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Vote for Dr. Gloria Graham for NC Doctor of the Year Award
Dear Colleagues,
I am delighted to announce that our friend and colleague, Dr. Gloria Graham, has been selected as one of the 10 finalists for the 2015 North Carolina Doctor of the Year Award. Please go to the following link today to cast your vote for Dr. Graham: http://www.ncdoctorsday.org/gloria-graham/
Dr. Graham is a legend among dermatologists. A pioneer in the field of cryosurgery, Dr. Graham is a nationally-recognized expert. But even closer to home, she is recognized for her significant contributions to NC's dermatology community and unyielding dedication to her patients. I encourage you to vote for Dr. Graham for NC Doctor of the Year and to spread the word among friends and colleagues. Voting ends on March 27.
Thank you,
Russell J. Kilpatrick, MD
President, NC Dermatology Association
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Advocacy Update: Indoor Tanning Bills in the House and Senate
The North Carolina Dermatology Association (NCDA) is delighted with last week’s quick approval of House Bill 158, “The Jim Fulghum Teen Skin Cancer Prevention Act” by the N.C. House’s Health Committee. Earlier this week, the bill was re-referred to the House’s Regulatory Reform Committee. A committee hearing has not yet been scheduled.
The Health Committee's approval was overwhelming and without significant objection. The NCDA-backed legislation was filed in the House on March 4 with the support of four primary sponsors: Reps. Donny Lambeth (Forsyth), Nelson Dollar (Wake), Pat Hurley (Randolph) and Pat McElraft (Carteret, Jones) and has more than 30 co-sponsors.
A companion bill in the Senate (SB125) was introduced in February and has been referred to the Senate Health Care Committee. The Senate Committee has not set a date to hear the measure. The Senate bill is sponsored by Sen. Tommy Tucker of Union County, Sen. David Curtis of Gaston, Iredell and Lincoln counties, and Sen. Wesley Meredith of Cumberland County, along with 18 other co-sponsors.
The bill is named after Dr. Jim Fulghum, a neurosurgeon and Wake County legislator who was an early and strong supporter of the legislation before dying of cancer last summer.
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Survey: Dermatologists' Perceptions of Biosimilars
The NCDA has partnered with the George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences on a survey regarding dermatologists’ perceptions of biosimilars. Please take a moment to complete this brief survey. Thank you in advance for participating.
Dear North Carolina Dermatology Association members,
Thank you for taking the time to complete this 3-minute survey by the George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences. The information gathered in this survey will help us evaluate US dermatologists’ knowledge and perceptions of biosimilars. Biosimilars are of considerable clinical and economical interest to both payers and patients with psoriasis and other diseases treated with biologics. This study will provide valuable information on whether a practice gap exists regarding biosimilars. By examining the attitudes of dermatologists on the use of biosimilars, we can better understand the barriers to biosimilar usage in the field. Your responses are completely anonymous and thank you so much for your input!
Take the survey here ==> https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/biosim
If you have any questions about the survey, please email us: abarsell@gwu.edu.
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New Sunshine Act Reporting Period Begins
The second year of data submission under the Sunshine Act began on Feb. 2, 2015. March 31, 2015, is the deadline for all applicable manufacturers and group purchasing organizations (GPOs) to submit corrected 2013 data (if needed) and submit their 2014 data to the Open Payments system. CMS released the first year of Open Payments data on Sept. 30, 2014. We encourage all physicians to review the site and to ensure the accuracy of payments associated with them.
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NCDA 2015 Summer Meeting - Save the Date!
2015 Summer Meeting
July 10-12, 2015
The Omni Grove Park Inn
Asheville, N.C.
Dr. Pamela J. Guest is putting finishing touches on what promises to be another outstanding educational event. Confirmed speakers include Dr. Matthew Zirwas of the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (“Practical Contact Dermatitis” and “Update on the Workup and Treatment of Itch”) and Dr. Joseph English of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (“Skin and Hypercoagulable States” and “Non-infectious Granulomatous Diseases”). Please help ensure a successful meeting by sharing the Exhibitor Prospectus with the product and service representatives that call on your practice.
For more information please contact Nancy Lowe, nlowe@ncmedsoc.org, or 919- 833-3836 ext. 111.
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