Join the Western Carolina Medical Society Foundation in helping residents in our region who are uninsured. The 2014 WCMS Annual Campaign theme is "Expanding Access to Health Care in Western North Carolina." With your help, WCMS provides access to health care for low-income, uninsured people in need. We do this in two ways: For patients referred to us who are at/above 100% the Federal Poverty Level, we have Certified Application Counselors who work with them to apply for subsidized health insurance in the Federally Facilitated Marketplace. These services are available to the patients of all physician members across WNC. For people who are below 100% FPL, we have Project Access Navigators who work with Buncombe County patients to apply for donated services through the PA Network. Your donations will help us help your patients get insurance and get much-needed medical care. Click here to donate today. 

Save the Date:
April 30, 2014  6-8pm

WCMS in collaboration with Member Services on Call (MSOC) will have an evening educational session on improving your practice's bottom line.

More information coming soon!

Sponsored by:

White Coat Wednesday is your chance to learn more about the ins-and-outs of the government affairs and how best to approach your legislator regarding health care issues. The NCMS will hold a briefing in the morning with tips on "dos and don'ts" in relaying your message to your legislator and on the hot-button medical and patient issues currently in the spotlight at the General Assembly.

Following this briefing, head down with NCMS staff members to the General Assembly and meet one-on-one with your legislator; take part in committee meetings and see the General Assembly in action; and begin building relationships with your legislators for the future.

To sign up, contact Miriam Schwarz at Miriam@mywcms.org or 274-2267 x 312. For more information about WCW, click here.

WCMS is aware that many practices are concerned that BCBS is not processing their claims review backlog in a timely manner and that there is no information regarding when those payments will be made. We will be conferring with NC MGMA and NCMS this afternoon regarding this issue and discuss how best to take action. If you are experiencing significant delays in payment from BCBS, please contact Miriam@mywcms.org asap.  

The Senate approved a bill Monday evening that prevents steep cuts to Medicare physician payments from going into effect for one year and delays the conversion to ICD-10 for at least one year. (MODERN HEALTHCARE)

Read the full story 

DocBookMD is a clinical tool that fits in your pocket!  Download this free mobile app to send HIPAA compliant text messages to your colleagues with your smart phone phone or look up contact information with the online directory of WCMS physicians. 

WCMS staff showed this app to physicians at Mission's Doctors' Day event and 5 doctors signed up that very day.  If you'd like a 3-minute tutorial on using this app, contact membership@mywcms.org and we'd be glad to get you connected!

Or follow these steps:

1. Download the free app from the App Store or Google Play.
2. Open up the app and it will guide you through the easy registration process. (To login, use the e-mail address you provided to WCMS. If you do not know, contact membership@mywcms.org for the correct e-mail address or your medical society ID number).
3. Start using DocbookMD to contact your colleagues! 

Over eighty-five of your colleagues have already signed up for this free member benefit. Start communicating with them today.