to 3 p.m. Topics to be discussed include the new exceptions that facilitate the transition to value-based care delivery and payment arrangements. To join the call, dial 1-888-455-1397 and enter the passcode ID 2037400. A transcript and audio recording of this called will be posted to CMS’ Podcast and Transcripts website here for downloading and later listening. Plus… The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Thurston Arthritis Research Center has published a CME monograph titled “Pneumococcal Vaccination in Patients with Immunocompromising Conditions.” Patients with immunocompromising conditions are at an increased risk for infections. Immunizations are often underutilized in these patients. The objective of this activity is to promote awareness of the importance and outline best practices for pneumococcal vaccinations in these patient populations. Access this CME activity here. If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!
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NCMS Morning Rounds 11-24-20
Happy Tuesday! Here is your NCMS Morning Rounds.
November 24, 2020
Holiday Calls for Safety
Yesterday, at his weekly pandemic briefing, Governor Roy Cooper extended North Carolina’s COVID-19 Phase 3 executive order until Dec. 11, one week after it was set to expire.
Stating that “we are in danger,” Cooper said his new executive order means wearing a mask at home when friends are over as well as at work, the gym, stores and schools. The updated order can be enforced by state and local law enforcement, which may cite individuals or businesses for non-compliance. Read the order here.
The Governor and NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Secretary Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH, also urged people to limit holiday gatherings, to wear masks and to be physically distanced and outdoors whenever possible.
Last week NCMS President Philip Brown, Jr., MD, FACS, issued a statement urging the public to practice the public health measures promoted by the NCDHHS to keep themselves, their loved ones, friends and their larger community safe during the upcoming holidays. Here is Dr. Brown’s message:
Let’s protect our neighbors, their jobs and our community. During the Thanksgiving holiday, please wear a mask, wash your hands frequently and keep your distance. We’ve all grown weary of the pandemic and what it’s done to our lives. These simple steps make a big difference, and your community needs help. The doctors and PAs of this state thank you sincerely for following these safety measures during the holidays.
NCDHHS has provided flyers outlining the protocols for the public, including your staff and patients, including flyers newly translated into Spanish. Access the English and Spanish versions below.
Essential COVID-19 Practice Survey
As we have since last March, the NCMS, NC Medical Group Management Association and Curi continue working together to gather essential practice information from administrators and clinicians across North Carolina relative to the COVID-19 crisis.
To support this valuable effort, we are continuing to send a brief e-survey once a month with the same tracking questions.
We ask that you please complete this survey when you receive it in your inbox or click here to take the survey now.
The information and data you share will be compiled and used anonymously to better understand your most acute and immediate needs and to establish any trends to inform our policymakers and legislative initiatives on behalf of the physicians, PAs, practice administrators and patients of North Carolina.
We know this is a stressful and uncertain time, but by taking less than five minutes to complete this survey, you allow us to better respond to and represent your needs.
Thank you for your time and your commitment to your communities.
Please click on the links below to access the Practice Data Survey Summary and Data Trends reporting:
Summary Report – March-April 2020
Trends Report – March – April 2020
NC Practice Financial Report
Telehealth Data Summary Report
Reopening NC Healthcare Practice Report – May 26, 2020
Practice Well-being Report
Sixteen Week Summary Report
Stark Law Updated With Value-based Health Care In Mind
Last week the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the final rule to ‘modernize’ Medicare’s physician self-referral law, commonly called the ‘Stark Law.’ This regulation was enacted in 1989, when most health care was paid for under a fee-for-service model. The goal of the Stark Law basically is to protect patients by prohibiting a physician from making referrals for certain health care services payable by Medicare if the physician (or an immediate family member) has a financial relationship with the entity performing the service.
Since the regulations were enacted, Medicare and the private market have implemented many value-based health care delivery and payment systems to address unsustainable cost growth in the current fee-for-service system. A value-based system pays based on the quality of patient care rather than the volume of services provided. Some of the Stark Law regulations prohibited some arrangements designed to enhance care coordination, improve quality and reduce waste. Although the regulations that interpret the Stark Law have been updated several times, all previous changes left in place a framework that is tailored to a fee-for-service environment.
The recently adopted final rule includes a comprehensive package of reforms to modernize the regulations that interpret the Stark Law, while continuing to protect the Medicare program and patients. Under this final rule, the regulations will support the necessary evolution of the health care delivery and payment system in this country.
Learn more and link to the final rule here.
In the News
US Flu Activity ‘Unusually Low:’ Five Notes From the CDC’s FluView Report, Becker’s Hospital Review, 11-20-20
Learning Opportunity
Join this virtual CME event on ‘Racial Disparities in Medicine on Dec. 12 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This Zoom webinar will examine the socioeconomic, racial and ethnic disparities in health care. Learn more and register here.
If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!
NCMS Political Pulse for November 20, 2020
Today is the last day to give input on three policies to be considered by the NCMS Policy Committee. Please take a minute to weigh in on our telehealth, tobacco and digital equity DRAFT policies. Your thoughts are essential to sound policy development. Also, hear about the latest work of the NC House's Select Committee on Community Relations, Law Enforcement and Justice. There will not be a Political Pulse video next week. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
NCMS Morning Rounds 11-18-20
Enjoy Wednesday's NCMS Morning Rounds.Nov. 18, 2020We Need Your Input By FridayThe NCMS Policy Committee will hold its regular meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 1, when they will review your input on three DRAFT policies. Your perspective is key to informing committee members’ discussion and helps ensure sound policy development. Please take just a moment to answer several questions on the policy topics being considered, and to review the DRAFT policies that will be before the committee. Thank you to the many of you who have already responded with your ideas and comments. For those who have yet to respond, please do so by Friday, Nov. 20. Thank you! Telehealth Watch your NCMS Morning Rounds for updates on the committee meeting and any resulting recommendations to the NCMS Board of Directors. Special Purchase N95 Masks Available Until Monday OnlyThanks to the NCMS’ partnership with ActionPPE group purchasing, you may acquire Honeywell H910 Plus NIOSH N95 respirators for $3.85 each. The orders are due by Nov. 23 and will begin shipping on Dec. 14. Visit this site for more information on pre-ordering these masks. You also may shop for and order a variety of other PPE at this webpage, including masks, gloves, gowns and face shields. Virtual NC Medical Board Meeting Begins TodayYou can listen in to the NC Medical Board’s regular meeting, which begins today, Nov. 18 and ends Friday, Nov. 20. The meeting is held virtually and is open to the public. For an agenda and how to access the meeting, click here. If you’re interested in learning more about the Board’s virtual meetings as well as other topics like its complaint process or suicide prevention awareness, check out its new podcast series, MedBoard Matters, here. In the NewsNo One Is Listening to Us, The Atlantic, 11-13-20 Learning OpportunityThe NC Healthcare Association along with Merritt Hawkins is hosting a webinar on Dec. 2 from 10 to 11 a.m. on ‘Underrepresented Minority Clinical Pipeline Growth Strategies.’ A diverse clinical workforce is tantamount to the delivery of excellent health care. This is even more important if the health care provider serves a racially diverse patient population. AMN and Merritt Hawkins has developed sustainable strategies to assist academic medical centers and health care providers with improving recruitment and retention of underrepresented minority clinicians and staff. This webinar offers examples of partnerships, resources, incentives and promotional programs required to build a permanent, self-perpetuating supply of premier underrepresented minorities (URM) talent at all levels.
If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!
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NCMS Morning Rounds 11-17-20
Happy Tuesday! Enjoy your NCMS Morning Rounds.Nov. 17, 2020NCMS Statement on a Safe ThanksgivingNCMS President Philip Brown, Jr., MD, FACS, issued a statement yesterday encouraging the public to practice the public health measures promoted by the NC Department of Health and Human Services and others to keep themselves, their loved ones, friends and their larger community safe during the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. The following message was sent to the media statewide and we encourage you to share it on your social media networks. Let’s protect our neighbors, their jobs and our community. During the Thanksgiving holiday, please wear a mask, wash your hands frequently and keep your distance. We’ve all grown weary of the pandemic and what it’s done to our lives. These simple steps make a big difference, and your community needs help. The doctors and PAs of this state thank you sincerely for following these safety measures during the holidays. Free PPE Will Be DeliveredThe Nov. 15 application deadline to receive free PPE through the legislative appropriation to the NCMS has now passed. If you are still in need, PPE group purchasing options are still available through the NCMS’ partnership with ActionPPE. Learn more and order here. Rest assured if your practice applied by the Nov. 15 deadline, you will receive your products, which are being shipped daily. We anticipate practices will receiving all items by Dec. 15. If you are unsure if your practice signed up before the deadline or if you would like an update on your order’s status, please contact Jennifer Crowley or Kathy Scott. Please be sure to thank your local elected official for working with the NCMS to provide you needed PPE. Hearing directly from you helps them understand the true impact of their decisions. The NCMS is grateful to play a small role in keeping you safe and your doors open to your patients. Be Part of the Equity-Oriented Primary Care InitiativeThe Equity-Oriented Primary Care (EOPC) initiative is an 18-month shared innovation initiative for primary care organizations deeply committed to addressing racial equity in their practice and in their community and looking to further expand their efforts and impact. The non-profit innovation hub, Health Leads, aims to select three primary care sites from different regions of the US to collaborate with the patients they serve and other community partners on redesigning care for a subpopulation or specific health related issue identified by the practice and its community. Set to begin in early 2021, Health Leads is beginning to recruit primary care sites for the program from now until December 4th. If you know a practice/organization that is interested in applying, contact Program Manager Olamide Kolawole, [email protected]. The initiative is offering stipends up to $180K to help with implementation. Learn more about the initiative and criteria to participate here. Get a fuller understanding of the EOHC in the EOHC project summary. In the NewsHousing Instability Exacerbates the Pandemic for the Most Vulnerable, North Carolina Health News, 11-12-20 Learning OpportunityThe latest Medicaid Managed Care webinar series begins next month and will focus on the Advanced Medical Home (AMH) program. These webinars will provide Medicaid primary care practice staff and clinicians with more information on North Carolina’s AMH model and how to function at the highest AMH Tier possible when Medicaid Managed Care goes live in July 2021. Hosted by Shannon Dowler, MD, Chief Medical Officer of the NC Division of Health Benefits, and Hugh Tilson, Director of the NC AHEC Program, this series will begin Thursday, Dec. 10 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and will continue the second Thursday of each month through May 2021. Learn more and register here. If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!
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NCMS Political Pulse for November 13, 2020
Watch to get the latest on where we are with election results -- the State Board of Elections will be announcing the final tallies and the electoral college votes today. Also, if you're an independent medical practice be sure to apply for FREE PPE by the Sunday, Nov. 15 deadline. NCMS Director of Legislative Relations Sue Ann Forrest, MPA, also provides more information on the Financial Recovery Program and a new NCMS procedure to get your input on draft policies important to your and your practice that under consideration.
NCMS Morning Rounds 11-13-20
Happy Friday! Enjoy your NCMS Morning Rounds.Nov. 13, 2020REMINDER: The deadline for NC independent practices to order FREE PPE is this Sunday, Nov. 15. Visit our PPE webpage to learn more and order TODAY! We Need Your Input on Important NCMS Draft PoliciesThe NCMS Policy Committee will hold its regular meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 1, when they will review your input on three DRAFT policies. Your perspective is key to informing committee members’ discussion and helps ensure sound policy development. Please take just a moment to answer several questions on the policy topics being considered, and to review the DRAFT policies that will be before the committee. Please respond by Friday, Nov. 20. Thank you! Telehealth Watch your NCMS Morning Rounds for updates on the committee meeting and any resulting recommendations to the NCMS Board of Directors. Medicare Covers COVID Monoclonal DrugThe Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced that Medicare beneficiaries will not have to share the cost for COVID-19 treatment with monoclonal antibodies during the public health emergency. CMS’ coverage of monoclonal antibody infusions applies to bamlanivimab, which received an Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA on Nov. 9. Patients can receive this therapy in a physician office, nursing home, infusion center as long as safety precautions can be met. CMS anticipates that this monoclonal antibody product will initially be given to health care providers at no charge. Medicare will not pay for the monoclonal antibody products that providers receive for free but this action provides for reimbursement for the infusion of the product. When health care providers begin to purchase monoclonal antibody products, Medicare anticipates setting the payment rate in the same way it set the payment rates for COVID-19 vaccines, such as based on 95 percent of the average wholesale price for COVID-19 vaccines in many provider settings. CMS will issue billing and coding instructions for health care providers in the coming days. Celebrate – and Learn About – Rural HealthNext Thursday, Nov. 19, is National Rural Health Day. Throughout the week the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is offering a variety of opportunities to celebrate and learn more about health in our rural communities. Topics include addressing COVID-19 testing, social determinants of health, caring for indigenous peoples and the unique challenges and opportunities present in our rural communities. Get the complete schedule of events here and celebrate rural health next week! Learn more about the NCMS’ Community Practitioner Program here. In the NewsHow a Minneapolis Clinic Is Narrowing Racial Gaps in Health, NPR, 11-11-20 Learning OpportunityJoin the NC Institute of Medicine on Tuesday, Dec. 8 from 2 to 4 p.m. for their Virtual Annual Meeting. Panelists and speakers will discuss the factors that drive these impacts, such as changes in insurance coverage, capacity of the health system, changes to models of care and payment models and drivers of health. Learn more here. Register here. If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!
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NCMS Morning Rounds 11-12-20
Already Thursday and time for your NCMS Morning Rounds.
Nov. 12, 2020
REMINDER: The deadline for NC independent practices to order FREE PPE is this Sunday, Nov. 15. Visit our PPE webpage to learn more and order TODAY!
Track NC Flu and COVID Data
Today, as each Thursday throughout flu season, the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) updates its influenza surveillance data on its dashboard here. This year, the state also is tracking daily COVID-19 cases on a separate dashboard here.
Flu and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses although caused by different viruses. Both have similar symptoms, and it may be hard to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. One distinguishing COVID-19 symptom may be change in or loss of taste or smell. Learn more about the similarities and differences between the flu and COVID-19 at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website here.
Testing may be needed to help confirm a diagnosis. The North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health recently announced that it began using the multiplex assay that tests for both COVID-19 and influenza. Learn more here.
Leadership Application Deadline This Friday
This Friday, Nov. 13 is the deadline to apply to the Kanof Institute for Physician Leadership (KIPL) 2021 class of Health Care Leadership and Management (HCLM) scholars. This program provides a critical framework for clinicians based on economics, finance and leadership development. Graduates of this year-long course have the necessary vocabulary for the business realm and are equipped to take on greater leadership roles in their career.
The program, held during four weekend sessions spanning the year, will include an emphasis on deeper leadership development, and skills such as strategic planning, negotiation and financial literacy and application. HCLM is project-based and participants will have the opportunity to identify current and future needs and/or challenges and develop new and innovative solutions to address them. Learn more here.
Please note: If you are practicing in a rural area and/or is a current or past participant in the CPP-program, you may further be eligible for a scholarship.
Complete the application here.
NC Medical Board Converts to New Database
You may have noticed a new look when renewing your medical license or interacting with the North Carolina Medical Board's (NCMB) core applications and programs. They recently converted to a new database system.
Licensed medical professionals and others who use NCMB’s website to report information or access data will be prompted to register for access to the new database system the first time they visit. This is a one-time requirement. After initial registration, visitors will access protected information with a username and password.
Physicians and PAs will primarily use the Licensure Gateway to manage license applications, update their information or renew a license. Hospital and health system staff, insurance company personnel and other non-licensees who report or access information through NCMB’s website will use the Third Party Gateway.
In the News
Two-Way Street: CDC Report Says Masks Protect Wearers and Everyone Else, NBC News, 11-10-20
Learning Opportunity
Join the NC Obstetrical and Gynecological Society, the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), NC AHEC and Community Care of NC for a webinar on ‘Women’s Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic on Thursday, Nov. 19 at 5:30 p.m. Speakers will review the impact of COVID-19 on women’s health and discuss topics specific to maternity care. Learn more and register here.
If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!
NCMS Morning Rounds 11-11-20
Welcome to Wednesday's NCMS Morning Rounds.
Nov. 11, 2020
The NCMS Offers PPE Options
The NCMS has two options to help you acquire the personal protective equipment (PPE) necessary to protect yourself, your staff and your patients during the pandemic.
The first option is specifically for eligible independent practices and offers FREE PPE thanks to an appropriation from the NC General Assembly. To find out more about whether your practice qualifies to receive this PPE, visit this webpage to learn more. Even if you currently have adequate PPE, we encourage you to order this free equipment to stockpile for later use. The appropriation must be spent by the end of the year, so order today.
The second option is a group purchasing arrangement the NCMS has with other medical societies called ActionPPE. You may shop for and order a variety of PPE at this webpage, including masks, gloves, gowns and face shields.
Right now, ActionPPE also is offering a special purchase of Honeywell H910 Plus NIOSH N95 respirators available for $3.85 each. The orders are due by Nov. 23 and will begin shipping on Dec. 14. Visit this site for more information on pre-ordering these masks.
Some Insight on the PPE Supply Chain
NCMS partner ActionPPE, a consortium of state and county medical societies that have come together to leverage group purchasing power and connect with reputable PPE suppliers, is working hard to expedite PPE deliveries to meet the needs of medical workers. According to ActionPPE, our domestic production capacity is insufficient and it takes time to get products into the US from overseas.
Receiving goods out of China takes an average of 39 days by sea to journey from the manufacturer to your office. Sea freight is the main transport mode since many flights have been grounded since the start of the pandemic earlier this year. It would have taken an average of about 10 days if goods were transported by air. Deliveries can be further delayed if the vetting of imported products fails US standards, according to ActionPPE representatives.
If you have ordered PPE through either the free PPE program administered through the NCMS Foundation or the NCMS’ group purchasing option, please be patient. Our PPE team is kept apprised of ship dates and the orders currently out for delivery. Learn more here.
State Moves to Support Native Americans
The NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority recently announced they have contracted to support the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) in addressing the health needs of Native American Medicaid beneficiaries.
This Indian Managed Care Entity is the first of its kind in the nation and will establish a new delivery system called the EBCI Tribal Option. This is a managed care option for federally recognized tribal members and other individuals eligible to receive Indian Health Services.
The EBCI Tribal Option will manage the health care for NC’s approximate 4,000 Tribal Medicaid beneficiaries primarily in Cherokee, Graham, Haywood, Jackson and Swain counties. The program will have a strong focus on primary care, preventive health, chronic disease management and providing care management for high need members.
Enrollment will begin in March 2021. The EBCI Tribal Option is part of the state’s transition to Medicaid managed care, which will launch on July 1, 2021. In addition to the Tribal Option, Medicaid beneficiaries will be able to choose from five prepaid health plans – AmeriHealth Caritas, Healthy Blue, United Healthcare, WellCare and Carolina Complete Health (serving regions 3, 4 and 5).
In the News
Flu Activity Gradually Increasing: 5 Notes From CDC’s FluView Report, Becker’s Hospital Review, 11-6-20
STAT-Harris Poll: Most Americans Won’t Get a COVID Vaccine Unless it Cuts Risk By Half, STAT, 11-10-20
Learning Opportunity
In honor of The Great American SmokeOut, Natalie Rich of the Durham County Health Department will present ‘Tips for Quitting Smoking During the COVID-19 Pandemic’ on Thursday, Nov. 19 from 10:30 to 11 a.m. The latest research shows that smoking and vaping increases the risk of getting COVID-19 and having more serious COVID-19 symptoms. But quitting during a pandemic presents unique challenges. Learn more about why this is the ideal time to quit and strategies to offer patients to quit for good! Register here.
If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!
NCMS Morning Rounds 11-10-20
Here is Tuesday's NCMS Morning Rounds.
Nov. 10, 2020
Financial Recovery Program Payout Increases
Independent practices eligible for state funds through the NCMS Foundation administered Financial Recovery Program (FRP), now may receive an increased maximum payout of $160,000 for tier 1 practices and $120,000 for tier 2 practices.
The deadline to apply for these funds is Nov. 30, so please act today.
The NCMS Foundation has been charged by the NC General Assembly with administering this program and is required to distribute all the funds to eligible practices by the end of the year. As applications have been received, the payout has been adjusted to ensure all funds are equitably dispersed to those in need. Please spread the word to colleagues who may qualify.
The NCMS lobbying team worked closely with the NC Academy of Family Physicians, the NC Pediatric Society, the NC College of Emergency Physicians, the NC Association of Physician Assistants, the NC Obstetrics and Gynecology Society and the NC Dermatology Association in order to secure the state appropriation that funds the FRP.
Don’t forget PPE! The NCMS Foundation also received a $5 million appropriation to purchase and distribute personal protective equipment (PPE) to independent practices.
Even if you currently have adequate supplies, it makes sense to stockpile these products for future needs. Learn more and order your PPE today.
NCMS Board Adopts Health Equity Policy
At its regular meeting last Saturday, Nov. 7, the NCMS Board of Directors approved the NCMS Policy Committee’s recommendation to adopt a health equity policy.
After thorough and robust discussion, the policy was approved to support and enhance the NCMS’ efforts to achieve health equity across all populations. The policy reads:
- The NCMS supports the achievement of health equity across all populations regardless of race and ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, income, class, disability, health, immigration status, nationality, religious beliefs, language proficiency or geographic location.
• The NCMS supports elimination of structural racism and all forms of structural discrimination whether overt or unconscious that thwart the achievement of health equity.
• The NCMS supports efforts to work across health care and other sectors to achieve the goals outlined in the NCIOM Healthy NC 2030 Task Force Report.
In a separate vote, the Board approved several action items in support of the new policy. Namely:
• The NCMS will apply a purposeful assessment of any equity impact or barriers in the development and/or reevaluation of all NCMS actions, policies, statements and programs.
• The NCMS Board of Directors will adopt this as an organizational priority.
The Board also approved the Committee’s recommendation to adopt the national Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) standards as they currently are written and to support their broad adoption.
Plan for Safe Holiday Celebrations
The NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has issued guidance for fall-related events like the upcoming Thanksgiving holidays when families will likely gather and for college students returning home. The Department outlines the risk for various scenarios as well as how to mitigate those risks when coming together.
Here is the specific guidance for various upcoming holiday events that you may consider sharing with your patients.
- NCDHHS Interim Guidance for the Thanksgiving Holiday
• NCDHHS Interim Guidance for Black Friday Shopping
• NCDHHS Interim Guidance for Fall-Related Events (Spanish)
• NCDHHS Interim Guidance for Private Social Gatherings (Spanish)
o NCDHHS Guidelines for Get-Togethers (Spanish)
• NCDHHS Interim Guidance for Safer Holiday Breaks
o NCDHHS Safer Holiday Breaks Flyer
In the News
First COVID-19 Vaccine Doses to Go To Health Workers, Say CDC Advisors, NPR, 11-5-20
Learning Opportunity
The National Academy of Medicine’s Culture of Health Program will host a virtual listening workshop on Dec. 8-10 to discuss barriers, models and opportunities to use community knowledge and strength to drive health equity policy and research. The goal of the meeting are to identify the priorities for community-driven efforts to advance health equity, and opportunities to use community knowledge, strengths, and resiliency to inform the way forward, especially in a world affected by COVID-19 and increased calls for racial equity. Learn more and register.
If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!
NCMS Morning Rounds 11-9-20
Welcome to a new week and your NCMS Morning Rounds.Nov. 9, 2020NCMS Legislative UpdateAs of last Friday the election still was too close to call, but NCMS Director of Legislative Relations Sue Ann Forrest, MPA had some insights into election 2020 that she shared in the NCMS’ weekly Political Pulse video. A big thank you to the many NCMS members who were invested enough in the process to reach out to us for insight into who was on their ballot and to get to the polls. North Carolina had a record-setting 75 percent of registered voters turning out for last Tuesday’s election. The final tally of votes will not be known until this Friday, Nov. 13 since any NC ballot postmarked by the Nov. 3 election day may be counted until that date. The State Board of Elections also reported that there were 40,766 provisional ballots cast on Election Day that need to be reviewed. As of last Friday, the US Senate race between incumbent Republican Thom Tillis and Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham had not been called, but Tillis was slightly ahead. In other NC Congressional races, incumbent and NCMS member Greg Murphy, MD (R-NC3) retained his seat in the US House. Three new people joined the state’s US House delegation Madison Cawthorn (R-NC11), Deborah Ross (D-NC2) and Kathy Manning (D-NC6). In statewide races, incumbents were favored with Gov. Roy Cooper winning reelection along with likely Counsel of State winners – again, some races had not been called definitively by the end of last week – Attorney General Josh Stein, Auditor Beth Wood and Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, Agriculture Secretary Steve Troxler, State Treasurer Dale Folwell and Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey. Three newcomers joined the Counsel: Lt. Governor Mark Robinson, Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson and Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt. The judicial races came down decidedly in favor of Republicans, but the contest for chief justice was extremely tight with a tie between Justices Cheri Beasley and Paul Newby. Both houses of the NC General Assembly retained their Republican majorities, although they are not super-majorities meaning any override of the Governor’s veto would need some democratic support. NCMS member Rep. Perrin Jones, MD (R-Pitt) lost his reelection bid in a very tight race. But there is still one doctor in the NC House – NCMS member Kristin Baker, MD (R-Cabarrus) won reelection. Watch your NCMS Morning Rounds and Political Pulse video for updates this week as we will offer further analysis once all the votes are counted. NCDHHS Launches Medicaid Managed Care Enrollment WebsiteOn Friday the NC Department of Health and Human Services launched the NC Medicaid Managed Care Enrollment website – www.ncmedicaidplans.gov – in preparation for the launch of Medicaid managed care on July 1, 2021. The website will help Medicaid beneficiaries learn more about Medicaid managed care, the benefits offered and a list of frequently asked questions. Most Medicaid patients will select from one of the five health plans the state has contracted with to provide Medicaid services — WellCare, United HealthCare, Healthy Blue, AmeriHealth Caritas and Carolina Complete Health (a joint venture between the NCMS and Centene serving regions 3, 4 and 5). Medicaid Managed Care open enrollment will begin March 15, 2021 and will continue through May 14, 2021. To learn more about North Carolina’s transformation to Medicaid Managed Care, visit the Medicaid Transformation webpage. REMINDER: Beware of Suspicious EmailsJust a reminder to be careful before opening an email that looks suspicious and clicking on any links or attachments to that email. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers some advice on how to identify and avoid emails or text messages that may be phishing scams. For instance, an email may look like it’s from a company you know or trust and often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. They may • say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts While spam blockers catch some of the bad stuff, the FTC suggests four other ways to be sure to protect yourself. • Protect your computer by using security software. Set the software to update automatically so it can deal with any new security threats. Read more about the FTC’s recommendations here. In the NewsSpread of Mutated Coronavirus in Danish Mink ‘Hits All the Scary Buttons,’ But Fears May be Overblown, STAT, 11-5-20 Learning OpportunitySouthern Regional AHEC is offering an interdisciplinary CME program addressing health equity in Latino communities on Nov. 13 from 11 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. The program will be offered in English and Spanish via Zoom and examine disparities that are magnified by the pandemic and will discuss resources for health care providers. Learn more and register. If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!
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NCMS Political Pulse for November 6, 2020
Watch as NCMS Director of Legislative Relations Sue Ann Forrest, MPA, gives an overview of the election -- federal and state races -- so far, and encourages independent practices to apply to the Financial Recovery Program and to acquire and/or stockpile PPE through the NCMS Foundation administered programs.
NCMS Morning Rounds 11-5-20
Enjoy your mid-week NCMS Morning Rounds!Nov. 4, 2020Election 2020 Your North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) would like to assure you that our longstanding bipartisan tradition remains. Regardless of who is declared a winner after yesterday’s state and federal races, your NCMS advocates will continue to work with all elected officials on your behalf and on behalf of your patients. Watch your NCMS Morning Rounds and Political Pulse video for updates on and analysis of the election results in the coming days. Updated COVID-19 Guidance from NCDHHSThe NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) recently issued updated clinical and laboratory COVID-19 guidance due to an increase in community transmission of the virus with pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic spread playing an important role. Read the memo in which State Epidemiologist Zack Moore, MD, MPH, outlines the new guidance. State officials are encouraging increased adherence to prevention strategies (the 3 W’s of Wearing a mask, Waiting six feet apart, Washing your hands), testing (including for those without symptoms), and expanded contact tracing to help control viral transmission across the state. NCDHHS has also launched a new advertising campaign encouraging people to wear a mask, especially with the holidays approaching. Learn more about the campaign here. Dr. Moore also notes that the COVID-19 virus and influenza are co-circulating. You can go to flu.ncdhhs.gov for information, updated each Thursday afternoon, on influenza circulation in North Carolina. Warning: Cybercrime Threat to Health Care ProfessionalsIn a recent joint advisory, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the FBI and the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said they have "credible information" that cybercriminals are taking new aim at health care providers and public health agencies as the COVID-19 pandemic reaches new heights. The advisory notes that several hospitals across the country have already been hit. Read the document here. "Malicious cyber actors" may soon be planning to "infect systems with Ryuk ransomware for financial gain" on a scale not yet seen across the American health care system, the advisory notes. Hospitals, physician practices and public health organizations should take "timely and reasonable precautions to protect their networks from these threats." Malware targeting techniques often lead to “ransomware attacks, data theft and the disruption of health care services." The agencies recommend several mitigation steps and best practices for health care entities to take to reduce their risk, including the following: • Patch operating systems, software, and firmware as soon as manufacturers release updates. The AMA and the American Hospital Association (AHA) have created two resources to help physicians and hospitals guard against cyber threats. Those resources and additional cyber security information can be found at the AMA’s cybersecurity webpage. Redoubling Efforts to End the Country’s Longest EpidemicThe US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), recently released a perspective piece in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) titled “Redoubling Efforts to Help Americans Quit Smoking—Federal Initiatives to Tackle the Country’s Longest-Running Epidemic.” In this article, leaders of these three federal agencies responsible for reducing tobacco product use express their commitment to intensify efforts to help Americans quit smoking. The rate of cigarette smoking among US adults is 13.7 percent, its lowest point since monitoring of smoking rates began in 1965, yet smoking remains the country’s leading preventable cause of death and disease, and costs the U.S. more than $300 billion annually. Increasing smoking-cessation rates among adults is the fastest way to reduce this health and economic burden. In the NewsCommentary: Rapid Deployment of a Community-Centered Mobile COVID-19 Testing Unit to Improve Health Equity, NEJM Catalyst, 10-22-20 Learning OpportunityDon’t miss this Friday’s (Nov. 6) Power Hour from 1 to 2 p.m. when our guests will discuss ‘Lifestyle Medicine.’ Lifestyle medicine, one of the fastest growing areas in the field, involves whole food, plant-predominant dietary lifestyle, regular physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances and positive social connection as a primary therapeutic modality for treatment and reversal of chronic disease. Learn more and register here. If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!
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NCMS Morning Rounds 11-3-20
Here is your Election Day NCMS Morning Rounds!
Nov. 3, 2020
Election Day is upon us! If you haven’t cast your ballot yet, TODAY is the final day to do so in your precinct. Look up your polling place here and VOTE!
State Portal Open for Reimbursement Requests
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) portal where primary care providers (PCP) may submit a reimbursement request for COVID-19 related primary care services (e.g. follow-up care) to uninsured individuals living in North Carolina is now open. Access it through NCTracks secure portal.
Patients are eligible for the NCDHHS program if they live in North Carolina and have no health care coverage (e.g. Medicaid, Medicare or other health insurance). Eligible providers are PCPs who operate in the state of North Carolina and are registered in NCTracks, North Carolina’s Medicaid payment platform.
Approximately $8 million is available to support the program on a first-come, first-serve basis until exhausted or until Dec. 30, 2002, whichever comes first. A payment of $150 per eligible in-person or telehealth visit enables providers to recoup costs for COVID-19 related services provided for uninsured patients. PCPs should check the COVID-19 Related Services for Uninsured Individuals webpage for finance updates; Remaining funds will be updated on the website weekly.
NCTracks is offering training on how to submit claims beginning Nov. 9 and running through Nov. 20. Watch your NCMS Morning Rounds and the NCTracks portal for more information on these trainings.
The state has compiled a list of financial resources available to practices responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the NCMS Foundation’s Financial Recovery Program.
NCDHHS Extends School Immunization Deadline
The NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has further extended until Nov. 30, the temporary suspension of immunization requirements and school health assessments. State Health Director Elizabeth Tilson, MD, MPH issued the extension due to reported barriers caused by COVID-19 to meeting the immunization and school health assessment requirements.
The requirement for parents to submit their child’s certificate of immunization will be reinstated on Dec. 1, 2020 with a grace period until Dec. 30, 2020 or 30 calendar days from the child’s first day of attendance, whichever is later. This temporary suspension of time to complete immunization requirements also applies to individuals attending NC colleges and universities.
The requirement to present a school health assessment for every NC child entering kindergarten or higher grade in public schools for the first time will align with the presentation of the certification of immunization – beginning Dec. 1, 2020 with a grace period until Dec. 30, 2020 or 30 calendar days from the child’s first day of attendance, whichever is later.
November is Diabetes Awareness Month
November is national Diabetes Awareness month, a time to focus on one of the most chronic conditions in our country. Learn more about the national observance at the National Institute of Health website here.
The NCMS, along with the American Medical Association (AMA), has been working to reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes in North Carolina. An estimated 2.8 million North Carolina residents live with prediabetes with approximately 1 million adults in the state diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. There are more than 50,000 new diagnoses of the chronic condition per year.
The NCMS and AMA will work to significantly increase the number of North Carolina physicians and health care providers identifying and diagnosing patients with prediabetes—the precursor to type 2 diabetes. The partnership will also encourage more referrals of patients with prediabetes to an evidence-based National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) lifestyle change program recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Across the nation, a majority of the adults with prediabetes are unaware they have the condition—putting them at risk for developing type 2 diabetes without intervention.
“Working with our physician and PA members to help identify patients with prediabetes and to intervene at this early stage to prevent type 2 diabetes is key to good preventative medical care and benefits everyone,” said NCMS Executive Vice President and CEO Chip Baggett, J.D. “Alongside the AMA, we have developed resources to seamlessly connect patients to Diabetes Prevention Programs in North Carolina – many now available virtually – to significantly reduce the number of people acquiring the chronic condition of type 2 diabetes.”
Watch as three NCMS physicians describe why they are committed to a DiabetesFreeNC in these short videos.
The AMA has been working since 2013 to prevent and reduce the burden of chronic disease, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. As part of its commitment to improving the health of the nation, the AMA developed its Diabetes Prevention Guide to support physicians and health care organizations in defining and implementing evidence-based diabetes prevention strategies. This comprehensive and customized approach helps clinical practices and health care organizations identify and manage patients with prediabetes, including referring eligible patients to a National DPP lifestyle-change program based on their individual needs.
Quit Practicing or Retired Early Due to COVID-19?
We have had inquiries from national media outlets interested in speaking with physicians and PAs who have decided to quit practicing or to retire early due to financial or other pressures associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. If you fall in that category and are willing to share your story, please send your name and the best way to contact you to Elaine Ellis, [email protected]. Thank you!
In the News
How Your Brain Tricks You Into Taking Risks During the Pandemic, ProPublica, 11-2-20
Learning Opportunity
Learn how independent practices can apply to receive COVID-19 relief funds through the state-funded Financial Recovery Program, administered by the NCMS Foundation, on Tuesday, Nov. 10 from noon to 1 p.m. Find out what the criteria are for applying and how your practice can benefit from the FRP. Learn more and register here. For questions or more information please contact the NCMS Foundation at [email protected].
If you have policies you'd like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!