Newsroom
November 19, 2019
Q: Please describe a brief history of Integrative Family Medicine:
A: My business partner, Brian Lewis, and I had a goal to create an accessible clinic that took an integrative approach to primary care. We quickly realized that such clinics did not exist. The integrative clinics that did exist were often out of reach financially for many patients. We also saw many independently owned primary care practices struggling to remain solvent and being taken over by big hospital systems. We wanted to create something that could serve patients financially and offer a better overall healthcare experience for them as well as provide a model for physicians of something alternative to the fee-for-service insurance based system.
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November 7, 2019
On 11/4/19, the WCMS Association Board listened to a presentation by Dr. David Mouw and Steffi Rausch (head of Asheville Citizens’ Climate Lobby) on climate change and the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, HR 763. After much discussion, the Board unanimously concurred that the impact of climate change on health is a public health crisis and moved to act as an organization by endorsing the bill.
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October 30, 2019
The Western Carolina Medical Society Foundation (WCMSF) based in Asheville, NC recently was awarded a significant grant from the WNC Bridge Foundation (formerly CarePartners Foundation) based in Asheville.
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October 7, 2019
October 2, 2019, Asheville, NC- The Western Carolina Medical Society (WCMS) Foundation based in Asheville, NC recently was awarded funding in the amount of $13,000 for its Project Access® program.
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August 19, 2019
The Western Carolina Medical Society Foundation--in collaboration with Digestive Health Partners (DHP)-- has been awarded a Colon Cancer Coalition (CCC) grant to expand the Western North Carolina Colorectal Cancer Screening Initiative (WNC-CRCSI) across 5 counties.
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August 13, 2019
Every year, the Community Foundation of WNC’s advisory committee selects recipients for the Dr. Brian Ling Memorial Scholarship. It is our pleasure to announce two awardees this year: Kaylene Cender of Asheville Christian Academy and Andrew Elliot of T.C. Roberson High School. Kaylene will be attending Liberty University, majoring in Nursing with a focus on global studies. Kaylene says, “It is an honor to be awarded the Dr. Brian Ling Memorial Scholarship Fund. My dream is to serve as a medical missionary in South or Central America.” Drew will be attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a pre-medical student. He says, “I am truly honored to have been chosen as a recipient of the Dr. Brian Ling Memorial Scholarship. I aspire to carry his torch into the next chapter of my life and strive to be the rare and wonderful human being that he was.”
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July 25, 2019
New data from NC Child, a Raleigh-based children’s health research group, shows that although 85% of Buncombe County mothers received prenatal care in 2017 — nearly 20 percentage points higher than the North Carolina average — the percentages of Buncombe babies born pre-term or with a low birth weight remain comparable to those across the state.
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July 18, 2019
The NC House passed HB955 (Bill Summary). This Bill details the “Seizure Safe Schools Act of 2019” or “Sam’s Law”.
- Votes: 111 – Yes, 1 – No, 5 – “No Votes”, 3 – “Excused Absence.” Total Votes = 112
- Now - The NC Senate will begins discussions of SB354 (Bill Summary).
The Western Carolina Medical Society offerred a Letter-Of-Support for both HB955 and corresponding SB354. This letter was sent to the Bill Sponsors to distribute to Elected Officials.
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July 10, 2019
Innovative Practice Interview with Carolyn Chamberlain (Practice Administrator of 15 years) of Asheville Neurology regarding the development of new, innovative positions to improve efficiency at the office.
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July 9, 2019
North Carolina Medicaid Transformation
Provider Payment and Contracting
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July 2, 2019
Contents
- Medicaid Transformation Vision and Context
- Overview of Key Initiatives
- Deep Dive: Managed Care More
- Opportunities for Engagement
- Q&A
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June 21, 2019
As the dust begins to settle on the recent acquisition of Mission by HCA, we continue to field questions about the various changes to the health system’s employee benefits and retirement plans. The benefit changes are only a few of the countless moving pieces set in motion by the acquisition. Even so, the retirement plans, in particular, continue to generate enough interest and concern that the Western Carolina Medical Society (WCMS) membership might benefit from additional coverage of these changes.
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June 21, 2019
It is estimated 15% of patients will choose a Prepaid Health Plan (PHP), and over 80% will be assigned to an Advanced Medical Home (AMH). These tips will help ensure that you maintain relationships with your established Medicaid patients, and establish new relationships with patients who are attributed to your practice who you have never seen.
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June 10, 2019
Hi, my name is Susan McDowell and I am the current Foundation Board Chair at WCMS. I am a family practice physician who has been working in Madison County for the past 6 years at the Hot Springs Health Program. In 2018, we were lucky enough to be the first expansion site for Project Access.
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May 28, 2019
The WCMS Association Board met with HCA/Mission Health’s Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, William Hathaway, MD, at the May 13, 2019 meeting to discuss changes from the Mission charity care policy to the HCA policy following the transition. We were informed that the amount of funds devoted to HCA’s Charity Care will be significantly more than what had been provided by Mission. We also discussed the two policies currently in place:
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