The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is reporting the first case of monkeypox virus infection in a North Carolina resident, identified by testing at the State Laboratory of Public Health. Monkeypox is a rare but potentially serious, viral illness that typically involves flu-like symptoms, swelling of the lymph nodes and a rash that includes bumps that are initially filled with fluid before scabbing over. Illness could be confused with a sexually transmitted infection like syphilis or herpes, or with varicella zoster virus (chickenpox). Most infections last two to four weeks. 

Collecting data on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) of your patients is an important step in providing patient-centered health care.

Building on the success of previous ‘Lunch and Learn’ offerings to regional primary care practices, Northwest AHEC provided ten online self-paced modules in 2020-2022 on a variety of topics related to Best Practices in Opioid Prescribing and Management.

Patients, caregivers, family members exposed to someone with COVID-19 and calling your office asking what they should do?

End-date of some flexibilities set to sunset March 31 extended to June 30, 2022

Unhealthy alcohol use is the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States. 

Risky drinking is associated with:

• Cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, colon, liver and breast
• Liver disease
• Stroke
• Heart Disease
• Pancreatitis
• Injuries and accidents
• Miscarriages / still birth
• Depression and Suicide

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the Children's Hospital Association,

You play a crucial role in testing, treating and vaccinating uninsured individuals, or those with limited health care coverage. 

While most of the state of North Carolina is currently experiencing low levels of COVID-19, there are counties across our state that are not.

Medicaid and prepaid health plans (PHPs) have identified a trend in claim denials related to taxonomy enrollment and credentialing. As a reminder, the taxonomy submitted on a claim for billing, rendering and attending providers must be a taxonomy for which the provider is enrolled with NC Medicaid.