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VITAL SIGNS
Weekly e-News of the Western Carolina Medical Society |
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Register Now: Early Career Affinity Group 7/29/15 |
All early career physicians- join your peers for an evening of casual conversation and good brews/food on Wed. July 29th at Catawba Brewing Co. First round is on us!
Click here to register.
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Register Now: WCMS "Burnout Proof" Physician Retreat 8/15/15
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Lower Your Stress Prevent Burnout
Improve Work-life Balance
Enhance Your Relationships
Free to WCMS Members
CME Offered by MAHEC
Significant Others Invited
Childcare Available (ages 3+)
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Saturday August 15th
9:30am - 2 pm
Warren Wilson College - 10 miles east of downtown Asheville
Presented in Partnership with:
And Support from:
CME Jointly Provided By:
The Mountain Area Health Education Center designates this educational activity for a maximum of 3 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Read more on our website.
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Emeritus Affinity Group - 6/24/15 |
Last Wednesday, thirty WCMS Emeritus members gathered at the Asheville Country Club for their second quarterly meeting of the year. The speaker was Dr. David Mouw, who gave an excellent presentation titled "Advanced Directives: Them and Us." Dr. Mouw covered topics such as communicating treatment wishes to loved ones and medical personnel, ethical and legal issues, and the uses of advance directives. Dr. Mouw also reminded his colleagues about the very valuable workshops which occur four times per year at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) through the University of North Carolina. The next workshop is October 15. More information is available here. Let your patients know about this valuable resource.
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Independent Physicians Affinity Group - 6/29/15 |
On Monday, 9 independent physicians gathered at the Asheville Event Centre for an "Ask the Expert" discussion from event sponsors Ward & Smith, PA. Grant Osborne, WCMS Development Council Chair, Rendi Mann-Stadt and Michael Fields, all attorneys with the firm, were present for a lively and informal discussion on a wide variety of topics. Discussion centered on topics such as joining an ACO as well as contracts, including non-compete covenants and cost-sharing provisions.
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Sunday Citizen Times to Display 2014 Thank You Ad from Project Access |
WCMS is grateful to the physicians who volunteer their time and services to uninsured patients via Project Access®. A thank-you ad demonstrating our appreciation will appear in this Sunday's Asheville Citizen Times. Want to see last year's ad? Click here.
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House Votes to Eliminate Independent Payment Advisory Board
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In what the AP (6/24, Fram) describes as Republicans' "latest blow" to the ACA, the House yesterday voted to eliminate the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), which is "supposed to find ways to curb Medicare spending." The "mostly party-line 244-154" vote came despite a veto threat from the White House, which warned that "repeal would eliminate a way to 'help reduce the rate of Medicare growth responsibly.'"
The Washington Times (6/24, Howell) reports that Republicans were joined by 11 Democrats in their vote against the IPAB.
A Washington Post (6/24, Viebeck) analysis suggests that while repealing the board "seems to go against Republicans' fiscal principles," GOP lawmakers "want to make sure they're on record" against the IPAB.
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High Court Upholds Health Law Subsidies
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The Affordable Care Act made it through its second do-or-die Supreme Court test in three years, raising odds for its survival but by no means ending the legal and political assaults on it five years after it became law.
The 6-3 ruling, a major win for the White House, stopped a challenge that would have erased tax-credit subsidies in at least 34 states for individuals and families buying insurance through the federal government's online marketplace. Such a result would have made coverage unaffordable for millions and created price spirals for those who kept their policies, many experts predicted.
Click here to read more.
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Job Board & Classified Ads
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To find out how you can post a Job or Classified Ad Click here.
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WCMS is a thriving 700+ 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 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 |
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