Get excited for a new season of NCMS Morning Rounds!

Sept. 8, 2020

What Can Happen By Working Together

Last week, the NC General Assembly allocated $25 million to the NCMS Foundation as part of its Coronovirus Relief Act 3.0  and Governor Cooper signed the legislation appropriating the funds into law. The money will go to financially struggling independent medical practices throughout the state to help mitigate the impact of the pandemic and help them continue to serve their communities. This appropriation was a result of effective collaboration with specialty societies and your individual efforts to communicate with your legislators about what this funding could mean to you and your patients.

The NCMS lobbying team worked closely with colleagues at 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 this important appropriation.

Thank you to everyone who responded to our Action Alert to tell your legislators what this money will mean to your practice and how it will help you continue to serve your community. Feel free to reach out and thank your legislator for supporting independent medical practices in this way and be sure to continue the conversation with them in the coming months. Legislators want to hear from their constituents.

New Campaign Encourages Everyone to ‘Get Behind the Mask’

The NC Department of Health and Human Services last week launched a multi-media campaign to encourage all North Carolinians to wear a mask to help stem the spread of the coronavirus. The “Whatever Your Reason, Get Behind the Mask” campaign includes tv and radio spots, social media posts and other resources in English and Spanish. The materials feature real North Carolina residents and places and focuses on their personal reasons for doing what they can to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Watch the first television commercial that aired last week here.

You can help disseminate this message by using the available campaign resources available in English and Spanish.

Now You Can Request an NC Absentee Ballot Online

The North Carolina State Board of Elections now has an online portal where you can request an absentee ballot for the upcoming election. Prior to this, voters needed to fill out a form and mail it back or drop it off in person at their county board of elections office.

If you have already requested an absentee ballot by mail, the state has said they have started mailing the ballots. If you haven’t received your absentee ballot by Sept. 20, you may want to contact your county board of elections. Here is the link to the list by county.

For more information about voting, visit the State Board of Elections newly redesigned website here.

In the News

Health Care Jobs Inch Back to Pre-Pandemic Levels, Adding 75K in August, Healthcare Dive, 9-4-20

Learning Opportunity

The NC Population Health Collaborative is meeting virtually on Thursday, Sept. 10 from 1 to 3 p.m. This meeting will focus on telehealth and COVID-19 as well as how it may impact population health and planning for the future. Learn more here. Registration is limited to the first 100 people, so register now. Questions about the NC Population Health Collaborative? Please contact Kristen Spaduzzi.

 

If you have policies you’d like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!