Sponsor Message:
|
 |
|
|
| WCMS' Annual Celebration This Sunday! |
The Annual Celebration is an opportunity for our members, practice managers, sponsors, and WCMS staff to come together and celebrate the successes of 2017 and the vision for 2018. This year's event will have an Italian Carnival ("Carnevale") theme and will feature delicious food from the Colorful Palate. The event is family friendly, so bring your significant other and kiddos! We'll have games set up for everyone to enjoy. Please register so we have an accurate head count.
When:
January 28, 2018 5-7pm
Where:
Highland Brewing Co. (12 Old Charlotte Hwy)
|
Erlanger agrees to take over Murphy Medical Center
|
Chattanooga's biggest hospital network plans to acquire its first hospital outside of Tennessee as it continues expanding its footprint across the Mid-South region and nearly double its patient revenues in just over five years. Read more
here.
|
Cherokee sues opioid companies
|
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has filed a federal lawsuit seeking damages from 23 companies that manufacture or distribute opioid drugs. Listing a total of seven counts, the suit alleges violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act as well as negligence, conspiracy, fraud and creation of a public nuisance. Read more here.
|
Western Carolina Medical Society supports SNAP Advocacy effort
|
WCMS is proud to advocate in collaboration with the Asheville Buncombe Food Policy Council, along with other local food councils across North Carolina, to sponsor a campaign to protect the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other nutrition programs from cuts or major restructuring. Read more here.
|
FREE technical assistance from MAHEC to help doctors with QPP/MIPS
|
Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) is offering FREE technical assistance to help practices in Western North Carolina understand and enroll in the Quality Payment Program (QPP). You may earn a positive Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) payment adjustment for 2019 if you submit 2017 data by March 31, 2018. MIPS-eligible clinicians opting not to participate will receive a 4% reduction in Medicare reimbursement in 2019. Read more here.
|
|
WCMS Physician Directories - We have sold through half our inventory. Buy your Blue book before they are gone
|
|
|
5 ways physicians, payers will work together to streamline prior authorizations
|
|
Physicians and payers are vowing to collaborate to help relieve one of doctors' biggest headaches: obtaining prior authorizations.
Six leading health industry groups, including the American Medical Association, the Medical Group Management Association and America's Health Insurance Plans, have joined in a commitment to improve prior authorization processes,
according to an announcement. Read more
here.
|
Short-term spending agreement provides longer-term relief for CHIP
|
The short-term spending plan allowing the government to reopen solves a funding crisis in a public health insurance program for children of working-class families that is popular with Republicans and Democrats alike, but has been ensnared for months in partisan budget fights. Read more
here.
|
Healthy Healer - What I've learned from my tally of 757 doctor suicides
|
|
Five years ago, I was at a memorial. Another suicide. Our third doctor in 18 months.
Everyone kept whispering, "Why?"
That was when I decided I had to find an answer.
So I started counting dead doctors. I left that memorial service with a list of 10. Today I have 757 suicides on my registry. Read more
here.
|
Opioid Town Hall Meeting
|
|
The Buncombe County Commissioners will host an Opioid Town Hall on January 30 on the campus of A-B Tech.
MAHEC experts and peer support counselors from Family Preservation Services and Sunrise Community Wellness and Recovery will discuss the issue of opioid addiction and opioid-related deaths which are skyrocketing in our area.
Town Hall Details here.
|
| Retiring physician is looking to sell his business |
Retiring Doctor is looking to sell his business. The office is 2,000 sq.ft (an additional 1,000 sq/ft is available) with 4 exam rooms, three bathrooms, waiting area, reception and includes all furnishings, fixtures and equipment. Located in the West Asheville / Enka area of Asheville.
Please contact Keith Prescott at Whitney Commercial Real Estate.
(828)808-3288
|
|
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT CORNER
|
|
Lead Exposure in Flint, Mich., Top JAPPA Article for 2017
|
JAAPA is AAPA's peer-reviewed clinical journal. Published monthly for more than 25 years, its mission is to support the ongoing education and advancement of PAs by publishing current information and research on clinical, health policy, and professional issues. JAAPA's award-winning editorial includes clinical review articles, case reports, clinical departments, original health services research, and other articles on issues of professional interest to PAs. View 10 most viewed articles
here.
|
|
WCMS Job Board
|
If you are a 100% Member Practice, posting job openings here is FREE!
Click here
for more information.
|
|
WCMS is a thriving 750+ 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,
 |
| Miriam Schwarz |
Miriam Schwarz, MPA
WCMS CEO/Executive Director
|
|
|
