NCPA News Archives

NCPA prints a quarterly newsletter titled NCPA News. See all the archived editions here.

Membership Questions

The American Psychiatric Association and the NC Psychiatric Association have a dual membership requirement for General Members and Resident-Fellow Members. We do our best to answer your questions about membership, including dues relief, paying dues, awards, and more.

No Surprises Act 

We want to call your attention to a new federal regulation that went in to effect January 1, 2022. This rule will require psychiatrists and other health care providers to give a “good faith estimate” (GFE) to a patient of what their services will cost and how long they may last.  While this policy is part of most informed consent forms, signed by the patient already, it is prudent to review what the GFE is more formally requesting psychiatrists include in their information to the patient about the course of their treatment. The main difference about past practices and the GFE is that it applies to private pay patients as well as insured patients and uninsured patients.

^{N.C. Health Information Exchange}

With the signing of the state budget, the N.C. General Assembly enacted a law temporarily suspending enforcement provisions in the statewide Health Information Exchange Act. The deadline to connect to N.C. Health Connex (January 1, 2023) is unchanged, but the provision that stops the withholding of payment to providers who have not yet connected to the NCHIEA “…connecting to and submitting data through the HIE Network known as NC HealthConnex shall not be a condition precedent to the receipt of State funds, including Medicaid funds, by any provider.” Learn more about these changes here.

^{Collaborative Care Education and Resource Guide}

The Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) uses a team-based, interdisciplinary approach to deliver evidence-based diagnoses, treatment, and follow-up care to an identified patient population. It is being embraced and adopted in several healthcare systems and payors across the state. Not only does it provide evidence-based care for mental illness and substance use disorders, it is documented to improve access, clinical outcomes, and patient satisfaction. 

This team-based care approach focuses on a new way to leverage psychiatrists and provide evidence-based management of behavioral health conditions in the primary care setting. In addition to improving access, clinical outcomes, and patient satisfaction, the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) has also shown a return on investment (ROI) of 6:1. The CoCM’s ability to help manage costs for behavioral health conditions and complement the state’s approach to whole-person care makes it an excellent option for North Carolina.

Connect to a Consulting Psychiatrist

The NC Psychiatric Association is helping interested Primary Care Practices find adult, child, and adolescent psychiatrists to serve as the consulting psychiatrist. Complete this form to find a consulting psychiatrist.

Become a Consulting Psychiatrist

The NC Psychiatric Association is helping connect psychiatrists interested in working with Primary Care Practices in the CoCM. If you are a psychiatrist looking to working as a psychiatric consultant, click here to complete our matching form.