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VITAL SIGNS
 The Weekly e-News of the Western Carolina Medical Society 

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September 18, 2013

CircOfFriends VS
In This Issue:
MAHEC Open House (9/18)
DocbookMD is now open to non-physician members of the care team
An Update on ACA and Federal Insurance Marketplace
From the AMA: Compliance for revised HIPAA rules Sept. 23
AMA Launches "FixMedicareNow.org" to Target SGR Repeal
Consumers will need personal financial info, basic insurance knowledge to get covered
How Are Physicians Returning to Private Practice?
Member Announcements
Job Board & Classified Ads
UPCOMING EVENTS
 
MAHEC Open House (9/18) 
Join MAHEC TODAY, September 18th, 4:30 - 6:30pm to celebrate the opening of the Family Health and Dental Health Center and the renaming of the Biltmore campus to honor Mary C. Nesbitt. Remarks begin outside at 4:30pm followed by tours and a reception.

 

Download the Invitation and RSVP

LOCAL NEWS 

DocbookMD is now open to non-physician members of the care team

More than 16,500 physicians throughout 32 states are now using DocbookMD, a HIPAA-secure messaging application for smartphones and tablets. DocbookMD has historically only been accessible to physicians. Today, due to physician demand for secure communication with their medical staff, the platform is being opened up to all members of the care team, with the physician at the center of the communication. An exclusive HIPAA-secure smartphone platform designed by and for physicians,
DocbookMD allows physicians and their care team to share patient information and collaborate with their medical colleagues. DocbookMD is offered through WCMS to our members. To register or for more information on DocBookMD, please visit www.docbookmd.com or read more on our website.
An Update on ACA and Federal Insurance Marketplace
As we get closer to October 1, there are still many questions about the Health Insurance Marketplaces (previously known as Exchanges) that will open for millions of uninsured Americans to enroll in new private or public health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Read more
NATIONAL NEWS 
 

From the AMA: Compliance for revised HIPAA rules Sept. 23

A new toolkit released by the AMA can help physicians navigate sweeping new revisions to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy and security rules. Physicians must comply with them by Sept. 23.

Among the key changes doctors must make for the Sept. 23 deadline are new agreements with business associates that handle patient information and privacy notices to share with patients and increased security measures for patient data.
 
Physicians can turn to the AMA's free toolkit for initial guidance in meeting the new requirements. The toolkit offers practical resources physicians can begin using in their practices:
 
*    A physician primer provides an easy-to-understand breakdown of the revised rules to help physicians review and update their existing HIPAA policies and procedures.
*    A template business associate agreement and a notice of privacy practices are ready for adoption in the practice.
*    A HIPAA security resource explains how to encrypt patient data.
 

AMA Launches "FixMedicareNow.org" to Target SGR Repeal

The AMA has embarked on a grassroots campaign that will ramp up this fall to put concerted pressure on members of Congress to once and for all repeal Medicare's Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula for physician reimbursement.  An important component of this effort will be an interactive website - FixMedicareNow.org.  The site will engage both patients and physicians in the campaign to repeal the SGR, and also educate policymakers on Capitol Hill on the urgent need to do so.  Moreover, the site will function as a recruitment tool, enlisting Americans from all walks of life and all over the country to sign-up and join the campaign via social media channels and a variety of online marketing efforts; an advocacy platform that integrates grassroots alerts and calls to action for activists to email, call, and utilize social media to spur lawmakers to act; and an interactive information portal that will house videos, online info-graphics, and other resources that effectively make the case for SGR repeal. 
ITEMS OF INTEREST 
 
Consumers will need personal financial info, basic insurance knowledge to get covered  
How Are Physicians Returning to Private Practice?

For those of you who are interested, here's a blog addressing this topic. http://managemypractice.com/how-are-physicians-returning-to-private-practice 

Member Announcements 
Are you a WCMS Member who is opening a new practice? Are you a 100% Member Practice who has hired a new physician? Send us your announcements and we will post them for you in our new Member Announcements section of Vital Signs to keep other members informed about what's happening in our WCMS community! Contact Kristina Isenhour, Member Services Coordinator at [email protected]   
Job Board & Classified Ads
Asheville Internal Medicine: PA or FNP

Asheville Private Practice: Office Manager 

Carolina Spine & Neurosurgery: Physician Extender 

ECP: Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant 

ECP: Physicians

Sisters of Mercy: PRN Physicians 

Sisters of Mercy: PRN PA or FNP   

   

To find out how you can post a Job or Classified Ad Click here.

 

WCMS is a thriving 900-plus member professional association of the physicians of western North Carolina and a chartered component medical society of the NC Medical Society and the AMA. The WCMS is an organization run by physicians for physicians.


Our Mission
The WCMS is the physicians' voice advocating for the health of the medical profession, the health of the patient, and the health of the community.  

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 signature




 

Miriam Schwarz, MPA

WCMS CEO/Executive Director