The voice of Ob/Gyn physicians & their patients in North Carolina

The voice of Ob/Gyn physicians & The voice of Ob/Gyn physicians & their patients in North Carolinatheir patients in North Carolina

Who we areWho we are

What we doWhat we do

Where you come inWhere you come in

_________________________________________________________________The voice of Ob/Gyn physicians & their patients in North Carolina

Who we are…..Who we are…..


The North Carolina Obstetrical and The North Carolina Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (NCOGS) is a Gynecological Society (NCOGS) is a statewide, dues-supported membership statewide, dues-supported membership organization dedicated to the advancement organization dedicated to the advancement of women's health through advocacy, of women's health through advocacy, education and public relations. The education and public relations. The NCOGS is committed to representing the NCOGS is committed to representing the best interests of Ob/Gyn physicians and best interests of Ob/Gyn physicians and their patients.their patients.

Who we are – OrganizationallyWho we are – Organizationally

Leadership:Leadership: Executive CommitteeExecutive Committee Legislative LiaisonLegislative Liaison ACOG / NC Section LiaisonACOG / NC Section Liaison

Management:Management: Executive Executive Administrative / ClericalAdministrative / Clerical Legislative / LegalLegislative / Legal


Who we are – OrganizationallyWho we are – Organizationally


2008-2009 NCOGS Executive Committee:2008-2009 NCOGS Executive Committee:

PRESIDENTPRESIDENT Edward R. Newton, MD / GreenvilleEdward R. Newton, MD / GreenvillePRESIDENT-ELECTPRESIDENT-ELECT John Allbert, MD / CharlotteJohn Allbert, MD / CharlotteSECRETARY-TREASURERSECRETARY-TREASURER Lindsay Stevenson, MD / Elizabeth CityLindsay Stevenson, MD / Elizabeth CityIMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENTIMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Ellen C. Wells, MD / Chapel HillEllen C. Wells, MD / Chapel HillPAST PRESIDENTPAST PRESIDENT William E. Brown, MD / GreenvilleWilliam E. Brown, MD / GreenvilleMEETING PROGRAM CHAIRMEETING PROGRAM CHAIR Haywood L. Brown, MD / DurhamHaywood L. Brown, MD / DurhamMEETING ARRANGEMENTS CHAIR MEETING ARRANGEMENTS CHAIR Paige Fisher, MD / GreenvillePaige Fisher, MD / GreenvilleMEMBER AT LARGEMEMBER AT LARGE Keith Nelson, MD / GreenvilleKeith Nelson, MD / GreenvilleLEGISLATIVE LIAISONLEGISLATIVE LIAISON Harold Pollard, MD / Winston-SalemHarold Pollard, MD / Winston-SalemACOG SECTION CHAIRACOG SECTION CHAIR Frank N. H. Harrison, Jr., MD / CharlotteFrank N. H. Harrison, Jr., MD / Charlotte

Who we are – OperationallyWho we are – OperationallyThe NC Ob/Gyn Society is managed through an arrangement with the The NC Ob/Gyn Society is managed through an arrangement with the North Carolina Medical Society. Services provided includeNorth Carolina Medical Society. Services provided include:


Financial ManagementFinancial Management Meeting ManagementMeeting Management Legislative Guidance / Lobbyist Coordination Legislative Guidance / Lobbyist Coordination Managed Care ResourcesManaged Care Resources Regulatory InteractionRegulatory Interaction Membership ManagementMembership Management Organizational Interaction / Professional RelationsOrganizational Interaction / Professional Relations CommunicationsCommunications ManagementManagement

Who we are –Who we are –Organizationally and OperationallyOrganizationally and Operationally

What differentiates theWhat differentiates the

NC Ob/Gyn SocietyNC Ob/Gyn Society from thefrom the

NC Section of ACOGNC Section of ACOG_________________________________________________________________

The voice of Ob/Gyn physicians & their patients in North Carolina


ACOG works primarily ACOG works primarily in four areas: in four areas:

• Serving as a strong advocate for Serving as a strong advocate for quality health carequality health care for women. for women. • Maintaining the Maintaining the highest standards of clinical highest standards of clinical practice and continuing educationpractice and continuing education for its members. for its members.

• Promoting Promoting patient educationpatient education and stimulating patient and stimulating patient understanding of and involvement in medical care. understanding of and involvement in medical care. • Increasing Increasing awareness among its membersawareness among its members and the and the public of the changing issues facing women's healthpublic of the changing issues facing women's health care. care.



• Legislative & Political Advocacy at the State Level Legislative & Political Advocacy at the State Level

• Interaction with Women’s Health Agencies in N.C.Interaction with Women’s Health Agencies in N.C.

• Collaboration to Broaden InfluenceCollaboration to Broaden Influence

• Attention to Managed Care & Reimbursement IssuesAttention to Managed Care & Reimbursement Issues

• Continuing Medical EducationContinuing Medical Education

_________________________________________________________________ The voice of Ob/Gyn physicians & their patients in North Carolina

Advocacy:Advocacy: LegislativeLegislative RegulatoryRegulatory



Political AdvocacyPolitical Advocacy + Legislative Advocacy + Legislative Advocacy

Advocacy: Advocacy: The BalanceThe Balance


Political AdvocacyPolitical Advocacy + Legislative Advocacy + Legislative Advocacy

Advocacy: Advocacy: The BalanceThe Balance


What we do What we do →→ Political Advocacy Political Advocacy

• GOPACGOPAC

• RelationshipsRelationships RelationshipsRelationships RelationshipsRelationships


What we do What we do →→ Legislative Advocacy Legislative Advocacy

Direct Access Legislation - 1995Direct Access Legislation - 1995The bill required health benefit plans The bill required health benefit plans issued, renewed or amended on or after issued, renewed or amended on or after that date to allow each female plan that date to allow each female plan participant or beneficiary age 13 or older to participant or beneficiary age 13 or older to have direct access within the health benefit have direct access within the health benefit plan, without prior referral, to an plan, without prior referral, to an obstetrician-gynecologist practicing within obstetrician-gynecologist practicing within the health benefit plan for most healthcare the health benefit plan for most healthcare services.services.


Post-partum Care LegislationPost-partum Care Legislation - 1995- 1995

Requires that a health benefit plan Requires that a health benefit plan providing maternity coverage must providing maternity coverage must provide inpatient care for mother and baby provide inpatient care for mother and baby for a minimum of 48 hours after vaginal for a minimum of 48 hours after vaginal delivery and a minimum of 96 hours after delivery and a minimum of 96 hours after

delivery by caesarian sectiondelivery by caesarian section ..



Tort ReformTort Reform LegislationLegislation - 1995- 1995Created minimum qualifications for experts testifying Created minimum qualifications for experts testifying in medical malpractice lawsuits and established a in medical malpractice lawsuits and established a stringent pre-screening procedure for malpractice stringent pre-screening procedure for malpractice complaints. The bill also capped punitive damages at complaints. The bill also capped punitive damages at $250,000 or three times compensatory damages, $250,000 or three times compensatory damages, whichever is greater. Punitive damages can be whichever is greater. Punitive damages can be awarded only if the patient can prove that the awarded only if the patient can prove that the defendant is liable for compensatory damages.defendant is liable for compensatory damages.



Tort Reform / Expert Tort Reform / Expert WitnessWitness Legislation - 1995Legislation - 1995

Allowed up to ten written interrogatories to review Allowed up to ten written interrogatories to review the identity and/or qualifications of an “expert”the identity and/or qualifications of an “expert”..



Contraceptive Coverage Legislation - 1999Contraceptive Coverage Legislation - 1999

Mandates that insurance companies and others who Mandates that insurance companies and others who provide coverage of prescription drugs and devices to provide coverage of prescription drugs and devices to also include coverage of prescription contraceptive also include coverage of prescription contraceptive drugs and devices, and for outpatient contraceptive drugs and devices, and for outpatient contraceptive services.services.



Bone Mass/OsteoporosisBone Mass/Osteoporosis Legislation - 1999Legislation - 1999

Requires health plan and insurance coverage for Requires health plan and insurance coverage for bone mass measurement and evaluation of bone mass measurement and evaluation of osteoporosis.osteoporosis.



Prompt PayPrompt Pay

Legislation - 2000Legislation - 2000

Requires payment or Requires payment or full disclosure as to full disclosure as to claim problems within claim problems within 30 days.30 days.



Lay MidwiferyLay Midwifery

Legislation - 2001Legislation - 2001

Bill to certify Bill to certify “professional midwives” “professional midwives” was defeatedwas defeated ..


Patients Bill of Rights - 2001Patients Bill of Rights - 2001

The bill sets up independent external review of a The bill sets up independent external review of a HMO’s denials if a patient disagrees, allows patients HMO’s denials if a patient disagrees, allows patients to sue HMOs after review of the health plan and an to sue HMOs after review of the health plan and an external independent council, allows patients to external independent council, allows patients to receive necessary prescriptions even if the drug is receive necessary prescriptions even if the drug is not on the company’s approved list, and allows not on the company’s approved list, and allows people with serious, chronic diseases to choose people with serious, chronic diseases to choose specialists as their primary care physicianspecialists as their primary care physician ..

________________________________________________________________The voice of Ob/Gyn physicians & their patients in North Carolina



Medicaid Budget - 2001Medicaid Budget - 2001

Medicaid reimbursement Medicaid reimbursement at 95% of Medicare at 95% of Medicare secured.secured.







State Budget - 2003State Budget - 2003

$300,000 appropriation the $300,000 appropriation the State Folic Acid Campaign.State Folic Acid Campaign.



State Budget - 2003State Budget - 2003

$100,000 appropriation in $100,000 appropriation in 2003 for the continuation of 2003 for the continuation of activities performed by the activities performed by the Heart Disease and Stroke Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force.Prevention Task Force.







Billing for Pathology Billing for Pathology Services - 2005Services - 2005

Requires disclosure of Requires disclosure of any mark-up in lab any mark-up in lab charges.charges.



Medical Liability Medical Liability Reform - 2007Reform - 2007

Establishes arbitration as Establishes arbitration as an option.an option.











What we do → Legislative AdvocacyWhat we do → Legislative Advocacy

Medical Medical LiabilityLiabilityReformReform


Legislative Outlook - 2009Legislative Outlook - 2009

Factors:Factors:• New AdministrationNew Administration• New Faces in the LegislatureNew Faces in the Legislature

Issues:Issues:• Licensure of Certified ProfessionalLicensure of Certified Professional MidwivesMidwives• State Budget – MedicaidState Budget – Medicaid ReimbursementReimbursement• Retail MedicineRetail Medicine• Physician Profiling by Medical BoardPhysician Profiling by Medical Board


What we do → Regulatory AdvocacyWhat we do → Regulatory Advocacy

• NC Medical BoardNC Medical Board

• NC Dept of HealthNC Dept of Health & Human Services& Human Services



NC Medical BoardNC Medical Board

Physician Profiling Physician Profiling Rules - 2008Rules - 2008



NC Dept of HealthNC Dept of Health & Human Services& Human Services

Rules for Testing Rules for Testing Pregnant Women Pregnant Women for STDs - 2008for STDs - 2008


What we do → AdvocacyWhat we do → Advocacy

Advocacy is Advocacy is notnot a a spectator sport. Get in spectator sport. Get in the game. Become a the game. Become a Key Contact, Key Contact, supportsupport GOPAC, GOPAC, becomebecome locally activelocally active..


What we do → AdvocacyWhat we do → Advocacy

Opportunities to get involved:Opportunities to get involved: Legislative Key ContactLegislative Key Contact White Coat Wednesday White Coat Wednesday (Feb. 18, 2009)(Feb. 18, 2009) Doctor of the DayDoctor of the Day PAC Support (PAC Support (GOPACGOPAC & & MEDPACMEDPAC)) Local Meetings w/ LegislatorsLocal Meetings w/ Legislators At a minimum – Be a memberAt a minimum – Be a member


What we do – Practice SupportWhat we do – Practice Support

Managed Care and Managed Care and Health Plan RelationsHealth Plan Relations

through the resources of thethrough the resources of theNorth Carolina Medical SocietyNorth Carolina Medical Society



Education:Education: 20092009 NCOGSNCOGSAnnual MeetingAnnual Meeting

``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

April 24-26April 24-26Grove Park Inn / Grove Park Inn /

AshevilleAshevilleMark your calendar !Mark your calendar !



Communications / Communications / Public RelationsPublic Relations

NewsletterNewsletter Legislative AlertsLegislative Alerts Media Relations / Press ReleasesMedia Relations / Press Releases



Professional RelationsProfessional RelationsCollaboration with:Collaboration with:

North Carolina Medical SocietyNorth Carolina Medical Society ACOGACOG State Specialty SocietiesState Specialty Societies Women’s Health AgenciesWomen’s Health Agencies


Take initiative !Take initiative !• Expert Witness Review PanelExpert Witness Review Panel• Women’s Health Advisory PanelWomen’s Health Advisory Panel• Women’s Health Report CardWomen’s Health Report Card• Midwifery Collaborative ProjectMidwifery Collaborative Project



Where you come in . . .Where you come in . . .


The NCOGS The NCOGS needs needs everyevery

Ob/Gyn Ob/Gyn physician in physician in

North Carolina North Carolina as a member.as a member.


Including:Including:• Private PracticePrivate Practice• AcademiaAcademia• RetiredRetired• ResidentsResidents

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The voice of Ob/Gyn physicians & their patients in North CarolinaThe voice of Ob/Gyn physicians & their patients in North Carolina

As our membership grows,As our membership grows,our voice grows!our voice grows!


As our voice grows our As our voice grows our chances of success grow!chances of success grow!


Not a member? Join today!

Already a member? Be sure to renew!


Questions?Questions?

Contact theContact theNC Ob/Gyn Society:NC Ob/Gyn Society:

[email protected]@ncmedsoc.org

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The voice of Ob/Gyn physicians & their patients in North Carolina