CMS and AMA schedule MACRA webinars The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the American Medical Association (AMA) have scheduled a number of educational webinars to help physicians understand and prepare for the new Medicare Quality Payment Program for physicians created by the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Below is a list of upcoming webinars: Title: Quality Payment Program Final Rule Presented by: CMS Date: Tuesday, November 15, 2016 Time: 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. PT Register: Click here Title: MACRA Education Presented by: AMA Date: Monday, November 21, 2016 Time: 4 to 5:30 p.m. PT Register: Click here Title: MACRA Education Presented ... November 4, 2016 Managed Care, Medi-Cal, Medicare MACRA, Webinars 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Foundation recognizes two physicians with leadership awards The California Medical Association (CMA) Foundation recognized two deserving physicians at the Annual President's Reception and Award Gala, held October 15 in Sacramento. Peter N. Bretan, Jr., M.D., received the 2016 Adarsh S. Mahal, M.D., Access to Health Care and Disparities Award, which honors an individual or organization that has made a significant contribution toward improving access to health care or reducing health care disparities in California. Dr. Bretan, a renal transplant surgeon and urologist with special training in laparoscopic surgery, has demonstrated a longstanding dedication to improving individual and community ... November 4, 2016 Awards Awards, CMA Foundation (CMAF), Physician Leadership 0 0 Comment Read More »
Study finds fewer California physicians accept Medi-Cal despite a surge in patients Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the numbers of patients enrolled in Medi-Cal has increased over the past three years, but a new study published by the California Health Care Foundation shows that fewer physicians are accepting these patients—largely because of the dismal payment rates. Medi-Cal has long been underfunded, resulting in decreased access to health care for patients and dangerously low reimbursement rates for participating physicians. Currently, payments to doctors for a typical office visit under Medi-Cal are far less than the cost of providing care. In 2013, according to ... November 4, 2016 Medi-Cal Prop.56 (tobacco tax), Ballot Measures, Election, Medi-Cal, Political Advocacy, Prop.55 0 0 Comment Read More »
President's Message: Meet Mitzi Young, Physician Advocate November, 2016 Dear Friends and Colleagues, One of the greatest responsibilities we have as a medical society is to partner with you in providing resources for you to successfully manage your practice and consistently deliver the best possible patient care. That’s why I am excited to announce the addition of our very own physician advocate: Welcome Mitzi Young! Mitzi brings the CMA’s Center for Economic Services directly into your office setting to serve as your personal consultant on a wide variety of compliance, contracting, insurance, claims and training issues. She will ... November 3, 2016 CMA, General, President's Message Mitzi Young, Physician Advocate, President's Message 0 0 Comment Read More »
Cloud computing providers need to sign business associate agreements, says OCR The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights (OCR) recently released updated guidance on the use of cloud computing for the storage or transmission of electronic personal health information (ePHI). The new guidance clarifies that cloud service providers are considered "business associates" under HIPAA, even if the provider only stores encrypted data and doesn't have a decryption key to view the data. This means that if a covered entity (or business associate) uses a cloud service provider to maintain ePHI without entering into a business associate ... November 1, 2016 EHR, Managed Care Health Information Technology (HIT), Electronic Health Record 0 0 Comment Read More »
Sacramento physician receives 2016 Compassionate Service Award Sacramento emergency physician Hernando Garzon, M.D., was recognized with the California Medical Association’s (CMA) Compassionate Service Award at the 145th annual CMA House of Delegates, which convened October 15-16, 2016, in Sacramento. The award honors a CMA member physician who best illustrates the association's commitment to community and charity care. For more than 20 years, Dr. Garzon has demonstrated a commitment to disaster response and humanitarian medical relief. In the fall of 2014, Dr. Garzon went to West Africa to assist with the outbreak of Ebola, which had an incredibly ... November 1, 2016 Awards, CMA Awards, Disaster Preparedness, Physician Leadership 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA physicians converge on Sacramento for annual meeting More than 500 California physicians convened in Sacramento this weekend for the 145th Annual Session of the California Medical Association (CMA) House of Delegates (HOD), which convened October 15-16, 2016, at the Sacramento Convention Center. This meeting marks the end of the first year of CMA’s new governance reforms. Under the new system of governance, the HOD now meets to establish broad policy on current major issues affecting members, the association and the practice of medicine. The major issues discussed this year were: MACRA Maintenance ... November 1, 2016 CMA House of Delegates, CMA Policy 0 0 Comment Read More »
Ruth Haskins, M.D., inaugurated as California Medical Association's 149th president The California Medical Association (CMA) installed Ruth Haskins, M.D., as the 149th president of CMA during the organization’s annual House of Delegates meeting October 15, 2016. Dr. Haskins, an OB-GYN practicing out of Folsom, Calif., has been a CMA and Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Association member for 23 years. She served on the CMA Board of Trustees from 2013-15 and as chair of the CMA Council on Legislation from 2010-13. “I’m grateful and excited for the opportunity to make lasting improvements in the field of health and change lives for the ... November 1, 2016 CMA Physician Leadership, CMA Elections 0 0 Comment Read More »
Address of the CMA President, Dr. Ruth Haskins It is with great enthusiasm that I take to this podium, newly installed as your President of the California Medical Association (CMA). I am honored. I am humbled. During this next year I pledge to show you through my words and actions that you made the right choice in your vote. My face and my words will represent the physicians of California, to your colleagues, to the public, to the legislature and other healthcare decision-makers. This year I promise to do my best to restore the value to our profession. Being physicians is ... November 1, 2016 CMA House of Delegates 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA's 2016 Nye Award given to Los Angeles psychiatrist Los Angeles psychiatrist Karen Miotto, M.D., was named the 2016 recipient of the California Medical Association (CMA) Gary S. Nye Award for Physician Health and Well-Being in recognition of her selfless devotion to advocating and promoting the well-being of her fellow physicians The award honors a CMA member who has made significant contributions toward improving physician health and wellness. The award was established by the House of Delegates in 2009 in honor of Gary Nye, M.D., a leader in bringing attention and developing solutions for physician impairment and rehabilitation. Dr. Miotto ... November 1, 2016 Awards, CMA Awards, House of Delegates 0 0 Comment Read More »
