CDC urges aggressive screening of pregnant women for Zika The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging physicians to be more aggressive in screening pregnant women for the Zika virus. The new guidance comes amid growing concerns about Zika, which, if contracted by pregnant women, can result in severe birth defects — including microcephaly, which stunts children’s brain development. It has also been implicated in miscarriages and diseases like Guillain-Barre, a neurological disorder that causes temporary paralysis. The CDC update recommends that all pregnant women in the United States and its territories should be “assessed for possible ... August 5, 2016 General Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Public Health, Zika Virus, CDC, Infectious Diseases 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Foundation releases PSAs to raise awareness about important adult immunizations The California Medical Association (CMA) Foundation has released public service announcements (PSA), in English and Spanish, to raise awareness about the importance of adult immunizations. The Foundation suggests that physicians turn their attention to adults, who haven’t been as diligent about getting their own shots. Vaccines are important at all ages. While there has been a lot of focus on unvaccinated children, physicians must not lose sight of the vaccines that are important at every age and stage in life. Millions of Californians are newly covered under the Affordable Care Act ... August 5, 2016 General I Heart Immunity, Immunization, Public Health, Vaccination, CMA Foundation (CMAF) 0 0 Comment Read More »
Provider participation in Medi-Cal does not keep pace with growth of enrollment New 2015 data shows that the percentage of physicians participating in Medi-Cal has declined since 2013, while during the same period, Medi-Cal enrollment increased by 39 percent. The numbers show that provider participation in Medi-Cal has not kept pace with the growth in enrollment, and raise serious concerns about whether the numbers of physicians participating in Medi-Cal can meet the increased demand. A California Healthcare Foundation survey of California physicians shows that Medi-Cal participation declined from 69 percent in 2013 to 63 percent in 2015. The numbers of specialty care ... August 5, 2016 Medi-Cal Prop. 55, Prop. 56 (tobacco tax), Tobacco Tax, Medi-Cal, Political Advocacy 0 0 Comment Read More »
HHS begins second phase of HIPAA audits The second phase of audits for compliance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations is underway. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) selected a total of 167 health plans, health care providers and health care clearinghouses to be audited. Selected physician practices would have received an email from OCR on July 11. The email may be incorrectly classified as spam, so check your spam and junk folders to make sure you didn't miss it. The 2016 phase 2 HIPAA audit program ... August 5, 2016 General HIPAA, HIPAA Privacy Rule, Audits 0 0 Comment Read More »
Covered California announces sharp rate hike Covered California has announced an average 13.2 percent hike in insurance premiums for 2017, a sharp increase that is likely to reverberate nationwide in an election year. The California Medical Association (CMA) is concerned the premium increases may hinder the ability of some patients to obtain insurance and access necessary medical treatment. The rise in Covered California premium rates was driven largely by its two biggest insurers, which account for about half of its enrollment. Blue Shield of California said its average rate hike is 19.9 percent, the biggest statewide ... August 5, 2016 Managed Care Covered California, Exchange Plans, Health Insurance Exchange, Affordable Care Act 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA applauds U.S. Justice Department lawsuit against health insurance mega-mergers The California Medical Association (CMA) today applauded the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for filing two lawsuits challenging the proposed merger of Anthem and Cigna and of Aetna and Humana — all of which are among the largest health insurance companies in the country. “We applaud the DOJ for protecting patients against mega-mergers that would drastically reduce competition in the health insurance market, leaving patients at a huge disadvantage in the pursuit of timely and affordable health care,” said CMA President Steven Larson, M.D., MPH. “We also commend California Insurance ... August 5, 2016 Managed Care Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Cigna, Department of Justice, DOJ, Advocacy, Humana 0 0 Comment Read More »
DOJ files lawsuit to block two health insurance mega-mergers The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) today filed two lawsuits to block health insurance mega-mergers that would compromise patients’ access to care, and negatively impact the quality and affordability of health care across the country. “If allowed to proceed, these mergers would fundamentally reshape the health insurance industry,” U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said at a press conference. “They would leave much of the multi-trillion dollar health insurance industry in the hands of three mammoth insurance companies, restricting competition in key markets.” The California Medical Association (CMA) has long-held concerns over ... August 5, 2016 Managed Care Cigna, Department of Justice, DOJ, Aetna, Anthem Ble Cross, Humana 0 0 Comment Read More »
Registration Now Open for IMQ Medical Staff Conference Registration is now open for the 2016 Institute for Medical Quality (IMQ) Medical Staff Conference, set for October 27 at the Embassy Suites SFO (Gateway) Hotel in South San Francisco. This event will deliver the information, solutions and best practices that physicians need to successfully lead their medical staffs. The conference will tackle some of the difficult decisions that face medical staffs, such as credentialing, granting privileges and proctoring practitioners for remote technology (telemedicine), and privileging policies for the new technology. Through examples and discussion, faculty will demonstrate how medical ... July 25, 2016 General IMQ Medical Staff Conference, Institute for Medical Quality (IMQ) 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMS Releases Proposed 2017 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released the proposed 2017 Medicare physician payment rule. According to CMS, the new payment rule will transform how Medicare pays for primary care through a new focus on care management and behavioral health. The proposed rule also begins to implement the California Geographic Practice Cost Index (GPCI) fix, which will overhaul California’s outdated geographic payment localities. This long-overdue fix updating California’s Medicare physician payment regions will raise payment levels for 14 urban California counties misclassified as rural, while holding the remaining ... July 25, 2016 General, Medicare 2017 Medicare physician payment rule , Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) 0 0 Comment Read More »
County issues Heat Advisory, high heat temperatures expected this weekend County issues Heat Advisory, high heat temperatures expected this weekend - English Flyer Dr. Maxwell Ohikhuare Health Officer for San Bernardino County has issued another excessive heat warning for high temperatures today and through this coming weekend. Temperatures are expected to be above 105°F for the Inland Valley areas and up to 110°F for the high deserts. The mountain areas below 6000 feet will see temperatures up to 102°F. “As another heat wave hits our county, we need to remember to try and stay cool. Check on those most vulnerable, ... July 21, 2016 General Heat Advisory, Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
