Halfway through the week! Enjoy your NCMS Morning Rounds.

Feb. 24, 2021

Case Challenging Temporary COVID-19 Liability Immunity Dismissed

Last week, Superior Court Judge Orlando Hudson Jr. dismissed a lawsuit that attempted to challenge the temporary COVID-19 immunity from civil liability provided to physicians and PAs under legislation passed last year. Read the Judge’s order here.

Last May, the NC General Assembly passed SB704—COVID-19 Recovery Act and HB118—Liability Safe Harbor, which were signed into law by Governor Cooper. The NCMS along with a broad coalition of other health care, business and education stakeholders supported the legislation’s expanded liability protections during the pandemic. The legislation provides immunity from claims of negligence for the contraction of COVID-19 and for any malpractice claims that may have been caused by disruptions to the normal provision of care during the COVID-19 emergency. The immunities are temporary, and do not provide immunity for grossly negligent conduct or intentional wrongdoing.

In January, national media outlet, ProPublica, wrote an article, later picked up by local media, featuring the lawsuit, and its challenge to the liability protections. Read the article here.

Results of Practice Survey on COVID-19 Vaccine

The Jan. 18 Urgent Practice Data Survey, regularly sent by the NCMS, NC Medical Group Management Association and Curi since last March, included questions about the COVID-19 vaccine. The results have been compiled into a graphic summary, which reveals some interesting insights into the response of medical practices and staff in the initial stages of the vaccine rollout. We will continue to send the survey to identify trends among North Carolina practices as the state continues to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and its various impacts.

Review the summary here.

In the News

FDA Starts Review Of How Skin Pigmentation Affects Pulse Oximeter Results, Health Care Dive, 2-22-21

Learning Opportunity

A Conversation on Intergenerational Tobacco Use and Its Cultural Impact on Black Communities, Feb 24 from 7 to 8 p.m.
Campaign for the Culture is an initiative focused on uniting, empowering, educating and engaging people of color and other targeted communities around critical health care and human rights issues connected to tobacco use – with the goal of inspiring young community members to avoid or quit tobacco.

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!