In this edition:

• ALERT: Provider Re-credentialing/Re-verification to be Reinstated by NCTracks
• Physicians Urge NCMS to Engage on CON Reform Effort
• Medicaid Reform Work Begins in Earnest
• New Leadership Elected at 2015 NC Spine Society Annual Meeting
• Greenville Physician Fills Vacancy in N.C. House
• New NCMS Governance System Makes Board Accountable to YOU
• 2016 NC Spine Society Annual Meeting, Aug. 12-13

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 in-box or e-mail, when it is time to re-verify.

NCDHHS has asked the North Carolina Spine Society 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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Physicians Urge NCMS to Engage on CON Reform Effort

Physicians representing multiple specialties called on the North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) to help advance Certificate of Need (CON) reform in the 2016 legislative session during the recent NCMS Annual Meeting. The NCMS Legislative Summit drew an audience of more than 50 on Saturday, October 24, in Greensboro. The NCMS invited comments and suggestions at the Summit to help shape the NCMS's legislative strategy for 2016. The NCMS Legislative Cabinet will consider its 2016 legislative agenda when it meets in January. The legislature will return to session on April 25, 2016. Physicians can submit comments to the NCMS Board of Directors via this feedback form.

Dr. Matthew Olin (Greensboro), an orthopaedic surgeon and president of the NC Orthopaedic Association, appealed to the NCMS’s goal of promoting the “triple aim” of better quality, lower costs and greater satisfaction saying, “Many of the changes that we’re experiencing in health care delivery and reimbursement today are being prompted by the move to value. Our new challenge is to provide the best health care in the most cost-effective way while simultaneously elevating patient satisfaction. Expansion of ASCs in North Carolina is absolutely necessary to ensure that our patients get their money's worth.”

Dr. Darrell Hester (Wilmington), an ophthalmologist, expressed frustration about CON’s impact on his practice. He noted in particular the "procedure room loophole," which allows hospitals to perform most types of surgeries in procedure rooms without the burdensome requirement of obtaining an additional CON. Dr. David Cook (Winston-Salem) added the urologists’ support for CON reform and urged unified support on this important issue.

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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 Leadership Elected at 2015 NC Spine Society Annual Meeting

Twenty-six spine surgeons convened in Pinehurst for the 2015 NC Spine Society Annual Meeting in August. Attendees took part in 7 hours of CME programming, enjoyed social and recreational activities, and elected officers for the 2015-2016 year.

• President: Gurvinder S. Deol, MD (Raleigh)
• President-Elect: Samuel J. Chewning, Jr., MD, MBA (Concord)
• Vice President: Deb A. Bhowmick, MD (Chapel Hill)
• Secretary-Treasurer: Oren N. Gottfried, MD (Durham)

Several attendees took to the course for the NC Spine Society Golf Tournament, which was played on Pinehurst #8. Dr. Jon-David Hoppenfeld (Charlotte), and David Binkney, Jason Gentry and Casey Kerley, all with Boston Scientific, took home bragging rights as the winning foursome. Closest to Pin #8 was Trey Schott, with Medtronic. Closest to Pin #15 was Edie Murphy.

Several meeting attendees walked away with some sweet Exhibit Hall Prizes. The grand prize, a 2 night stay with breakfast and golf for 2 at Pinehurst, went to Dr. Michaux Kilpatrick (High Point). A complimentary 2016 NC Spine Society Annual Meeting registration was won by Dr. Scott McCloskey (Hickory). UNC medical student Adrianne Soo won a $100 Amazon gift card. Paul Bragg, Jr. (Fayetteville) won a book about Pinehurst.

The NCSS extends its appreciation to our industry
partners for their meeting support.

Gold Level Exhibitor:
Stryker Spine / Crosslink Life Sciences

Exhibitors:  Alevio | Baxter Healthcare | Boston Scientific | Brainlab | Centinel Spine | Cutting Edge Spine (CES) | DePuy Synthes | DFINE | DJO Global | ECM Partners | Globus Medical | LDR Spine | MagMutual Insurance | Mazor Robotics | Medtronic | Medtronic Advanced Energy | NuVasive | Pacira Pharmaceuticals | Pain Society of the Carolinas | Pfizer | Si-bone | Surgical Alternatives.

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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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2016 NC Spine Society Annual Meeting, Aug. 12-13

Save the date! The 2016 NC Spine Society Annual Meeting will be held August 12-13 at the Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary.

To secure your hotel accommodations, please call (866) 877-4141 or (919) 447-4000 and reference the NC Spine Society.

The luxurious Umstead Hotel and Spa holds the prestigious AAA Five Diamond Award. The Umstead is situated on twelve wooded acres, just minutes from Raleigh, Durham and Research Triangle Park. The landscape indoors is just as breathtaking as outdoors. The Umstead Hotel and Spa's private art collection was carefully curated, and features the works of renowned local and national artists, including famed glass artist Dale Chihuly. A dedicated art gallery which changes seasonally allows The Umstead to rotate new artists' work into the hotel to complement the permanent collection. The pieces featured in the collection are modern and minimalist, adding to the contemporary, clean design of the hotel.

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