Report says CURES database provisions in MICRA ballot measure cannot be implemented Today, the Patients, Providers and Healthcare Insurers to Protect Access & Contain Health Costs campaign released a report that raises serious doubts about whether a key provision of the trial lawyers' proposed anti-MICRA ballot measure can be feasibly implemented. Even worse, according to the report, the ballot measure would put physicians and pharmacists in the impossible position of choosing between denying or delaying needed prescription medication to legitimately suffering patients and violating the law. In addition to more than quadrupling MICRA's cap on non-economic damages, the trial attorneys' proposed initiative would ... March 17, 2014 General CURES, MICRA, Professional Liability 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMS wants your input on practice transformation Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is asking physicians to respond to a questionnaire about the resources physicians will need to make the transition to value-based models of care that can better serve their patients. Comments are due April 8. “We understand you’re trying to run a practice and do a lot of other things, and you’re going to need a lot of support,” CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner said last week when she announced the request for information during the American Medical Association’s (AMA) National Advocacy Conference in Washington, ... March 12, 2014 General CMS, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 0 0 Comment Read More »
Medi-Cal offers billing seminars April 22 and 23 in Anaheim Throughout the year, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) offers in person Medi-Cal training seminars, designed for providers and billing staff at all levels. The next two seminars are scheduled for April 22 and 23, 2014, at the Anaheim Convention Center. These seminars cover the following topics: Changes to Medi-Cal billing ICD-10 overview Basic and advanced billing issues Provider-specific billing questions Specialty programs such as California Children’s Services/Genetically Handicapped Persons Program For more information or ... March 12, 2014 Medi-Cal Billing/Coding, Medi-Cal, Practice Management, Insurance/Reimbursement 0 0 Comment Read More »
New Member Benefit: Members save 50% on DaisyBill RBRVS Calculator The California Medical Association (CMA) is pleased to announce a new valuable benefit for CMA members – 50 percent off DaisyBill’s workers' compensation RBRVS Calculator, plus a special introductory rate of 80 percent off through the end of June. That works out to $9.80 per user per month until June, then $24.50 per month thereafter. With DaisyBill’s calculator, you can quickly and easily determine the correct reimbursement amount for workers’ compensation medical services. This is time and money saving benefit will help physician practices make sense of California’s new ... March 12, 2014 General Member Benefits, Member Discounts, Workers Compensation, Insurance/Reimbursement 0 0 Comment Read More »
Practices required to use new CMS 1500 claim form beginning April 1 Earlier this year, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the revised Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 1500 claim form (version 02/12 OMB control number 0938-1197). The CMS 1500 claim form is the required format for submitting paper claims to Medicare. As of April 1, 2014, CMS will no longer accept paper claims on the old form. Until then, CMS is accepting both the old and new forms. The revised form adds the following functionality: Indicators for differentiating between ICD-9 and ICD-10 ... March 12, 2014 Medicare Billing/Coding, Medicare, Practice Management, Insurance/Reimbursement 0 0 Comment Read More »
Physicians: Call Congress Now RE Medicare SGR Repeal and Payment Reform Medicare SGR Repeal and Payment Reform: HR 4015/S 2000 DON'T PATCH IT, REPEAL IT! Physicians: Call Congress Now! (800) 833-6354 (Takes 2 minutes). Reform won't happen unless Congress hears from thousands of physicians! Click here to learn more. March 12, 2014 Medicare SGR, Sustainable Growth Rate, Medicare 0 0 Comment Read More »
CA Assemblyman Richard Pan, MD receives national government service award Assemblyman Richard Pan, M.D., a Sacramento pediatrician and representative for the California State Assembly's 9th District, this week received the Dr. Nathan Davis Award for Outstanding Government Service from the American Medical Association (AMA). The award was presented during the AMA's National Advocacy Conference this week in Washington, D.C. “Dr. Pan’s outstanding leadership in public health has helped California families build safer, healthier communities,” said AMA Chair David O. Barbe, M.D., MHA. “Dr. Pan is recognized for his commitment to improving the lives of Californians for generations to come ... March 7, 2014 General American Medical Association, Awards, Public Health, CMA Governance 0 0 Comment Read More »
Deadlines loom for Medi-Cal EHR Incentive Program The deadline for providers to apply for Medi-Cal electronic health records (EHR) incentive payments the 2013 program year is March 31, 2014. After that date, the State Level Registry (SLR) will no longer accept 2013 applications. For the 2014 program year, providers who are attesting to adopting, implementing or upgrading certified EHRs can currently apply to the SLR for 2014 program year incentive payments. However, the SLR is currently unable to accept applications from providers attesting to meaningful use for 2014. The SLR will not begin accepting 2014 meaningful use ... March 7, 2014 Medi-Cal Electronic Health Record, Incentive Payments, Insurance/Reimbursement, Medi-Cal, EHR, Health Information Technology 0 0 Comment Read More »
Surviving the third month of Covered California As of February 15, Covered California reports that more than 828,000 individuals have enrolled in exchange plans, which surpasses its original target. With that figure expected to grow by the end of the 2014 open enrollment period, it is critical that physicians and their staff know what to expect. To help answer some of the more common questions, the California Medical Association (CMA) offers this third tip sheet to help physicians survive the third month of Covered California. Also see "Surviving the First Month of Covered California" and "Surviving the ... March 7, 2014 Managed Care Health Insurance Exchange, Practice Resources, Covered California 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA announces sponsored bill package for 2014 The California Medical Association (CMA) recently announced its sponsored bill package for 2014, which includes legislation that would increase access to care in California, restore the 10 percent Medi-Cal provider rate cut and strengthen physicians' rights when contracting with managed care plans. Below are summaries of CMA's eight sponsored bills: All Products Clauses (AB 2400) This bill would prohibit health service plans from executing agreements with physicians that contain provisions requiring them to participate in all networks or products that are currently offered or that may be offered by the health ... March 7, 2014 General Legislative Advocacy, Advocacy 0 0 Comment Read More »
