In this edition:
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Act Fast! TODAY - June 25 - is the hotel deadline.
2019 Summer Meeting
July 26-28
The Marriott Resort & Spa
Hilton Head Island, SC
10.5 Hours of CME!
Program and Registration
Registrer by July 1 and save.
Accommodations: Reserve your hotel room online, or call the Marriott Resort Hilton Head at 888-511-5086. The hotel cut off is June 25.
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State Legislative Update
While many bills have been filed, a major focus of the NC General Assembly this year is the state’s biannual budget. The budget is currently in conference – where representatives from the House and Senate work to hammer out differences between the two chambers’ spending proposals. The compromise budget is expected to be released as soon as today, June 25. Below is a summary of the key health bills that we are following for you this session.
- HB 185/SB 143, The SAVE Act: This bill would end physician supervision for advanced practice registered nurses. The NCDA opposes this legislation. Status: Not likely to move in either the House or Senate this year.
- HB 228/SB 178, Modernize Laws Pertaining to NC Medical Board: A bill to update the statutes related to the NC Medical Board. The NCDA is supportive of this legislation. The bill includes a provision requiring physicians to report when they reasonably believe there is evidence a licensee engaged in sexual misconduct, fraudulent prescribing, drug diversion or theft of controlled substance. Status: HB 228 was approved by the House on June 12 and now awaits a hearing in the Senate. It is unclear if the bill will be taken up in the Senate before session ends.
- HB 450, Reduce Barriers to Improve NC Health and Safety (step therapy): This compromise bill aims to reduce barriers to prescription medicine. Blue Cross Blue Shielf of NC has signaled support for the bill. The NCDA supports this legislation. Status: HB 450 was approved by the House on June 3 and now awaits consideration in Senate. It is likely to be taken up in the Senate before the end of session.
- HB 611, Amend Rules of Evidence-Binding Arbitration: This bill would repeal key provisions of the medical malpractice legislation that passed in 2011. The NCDA is opposed to this legislation. Status: The bill is dead in the House after a full court press effort by all NC physician societies to kill it in House Republican caucus.
- HB 705, Disclosure of Cosmetic Ingredients: The bill would require cosmetic manufacturers to disclose on their websites the ingredients of their products. This bill is being monitored by the NCDA. Status: This bill is not likely to be taken up this session.
- SB 440, Body Art Regulation Changes: This bill would update state laws regulating tattoos and body art. The bill is being monitored by the NCDA. Status: This bill is not likely to be taken up this session.
- SB 473, Various OLB and Administrative Law Changes (electrology): This bill would merge electrolysis and barber boards. The bill is being monitored by the NCDA. Status: This bill is not likely to be taken up this session.
- SB 573/HB 993, Enact Naturopathic Doctors Licensure Act: This bill would establish licensure and education standards for the practice of naturopathic medicine. The bill is being monitored by the NCDA. Status: This bill is not likely to be taken up this session.
- HB 849, Health Care Practitioner Transparency Act: This bill has been referred to the "Truth in Advertising Act," though its intentions go beyond advertising and impact the manner in which healthcare providers identify themselves to patients. The NCDA and the NCMS support this bill. The AAD also supports the bill. Status: The bill did not survive crossover this year and is technically ineligible for further consideration through the 2019-2020 session, but it did begin the process for gaining support among legislators for the bill and lays a foundation for reintroduction in 2021.
Two ways that you can help advance our advocacy agenda:
- DermPAC continues to help our profession present a strong and effective voice on the issues that impact our practices and patients. Voluntary, personal contributions from NCDA members allow us to provide support to political candidates in state legislative contests who appreciate the NCDA position on the key issues impacting our profession. It is vital to elect candidates who support dermatology's positions and who are willing to be legislative leaders on matters impacting our specialty and patient care. The mechanism for being a political advocate and positioning dermatology to optimize our legislative effectiveness is through contributing to DermPAC. In doing so you are investing in your and your patients' future. Donate online TODAY.
- Additionally, NCDA members are encouraged to support our new NCDA Advocacy Fund which has been established to enhance our advocacy efforts. The proceeds generated by member contributions to the Advocacy Fund will be allocated for expanded activities to advance our health policy priorities – with the exception of political contributions. Eligible expenses that the Advocacy Fund will support include lobbying, events such as the Skin Screening at the Legislature, Dermatology White Coat Day events, local meetings with dermatologists and legislators, and promotion and distribution of information and material. Donations to the NCDA Advocacy Fund may be made from a personal or a corporate/practice account; whereas DermPAC contributions must be drawn from a personal (not businesss) account. Your donations to help build on our past advocacy success as we respond to current and anticipated concerns are very much appreciated. Please support the NCDA Advocacy Fund today.
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NCDA Receives AAD Model State Society Award
The NCDA is proud to announce that we brought home some exciting new hardware from the 2019 American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting in Washington, DC. The NCDA was recognized by the Academy with the 2018 Model State Award. Model State Award recipients receive a development grant from the Academy. In order to qualify for the Model State Award, societies must meet the specified core criteria in addition to several operational criteria, such as involvement in legislative and regulatory advocacy, member engagement and educational initiatives.
As the state’s only professional association dedicated to representing our specialty and promoting excellence in patient care, our number one goal is to support dermatologists and dermatology physician assistants in North Carolina, which we do through education, communications, advocacy and professional relations. In 2018, we presented two excellent educational conferences, provided ongoing public education about the dangers of UV exposure, engaged in payer issues, raised chartable funds and awareness for Victory Junction, and hosted another successful Annual Skin Cancer Screening at the Legislature with the support of volunteers from across the state.
The NCDA appreciates this special recognition, which is thanks to the strong support and participation of our NCDA members. Thank you for supporting the NCDA!
Pictured (L-R):
Dr. Molly Hinshaw, Chair, AAD State Society Relations Committee
Dr. Craig Burkhart, NCDA Past President
Dr. Susan Sanders, NCDA Past President
Dr. Donna Culton, NCDA Past President
Alan Skipper, NCDA Executive Director
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Update From Your AAD Advisory Board Chair
- Resolutions: Summer resolutions are posted online for comment. During the summer the Advisory Board has a virtual reference committee. This is your chance to weigh in on the resolutions. The Advisory Board Executive Committee is also recommending changes to the Advisory Board Operational Guidelines that will add one non-voting position to the Advisory Board Executive Committee and require that Advisory Board members be fellows of the AAD. Please review and post your comments at this link.
- Legislative Conference: On Sept. 8-10, join more than 150 dermatologists and health care leaders to hear from health policy experts, discuss legislative, regulatory, and political issues that impact dermatology, and participate in a rare advocacy training to position yourself as an influential voice members of Congress can trust. Register now.
- Drug Shortages: The AADAs is aware that it has become increasingly difficult for physicians to obtain lidocaine with epinephrine, lidocaine, other local anesthetics, and sodium bicarbonate. In response to these shortages, the AADA sent a letter to the FDA requesting placement of these drugs on the proposed essential drugs list, outlining how access to these medications is critical to quality, efficient patient care. The FDA has reached out to the AADA and has indicated that it has re-initiated the temporary import of sodium bicarbonate from Australia and it is now available. However, the FDA indicated that the injectable local anesthetics including the lidocaine, lidocaine with epinephrine, bupivacaine, and others continue to be delayed. Learn more on the Academy’s Drug shortages web page.
- RFI on Regulatory Burdens: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking ideas from the public on ways to reduce administrative and regulatory burdens, and to increase focus on patient-centered care, innovation, and outcomes. This RFI is part of the agency’s Patients over Paperwork initiative. The AADA plans to submit comments by the deadline.
- Skin Cancer Screening: To raise awareness about skin cancer prevention and awareness, the Academy and several other organizations, hosted more than 250 congressional staffers and members of the public at its annual Capitol Hill Skin Cancer Prevention Fair and Screening. Seventeen volunteer, board-certified dermatologists provided 104 skin cancer screenings and consultations for patients — a record number of screenings for the event.
This month’s state policy update can be accessed at this link.
Stay passionate about dermatology!
"Terry" Terrence A. Cronin Jr. MD, AAD Advisory Board Chair
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Update on State Efforts to Curb the Opioid Epidemic
The North Carolina Medical Society, in partnership with the American Medical Association and Manatt Health, recently completed a comprehensive evaluation of the state's efforts to curb the opioid epidemic. The report, "Spotlight on North Carolina: Best Practices and Next Steps in the Opioid Epidemic," reviews the state’s progress in Medicaid and the commercial insurance market in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, pain management and efforts to increase access to naloxone, and identifies options for further building on the state's gains, drawing on emerging strategies from around the country. Read the full report here.
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NC HealthConnex: Are You in Compliance?
State law enacted in 2015 requires that all health care providers who receive any state funds for the provision of health care services (e.g. Medicaid, NC Health Choice, State Health Plan, etc.) connect and submit patient demographic and clinical data to the state's health information exchance, NC HealthConnex, by certain dates in 2018 and 2019 in order to continue to receive payment for services. The June 2019 NC Medicaid Bulletin provides an overview of the law, along with deadlines for various provider types, and instructions for connecting to the system.
For additional guidance, the NC Health Information Exchange Authority holds monthly “How to Connect” webinars on the last Monday of every month at 12:00 noon. Click here to register.
Providers with questions may contact the NC HIEA at 919-754-6912 or hiea@nc.gov.
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AAD Legislative Conference: Hope to see you on the Hill!
Registration is open for the AAD’s 2019 Legislative Conference. This annual event in Washington, DC offers a great opportunity to help dermatology advance its federal advocacy priorities. The NC Dermatology Association has participated in the conference for many years and we are looking forward to again have a delegation of North Carolina dermatologists attend.
The conference includes sessions on the latest legislative and regulatory activities impacting dermatology, with excellent national speakers, and is highlighted by a day on Capitol Hill with visits to our state’s Senate and House offices.
This year’s AAD Legislative Conference is scheduled for Sunday, September 8, through Tuesday, September 10. For more conference details, including registration and lodging information, visit the AAD website.
Come join your colleagues in the nation’s capital for an enlightening and enjoyable experience. Sign up today!
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NCMS L.E.A.D. Health Care Conference, Oct. 3-4
Save the date for the North Carolina Medical Society's 2nd Annual LEAD Health Care Conference, scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 3 and Friday, Oct. 4 at the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley Hotel in Raleigh, NC.
This unique event is designed to inspire and engage the health care community. Last year, the NCMS brought together over 30 compelling speakers and offered more 10 hours of CME on a wide range of issues — from battling burnout to monitoring the case for medical marijuana. Also a priority at the inaugural LEAD Conference? Providing plenty of opportunities for networking with colleagues and fun for the family.
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