CMS announces second cycle of Medicare revalidation Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), all Medicare providers and suppliers have been required to revalidate their Medicare enrollment information under new enrollment screening criteria in an effort to prevent fraud within the Medicare system. Once a Medicare enrollment application is validated, the clock starts ticking on a five-year revalidation cycle. Now that five years have passed since the ACA's revalidation requirement took effect, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is initiating a second cycle of revalidation requests. According to CMS, Medicare Administrative Contractors (MAC) ... March 31, 2016 Medicare Affordable Care Act, Medicare, ACA 0 0 Comment Read More »
National 'Match Day' largest on record, but many California students must study elsewhere The National Resident Matching Program announced today that the 2016 Match Day for graduating medical students was the largest on record, with 42,370 registered applicants and 30,750 positions filled. The number of United States medical school seniors grew by 221 to 18,668, and the number of available first-year positions rose to 27,860, which is 567 more than last year. "Match Day," an annual rite of passage for future physicians, is the system through which medical school students and graduates obtain residency positions in U.S. accredited training programs. Despite the high ... March 31, 2016 General Match Day, Medical Students, Residents and Fellows, State Legislation, Graduate Medical Eduction 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA files amicus brief in support of hospital medical staff self-governance The California Medical Association (CMA) has filed an amicus brief in support of the medical staff at Tulare Regional Medical Center in its lawsuit against the hospital alleging violations of state laws when the hospital terminated the entire medical staff and its duly elected officers. The hospital has recognized a replacement medical staff formed by a group of seven physicians led by the vice chairman of the hospital board. This group presented itself as a newly formed medical staff after it selected new bylaws and named officers to the medical ... March 31, 2016 CMA Hospital Medical Staff, Legal Advocacy, Self-Governance, Amicus Briefs 0 0 Comment Read More »
California lawmakers unveil bill to tax MCOs and plug $1.1 billion hole in budget California lawmakers on Monday unveiled two identical bills to replace the soon-to-expire tax on managed care organizations (MCO). The bills, ABx2 20 (Bonta) and SBx2 15 (Hernandez), are the product of 14 months of negations with MCOs. These bills are supported by the California Association of Health Plans, with most member plans either supportive or neutral. The current MCO tax will expire this summer if legislators cannot agree on a replacement. Since 2005, the state has taxed MCOs and used the money to cover the costs of the Medi-Cal program. ... February 16, 2016 Managed Care, Medi-Cal Medi-Cal, State Legislation, Managed Care, Managed Care Organization (MCO) 0 0 Comment Read More »
Physicians invited to attend workshop on addressing health disparities in HIV care California physicians are encouraged to register for a free dinner workshop presented by the American Academy of HIV Medicine (AAHIVM) on February 15, 2016, in San Diego: Health Disparities, Health Equity and HIV: Recognizing, Understanding and Addressing Disparities that Impact our Patients with HIV Infection. AAHIVM is offering 2 hours of continuing medical education for this workshop, which will feature discussions on health care equity and case studies. Presenters include Richard Elion, M.D., Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at George Washington University School of Medicine, and Christian B. Ramers, M.D., ... February 11, 2016 General 0 0 Comment Read More »
Call for Applications/Nominations: California Delegation to AMA At-Large Seats Please see the following call for applications/nominations for physician members interested to serve on the California Delegation to the American Medical Association (AMA). Please distribute this solicitation to any and all interested parties. Position: Three (3) available At-Large seats on the California Delegation to the AMA Body: California Delegation to the AMA Members of the AMA House of Delegates serve as an important communications, policy and membership link between the AMA and grassroots physicians. The delegate/ alternate delegate is a key source of information on activities, programs and policies of the AMA. The delegate/alternate ... February 10, 2016 General California Delegation to AMA At-Large Seats 0 0 Comment Read More »
CDPH to host provider call on Zika virus this Wednesday, Feb. 10 The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is convening a conference call for health care providers on Wednesday, February 10, from 9-10 a.m. The call will provide information and updates about the Zika virus, and give providers the opportunity to ask questions. Please plan to join the call in groups within your organization to maximize availability of conference call lines. To join the conference, call dial (866) 216-6835(866) 216-6835 FREE and key 839641 as the participant passcode. For questions about the call, please contact Cheryl Starling, R.N., nurse consultant and project ... February 9, 2016 General Public Health, Zika Virus, Department of Public Health, Infectious Diseases 0 0 Comment Read More »
Register today for CMA webinar on how to get involved (or more involved) in organized medicine The California Medical Association (CMA) will host a webinar on CMA’s recently reformed physician governance structure and how members can get involved in organized medicine on Wednesday, February 10, from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. This webinar will be presented by CMA Speaker of the House of Delegates, Theodore M. Mazer, M.D. Dr. Mazer is a board-certified otolaryngologist who has been working in a small, solo practice in San Diego for more than 25 years. Dr. Mazer will present information on the new year-round resolutions process; becoming a member of the House ... February 9, 2016 General Webinars, CMA Policy 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA urges Tulare hospital to reverse decision to oust elected medical staff leaders A California hospital’s recent attempt to unlawfully dissolve its medical staff and replace the staff’s elected leaders has spurred the California Medical Association (CMA) to step in and urge more appropriate action. The issue revolves around a decision purportedly made by the Tulare Regional Medical Center’s Board of Directors on January 26 to “terminate its relationship” with the hospital’s medical staff and “enter a new arrangement” with a new medical staff – one that has been approved by the hospital's board, according to a letter sent from Board Chair Sherrie ... February 9, 2016 General Legal Advocacy, Medical Staff Self-Governance, Tulare County Medical Society, Hospital Medical Staff 0 0 Comment Read More »
New report gives California "F" grade for tobacco control policies California is largely failing in its efforts to fight tobacco use, according to the American Lung Association (ALA). In its 14th annual “State of Tobacco Control” report released on February 3, ALA gave California a failing grade in three out of four possible categories: Tobacco prevention and cessation funding, tobacco taxes, and access to cessation services. For the final category, which rates a state’s efforts to provide smoke-free air, California received a “B.” “While significant progress has been made in reducing youth cigarette smoking, youth use of other tobacco products, including e-cigarettes ... February 9, 2016 General Electronic Cigarettes, Public Health, Save Lives California, Tobacco, Tobacco Tax, American Lung Association 0 0 Comment Read More »
