Western Carolina Medical Society: The Physicians' Voice for a Health Community
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 Weekly e-News of the Western Carolina Medical Society 
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January 6, 2016


In This Issue:
Sponsor Message: Four Seasons (left)
New WCMS Members
Register Now: Advance Care Planning: Making it Work in Your Practice and Getting Paid for it 1/27/2016
Register Now: WCMS Annual Celebration 1/31/2016
Mission May End Agreement with Anesthesia Services Provider
Over 100 Jobs at Mission Hospital in Question
Pardee Adds Southeastern Practices on January 1, 2016
CMS Finalizes Prior Authorization Rule for DME
2016 Will Bring Flurry of New Rules and Regulations Affecting Healthcare
Fix the Root Cause of Physician Burnout. Not Just the Symptoms
Preventing Burnout: Finding Joy in Medicine
Women in Medicine: An Evolving Paradigm
Job Board & Classified Ads
UPCOMING EVENTS 
 
New WCMS Members
Click here to view our newest members.
Register Now: Advance Care Planning: Making it Work in Your Practice and Getting Paid for it  1/27/16
Date: January 27, 2016 6:00 PM
Location: MAHEC Education Building
On Oct. 30, 2015, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final 2016 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule including two CPT codes to reimburse for advance care planning (ACP). Reimbursement for ACP is a game changer for providers!
Get more information about this educational event here.
Register Now: WCMS Annual Celebration 1/31/2016
The WCMS Annual Celebration is January 31st, 2016 at Highland Brewing from 6 - 8 p.m. We hope you'll join us for some great music from physician-led band Blues Crew, unique appetizers in the spirit of Chinese New Year, and an introduction to your new WCMS Board of Directors. And of course, try a delicious beverage from Highland Brewing!
Please RSVP today. 
LOCAL NEWS
 
Mission May End Agreement with Anesthesia Services Provider
Asheville Citizen-Times
"I appreciate and respect AllCare's decision to be acquired. They have every right to do with their organization what they choose to do," Dr. Ron Paulus, president and CEO, Mission Health, said. "But for Mission, it comes down to a very simple choice. Our obligation is to make sure that care is available for all patients in Western North Carolina whether they can pay for the services or not. And with the new information that AllCare no longer exists and Surgery Partners is the entity that controls all of the anesthesiologists and associated staff, that created very significant concerns for Mission."
Click here to continue reading.
Over 100 Jobs at Mission Hospital in Question
From WCQS:

More than a hundred doctors and nurses at Mission hospitals in Asheville are unsure about their jobs after Mission indicated it could sever ties with the company that employs them. Mission told the workers they were looking at alternatives to extending a contract with the company AllCare. The action was taken swiftly after the non-profit Mission was made aware that AllCare would be acquired by Surgery Partners. Both of the latter are for-profit entities. In a statement provided to WCQS, Mission Health President and CEO Ron Paulson says the company is looking at alternatives, including employing its own doctors and nurses, sidestepping AllCare altogether.

Frank Sutton, a practicing anesthesiologist and executive committee director for AllCare in Asheville says his job is one of the ones on the line. He says employees learned Mission was posting their jobs on Monday morning when they came into work to find flyers advertising their positions.
Pardee Adds Southeastern Practices on January 1, 2016 
Hendersonville Lightning
Pardee Hospital will add to its orthopedics service line when Southeastern Sports Medicine and Orthopedics comes on board on Jan. 1, the hospital announced.
Plans for Pardee's Mills River land remain unknown.
Click here to continue reading in the Hendersonville Lightening. The Citizen Times article can be found here.
NATIONAL NEWS
 
CMS Finalizes Prior Authorization Rule for DME 
CMS finalizes prior authorization rule for DME 
In a move meant to prevent fraud while protecting access to medically necessary supplies, the CMS on Tuesday issued a final rule that mandates prior authorization for some durable medical equipment prosthetics, orthotics and supplies.
Click here to continue reading.
 2016 Will Bring Flurry of New Rules and Regulations Affecting Healthcare
By Modern Healthcare | January 2, 2016
Last year ushered in a bevy of new rules and regulations that are already affecting the healthcare industry: a fix to the sustainable growth-rate pay formula for physicians; a mandatory bundled-payment program that would affect 67 markets across the country; tweaks to the CMS' value-based payment program; clarifications of waivers that aim to give states more flexibility in molding their Medicaid programs; and a down-to-the-wire budget deal that delayed taxes on Cadillac plans, medical devices and health insurance. But 2016 is expected to be just as eventful, with more rules and regulations expected.
Click here to continue reading. 
ITEMS OF INTEREST
 
Fix the Root Cause of Physician Burnout. Not Just the Symptoms.
KevinMD.com shares the stories and insight of the many who intersect with our health care system, but are rarely heard from.
Click here to read this recent blog post.  
Preventing Burnout: Finding Joy in Medicine
Make 2016 Your Best Year Yet ... in just one hour
In large part, your happiness in 2015 depends on the following thought experiment ...
Imagine it is actually 12 months from now ... it is Christmas of NEXT Year ...
as you look back on your 2016 ...
you break out in a grin of satisfaction ...
and say to yourself ... "wow, what a year" ...
What is driving this warm, happy feeling?
  • What are the successes of 2015 you have been able to build on?
  • What have you changed / accomplished / experienced / let go of in your 2016?
  • What are the old problems/challenges you have been able to solve for the first time?
  • What would it take to make 2016 YOUR Best Year Yet?
Here is TheHappyMD.com 2016 Breakthrough Planning Process.
This handout contains 10 specific coaching questions to help you build your personal strategic plan for the year ahead. It only takes about an hour, your favorite pen and a cup of tea to complete.
Getting crystal clear on what you want in the year ahead is the best way to put some boundaries around the wild, 800 pound, silver back gorilla that is your career. Remember him? 

If you want more balance and satisfaction in 2016 ... this is how you begin.

Ready? 

Click here to download your personal copy of the PDF file, print it out and get started.


Women in Medicine: An Evolving Paradigm
Click here and go to page 8 to read an interesting article by Wayne Sotile about women in medicine, burnout, and impact on family. 
Job Board & Classified Ads

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

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,

Photo: Miriam Schwarz, WCMS CEO
Miriam Schwarz


 

Miriam Schwarz signature




 

Miriam Schwarz, MPA

WCMS CEO/Executive Director