IMQ offers two types of peer review to assist medical staffs The California Medical Association’s Institute for Medical Quality (IMQ) now provides two types of peer review services for medical staffs, including a clinical review of individual cases as well as a comprehensive evaluation of a physician’s entire practice. These services are customized for each medical staff, group or clinic, with fees based on the scope of services provided. IMQ peer review services are most helpful when the medical staff’s peer review body, with the consent of the subject physician, has freely sought such services as an aid to its ... April 8, 2015 General Institute for Medical Quality, Medical Staff, Peer Review, IMQ 0 0 Comment Read More »
Study finds physicians fail to tell patients of an Alzheimer's diagnosis A report published by the Alzheimer’s Association last week found that physicians are more likely to tell patients of their diagnosis if they have cancer than if they have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The”2015 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures” report found that just 45 percent of Medicare patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s said they were informed of the diagnosis by their doctor. In contrast, more than 90 percent of Medicare patients with cancer said they were told. “These disturbingly low disclosure rates in Alzheimer’s disease are reminiscent of rates seen for cancer ... April 8, 2015 General Public Health, Alzheimer's 0 0 Comment Read More »
Western Health Care Leadership Academy speakers include author of "Emperor of All Maladies," subject of Ken Burns documentary The 2015 Western Health Care Leadership Academy, to be held May 29-31, will feature special guest speaker Siddhartha Mukherjee, M.D., Pulitzer Prize winning author of The Emperor of All Maladies. The book is the focus of a recent three-part Ken Burns documentary that aired on PBS March 30 through April 1, 2015, which critics called “powerful and poignant.” Dr. Mukherjee is an oncologist, cancer researcher and science writer who brought new insights into the causes and cures of cancer. In his book, Dr. Mukherjee gives readers a fascinating look ... April 8, 2015 General Public Health, Western Health Care Leadership Academy, Cancer 0 0 Comment Read More »
ACIP updates HPV vaccine recommendations During its February 2015 meeting, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended the 9-valent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine (9vHPV; Gardasil 9, Merck) as one of three HPV vaccines that can be used for routine vaccination, according to a report published in the March 26 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved 9vHPV in December 2014. Based on a review of clinical trials, the committee determined the new vaccine was more cost-effective and had 97 percent efficacy compared with the current 4-valent HPV ... April 8, 2015 General Immunization, Public Health, Vaccination, HPV 0 0 Comment Read More »
ICD-10 training seminar dates and locations announced The California Medical Association (CMA), in partnership with your local county medical society and the California Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), is now offering statewide, two-day ICD-10 code set seminars this summer. A full schedule of dates and locations is now available at www.cmanet.org/AAPC-ICD10. The training is designed specifically for coding staff and intended to give attendees a comprehensive understanding of guidelines and conventions of ICD-10, as well as fundamental knowledge of how to decipher, understand and accurately apply codes in ICD-10. This American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) course is ... April 1, 2015 General Billing/Coding, ICD-10, Seminars, AAPC-ICD-10 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA submits letter to CMS requesting assessment of Medi-Cal rates Last week, the California Medical Association (CMA), along with 17 stakeholder organizations, submitted comments to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), requesting that an independent assessment of Medi-Cal rates be required as part of the state’s next Section 1115 Medicaid Waiver. The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is in the last year of its current Section 1115 waiver, which was approved by the federal government so it could expand Medi-Cal coverage in accordance with the Affordable Care Act in 2010. The waiver allowed the state to ... April 1, 2015 Medi-Cal CMS, Medi-Cal, Regulatory Advocacy, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 0 0 Comment Read More »
DHCS releases concept paper on Medicaid Waiver The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has released a proposal to modify provider payments to save money in the Medicaid system. The state is seeking to waive existing laws and regulations in order to implement new projects for the state’s next 1115 Section Medicaid Waiver. California is currently in the final year of its current Section 1115 Waiver, which was approved by the federal government so California could expand Medi-Cal coverage in accordance with the Affordable Care Act in 2010 and implement a variety of delivery reform projects ... April 1, 2015 Medi-Cal DHCS, Medi-Cal, Department of Health Care Services 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Capitol Insight: March 30, 2015 CMA Capitol insight is a biweekly column by veteran journalist Anthony York, reporting on the inner workings of the state Legislature. From drought to political firestorm and more If you’ve passed California Medical Association (CMA) headquarters at 12th and J St. recently, you may have noticed some new artwork. Courtesy of the California Department of Public Health, posters warning of the dangers of e-cigarettes, or “vaping,” adorn the building’s brick walls. The poster, however, is just one component of CMA’s recent resurgence in campaigning against tobacco. CMA is sponsoring and supporting ... April 1, 2015 General CMA Capitol Insight, Anthony York 0 0 Comment Read More »
Senate delays vote on SGR until April, CMS to delay 21% cuts until mid-month The U.S. Senate failed to take a vote to permanently fix the Medicare sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula and extend the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) last night and will take the measure up when it returns from a break on April 13. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said shortly after the budget debate at 3 a.m. on the Senate floor, “It’s encouraging this passed the House with such a large bipartisan majority, and I want to assure we’ll move to it very quickly when we get back…I think ... April 1, 2015 Medicare Medicare, SGR, Sustainable Growth Rate, Federal Legislative Advocacy 0 0 Comment Read More »
New study finds thousands may be eligible for health insurance in California under DACA Between 360,000 and 500,000 immigrants living in California could become eligible for Medi-Cal if they receive temporary protection from deportation through President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, according to a study by UC Berkeley’s Center for Labor Research and Education and the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. Under the President’s executive actions on immigration, those people living in the U.S. without permission can't enroll in Covered California, but the state does allow those granted temporary relief from deportation to sign up for Medi-Cal. That means up ... April 1, 2015 Medi-Cal Medi-Cal 0 0 Comment Read More »
