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responsible for implementing the California Geographic Practice Cost Index (GPCI) fix, which will overhaul California’s outdated geographic payment localities.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 »
The Physicians Foundation invites physicians to participate in fourth annual survey 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. “This national survey allows physicians to share their perspective on the state of the medical profession,” said Walker Ray, M.D., Physicians Foundation president. “We’d like to hear from as many physicians as possible so we can accurately understand – and share with the public – physicians’ perspectives on ... April 4, 2016 General Survey, The Physicians Foudation 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA council reports now available for comment At the close of the California Medical Association’s (CMA) 2015 House of Delegates, new governance reforms took effect. One of the most significant changes to the bylaws allows for the submission of resolutions for debate and discussion by members throughout the year. CMA opened its second quarter resolutions for online comment in February. On March 18, the close of the comment period, member input was used to inform the Council on Science and Public Health, Council on Medical Services, and Council on Health Professions and Quality of Care, which then ... April 4, 2016 CMA House of Delegates 0 0 Comment Read More »
New POLST toolkits available online in English and Spanish Physicians across California are successfully using Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) to improve patient care at the end of life. POLST is a legally recognized document, printed on bright pink paper, that outlines a plan of care reflecting patients' wishes concerning medical treatment and interventions toward the end of our lives. Under a new law that took effect January 1, 2016, nurse practitioners (NP) and physician assistants (PA) acting under the direction of a physician and within their scope of practice are now able to sign the POLST forms ... April 4, 2016 General Life Sustaining Treatment, Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment, POLST, End of Life Issues 0 0 Comment Read More »
Health plan group pilots program to improve physician directories America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) is launching a pilot program to ensure that physician directories are more accurate and up-to-date, the organization announced last week. The pilot program involves two directory vendors, BetterDoctor and Availity, and will include providers in three states: California, Florida and Indiana. The pilot program will run from April to September, according to AHIP, and will include the following eight California plans: Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of California Health Net of California Humana ... April 4, 2016 Managed Care Insurance, Medical Provider Networks, Provider Networks, Health Plans 0 0 Comment Read More »
IMQ's CME certification reporting process upgraded The Institute for Medical Quality (IMQ), a subsidiary of the California Medical Association, has upgraded its continuing medical education (CME) certification reporting process so physicians can report all of their CME activities online 24/7. The new service also gives physicians the ability to pay online for CME certification, as well as to view and print an official transcript of activities at any time. IMQ's CME Certification Program documents and verifies physicians' CME activities. When certified by IMQ, physicians' CME credits will automatically be accepted by the California Medical Board, saving ... April 4, 2016 General CME Tracking, Continuing Medical Education, IMQ, Institute for Medical Quality, CME 0 0 Comment Read More »
Senate passes opioid addiction treatment measure Last month, the U.S. Senate voted 94-1 to fund opioid education and prevention initiatives, improve treatment programs and expand the availability of the overdose prevention drug naloxone. The bill, known as the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA; S 524), would increase opioid abuse and prevention education efforts to the public, veterans, and incarcerated individuals; expand the availability of naloxone; identify and treat incarcerated individuals (as well as develop alternatives to incarceration); expand drug take-back efforts and disposal sites for unwanted medications; and create prescription opioid and heroin treatment intervention ... April 4, 2016 General Federal Legislation, Medical Solutions to Drug Abuse, Opioids, Drug Abuse 0 0 Comment Read More »
