CMA's chief strategy officer appointed to California's Health Financing Authority The California Medical Association’s (CMA) chief strategy officer, Jay Hansen, has been re-appointed to the California Health Facilities Financing Authority (CHFFA). He has been a member of the CHFFA board since 2012. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. CHFFA provides financial assistance to public and non-profit health care providers in California through loans funded by the issuance of tax-exempt bonds. The board authorizes several billion dollars a year in tax exempt financing and as well as providing low interest loans and grants. From rural community-based organizations ... April 12, 2016 General California Health Facilities Financing Authority, Jay Hansen 0 0 Comment Read More »
Last chance to appeal payments under ACA primary care physician rate increase The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) announced that it would provide a 90-day appeal window for physicians who believe they were not paid, or paid incorrectly, under the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) primary care rate increase. In late February 2016, DHCS announced a streamlined appeal process, which opened on March 1. The appeal window is only available under the following conditions: The provider successfully attested for the ACA incentive by December 31, 2014 For previously paid Medi-Cal claims For ... April 12, 2016 General Affordable Care Act, Department of Health Care Services, DHCS, ACA 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA physician honored in state assembly for selfless organ donation Last week, California Medical Association member, Ester C. Kwok, M.D., an internist in Los Gatos, was honored in the California State Assembly for a selfless kidney in a 12-person organ donation chain that saved the life of her elderly patient’s son. "A wife and the mother of four children," the resolution reads. "Dr. Kwok realized when first considering kidney donation that such an act defied her deeply held religious and cultural beliefs; yet in a remarkable testament to her personal fortitude and selflessness, through prayer-guided reflection and her innate generosity ... April 12, 2016 General Organ Donation, CMA Foundation (CMAF) 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA congratulates Dr. Joaquin Arambula on 31st Assembly District win Joaquin Arambula, M.D., a Fresno emergency room physician and member of the California Medical Association (CMA), won a special election on Tuesday to fill a seat vacated by Henry T. Perea in the 31st district in the state Assembly. Dr. Arambula, a Democrat, received 52 percent of the 29,000 votes counted, besting Republican Clint Olivier's 42 percent. “Today, we congratulate Dr. Joaquin Arambula on a well run campaign and a well deserved victory,” said Steve Larson, M.D., president of the CMA. "CMA diligently advocates on behalf of providers and patients to ... April 12, 2016 General Election, Fresno-Madera Medical Society, State Legislature, CALPAC 0 0 Comment Read More »
United Healthcare to post patient satisfaction ratings in provider directory United Healthcare (UHC) announced in its March 2016 Network Bulletin that it has incorporated Healthgrades patient satisfaction ratings into its provider directory search tool on its myUHC.com website. Healthgrades is an independent company that allows patients to rate their satisfaction with their health care providers. UHC reports it is incorporating the patient satisfaction ratings into its provider directory to increase patient awareness and education regarding patient satisfaction and quality of care standards. Patients will rate providers – including physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants – on their satisfaction level for each ... April 12, 2016 General United Healthcare 0 0 Comment Read More »
American Lung Association seeks Spanish-speaking physicians If you speak Spanish and are interested in joining the American Lung Association (ALA) as a California lung health spokesperson, they would love to talk to you. The ALA receives a lot requests from Spanish media for Spanish speaking physicians or health care professionals who can speak about lung health issues and news. Additionally, the ALA is also looking for Spanish speaking physicians to speak about the California Doctors for Climate Health campaign. This ALA campaign highlights the medical and health community's strong support for California's leadership on clean air ... April 12, 2016 General Environmental Health, Ethnic Diversity, American Lung Assocation, Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
Study says it will take California six years before it sees the results of its new vaccination law A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics says it will take California a full six years before the benefits of its new school vaccination law will be fully realized. The new law (Senate Bill 277), which takes effect July 1, 2016, eliminates all but medical vaccine exemptions from school vaccination requirements. The number of students in California with “grandfathered” exemptions in public and private schools will, however, remain as high as 95,090 in 2018 and 37,224 in 2020 (1.39 percent and 0.54 percent, respectively), according to the study’s authors. Their analysis ... April 4, 2016 General Public Health, Vaccination, Immunization 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA and AMA urge DOI to oppose Anthem and Cigna merger Last week, the California Medical Association (CMA) testified before the California Department of Insurance (DOI), urging it to oppose the proposed merger of Anthem and Cigna. “We are concerned with the impact of this merger on physicians and patients,” said Francisco Silva, CMA general counsel and senior vice president. “We are concerned that this merger would compromise access to health care, health care quality and patient affordability.” The American Medical Association (AMA) also sent representatives to the hearing to testify against the merger. “We oppose Anthem’s goal of dominating the California ... April 4, 2016 General Department of Insurance, Anthem Blue Cross, Cigna, Regulatory advocacy 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA meets with CMS on implementing California GPCI fix California Medical Association (CMA) physician leaders recently traveled to Baltimore, MD, to meet with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) leaders responsible for implementing the California Geographic Practice Cost Index (GPCI) fix, which will overhaul California’s outdated geographic payment localities. CMA was represented at the GPCI meeting by Larry DeGhetaldi, M.D., division president of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation in Santa Cruz, and Edward Bentley, M.D., a gastroenterologist in solo practice in Santa Barbara. Both physicians have worked on the GPCI issue for CMA for more than a decade. ... April 4, 2016 Medicare CMS, Federal Legislative Advocacy, Geographic Practice Cost Index, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, GPCI 0 0 Comment Read More »
Open Payments review and dispute period now open 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 45 days to review and dispute records attributed to them. The review and dispute period is open from April 1 until May 15, 2016. 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 ... April 4, 2016 General, Managed Care, Medi-Cal, Medicare CMS, Physician Payments Sunshine Act, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 0 0 Comment Read More »
