Sponsor Message:
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WCMS Physician Directories - Blue Books Are In!!
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Blue Cross & Mission Health Resume Talks
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Just over a month after Mission Health's contract with Blue Cross expired, the two organizations have gone back to the negotiating table. A Blue Cross spokesman confirmed by email that talks are underway, saying, "Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and Mission Health have entered into discussions regarding a future network participation agreement and will refrain from public comment until those talks are completed."
Mission Health's contract with Blue Cross Blue Shield expired at the beginning of October. Since then non-emergency visits to Mission Health facilities have become ' out of network' for people insured by Blue Cross and Blue Shield. The company is the only insurer on the Affordable Care Act health care exchange in Western North Carolina. Mission Health is the largest healthcare provider in the region. Read more
here.
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N.C. managed care organizations announce coalition
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Leaders of three North Carolina managed care organizations (MCOs) announced a new partnership to leverage strengths and expertise in response to Medicaid reform. The coalition will unite the efforts of three high-performing MCOs-Alliance Behavioral Healthcare, Trillium Health Resources, and Vaya Health-to address significant, statewide health policy issues that impact North Carolinians across the state. The coalition is in full alignment with the Medicaid Reform plan proposed by the NC Department of Health and Human Services.
The joint effort is not a merger or mandated consolidation. Each of the MCOs will continue to operate in their respective counties, keeping their names, board structure and staffing, in addition to working together as part of the coalition to leverage resources, experience and expertise on a statewide level. MCO leaders identify the collaboration as the most effective way to demonstrate to NC DHHS, the General Assembly and potential commercial healthcare partners that MCOs can successfully implement Medicaid Transformation in a way that advances high-quality care, improves population health, engages and supports providers and establishes a sustainable program with predictable costs (a four-prong approach known as the Quadruple Aim). Read more
here.
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National Patient Advocate Foundation Invites Asheville to Share "What Matters to You?" Hosted by MAHEC
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On December 7, the National Patient Advocate Foundation (NPAF) and the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) will host the first of two national skilled communications workshops to support shared decision making in healthcare.
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Help Available As New Medicare Cards Are Issued
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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will begin mailing new Medicare cards to Medicare beneficiaries beginning in April 2018. The new cards will no longer have the individual's social security number as the identifier, but instead will have a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI). CMS is planning a major outreach effort to educate beneficiaries about the change.
Get the details.
Last week, CMS announced a special provider Ombudsman to serve as a resource for you as the new Medicare card is rolled out. According to CMS, the Ombudsman will ensure that CMS hears and understands any implementation problems experienced by clinicians, hospitals, suppliers and other providers and to develop solutions to any implementation problems. Dr. Eugene Freund will be serving in this position. Reach the Ombudsman at
NMCProviderQuestions@cms.hhs.gov. Read more
here.
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Enrollment in Federal Health Insurance Marketplace Opens Nov. 1 and Ends Dec. 15
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MACRA Final Rule: 9 Takeaways for Practices
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CMS released its
final rule
for the 2018 performance year of its Quality Payment Program under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) earlier last week.
The rule, which affects physicians' payment in 2020, is guidance on the second year of the program. After a generally easier "Pick your Pace" first year of MACRA's Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) in 2017, the second year ups the stakes for eligible physicians. No longer can physicians simply submit one Quality or Improvement Activity measure, or minimum Advancing Care Information (ACI) requirements and call it a day. They must submit enough measures to get 15 total points out of 100 to meet minimum requirements. Read more
here.
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| Annual Emeritus Holiday Luncheon |
Invites have been mailed for the annual Emeritus Holiday Luncheon. If you plan on paying at the door please email, richard@mywcms.org, or call Member Services Coordinator Richard Simpson at (828)274-2267 ext: 1313.
When: 12/6 12-2pm
Where: Asheville Country Club Windsor Room at 170 Windsor Rd, Asheville, NC 28804
We look forward to seeing you there! |
| Women In Medicine Holiday Social |
Registration is open for the annual Women In Medicine Holiday Social. This event is free. Registration is only needed for head count for food and drink.
When: 12/7 6-8pm
Where: The Social Lounge, 29 Broadway St. Asheville, NC 28801.
Register here! |
Medscape Malpractice Report 2017
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Healthy Healer - Taking Care of the Physician
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If I am your doctor, or your child's doctor, is there any reason you should worry about how I'm feeling? About what kind of shape I'm in, physical or emotional?
Maybe you should. A growing body of research shows that physician burnout and depression are linked to medical errors and to the kind of depersonalized care that is often both less effective and less palatable.
"It has been shown in some studies that if the physician is exercising, if the physician is taking care of themself, eating well, sleeping better, they have patients who have better clinical outcomes," said Dr. Hilary McClafferty, a pediatrician who is an associate professor in the department of medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson. But the problem may be less the individual doctor's health habits, and more the medical system that is hurting us all. Read more
here.
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PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT CORNER
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Help Your Patients Prepare for a Healthy Holiday
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As health professionals on the front lines of care, PAs are in a unique position to counsel patients about the importance of reaching and maintaining a healthy weight. And what better time to have these conversations than during the holiday season, when an abundance of feasts and festivities tempt us to abandon our healthy lifestyle habits?
Although
NIH research has shown that the average holiday weight gain isn't as much as most people think-it's less than a pound between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day-even a pound a year can begin to add up over time, making it harder to lose the extra weight.
If your patients express concern about their weight or maintaining healthy habits during the holidays, try making some of the following suggestions: Read more
here.
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WCMS Job Board
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If you are a 100% Member Practice, posting job openings here is FREE!
Click here
for more information.
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WCMS is a thriving 650+ member professional association of the physicians of Western North Carolina, and a chartered component medical society of the NC Medical Society and the AMA. WCMS is an organization run by physicians, for physicians. In 2017, WCMS opened membership to physician assistants.
Our Mission
WCMS Association: WCMSA is the physicians' voice advocating for the health of the physician, the patient, and the community, through strengthening the physician-patient relationship.
WCMS Foundation: WCMSF is the physician and community-led charitable arm of the medical society improving access to quality healthcare, decreasing disparities in health, and promoting health & wellness.
Our Vision
To be a dynamic physician community dedicated to a healthy, vibrant Western North Carolina.
About WCMS
The purpose of WCMS is:
- To strengthen the voice of WNC physicians in advocating for the health of the medical profession, the health of the patient, and the health of our region
- To inform, educate and prepare physicians for rapidly occurring changes in health care at national, state, and local levels
- To share legislative and policy information and advocate on behalf of physicians in areas of mutual interest
- To share available resources in areas of mutual interest
- To promote physician-to-physician communication and dialogue in an open, honest and safe environment
We hope you enjoy our weekly e-Newsletter. If you have questions or suggestions please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
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| Miriam Schwarz |
Miriam Schwarz, MPA
WCMS CEO/Executive Director
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