CSU and palliative care coalition launch eduction programs on advance care planning and billing In response to the nation’s growing demand for physicians trained in advance care planning conversations, the California State University Institute for Palliative Care has partnered with the Coalition for Compassionate Care of California to co-design a comprehensive continuing education curriculum for health care professionals. New this year, Medicare providers can be reimbursed for advance care planning conversations with patients. The newly implemented reimbursement provides an impetus for clinicians to spend time exploring patient health care preferences and documenting goals of care. “Patients want to have these conversations with their providers, and ... April 28, 2016 General Advance Health Care Directive, End of Life Issues, Medicare, Palliative Care, Advance Directive, CME 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Capitol Insight: April 26, 2016 CMA Capitol Insight is a biweekly column by veteran journalist Anthony York, reporting on the inner workings of the state Legislature. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Legislative Scramble Last week was a frantic one inside the Capitol as lawmakers faced a key deadline to pass bills out of policy committee. Measures that did not receive committee approval last week were shelved for the year. A number of major proposals lived to fight another day, but many efforts were left on the prominent pile of abandoned bill ideas that accumulates each and every year. Among ... April 28, 2016 CMA, General CMA Capitol Insight, Anthony York, State Legislation 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA opposes proposed changes to duals demonstration The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) recently released a series of proposals that would change the Coordinated Care Initiative (CCI) enrollment process to 1) passively enroll beneficiaries into Cal MediConnect; and to 2) streamline enrollment by allowing plans to eliminate or dramatically reduce the role of the enrollment broker. The California Medical Association (CMA), in partnership with Justice in Aging and other patient advocacy groups, signed a joint letter strongly opposing the proposals. The Coordinated Care Initiative was authorized by the state in July 2012 in an effort to save ... April 28, 2016 General, Medi-Cal, Medicare Dual Eligible, Medi-Cal, Medicare, DHCS, Regulatory Advocacy 0 0 Comment Read More »
Reminder: Deadline to review Open Payments data is May 15 Drug and medical device manufacturers have completed their submission of data to the Open Payments system on payments or transfers of value made to physicians and teaching hospitals during 2015. Physicians and teaching hospitals now have until May 15, 2016, to review and dispute records attributed to them. The review and dispute process is voluntary, but encouraged. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will publish the 2015 payment data and updates to the 2013 and 2014 data on June 30, 2016. Under the Sunshine Act, drug and medical device ... April 28, 2016 General, Medi-Cal, Medicare CMS, Physician Payments Sunshine Act, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 0 0 Comment Read More »
Take the Physicians Foundation survey and enter to win $5K The Physicians Foundation, a non-profit organization that seeks to empower physicians to lead in the delivery of high-quality, cost-efficient health care, is launching its fourth national Survey of America’s Physicians, one of the largest physician surveys ever undertaken in the United States. The survey will take approximately 10-12 minutes to complete and will allow physicians to share their thoughts on health reform, electronic health records, new methods of physician reimbursement, ICD-10 and a variety of other topics. A full copy of the final survey report will be emailed to all ... April 28, 2016 General Polls/Surveys, Physician Leadership 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA-sponsored beverage training bill receives committee approval A bill sponsored by the California Medical Association (CMA) that would require all restaurant and bar employees who sell or serve alcoholic beverages to undergo responsible beverage service training was approved on a bipartisan 18-0 vote by the Assembly Committee on Governmental Organization on Wednesday. Assembly Bill 2121 would make Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) responsible beverage training mandatory statewide for anyone serving alcoholic beverages. Educating beverage servers in bars and restaurants is a key part to reducing drunk-driving fatalities. Currently, the ABC has a free and voluntary program. The ... April 22, 2016 General Advocacy, Alcohol, State Legislation 0 0 Comment Read More »
AMA to award $50k for best ideas to create a healthier nation Do you have an idea that could help shape 21st century medicine? The American Medical Association (AMA) is helping physicians and medical students bring their cutting-edge health care ideas to reality with the launch of the AMA Healthier Nation Innovation Challenge. “New ideas for better care emerge every day from physicians and medical students on the front lines of medicine,” said AMA President Steven J. Stack, M.D. “AMA wants to support these health care innovators and help them succeed in moving their new ideas from the concept phase into day-to-day ... April 22, 2016 General Health Care Innovations, American Medical Association 0 0 Comment Read More »
CDPH hosting provider call on Zika virus The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is convening a conference call for physicians and other health care providers on the Zika virus. The conference call will take place Wednesday, April 20, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. The conference call will look at California's Zika preparedness activities; global, national and California Zika cases; laboratory update; guidance for the prevention of the sexual transmission of Zika; infection control issues; and monitoring mosquito vectors. There will also be a question and answer session, so physicians can find answers to their specific ... April 19, 2016 General Infectious Diseases, Public Health, Zika Virus, Department of Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
Are you interested in serving in CMA's House of Delegates? The California Medical Association (CMA) is currently accepting applications and nominations for members to serve as delegates and alternates in the association's House of Delegates (HOD). The HOD convenes annually to debate and act on resolutions and reports dealing with myriad medical practice, public health and CMA governance issues. Delegates are also expected to participate in the association's year round policy making process, through the submission of online testimony. Specifically, CMA is currently seeking applications and nominations for the mode-of-practice forum delegations. (Note: mode-of-practice refers to the type or size ... April 18, 2016 General House of Delegates, CMA nominations 0 0 Comment Read More »
Physician leaders converge on the Capitol for CMA's 42nd annual lobby day Over 400 California Medical Association (CMA) member physicians, medical students and physician supporters gathered in Sacramento on April 13 to bring the voice of medicine to legislators. During CMA's 42nd annual Legislative Advocacy Day, physicians discussed the many threats – and opportunities – facing the practice of medicine in California. The group also headed over to the Capitol in white coats to speak to their legislators about critical legislative issues affecting the practice of medicine in California. Among the issues discussed with legislators were: expanded training opportunities for primary care ... April 18, 2016 CMA, General , Legislative Advocacy, Grassroots Advocacy 0 0 Comment Read More »
