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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November 16, 2016

In This Issue:
Register Now: MAHEC Event - MACRA 2017 and Beyond: What You Need to Know 12/13/16
Register Now: Emeritus Holiday Luncheon 12/14/16
Nowhere to Go: Mental Patient Crisis Impacting Mission Hospital
WCMS Membership Renewal Time
The Minority Medical Mentoring Program (MMMP) is Accepting Applications
Order Now: 2016-17 Physician "Blue Book" Directories
A Survey of America's Physicians: Practice Patterns and Perspectives
Bowtie Briefing for 11/11/16
Trump on ACA
Trump Says ACA Could be 'Amended'
UNC's Pam Silberman: What to Expect Post-ACA
Preventing Burnout: Finding Joy in Medicine
Job Board & Classified Ads
UPCOMING EVENTS 
 
Register Now: MAHEC - MACRA 2017 and Beyond: What You Need to Know 12/13/16
Join us to review the details of the Final MACRA Rule, and help your practice plan 2017 strategies that will positively impact your 2019 revenue. The presentation will provide an overview of the Medicare Access & CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) Final Rule currently scheduled to take effect on 01-01-2017. The overview will include information on both the Merit Incentive Payment Systems (MIPS) and Alternative Payment Method (APM) options, including information for Mission Health Partners practices. 
Register Now: Emeritus Holiday Luncheon 12/14/16
Join us for a holiday buffet and piano accompaniment from Art Patten. 
LOCAL NEWS
 
Nowhere to Go: Mental Patient Crisis Impacting Mission Hospital
The issue is complex and impacts the community as well as wait times for some patients going into Mission's Emergency department. Patient advocates tell News 13 it dates back to the '60s and '70s when the United States de-institutionalized facilities that housed mental health patients. The practice nationwide advocates say is to place patients in smaller more residential settings including independent living.
Click here to continue reading. 
WCMS Membership Renewal Time - Invoices Have Been Mailed to Your Practice
2017 Membership Renewal Invoices have been mailed to practice addresses. Please renew your membership today! 
Click here to pay your dues online. 
Have questions or need your invoice emailed to you? 
828-274-2267 ext. 1313
The Minority Medical Mentoring Program (MMMP) is Accepting Applications
The deadline for submission of this application is Friday, December 16, 2016 at 5:00 p.m.
Click here for more details. 
Order Now: 2016-17 Physician "Blue Book" Directories
The 2016-17 Physician Directory listing over 1,600 WNC Physicians is now available.  Order yours now!
Remember, the price is discounted if you are a 100% Member Practice. Contact [email protected] if you're not sure. 
STATE NEWS
 
A Survey of America's Physicians: Practice Patterns and Perspectives
Responses from the State of North Carolina 

Following are responses from the state of North Carolina to a national survey of physicians commissioned by The Physicians Foundation and conducted by Merritt Hawkins. Of 17,236 survey responses, 1,303 were from physicians in North Carolina. Responses of North Carolina physicians are compared to all survey responses.
Click here to link from our website. 
Bowtie Briefing for 11/11/16

Click here to view the video.
NATIONAL NEWS
 
Trump on ACA
President-elect Donald Trump (R) in interviews last week indicated a willingness to keep in place certain parts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Trump, who campaigned on a promise to repeal and replace the law, said he "like[s]" the ACA's provisions that protect individuals with preexisting medical conditions and allow individuals to remain on their parents' health plans until age 26. (Source: Wall Street Journal, 11/11

Although Trump has promised to repeal the ACA, experts doubt plans to dismantle the health reform law will reverse recent efforts to transition the United States to a value-based health care system. According to a PricewaterhouseCoopers report on Trump's election, "Trump likely will support the continued move to value-based care, which, in part, pushes hospitals and health systems and other parts of the industry to operate more like retailers." (Source: Modern Healthcare, 11/11)
Trump Says ACA Could be 'Amended'
Trump laid out a six-point plan for healthcare yesterday but the path forward is greatly uncertain.
Click here to continue reading.
ITEMS OF INTEREST
 
UNC's Pam Silberman: What to Expect Post-ACA
Click here to view her presentation to CareShare.
Preventing Burnout: Finding Joy in Medicine
Physician Burnout - is there a Trump Effect?

HINT: none of this is good for physician well being

One of the core factors driving physician stress levels and physician burnout in the USA is the CHAOS in the healthcare marketplace.

What used to be a simple world of seeing patients and billing insurance has morphed into EMR's, Meaningful Use, Volume to Value, MACRA, the Affordable Care Act and a blizzard of mergers and acquisitions that have turned even the average 50 bed hospital into a major physician employer. Independence and autonomy are out the window and who knows what Big Brother will demand of us next.
Click here to continue reading. 
Job Board & Classified Ads
Medical Assistant - Vickery Family Medicine
LPN or RN - French Broad Pediatrics
Certified Medical Assistant - Mountain Area Pediatric Associates
Payment Posting Specialist - Allergy Partners

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