NCMGMA News is an official news resource of the North Carolina Medical Group Management Association (NCMGMA).
Articles published in NCMGMA News contains the expressed opinions and experiences of the authors and do not necessarily represent the position of NCMGMA.
NCMGMA News may contain links to websites that are created and maintained by other organizations. NCMGMA does not necessarily endorse the views expressed on these websites, nor does it guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information presented there.
New from the NCMGMA Advocacy Committee, we are featuring a weekly digest, “Did You Know?” spotlighting important healthcare advocacy news and events. Keep checking back and subscribe to NCMGMA News to stay current on all the latest updates!
Humana Plans to Leave Some Medicare Advantage Markets in 2025
According to Becker’s Payer Issues, “The company reported its first quarter earnings April 24. Humana posted a $741 million in net income in the first quarter of 2024, beating investor expectations, but pulled its 2025 earnings guidance.”
Navigate the NC Legislative Landscape Friday General Session Announced
Join political analyst Joe Stewart for a comprehensive update on North Carolina’s legislative landscape. From recent election developments to shifts in healthcare policies, this session will equip you with the latest insights to effectively navigate advocacy efforts for your practice. Gain valuable strategies and actionable advice to stay informed and make an impact on the future of healthcare in North Carolina.
The early bird registration discount has been extended so sign up today!
Experience Internet celebrity Judson Laipply, reporting expert Aaron Newcomer, Emmy Award winner Sharon Delaney McCloud, healthcare futurist Stephanie Wierwille, ACMPE guru Michelle Wallace, and political analyst Joe Stewart. Learn more about the speakers and sessions here.
Innovative Products and Services
The exhibit hall is sold out! Get essential one-on-one conversations in the exhibit hall with the companies driving practice management innovation and efficiency. From IT to collections to linens, get the information you need to optimize your practice. Meet our Annual Conference speakers here.
Sign Up to Join Us Today
Full conference costs start at $475 for members and again this year we are offering a single-day pass starting at $275 for members. See all of our conference pricing here. To register today, please follow the online registration link below.
We are past our discount room block cutoff for the Embassy Suites and Aloft Wilmington. There are plenty of options for alternate lodging in downtown Wilmington. To start exploring hotel options, follow the button link below.
New from the NCMGMA Advocacy Committee, we are featuring a weekly digest, “Did You Know?” spotlighting important healthcare advocacy news and events. Keep checking back and subscribe to NCMGMA News to stay current on all the latest updates!
Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) Training Series New Modules Released!
NC AHEC is excited to announce the release of modules 16 & 17 in the CoCM Training Series. View the details below!
Module 16: Tools for Financial Sustainability Using CoCM Speaker: Lori Raney, MD This webinar builds on an earlier webinar entitled Billing the Collaborative Care Codes and presents a deeper dive into barriers and solutions to financial sustainability of CoCM in your organization. The codes are briefly described and include the responsibilities of each team member. It also reviews key concerns often voiced by compliance teams and proposes solutions. Finally, steps towards developing a robust reimbursement plan are presented. It is recommended to first watch Billing the Collaborative Care Codes to better understand some of the concepts presented in this webinar.
Module 17: Challenging Clinical Situations Speaker: Monica Harrison, MSW, LCSW CoCM allows patients to receive both physical and mental health treatment from a multidisciplinary team within the primary care setting. The patient, Primary Care Provider, Psychiatric Consultant and Behavioral Health Care Manager (BHCM) are all critical members of this multidisciplinary team. The role of the BHCM can be fulfilled by a variety of clinicians including licensed mental health providers and clinical psychologists. A substantial body of evidence has shown that CoCM is more effective than usual care for treating common mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety in the primary care setting. Five core principles for effective Collaborative Care are discussed.
Click on the blue button below to learn more and register for the CoCM Training Series.
The NCMGMA Medical Employee Salary & Benefits Online Survey data, collected from 2023 practice metrics, is designed to bring you the information you need to see trends specific to the healthcare industry, and provide comparative information your organization can use to assist in making crucial business decisions.
The cost is $400 for NCMGMA members and $600 for non-members. To purchase your data access, please follow the link below.
Our membership is growing! Here’s the list of healthcare professionals and students who have recently joined NCMGMA (March 22, 2024, through April 10, 2024):
Active
Erin Bell, Horizon Family Medicine, Clayton, NC
Kayla Bowman, Digestive Health Specialists, PA, Winston-Salem, NC
Linda King, Viewmont Optometry PLLC, Hickory, NC
Julie Liles, Privia Health LLC, Charlotte, NC
Stephen Walters, Carolina Arthritis, Wilmington, NC
Affiliate
Mike Halsema, Med Practice Insights, Matthews, NC
Steve Cox, Read’s Uniforms, Charlotte, NC
Student
Tyra Bethea, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
Dennis White, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
2024 Alliance sponsor feature article courtesy of Nuance Communications, Inc.
As long‑time users of Dragon Medical One, Fisher‑Titus Medical Center was accustomed to using speech recognition technology to ease the burden of clinical documentation. But as they looked to deepen their Nuance footprint with DAX, their administration was unsure how it would fit into their existing workflows. Since deploying Nuance DAX, Fisher‑Titus has reaped the benefits of using the two solutions in tandem to optimize productivity, enhance the patient‑provider experience, improve the quality of documentation, and drive better outcomes.
We’re excited to have another successful Master Class under out belts. Last Thursday and Friday, Wally Schmader and Tracy Spears of the Exceptional Leaders Lab led practice managers through their proven playbook of actionable tactics and strategies for achieving more impactful and successful leadership.
Thank you to all the practice managers who took time out of their busy schedules to join us last week. Thank you to Wally and Tracy, thank you to our sponsors Curi, HandCraft and Sentinel; and thank you to the Beaufort Hotel for hosting this essential gathering of healthcare leaders.
Upcoming Events
Annual Conference May 15-17, 2024 Wilmington Convention Center, Wilmington, NC Enjoy continuing education from healthcare’s thought leaders, essential networking with peers and old friends, and our industry’s best products and services. Learn More and Register Today!
Advocacy Days June 11-12, 2024 Raleigh, NC Gain vital legislative updates from key decision makers and players within North Carolina and meet with our legislators on healthcare hot topics. Registration coming this spring.
Washington Trip July 23-26, 2024 Washington, DC Experience our nation’s capital while gaining access to key policy makers and advocating for local issues important to North Carolina’s healthcare industry. More information coming soon!
Fall Conference September 25-27, 2024 Benton Convention Center, Winston-Salem, NC Get practice management-specific continuing education, our industry’s best products and services, and plenty of social and networking opportunities. Registration coming spring 2024.
Click here to see all state and local chapter events.
New from the NCMGMA Advocacy Committee, we are featuring a weekly digest, “Did You Know?” spotlighting important healthcare advocacy news and events. Keep checking back and subscribe to NCMGMA News to stay current on all the latest updates!
New Resources to Learn More About NC Medicaid’s Tailored Plans
Starting July 1, 2024, some people with NC Medicaid will get a new health plan — a Behavioral Health and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Tailored Plan (Tailored Plan). Tailored Plans cover physical health, prescription and behavioral health needs, including mental health, severe substance use disorder, I/DD and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) needs, all in one plan.
NCDHHS has created a Transition to Tailored Plans toolkit webpage. Access the page at the button link below.
Medicaid Managed Care Special Webinar Total Cost of Care (TCOC) Dashboard Launch for Providers
This month, NC Medicaid is launching a Total Cost of Care (TCOC) Dashboard for Advanced Medical Homes (AMHs). This tool will allow AMHs to access and analyze data related to resource use and total cost of health care received by Medicaid members assigned to their practices. The TCOC Dashboard aims to help AMHs identify potential drivers of overuse and inefficiency and assist them in making informed decisions when engaging in value-based arrangements with Medicaid prepaid health plans.
NC AHEC is providing three opportunities to learn more about this important new tool. In the webinar, NC AHEC will provide an overview of the dashboard and its metrics, walk through the login process, and demonstrate various functionalities for users of the AMH TCOC Dashboard.
CMS has made available the presentation from their Jurisdictions J/M Part B Office/Outpatient Evaluation and Management Visit Complexity webinar. The webinar focused on the use of the HCPCS code G2211, an E&M add-on code to address complexity of visit.
Be in the center of the action! From receptions to networking to prize drawings, the exhibit hall is the center of Annual Conference activity. And don’t forget the numerous aisles of exhibitor booths, displaying healthcare’s leading products and services from our 2024 Alliance sponsors.
Visit our exhibitor page here and see why the exhibit hall is a must-see part of the Annual Conference experience!
Join us in Wilmington and experience Internet celebrity Judson Laipply, Emmy Award winner Sharon Delaney McCloud, reporting expert Aaron Newcomer, ACMPE guru Michelle Wallace, and healthcare futurist Stephanie Wierwille. Learn more about the Annual Conference speakers and sessions here.
Make Your Hotel Accommodations
The Embassy Suites is our host hotel with rates starting at $209 per night. We’re also offering rooms at Aloft Wilmington starting at $199 per night. Visit the Annual Conference page here for complete hotel booking details. The NCMGMA room block discount cutoff is April 24th.
Sign Up to Join Us Today
Full conference costs start at $475 for members and again this year we are offering a single-day pass starting at $275 for members. See all of our conference pricing here. To register today, please follow the online registration link below.
2024 Alliance sponsor feature article courtesy of First Citizens Bank
From driving directions to mobile check deposits, artificial intelligence, or AI, has been integrated into almost every part of everyday life. Still, many small business owners are under the mistaken impression that AI is complex, costly and only available for larger organizations.
In fact, even the smallest companies can use AI in business to become more effective, efficient and profitable. Whether you’re looking to standardize customer service quality, improve lead generation or streamline hiring, AI can automate many important aspects of your business operations. Here are five key areas where companies of all sizes are increasingly relying on AI.
1 – Customer service
Today’s consumers expect instant answers—that’s why chatbots are one of the most popular types of AI-powered software. Chatbots are found on many e-commerce sites, allowing customers to use instant messaging to speak directly with an AI-powered company representative, 24/7.
Certain apps and platforms such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and Bold360 use natural language processing to train chatbots to answer common support questions, give product recommendations and resolve any outstanding issues the customer might have. That kind of personalized service streamlines the customer service process, improves connection with the customer and boosts sales.
2 – Managing customer relationships
Customer relationship management, or CRM software helps business owners learn about their customers, offering an essential service for businesses of all sizes. CRM software keeps track of every interaction a business has with its customers, whether via email, phone or social media. In essence, this management software helps business owners better understand their customers’ needs and how they interact with the company.
By leveraging AI in business, you can turn all the customer interaction data you’re already collecting into actionable steps, such as a timed marketing push or a special offer. This can help your business approach customers where they are and stay ahead of their competitors. In fact, some of the biggest CRM platforms are integrating AI directly into their software to help small business owners better analyze their data.
3 – Human resources
When a small business has an open position, it’s usually up to the owner to find and hire someone. That often means finding candidates and then reviewing dozens or even hundreds of cover letters and resumes.
With AI-powered platforms like HireScore, business owners can automate time-consuming tasks, such as analyzing and organizing resumes, building candidate profiles, scheduling interviews and updating candidates during the process. AI can save time, money and resources—and even help eliminate bias.
4 – Competitive Intelligence
For many small business owners, it can be difficult to keep up with competitors on all of their various online channels. Who are they, what are they doing, what are they offering and where are they meeting their customers?
From video to social media posts to websites, AI platforms such as Crayon or Klue can track what competitors are doing across all of their digital platforms. This provides detailed data and competitive intelligence that allows small business owners to make adjustments and stay a step ahead.
5 – Cybersecurity
While cyberattacks aren’t top of mind for many small business owners, they can be a serious threat. Because many small businesses don’t have a dedicated IT department to keep an eye on their systems and networks, they’re especially vulnerable to bad players.
That’s where AI comes in. Platforms such as Anomali, Cylance and Crowdstrike use AI to detect and prevent digital threats and suspicious activity before getting into a company’s network. These AI-powered security programs look for unusual activity or irregularities, such as an unknown vendor or an unusually large order, and raise the alarm early.
AI is changing business
As a company grows, so does the amount of data it collects and stores. Analyzing and leveraging that data to make timely business decisions can become a huge task.
Thanks to improvements in AI and machine learning, businesses of all sizes and across all industries now have the tools to target new audiences, communicate with consumers and expand their clientele in a more informed and efficient manner.
This information is provided for educational purposes only and should not be relied on or interpreted as accounting, financial planning, investment, legal or tax advice. First Citizens Bank (or its affiliates) neither endorses nor guarantees this information and encourages you to consult a professional for advice applicable to your specific situation.
Third parties mentioned are not affiliated with First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company.
North Carolina Medical Group Management Association Blog 