Health care has been in the news constantly this month with the opening of the Affordable Care Act Health Care Exchanges/Marketplace on the first of the month, as well as the showdown over the ACA and the federal government shutdown in Washington, D.C. But there also has been some major news closer to home in Raleigh.

On Oct. 8, a 100-plus strong contingent of North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) members converged on the Legislative Building for a special NCMS-sponsored breakfast with legislators to share their practices’ stories of hardship with the new and malfunctioning NCTracks Medicaid claims system. After breakfast, the lawmakers on the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee for Health and Human Services referenced many of our members’ concerns about NCTracks and asked officials from CSC, the company responsible for the system, and the NC Department of Health and Human Services staff about what was being done to correct the problems.

This is a prime example of the power of the NCMS to hold policymakers accountable and initiate change. Thank you to the many members from throughout the state who took time away from work to come to the breakfast and voice their concerns. Watch the NCMS website and future Bulletins for reports on what action the state takes to remedy the problems with NCTracks.

The other big news for NCMS happens today, Wednesday, Oct. 16. This evening, beginning at 6 p.m., we are rededicating our newly refurbished headquarters, at 222 N. Person Street, right down the block from the Legislative Building. This state-of-the-art facility, from now on, will be called the Center for Leadership in Medicine to reflect the crucial role the NCMS plays for our members as a leader in organized medicine. If you are unable to attend the formal program tonight, please visit your new center the next time you’re in Raleigh. There is ample meeting space and a wealth of human resources housed at the center to address health care policy issues during these important and challenging times.

In addition to these big events, the NCMS is holding its 159^th Annual Meeting and House of Delegates (HOD) next week, October 25-26, at the Raleigh Marriott City Center in downtown Raleigh. We have a packed agenda of educational events, networking and social opportunities, and policy debate at the HOD. To get the latest information on the meeting, visit www.ncmedsoc.org/annualmeeting. We look forward to seeing you there!