Medicaid re-credentialing is not optional.

PO Box 27167
Raleigh, NC 27611
Phn: (919) 833-3836
Fax: (919) 833-2023
ncneuro@ncmedsoc.org

November 18, 2015  |  2016 NCNS Annual Meeting Info  |   view this message as a web page 

In this edition:

ALERT: Provider Re-credentialing/Re-verification to be Reinstated by NCTracks

Every Medicaid provider must be re-credentialed. 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 inbox or email, when it is time to re-verify.

NCDHHS has asked the North Carolina Neurological Society (NCNS) 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 re-validated (re-credentialed) 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 re-credentialing process within the 45 days allotted from receipt of your re-credentialing letter or notification.

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

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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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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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Rock the MOC! Review Course for Neurologists, Nov. 20-22

North Carolina Neurologists are invited to a special Maintenance of Certificate (MOC) review course designed specifically for neurologists and presented by the Medical University of South Carolina. The course will be held November 20-22 in Charleston, S.C.

Dear North Carolina Neurologist Colleagues,

We would like to share with you special notice of our Maintenance of Certification (MOC) review course, dubbed Rock the MOC! by our department chair, Dr. Bruce Ovbiagele. Our course is designed to provide a review of clinical neurology as preparation for the MOC. It is case-based and clinically focused, featuring faculty of the Department of Neurology who will speak on their areas of expertise. The course provides 20 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 CME Credit(s)TM.

The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology has reviewed our curriculum, and they have designated the course as "an approved product" on their website. In addition, the ABPN has approved the self-assessment (SA) feature, which provides an additional 8 hours of CME credit.

The registration brochure describes the curriculum and speakers in greater detail. You may register for the course in either of two ways:

1) Register Online. Select the blue "Register" button on the middle of the page.

2) Download the Registration Brochure and send your completed registration form with check payable to "Medical University of South Carolina Foundation" to:

Caroline Diez
Department of Neurology
96 Jonathan Lucas Street
Suite 301 CSB, MSC 606
Charleston, SC, 29425.

If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to the course coordinator, Caroline Diez at diezc@musc.edu or via telephone (843) 876-5053. We look forward to greeting you at the Bioengineering Building, MUSC campus in Charleston on November 20!

Sincerely,
Paul B. Pritchard, III, M.D.
Course Director, Rock the MOC!
Professor, Department of Neurology
Medical University of South Carolina
96 Jonathan Lucas Street, Suite 307
Charleston, SC 29425

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Updates in Clinical Neuroimmunology, Nov. 21

In the last decade, there have been major advances in the field of neuroimmunology. Physicians are suspecting immune mediated disorders more frequently and new algorithms for management of these treatable conditions are being formulated. Diagnosis is becoming easier with the discovery of antibodies that correspond to specific syndromes. Given the rapid advances in neuroimmunology, Updates in Clinical Neuroimmunology, a one-day course presented by UNC Department of Neurology and MAHEC, brings together world renowned experts eager share the latest information, advances, and best practices geared to assist the general neurologist and other providers on how to recognize, diagnose and manage immune mediated neurological disorders. For complete program and registration information, download the Registration Brochure.

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2016 AAN Neurology on the Hill, Feb. 29 to March 1 / Application Deadline Dec. 5

Open to all AAN Members and neurology residents in PGY-2 or higher, the 2016 AAN Neurology on the Hill will take place February 29 to March 1, 2016, in Washington, D.C. Participants will be updated on the status of policy issues impacting neurology practice, network with colleagues from around the country, and attend meetings with legislators and their staff. The application deadline is December 2, 2015. Learn more on the AAN website

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Registration is Now Open for the 2016 NCNS Annual Meeting
Great Value Close to Home
February 19-21  |  The Grandover Resort 


Dr. Wong is Assistant Professor of Neurology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Recognized for its quality, convenience and value, the NCNS Annual Meeting attracts neurologists from across the state and region. The meeting kicks off on Friday evening with a Welcome Reception followed by a special dinner presentation by Matthew Wong, MD. Dr. Wong, a leading expert on the efficacy and safety of cannabidiol in children and adults, will share the latest information pertaining to Medical Marijuana.

Participants will receive a full day of educational content on Saturday, beginning with concurrent tracks focusing on Pediatric Neurology and Adult Neurology. Continental breakfast is included on Saturday and Sunday, and lunch is provided on Saturday.

As always, neurology residents and fellows-in-training are encouraged to participate; we are offering a free Resident Lunch Forum addressing what physicians need to know in their job search, and the popular Resident Poster Competition will showcase the newest research and clinical vignettes from neurology residents in training.

The Southern Regional AHEC designates this live activity for a maximum of 10.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Session topics to include:

Dementia
Adult and Pediatric Epilepsy
Stroke in Young Adults
Whole Exome Sequencing
Minimally Invasive Laser Ablation
Brain MRI in the First Year of Life
Multiple Sclerosis
Spine Pathophysiology
Non-sports Related TBI
Somatoform Disorders
ALS
Resident Posters 
And more!

Register before January 20 and save!

Earn an additional hour of CME credit! An optional reception and CME program presented by Rockpointe will take place on Saturday following the NCNS session. Register for “Addressing Challenging Cases in the Management of DMD Therapy for MS” at www.Rockpointe.com/CMEMS or call (443) 909-7907.

Secure your accommodations by January 22.

For room reservations, call the Grandover Resort at (800) 472-6301 or (336) 294-1800, and mention NC Neurological Society to receive the special group rate of $172 per night.

Where luxury meets location, the Grandover Resort & Conference Center is an attractive and convenient meeting destination for busy North Carolina neurologists. Meeting participants can break from their CME sessions to enjoy the resort’s many amenities, which include golf, the spa, indoor and outdoor swimming, tennis, and fine dining. The Grandover Resort offers convenient access off of I-85 and complimentary parking.

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