Engage your patients in the CON reform effort: http://restorehealthcarefreedom.com
April 27, 2016 | view this message as a webpage
North Carolina Orthopaedic Association (NCOA)
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In this edition:

Taking on Goliath: CON Reform Push Continues.

The NCOA and our coalition partners are gaining ground on achieving Certificate of Need (CON) reform despite the challenges of being out-numbered and out-spent. Over the past four years we’ve challenged those who are dead-set on maintaining their market advantage. It has not been an easy road, but we have secured the strong support of the Senate leadership, and are now working with a group of influential legislators in the House to map a route for CON reform passage in that chamber. You’ve helped bring us this far. Are you with us for the long haul?

Our coalition is expanding outside of the legislative building as well. The NCOA is now working in partnership with two statewide advocacy groups who have committed to advancing this issue. Our number one goal this session is to expand support for CON reform in the House, especially among the Republican Caucus leadership. A new grassroots campaign to engage the public in support of CON reform will help to raise awareness of the hefty price tag of CON and its impact on the state’s strained budget, and it will put new pressure on House leaders to address the issue.

We are also looking for stories of patients who have been adversely affected by the current CON. Please email your specific examples to ncoa@ncmedsoc.org.

Share this link with your patients:

The NC General Assembly kicked off the 2016 legislative session this week amid a lot of uncertainty about what it might accomplish and when it will adjourn. Our lobbying team expects the legislature to make quick work of this “short session” by dealing with a small portion of HB2 (the “bathroom bill”) and the budget and adjourning sometime around the July 4 holiday.

This opens a new window of opportunity to drive our message home. Can we count on your continued support this year to move the ball even further down the field? We have several opportunities for you to increase your engagement during a time when your help is needed most.

  1. Support NCOA PAC. We can make a lot of friends, and neutralize a few enemies along the way, with a smart PAC strategy. Every contribution gets us closer to achieving our advocacy goals.
  2. Make your voice heard by attending an Orthopaedic White Coat Wednesday @ the Legislature on May 18 or May 25. Meetings with legislators are the most effective way to communicate your legislative priorities. Sign up today so that we can present a strong and unified voice on the issues that matter most to orthopaedic surgeons.
  3. Meet locally with your legislators. We’re here to help with that. Please contact Denna Suko, dsuko@ncmedsoc.org or 919-833-3836, for assistance organizing local meetings.
  4. Drive your patients to the website http://restorehealthcarefreedom.com to sign the petition in support of CON reform. 

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NC DHHS Wraps Up Listening Tour on Medicaid Reform

The details of the state’s draft Section 1115 Waiver Application was presented to a legislative oversight committee on March 1 and a subsequent statewide listening tour provided opportunities for public comment. Many physicians participated in the hearings, expressing their concerns with the state’s implementation plan. The NCMS has summarized the waiver application and offers these talking points on the topics of concern to the physician community. The waiver application is due to CMS on June 1.

For additional coverage, see: “Legislative Round-Up: Short Session Begins Monday” (NCMS Bulletin, April 20, 2016)

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Legislative Study Committee Proposes Step Therapy Legislation

An NC House study committee investigating step therapy (“fail first”) pharmaceutical coverage policies adopted a report last week which includes a bill for consideration in this year’s legislative session. The report recommends that step therapy protocols be amended to ensure proper administration and consistency with clinical practice guidelines and also recommends removing barriers to abuse-deterrent opioids. The NC General Assembly reconvened on Monday, April 25.

The report also takes aim at the growing opioid abuse epidemic by recommending that patients be granted access to opioids formulated with new abuse-deterrent technologies. The study committee report concludes that access to these products should be increased, consistent with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s labeling of such as a national priority. In related news, the NC Medical Board recently announced a new program to monitor opioid prescribing in the state.

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Emily Berend Adult Reconstructive Symposium, April 29-30

The Duke Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and the Adult Reconstruction Section has extended an invitation to North Carolina Orthopaedic Association (NCOA) members to attend the 8th Annual Emily Berend Adult Reconstructive Symposium. The event is scheduled for April 29-30 at Duke University Medical Center.

This comprehensive hip and knee course, presented by the Adult Reconstruction Division within the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Duke, is intended for:

  • Orthopaedic surgeons
  • Orthopaedic surgeons-in-training
  • Medical professionals seeking specialized education in current hip- and knee-replacement techniques, patient management, and patient-outcome optimization

This year, Robert T. Trousdale, MD, Professor of Orthopaedics at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, will be the Visiting Professor. Other guest faculty will include:

  • Stefano Bini, MD | Professor of Clinical Orthopaedics at UC-San Francisco
  • William B. Macaulay, Jr., MD | Nas S. Eftekhar Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Columbia University Medical Center, New York-Presbyterian
  • Denis Nam, MD, MSc | Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Washington University Orthopaedics Center for Advanced Medicine (CAM), Barnes Jewish Hospital

Find additional details and online registration here: website

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Contemporary Approaches to Adult Hip and Knee Reconstruction, May 20

Contemporary Approaches to Adult Hip and Knee Reconstruction is a dynamic, highly-interactive round-table program designed to deliver relevant and timely updates to orthopaedic surgeons in an intimate format. Networking opportunities and ample discussion time make this program a not-to-be-missed event!

This CME course will be held on May 20, 2016, from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, at OrthoCarolina Hip and Knee Center in Charlotte, NC.

The Deadline to Register is May 6
Registration is limited to 35 orthopaedic surgeons per site, on a first-come/first-served basis. Waitlists will be available. NO ONSITE/WALK-IN REGISTRATION WILL BE OFFERED.

CME ACCREDITATION
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Hip Society. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons designates this live activity for a maximum of 5.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

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Quality Improvement Workshop Prevention & Wellness, May 11

The North Carolina Medical Society Foundation, in cooperation with the National Rural Accountable Care Consortium and CHESS, invites you to join us to kick off the Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative and learn about services you can provide to your patients to promote health and wellness. By providing these services, you will improve community health, increase practice revenue and improve quality scores. At the end of the workshop you will have an individual work plan to incorporate these services into your primary care practice.

This is part of the Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative (TCPI). The workshop is open to Practice Managers, Care Coordinators, Physicians & Nurses (must be enrolled in TCPI by May 6, 2016).

For more information and registration, contact Dana Lucas, ncmsfoundation@ncmedsoc.org, 919-833-3836.

The registration deadline is May 6.

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Showcase Your Work at the NCOA 2016 Annual Meeting

The NCOA invites scientific paper and abstract submission from members interested in presenting at the NCOA 2016 Annual Meeting, scheduled for October 7-9, at the historic Pinehurst Resort.  The meeting expects to draw 80-100 physicians, their families and many vendors for a weekend of educational sessions, social and networking opportunities, a lively exhibit hall and recreational time.  Start planning now!

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5th Annual Extremity Summit, June 3-4

The Wake Forest University of Medicine, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Conference Chair L. Andrew Koman, MD extend an invitation to all North Carolina orthopaedic surgeons to participate in the 5th Annual Extremity Summit on June 3-4, 2016 at the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulfur Springs, WV. The meeting kicks off on Friday, June 3 with a Residents and Fellows Meeting followed by an Opening Reception and continues on Saturday, June 4 with expert updates and specialty workshops on hand and foot/ankle.

For more information:

7.5 CME Credit Hours!
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Southern Orthopaedic Association. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons designates this live activity for a maximum of 7.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

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Registration Open for Kanof Institute for Physician Leadership Fall Programs

The North Carolina Medical Society Foundation and the Kanof Institute of Physicians Leadership (KIPL) invite you to register for one of two programs beginning this fall; Leadership College and the new Health Care Leadership & Management program.

KIPL started in 2002 with Leadership College, based on the initiative of Dr. Elizabeth Kanof and Dr. Mike Brennan and their vision of the need and importance for physicians leadership. With physicians leadership being more important than ever, additional programs addressing important needs such as clinical quality and business skills have since then been added, and today KIPL has graduated more than 250 physicians and PA-C’s, many of whom continue to be involved with the Medical Society and also many who since have accelerated further in their individual careers!

Registration for Leadership College 2017 and Health Care Leadership & Management 2017 are now open. The two programs are quite different, although some similarities include small group-formats as well as being year-long and project-based. However, while the Leadership College Program focuses on leadership fundamentals to enhance physicians’ and PA-Cs’ core aptitudes to excel as leaders within organized medicine, hospitals, health care systems, medical staffs, group practices, as well as in the public policy arena, the focus of Health Care Leadership & Management is to provide a critical framework for physician leaders based on economics, finance as well as leadership development.

Both programs thus provide skill-building in the critical areas of leadership and management and further equips graduates to enhance their effectiveness to become more influential and effective as individual leaders. While Leadership College emphasizes advocacy, Health Care Leadership & Management emphasizes business skills.

To learn more about the programs, please go to http://www.ncmedsoc.org/about-ncms/partner-organizations/ncms-foundation/leadership-development/

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Physicians Foundation Invites Participation in National Survey

Let Your Voice Be Heard! The Physicians Foundation is a non-profit physician advocacy organization committed to giving you and your colleagues a voice. This is the Physicians Foundation's fourth national survey of physicians – the one you have read about in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today and many other publications.

The Physicians Foundation is seeking your participation. The greater the response, the greater the impact on policy makers and the public! The survey may be taken anonymously, or you may include your email address to enter a drawing for a $5,000 Amazon gift card or one of five $500 Amazon gift cards.

Click here to participate.

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