In this edition:
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Surviving Crossover – Legislative Focus Shifts to the Budget
To meet the April 30th crossover deadline – the day by which most non-budget bills must pass either the N.C. House of Representatives or the Senate to remain alive for the 2015-2016 legislative session – the legislature held many lengthy committee meetings and floor sessions, with more than 200 bills passing out of one chamber or the other in the weeks leading up to the crossover deadline. However, bills that did not meet the deadline still have ways of being revived, and this session will likely last until the fall with a lot of legislative maneuvering going on between now and adjournment. The next big task is crafting the 2015 budget. The House is moving quickly with developing its budget proposal and is expected to send it to the Senate later this month for consideration.
Review the Post-Crossover Legislative Tracking Report for complete details about the bills on the NCOA tracking list and their status.
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Orthopaedists Rally in Raleigh
NCOA members met in Raleigh last month for a day of meetings with legislators and legislative committee hearings. Members discussed the NCOA priority issues of Certificate of Need reform, Medicaid reform and patient safety with state policy-makers. Six orthopaedic surgeons and an orthopaedic practice manager participated in the April 22 White Coat Wednesday, a grassroots advocacy event presented jointly with the North Carolina Medical Society.
Participants took part in a legislative issue briefing with NCOA and NCMS lobbyists prior to meeting with their elected representatives. NCOA staff supported the event by coordinating the meeting schedule. Adding to the impact of their efforts, ophthalmologists also held their White Coat Wednesday on April 22.
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If you would like to participate in an upcoming White Coat Wednesday, or assistance coordinating local meetings with your legislators, please let us know in an email to Denna Suko, dsuko@ncmedsoc.org, or call us at 919-833-3836.
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NCOA Members Attend the AAOS National Orthopaedic Leadership Conference
Six North Carolina orthopaedists attended the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ National Orthopaedic Leadership Conference, April 29 to May 2, in Washington, D.C., to discuss issues impacting physicians with federal policy-makers. Legislative issues discussed included repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), changes to the Meaningful Use reporting period, and the Sports Medicine Licensure Act.
- IPAB: The Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2015 would eliminate sections of the Affordable Care Act which define the IPAB Board and its responsibilities, outline its membership and establish a process for making ongoing payment modifications and cuts.
- Flex IT Act: The Flexibility in Health IT Reporting (Flex-IT) Act of 2015 would give providers a three-month EHR reporting period to qualify for the Meaningful Use Program in 2015, as opposed to a full year.
- Sports Medicine: The Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act would give traveling sports medicine professionals legal protection when they travel to a secondary state with an athlete, athletic team, or staff member.
More information about the AAOS’ legislative priorities can be found on the AAOS website.
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The North Carolina delegation included:
- Frank Aluisio, MD
- Richard Bruch, MD
- Edward G. Lilly, III, MD
- Richard "Chad" Mather, MD
- Steven A. Olson, MD
- David S. Ruch, MD
- W. Alan Skipper, CAE
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NCOA Members with Sen. Richard Burr and Sen. Thom Tillis at the 2015 National Orthopaedic Leadership Conference.
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Meeting Professionals Recognize NCOA's Nancy Lowe for Excellence
The NCOA congratulates Associate Director for Meeting & Education Services Nancy Lowe, CMP for being recognized with the Hall of Fame Award on Monday, May 18, by the Meeting Professionals International - Carolinas Chapter (MPI-CC). The chapter Hall of Fame Award recognizes and rewards members who exemplify excellence and enduring service to MPI.
Nancy has demonstrated those qualities (and more!) throughout her nearly 25 years of active membership. She has served in many leadership positions, including MPI-CC Board of Directors (1992-94) and chair positions on the Meeting Planning Committee and Public Relations Committee, among other committee posts. Nancy has made significant contributions to the meeting planning industry as a panelist and guest speaker, and she has contributed articles to industry publications. Nancy also is an active member of Association Executives of North Carolina and makes regular contributions of her time, talent and treasure to charitable organizations. Congratulations, Nancy!
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“I have known Nancy Lowe through the NCOA executive board for 10 years," said Dr. Mack Aldridge, NCOA President, "and can unequivocally state there is no one her equal for what she has brought and continues to contribute to the NCOA. We are lucky to have her!”
Photo: Nancy Lowe, CMP, NCOA Associate Director for Meeting & Education Services, received the prestigeous Hall of Fame Award at the 2015 MPI-CC Annual Awards Banquet on May 18.
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AAOS Leadership Fellows Program Applications Due by July 31
AAOS members interested in taking part in the AAOS Leadership Fellows Program (LFP) have until July 31, 2015, to submit applications. The one-year program for AAOS fellows age 45 and younger provides leadership training and mentoring. The program has the following goals:
- Introduce fellows to the AAOS Governance structure
- Observe AAOS leadership at work
- Participate in interactive leadership development programs
- Engage in opportunities for peer to peer interactions and learning
- Experience service on an AAOS committee
Learn more at http://www3.aaos.org/member/LFP/index.cfm.
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CSRS Redesign Launched
To help tackle a growing epidemic of opioid abuse, the state’s Drug Control Unit launched its redesigned Controlled Substances Reporting System (CSRS) on March 17, 2015. The new web-interface is intended to provide prescribers and pharmacists with more intuitive control of the site. It also provides new convenient features like password reset, profile update, and prescribing history. In addition, the new system provides easy to read reports that include new information like MME (morphine milligram equivalents) conversion and method of payment. An online, 9-minute WebEx training video is available to allow prescribers and pharmacists to become familiar with the new interface. Go to the CSRS training video.
The following is a statement from the Drug Control Unit on the CSRS redesign.
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The Drug Controlled Unit is committed to improving the CSRS system in order for it to become a far more valuable clinical tool for patient care while significantly increasing utilization through the continuum of care.
Background
Housed within the DMH/DD/SAS, the North Carolina Controlled Substances Reporting System (CSRS) monitors the prescribing and dispensing of Schedule II-V controlled substances (CS) information including most commonly used opioid analgesics. The CSRS makes comprehensive patient CS prescription history information available to healthcare providers that prescribe or dispense CS.
Challenges
Data disclosure to providers takes place through the CSRS’s website. The current web-interface creates some challenges for prescribers and dispensers while trying to reset their passwords, accessing their prescribing history and managing their delegate accounts.
Solution
The Drug Control Unit has developed a new web-interface that provides prescribers and pharmacists a more intuitive control of the site. It also provides new convenient features like password reset, profile update and prescribing history. In addition, the new system provides easy to read reports that include new information like MME conversion and method of payment.
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Prescription drug and heroin abuse have risen to epidemic proportions and are a significant public health concern. The U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations has opened a series of hearings to understand what steps the states are taking to combat opioid abuse and to explore how state and federal policies can maximize and expand evidence-based practices in their communities. The series continues on Thursday, May 21, with a hearing titled, “What are the State Governments Doing to Combat the Opioid Abuse Epidemic?” See more on the Energy and Commerce Committee website.
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2015 NCOA Annual Meeting, Oct. 9-11
Add this event to your calendar.
Save the date! Start planning now to attend the 2015 NCOA Annual Meeting, Oct. 9-11, at the luxurious Kiawah Island Golf Resort. For room reservations, contact the resort at 1-800-654-2924.
The meeting is scheduled for Oct. 9-11, 2015, at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort in Kiawah Island, S.C. ---> # 1 Island in North America / #2 Island in the World – Conde Nast Traveler * # 2 American Beach Resort - Conde Nast Traveler * #3 Family Resort in the U.S. – Travel + Leisure * America's Best Golf Resort - Conde Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence * # 1 Tennis Resort in the U.S. seven of the last nine years - TennisResortsOnline.
Don't get left out in sand!
Call 1-800-654-2924 for room reservations TODAY!
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Duke’s Feagin Leadership Program Turns Orthopaedic Surgeons into Leaders
Evan Coach K is in on the action! Duke’s Feagin Leadership Program scholars Julie A. Neumann, MD and Kathryne J. Stabile, MD, MS discuss the program and their experiences in an article featured in the May 2015 edition of AAOS Now. Read “Turning Orthopaedic Surgeons into Leaders.”
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