It’s Tuesday and here is your
NCMS Morning Rounds.
Nov. 26, 2019
Answers to Patient Questions about Medicaid Transformation Delay
The NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) provided a list of FAQs for those answering phones at the Medicaid call center, and we thought this may be useful to you as your practice may be fielding questions from your Medicaid patients. Read the Q & As.
The NCMS encourages you and your practice to continue to pursue contracts with the pre-paid health plans selected by the state to provide Medicaid services once the state does make the transition to managed care.
As NCMS Senior Vice President for Advocacy and Associate General Counsel Chip Baggett, JD, said: “We can use this time to better prepare to make this complicated transition — when it does come — as smooth as possible.”
Learn more about the delay in the transition to Medicaid managed care and background on the transformation of the state’s program at the NCDHHS Medicaid Transformation website.
NCMS Student Council Planning for 2020
As part of our effort to better engage medical students as the future of the medical profession, our newly formed NCMS Student Council has been busy planning for the coming year.
The group has had one meeting via conference call and a second is planned for this evening. All five medical schools in the state have representation on the council. Much discussion revolved around the ‘Student Summit’ being planned for April 2020 and how to make it the most useful gathering for medical students. It is likely that the program directors from residency programs throughout the state will be on hand to talk to the students as well as holding panel discussions on topics like finances and the opportunity to learn from practicing physicians at various stages in their careers.
Watch your NCMS Morning Rounds for details on the Summit and other opportunities for medical students to get involved with the NCMS. For more information on the Student Council, contact Richard Simpson at rsimpson@ncmedsoc.org or 919-833-3836.
Are You Ready for the 2020 Elections?
With candidates for all state and federal — except Congressional — races set to begin filing on Monday, Dec. 2, we wanted to remind you to be sure you are ready for elections in the coming year. Here are some tips to prepare:
- Are you registered? If you’ve moved since the last election or are unsure, you can easily find out at the state’s Board of Elections website. This also is where you can review who is on your ballot before you head to the polls next year. Be sure to bookmark it and keep the link handy.
• Beginning in 2020, voters will be asked to present a photo ID when they vote. Get the details on what are permissible types of ID and the rules if you will be casting an absentee ballot.
• Donate to the NCMS PAC. If you haven’t already contributed, this is a great way to make sure our voice as a profession is recognized. Learn more and donate today.
Candidate filing for North Carolina’s 13 congressional districts has been postponed as a panel of judges are set to hear pending litigation around the congressional redistricting on Dec. 2.
In the News
Our 5 Best (and Worst) Experiences at the Doctor, The Advisory Board Forum, 11-22-19
Learning Opportunity
In light of recent headlines about Google sharing patient information, if you find yourself wondering about HIPAA and instances where patients may not actually have to consent to having their data shared, this quick 1:30 minute video, ‘What is HIPAA and What Does it Cover?’ is for you. STAT reporter Megan Thielking offers a ‘just the facts’ explanation of this federal law that governs how doctors, hospitals and researchers can use and share personal health information – and when they have to tell patients they are doing so. Watch now.
