In this edition:

• Endocrine Coding Seminar in Charlotte, N.C., Oct. 19-20
• UnitedHealthcare Announces Insulin Coverage Update
• CC-AACE Encourages Members of Congress to Make Diabetes a Priority
• Meet Your New CC-AACE Board Members
• 2016 CC-AACE Annual Meeting, September 9-11
• NC: Governor Signs Medicaid Reform Package
• NC: State Budget Funds Investment in Health Information Exchange, Takes Aim at Prescription Drug Abuse
• NC: Greenville Physician to Fill Vacancy in N.C. House
• NC: NCMS Annual Meeting, Oct. 23-24
• SC: SCMA President’s Challenge
• SC: Primary Care Symposium Will Include Updates in Diabetes, Dec. 1

Endocrine Coding Seminar in Charlotte, N.C., Oct. 19-20

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) invites you and your staff to attend an Endocrine Specific ICD-10 and Evaluation and Management Documentation Course, October 19-20, in Charlotte, N.C. The course is open to all endocrinologists and their staff, regardless of AACE membership status.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain the knowledge and resources necessary to assure proper reimbursements, comply with federal and commercial guidelines, and stay compliant with the various state, federal, and commercial regulations. The recent transition to ICD-10 has placed additional coding and documentation challenges on all providers. 

Visit the AACE website for complete program details and online registration.

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UnitedHealthcare Announces Insulin Coverage Update

Effective January 1, 2016, Humulin and Humalog insulin, manufactured by Lilly, will be the exclusive mealtime insulin available for the lowest brand copay for all UnitedHealthcare Medicare Part D plan members. Apidra, Novolin and Novolog mealtime insulin will no longer be covered on the formulary.

Please refer to the Preferred Insulin Update in UnitedHealthcare’s Network Bulletin (October 2015) for compete details.

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CC-AACE Encourages Members of Congress to Make Diabetes a Priority

The Carolinas Chapter of AACE has reached out to each member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina and North Carolina to encourage them to make diabetes a priority issue. The Chapter is partnering with AACE in the effort to reach every member of Congress. We are asking them to hold a hearing on diabetes and to consider H.R. 1192, the National Diabetes Clinical Care Commission Act.

You can help in this effort too by going to the Legislative Action Center on the AACE website. Follow the links to send your member of Congress a message. If we can help you connect with your representative, please let us know. Please also let us know if you get any feedback. Members’ support of this advocacy initiative is very much appreciated.

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Meet Your New CC-AACE Board Members

The 2015 CC-AACE Annual Meeting was held at the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville, N.C., on August 28-30. The meeting brought together 76 endocrine specialists from all parts of the Carolinas, from the coast to the mountains. This year’s meeting was the best attended in recent years. Attendees enjoyed 7.5 hours of educational programming, countless hours of collegiality and networking, and voted on nominees for two open positions on the CC-AACE Board of Directors. CC-AACE congratulates and welcomes to the Board Dr. Raymond Stadiem (Charlotte, N.C.) and Dr. Augustine Obi (Mooresville, N.C.)! We look forward to your support and participation!

CC-AACE extends its appreciation to our industry partners for helping to make our 2015 CC-AACE Annual Meeting successful. Thank you!

Gold Sponsors: Lilly Diabetes | Sanofi

Exhibitors: AACE | AbbVie Inc. | Animas | AstraZeneca | Boehringer Ingelheim USA | CBL Path | Corcept Therapeutics | Dexcom | Esaote | Genzyme | GlaxoSmithKline | Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. | Janssen | Kowa Pharmaceuticals America | LifeScan | Medtronic | Merck | North Carolina Medical Society | Novo Nordisk | Omnipod | Pfizer Endocrine Care | Saxenda | Shire | Takeda Pharmaceuticals | Tandem Diabetes Care | Tirosint (Akrimax) | Veracyte, Inc. | V-Go Disposable Insulin Delivery Device.

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2016 CC-AACE Annual Meeting, September 9-11

Save the date. The 2016 CC-AACE Annual Meeting will be held September 9-11 at the Sonesta Resort in Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Nestled along the coast with stunning 360º views and lush landscapes as far as the eye can see, the award-winning Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island is a premier destination for Hilton Head hotels on the beach. The Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island understands the fine art of balancing work and play. New features at the resort include a heated shade pool and hot tub, a zero-entry lagoon swimming pool (seasonal) and children’s area. The new full-service Arum Spa also offers guests the opportunity to experience a truly Lowcountry spa experience, featuring local products and scents such as jasmine and sea salt. The Sonesta's location within the Shipyard Plantation includes easy access to tennis, golf, beach, and bicycle rentals. 

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NC: Governor Signs Medicaid Reform Package

Governor Pat McCrory has signed into law a Medicaid reform plan that allows the state to contract with three statewide managed care companies and up to 10 regional “provider-led entities” (PLEs) comprised of health systems, hospitals and physicians. The new law provides a general framework for the future of the state’s Medicaid program, and physicians will work to help shape the specific details as the administrative rules and additional legislation evolve over the next few years.

This result follows several years of debate and effort by legislators and the health care community to address cost-unpredictability in Medicaid. The new plan is designed to give physicians who participate in the new PLEs greater flexibility to manage their patients’ health care delivery and costs. In place of the conventional fee-for-service model, Medicaid providers will receive up-front, per-patient payments and will be responsible for cost overruns.

“This reform brings innovation to our healthcare system and builds upon what has already proven to work in North Carolina,” said Gov. McCrory at the bill signing ceremony.

A State Plan Amendment must be approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) prior to implementation, and this process may take 6-18 months. Federal funds account for two-thirds of N.C. Medicaid’s annual spend.

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NC: State Budget Funds Investment in Health Information Exchange, Takes Aim at Prescription Drug Abuse

Nearly three months past due, the state’s biennial budget was finally signed into law by Governor McCrory on September 18. The budget sets spending for FY 2015-16 and FY 2016-17. The budget contains several health care provisions. Most notably, it includes $8 million in state funds – plus a federal match of $8 million – to establish a successor HIE Network and a state-controlled HIE Authority to administer and oversee the HIE Network.

Several provisions take aim at the growing problem of prescription drug abuse, including mandating a new CME requirement for providers who prescribe controlled substances, calling for improvements in the Controlled Substances Reporting System (CSRS), and establishing a new Prescription Drug Abuse Advisory Committee. It also includes funds to implement the state’s new Medicaid plan. For a complete breakdown of all health care related matters, check out the NCMS Summary of Key Issues in 2015-17 State Budget.

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NC: Greenville Physician to Fill Vacancy in N.C. House

Pitt County Republican Party has selected Dr. Gregory Murphy, a Greenville urologist, to replace Rep. Brian Brown in the N.C. House of Representatives. Dr. Murphy will be the only physician in either chamber when the General Assembly returns to Raleigh in April 2016. Dr. Murphy’s nomination is pending the Governor’s formal approval to the finish out the two-year term of office. Brown announced earlier this month his immediate resignation to work for U.S. Senator Thom Tillis.

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NC: NCMS Annual Meeting, Oct. 23-24

Registration is now open for the 2015 North Carolina Medical Society Annual Meeting. With a new and exciting format for broad physician appeal, this year's meeting theme, "Resilience in Challenging Times," hints at the program's focus on introducing physicians to basic approaches for developing greater fulfillment and resilience in practicing medicine. The meeting will be held October 23-24 at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro. Pop on over to the NCMS website for complete program details and secure online registration.

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SC: SCMA President’s Challenge

In an effort to support the SC Medical Association’s (SCMA) goals of promoting healthy lifestyles, SCMA President Dr. Marshall Meadors is challenging SCMA Members to join him in the Cooper River Bridge Run on April 2, 2016 in Charleston. All physicians who are interested can visit www.bridgerun.com to sign-up. Make sure to register with the SCMA group.

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SC: Primary Care Symposium Will Include Updates in Diabetes, Dec. 1

Share this information with your primary care colleagues! In its 15th year, the primary care symposium will focus on updates in diabetes, thoracic disease, back pain, mood disorders, new drug updates and congestive heart failure. The Symposium will be held December 1, beginning at 8:00 am, at the Country Club of Charleston. This activity is approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits^TM.

For more info, please visit the S.C. Medical Association website.

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