We hope you will enjoy this selection of activities coming up from Northwest Area Health Education Center (NWAHEC) and the Wake Forest University School of Medicine Office of Continuing Medical Education (OCME). Join us for some upcoming activities!

Activity Spotlight

• The Ethics of Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy -Online
• Opioid Use and Opioid Use Disorder - Online
• Diabetes Performance Improvement in Primary Care - Online Enduring
• Double Trouble Diabetes and Falls - Online
• Safe or Silent? -Online
• 2025 North Carolina Lactation Educator Training Program - Online and skills day 4/29 or 4/30
• TVH & Mid-Urethral Slings - A Hands on Course 2025 - 2/7/25
• 39th Annual Northwest AHEC Respiratory Care Conference - 2/19/25
• 16th Annual NC "One Community in Recovery" Conference - 3/5/25
• 7th Annual Statewide Celebration of Rural Nursing - 3/13/25
• Nurturing the Nurturers: A Retreat for Sustaining Healthcare Well–being - 3/14/25
• 13th Annual Breastfeeding Forum - 3/18/25
• 2025 NC Annual STI Update - 3/19/25
• Practical Pediatrics 2025 - 3/28/25
• Basic Fetal Monitoring Spring 2025 - 4/9/25
• 2025 Western North Carolina Death Investigation Conference - 4/26/25
• Summer Interpreter Series - 5/7/25
• The High Risk Newborn: Sharing the Care - 5/14/25
• 2025 Aging Well Conference - 5/15/25
• WFUSM Summer Radiology Review 2025 - 6/9/25

Starting October 1, 2024, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services incorrectly returned certain Rural Health Clinic (RHC) and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) claims with reason code W7072:

• Type of bill: 017X (RHC) and 077X (FQHC)
• HCPCS code 93010 (electrocardiogram, EKG or ECG)

RHCs and FQHCs should resubmit these claims that were returned in error.

Your patients might be eligible! Two NCDHHS options to help them keep warm this winter!

NCDHHS' Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) is a federally-funded program that provides for a one-time vendor payment to help eligible households pay their heating bills.

While households including a person aged 60 or older, or disabled persons receiving services through the NC Division of Aging and Adult Services were eligible to sign up in the month of December, all other households may apply now through March 31, 2025 or until funds are exhausted.

Households that meet the following criteria may be eligible:

• Have at least one U.S. citizen or non-citizen who meets the eligibility criteria.
• Meet an income test
• Have reserves at or below $2,250. (Resources will not be counted for this year's season from December 1, 2022-March 31, 2023)
• Be responsible for its heating costs.

More details about eligibility criteria

Northwest Area Health Education Center (AHEC) and the Office of Continuing Medical Education (OCME) work with state and local health associations, universities, community colleges, hospitals, and community organizations to serve constituents in the Northwest AHEC 17-county region and across the state. We provide activities that increase knowledge, as well as renew clinical and professional skills.  

Please take about 5 minutes to complete this needs assessment.

Planning for future activities will be based on your input, survey deadline is January 24^th. We value your feedback. 

    
There are no known risks or personal benefits to completing this survey; however, the knowledge gained will benefit the planning of Northwest AHEC/OCME continuing education activities. Completing the survey is voluntary, and neither completing nor declining to complete the survey will affect your participation in any Northwest AHEC/OCME activity. This information will only be used to determine educational needs and methods of course delivery. The only identifiable data that will be collected are name and email if you choose to provide them. If you have questions or comments about this survey, contact ahecmktg@wakehealth.edu.  

As artificial intelligence tools become widespread, it is important to understand the ways that AI can be safely used to find health information.

A recent blog post and podcast episode from the American Medical Association discusses the pros and cons of using AI to search for health info, addressing credibility, types of use, and the importance of verifying info with your doctor.

To learn more, check out the ADL's January 1 Highlighted Resource:
What doctors wish patients knew about using AI for health tips

There are courses available to you on a variety of topics!

Topics for 2025 include:

Leadership, Operations Management and Quality Improvement.

Learn more and register:

The Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP)---Overdose Response is a one-year program supporting improved health care in rural areas by addressing their immediate and short-term needs related to the provision of substance use disorder services.  RCORP--Overdose Response aims to reduce and prevent the risk of overdoses in rural areas.  HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration) will make approximately 20 rewards of up to $300,000 each.

The RCORP--Overdose Response Program will support specific, short-term substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery activities, as well as work related to capacity building, supportive services, and special populations.  Allowable activities are defined in the notice of funding opportunity.

Eligible organizations include all domestic public or private, non-profit, or for-profit entities.

• A technical assistance webinar via Zoom will be held for applicants on Thursday January 30, at 2:00 pm Eastern. For more information about this funding opportunity, contact the Program Coordinator, Diana Wang, at ruralopioidresponse@hrsa.gov. 
  
  
• View the Notice of Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov and apply by March 10.

Source: HRSA.gov Federal Office of Rural Health Policy

Photo generated using AI

Everyone deserves a path to recovery from substance use disorders, and treatment can be the first step. You can make a difference in the lives of your patients. 

This could be the year you make a new difference in the lives of your patients! Whether your patient is taking a Dry January break from alcohol or working through recovery from substance use disorder long-term, every step forward counts!

Find resources to help better treat and support them: samhsa.gov/medications-substance-use-disorders/provider-support 

The NC Office of Rural Health has released Wave 2 of the Telehealth Infrastructure Grants funding opportunity! Applicants have until January 31, 2025 to apply.

Grants resulting from this Request for Applications (RFA) will enhance the accessibility and effectiveness of telehealth services throughout the state.  This RFA aims to support the development and improvement of the technological infrastructure required for delivering remote healthcare services, such as broadband connectivity, video conferencing systems, electronic medical records, and secure communication tools with a priority on independent primary care practices and Ob-GYN practices.

If your organization participates in the Aetna State Plan, we advise you to confirm your participation ahead of the January 1, 2025 launch date!

Effective January 1, 2025, Aetna will replace Blue Cross Blue Shield NC for the NC State Health Plan coverage.

Which plans are included?

• Enhanced PPO Plan (80/20)
• Basic PPO Plan (70/30)
• High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)

This change does NOT impact members enrolled in the Humana Medicare Advantage plans.

The current pharmacy benefit manager (CVS Caremark®) will not change.