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Register today!
NCDA 2016 Summer Meeting
July 8-10 @ Williamsburg, VA
Earn up to 10.25 CMEs!
"Without a doubt, the NC Dermatology Meeting continues to be one of my (and my family’s) favorite dermatology meetings and CME events." - Dr. Chip Hoover (Concord)
Meeting Information
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NCDA Volunteers Provide Skin Cancer Screening at the Legislature
NCDA members from across the state volunteered their time and expertise to provide free skin cancer screenings during the 5th Annual NCDA Skin Screening Day @ the Legislature held on June 1. Five NCDA members screened 89 people as part of the six hour event. In addition to raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of suspicious moles and lesions, at least one potentially serious condition was identified and the individual was referred for an immediate examination.
The dermatologists performed full- or partial-body skin screens for legislators, their staff members and others visiting the Legislative Building. This popular and important event is part of the NCDA’s ongoing advocacy initiatives, and also is meant to raise awareness by sharing handouts and information on skin cancer, on how to find a dermatologist and teaching skin self-examinations.
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The NCDA extends its gratitude to the five volunteers who made this year’s event successful. Photo: (L-R) Dr. Rebekah Oyler (Raleigh), Dr. Russell Kilpatrick (Greenville), Dr. Richard Henderson (Burlington) and Dr. Charles Phillips (Greenville). Not pictured: Dr. Lisa Christman (Raleigh).
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Legislative Update: Certificate of Need, Budget and Step Therapy
The legislative calendar is filling up with a flurry of late-session committee hearings while House and Senate budget leaders hammer out differences between two versions of the state’s FY2016-17 budget update. Last week on June 14, legislation was introduced in the Senate Health Care Committee to end the state’s Certificate of Need program. The committee heard public comments both in favor and opposing the bill, but did not vote on the measure. On June 16, the legislature ratified a bill that allows the State Health Director to prescribe an opioid antagonist via a statewide standing order. That bill awaits Governor Pat McCrory's signature, which is expected early this week.
The Budget and CSRS – Legislators have their sights set on a target adjournment date of July 4. The budget is now in the hands of a conference committee that will hammer out a $118 million difference in DHHS spending between the two chambers’ versions of the FY2016-17 budget update. A Controlled Substances Reporting System (CSRS) mandate, which was included in the Senate’s proposed budget, is also on the table. Specifically, the Senate provision would require physicians to register with the CSRS and use the system, or face license suspension or revocation, when prescribing controlled substances.
Step Therapy – A coalition of physician and patient organizations, including the NCDA and the AAD, is organizing in support of new legislation related to step therapy (or “fail first”) pharmaceutical coverage policies. Step therapy was a concern raised in the 2015 session of the NC General Assembly and a study committee was convened in the 2015-2016 interim to investigate step therapy practice in North Carolina. At the committee’s February 24, 2016 hearing, physicians representing several medical specialties offered testimony expressing concerns over the challenges physicians face in treating patients due to step therapy denials from insurance companies. House Bill 1048, Reduce Barriers to Improve NC Health & Safety, sets standards for the development of step therapy protocols and requires transparency in the exceptions/override determinations process. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Insurance and may be brought up for consideration in the coming weeks. The bill also includes provisions for health benefit plans’ coverage of abuse-deterrent opioids.
Medicaid Reform – North Carolina submitted its Medicaid waiver application to CMS on June 1. Federal review of the state’s plan to capitate payment for services provided to NC’s Medicaid population through a network of statewide and regional Medicaid carriers could take up to two years. DHHS Secretary Richard Brajer presented an overview of the final application to the House Health Committee moments before the application was signed by Governor Pat McCrory and sent to CMS. Brajer told legislators his department had worked with over 50 stakeholder organizations, held 12 public hearings across the state and received comments from over 750 organizations and individuals in developing this final waiver application.
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NCDA Summer Meeting, July 8-10
The 2016 NCDA Summer Meeting program features 10.25 hours of CME content to help meet your continuing education needs. This year’s meeting will take place July 8-10 at the Williamsburg Lodge in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia.
We've lined up an outstanding faculty to address current topics of interest to the practicing dermatologist. You'll hear from Dr. Luis Garza of Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Ted Rosen of Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Abel Torres of Loma Linda University, and Dr. Semal Desai of the University of Texas, and other esteemed faculty.
10.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ & Superb Faculty!
- Program and online registration
- Accommodations: To secure your accommodations, call The Williamsburg Lodge at (800) 261-9530 or go to https://resweb.passkey.com/go/36387.
- CME Credit Statement: The Southern Regional AHEC designates this live activity for a maximum of 10.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. The North Carolina Dermatology Association Summer Meeting (Program #98103) is recognized by the American Academy of Dermatology for 10.25 AAD Recognized Credit(s) and may be used toward the American Academy of Dermatology’s Continuing Medical Education Award.
The program includes a Friday evening welcome reception, Saturday and Sunday continental breakfasts and breaks. On Saturday evening, “George Washington” will make a guest appearance followed by a fife-and-drum-escorted walk to a family-friendly dinner at Shield’s Tavern in the historic district. These engaging social events will provide an opportunity to renew friendships and meet new colleagues. The attire for the meeting and social functions is business casual.
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New Accountable Care Toolkit for Dermatologists Now Available
A new toolkit designed to provide dermatologists with a better understanding of how their specialty may fit into an accountable care organization (ACO) is now available. The Accountable Care Guide for Dermatologists was developed by the Toward Accountable Care Consortium (TAC) and Initiative, in partnership with the NCDA, to help smooth your transition from traditional fee-for-service to value-based care. Two NCDA Past Presidents, Dr. Craig Burkhart (Chapel Hill) and Dr. John Albertini (Greensboro), consulted on this important project.
The addition of the dermatology guide brings the total number of toolkits produced through the TAC Consortium and Initiative to 26, with several more specialty specific guides on the way in the coming weeks. The series also includes a legal guide, a bundled payment guide, and other non-specialty-specific resources.
The TAC Consortium and Initiative is a partnership of over 40 North Carolina medical societies and organizations joined together in a commitment to helping the medical community face the challenges of a changing health care environment. For more information, visit the TAC Consortium and Initiative website.
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2016 AADA Legislative Conference, Sept. 11-13
Dermatologists and patient advocates from across the country will join together in Washington, D.C., for the 2016 American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA) Legislative Conference and present a united voice to Congress about dermatology’s most pressing issues. The Conference will take place on Sept. 11-13, in the heart of Washington, D.C. at the Willard InterContinental Hotel and offers participants a unique opportunity to receive advocacy training sessions taught by health policy experts, discuss dermatology issues with colleagues, and spend a day meeting with US Senators, Representatives, and their staffs. Please watch the video below to learn more about the Legislative Conference. Please see the AAD website for more information.
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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. Applications for both of these exciting programs are due July 15, 2016.
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 curriculum of the Health Care Leadership & Management Program is designed with greater emphasis on deeper leadership development and skills that include strategic planning, negotiation and financial literacy and application.
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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M3 Is the Place to Be This September
Where are you going to be on Sept. 15-18? The historic M3 Conference in Greensboro is the place to be for physicians and practice managers this fall. This landmark conference will bring physicians and practice managers together for three days of education, networking and inspiration with colleagues from across the state. All the information and registration materials are now available on the M3 Conference website.
Visit often as we continue to add new sessions. Don’t miss this opportunity to merge medicine and management in North Carolina.
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e-Notification of New NCMJ Issues
As a North Carolina health care provider, you might find the North Carolina Medical Journal (NCMJ) to be of interest. A journal of health policy analysis and debate, the NCMJ covers a range of medical and public health topics. For example, 2015 topics included rural health, traumatic brain injury, patient and family engagement, evidence-based practice, and military health.
If you would like to be notified when new issues are available online, sign up at http://www.ncmedicaljournal.com/cgi/alerts/etoc. Your email address will only be used for new issue alerts.
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July 1 Deadline for Meaningful Use Hardship Exemption Applications
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has extended the deadline for physicians seeking to apply for the “blanket” hardship exemption from 2015 Meaningful Use requirements to July 1, 2016. All eligible professionals applying for this exemption must complete an application by the July 1 deadline. For instructions and the application, visit the CMS Payment Adjustments & Hardship Information webpage.
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