November 16, 2015 |  view this message as a web page 

In this edition:

ALERT: Provider Recredentialing/Reverification to be Reinstated by NCTracks

Every Medicaid provider must be recredentialed. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has announced that all Medicaid providers will be notified, either by letter or via their NCTracks secure portal in-box or e-mail, when it is time to reverify.

NCDHHS has asked the North Carolina Society of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery and other health care associations to help ensure that all Medicaid providers are aware of this announcement. Additional information is available on the NCTracks website.

All Medicaid providers are required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to be revalidated (recredentialed) every five years. The requirement was suspended in North Carolina in 2013 due to a backlog of applications. The process is now being reinstated, and NCDHHS wants all providers to be prepared to complete the recredentialing process within the 45 days allotted from receipt of your recredentialing letter or notification.

Payment will be suspended if you fail to complete the process prior to your recredentialing due date. Providers risk termination of their enrollment in the N.C. Medicaid and Health Choice Programs if they fail to complete the recredentialing process.

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Abstract Submissions Invited for the 2016 NC/SC Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery Assembly

To be considered for inclusion in the 2016 scientific program, please complete and return this form along with a brief abstract of your presentation, or e-mail your abstract with educational objective and full contact information (preferred) to nlowe@ncmedsoc.org. The meeting will be held July 29-31, 2016 at the Belmond Charleston Place in Charleston, S.C.  Abstracts are due by December 15, 2015.

Experience the splendor and renowned service of the Belmond Charleston Place, a newly renovated historic hotel in the heart of Charleston. 2016 NC&SC SOHNS Annual Meeting attendees will receive a special discounted rateof just $276 plus taxes.

For room reservations, call (800) 831-3490.

For more information, contact the NCSOHNS at (919) 833-3836 or nlowe@ncmedsoc.org.

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Medicaid Reform Work Begins in Earnest

With three years of work already behind us, this year’s passage of a Medicaid reform plan by the NC General Assembly marks just a mid-point in the effort to address cost-unpredictability of Medicaid in the state budget. Implementation could take up to three years or more, with enrollment beginning as early as January 2018. This sets into motion the even more challenging task of implementing the new design, which 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/or physicians. Our number one priority through this process will be to ensure that physicians and patient care are not adversely affected by new policies and regulations.

Transition to the new NC Medicaid has begun in earnest and the first major deadline is quickly approaching. The first of many steps is approval by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) of a State Plan Amendment. Rick Brajer, Secretary of the NC Department of Health and Human Services, is required to report to the NC General Assembly on this issue in March 2016. The federal approval process may take anywhere between six to 18 months.

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Greenville Physician Fills Vacancy in N.C. House

Following the Pitt County Republican Party's nomination of Dr. Gregory Murphy, a Greenville urologist, to replace Rep. Brian Brown in the N.C. House of Representatives, the Governor officially appointed Dr. Murphy on October 19 to finish out the two-year term of office.  Dr. Murphy will be the only physician in either chamber when the General Assembly returns to Raleigh in April 2016. Brown announced earlier this month his immediate resignation to work for U.S. Senator Thom Tillis.

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New NCMS Governance System Makes Board Accountable to YOU

Reprinted with permission from the North Carolina Medical Society

The newly updated North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) constitution and bylaws, reflecting the House of Delegates recent decisions to make the NCMS Board of Directors directly accountable to the Society’s membership, has been posted on our website for easy reference.

In keeping with this change in governance, following is the schedule of upcoming Board meetings, which will now be held throughout the state to make NCMS leadership meetings more accessible to the membership wherever they practice. Watch the NCMS Bulletin for details on each meeting as the date approaches.

  • Jan. 8-9, 2016 in Raleigh
  • March 18-19, 2016 in Wilmington
  • May 13-14, 2016 in Cary
  • July 15-16, 2016 in Charlotte
  • Sept. 15-18, 2016, NCMS Annual Meeting/M3 Conference in Greensboro
  • Dec. 3, 2016 in Raleigh (tentative)

If you have an issue you’d like to bring to a Board member’s attention in the meantime, please go to the NCMS website to contact the NCMS Board.

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Free Webinar: Managing Social Media in a Busy Healthcare Practice, Nov. 18

Managing Social Media in a Busy Healthcare Practice

featuring
Janet M. Kennedy

November 18, 2015 ~ 12:00 pm to 1:00pm
Register at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1166345812372384513

North Carolina Medical Society Foundation, in cooperation with the North Carolina Medical Group Managers, invites you to join us to discuss social media in health care. Committing to a presence in social media is not as simple as setting up a Facebook page. Many health care practices are worried that it will be difficult to maintain an active and effective presence in social media. In this webinar, presenter Janet Kennedy will share practical tips and suggestions for developing, scheduling, tracking and managing your social media sites.

*Time will be reserved for questions and answers within the last fifteen minutes of the presentation.

November 18, 2015 ~ 12:00 pm to 1:00pm
Register at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1166345812372384513

 

Janet M. Kennedy, is the host of the "Get Social Health" podcast, sharing best practice stories and interviews about social media in healthcare. She has interviewed medical futurists, healthcare practitioners actively using social media as well as ePatients, digital health advocates and entrepreneurs. Janet has produced and presented webinars on healthcare social media for numerous organizations.

This webinar is free but you must be registered to attend. Space is limited so register early! 

After you register, you will receive an emailed confirmation with webinar and phone-in instructions. 

Continuing education credit may be granted through your professional organization (MGMA, PAHCOM, AHIMA, etc.). Please self submit for these organizations.

North Carolina Medical Society Foundation | PO Box 27167, Raleigh, NC 27611 | www.ncmsfoundation.org

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