CMA objects to federal rule that would disrupt comprehensive women's health coverage The California Medical Association (CMA) has filed formal comments objecting to a proposed federal rule that would change the way consumers are billed for health insurance exchange plans that cover abortion services. The proposed Exchange Program Integrity rule would require plans to send two separate monthly bills to each policyholder: one bill for the non-Hyde abortion coverage (at least $1 per member per month) and one bill for all other services. This would mean consumers would have to pay their monthly premium in two separate transactions. CMA believes the proposal threatens ... February 4, 2019 CMA, General, Managed Care Health Care Reform, Women's Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA comments on HHS proposal to reduce health IT burden Physicians are overwhelmed with unnecessary, burdensome regulations that take time and resources away from providing quality patient care. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently issued a draft strategy designed to help reduce administrative and regulatory burden on clinicians caused by the use of health information technology (health IT) such as electronic health records (EHRs). The draft Strategy on Reducing Regulatory and Administrative Burden Relating to the Use of Health IT and EHRs was led by the HHS Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology ... February 4, 2019 CMA, General Electronic Health Records, Health Information Technology 0 0 Comment Read More »
Call to Action: Act now to ensure patients can get needed prescriptions Flawed implementation of a new state law that requires all security prescription forms to have a uniquely serialized number law has left pharmacies unable to fill prescriptions and patients being refused necessary medications. The California Medical Association (CMA) is currently working on a legislative fix to address this issue immediately to ensure no patient goes without the essential medicine and care they need. Last week, AB 149 (Assemblymembers Cooper, Arambula and Low) was introduced to correct the flawed implementation the new law, which was intended to improve the security of ... January 30, 2019 CMA, General Advocacy, Drug Prescribing/Dispensing 0 0 Comment Read More »
Bill introduced to fix security prescription law Flawed implementation of a new state law that requires all security prescription forms to have a uniquely serialized number law has left pharmacies unable to fill prescriptions and patients being refused necessary medications. The California Medical Association (CMA) is currently working on a legislative fix to address this issue immediately to ensure no patient goes without the essential medicine and care they need. This week, AB 149 (Assemblymembers Cooper, Arambula and Low) was introduced to correct the flawed implementation the new law, which was intended to improve the security of ... January 30, 2019 CMA, General Advocacy, Drug Prescribing/Dispensing 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA working to fix security prescription legislation The California Medical Association (CMA) has heard from dozens of physicians and patients across the state about prescriptions not being filled because the pads the prescriptions were written on were not compliant with a new state law. On January 1, 2019, a new California law took effect that requires all security prescription forms to have a uniquely serialized number. The legislation did not include any transition or grandfathering period to allow for continued use of old controlled substance security prescription forms on or after January 1. Unfortunately, with less than two ... January 24, 2019 CMA, General Drug Prescribing/Dispensing, Licensing & Regulatory Issues 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA membership reaches all time high of 44k The collective voice of physicians just got a little louder. The California Medical Association (CMA) now has over 44,000 members, after a year of record-setting growth. In 2018, CMA’s active, dues paying membership grew by 6.3 percent, with a 92.2 percent retention rate. According to CMA Vice President of Membership and Marketing Mike Steenburgh, membership growth has been driven by the association’s group recruitment strategy, with several medium-sized groups signing membership agreements throughout the state this year. “We say it all the time –Together we are stronger. When we speak with ... January 22, 2019 CMA Physician Leadership 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA's online health law library is free to members The California Medical Association (CMA) online health law library contains nearly 5,000 pages of up-to-date legal information on a variety of subjects of everyday importance to practicing physicians. One of CMA's most valuable member benefits, the searchable online library contains all the information available in the California Physician's Legal Handbook (CPLH), an annual publication from CMA's Center for Legal Affairs. CMA members can access the library documents free at cmadocs.org/health-law-library. Nonmembers can purchase documents for $2 per page. CPLH, the complete health law library, is also available for purchase in a ... January 22, 2019 CMA California Physicians' Legal Handbook, Licensing & Regulatory Issues, Practice Management 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA and AMA urge exemptions from Open Payments reporting The American Medical Association, the California Medical Association (CMA) and more than 80 other health care organizations recently submitted a joint letter in response to a request from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for feedback on the Open Payments Program reporting requirements. Under the Open Payments program, drug and medical device manufacturers are required to report their financial interactions with licensed physicians – including consulting fees, travel reimbursements, research grants and other gifts. The joint letter urges CMS to exempt journal reprints and medical textbooks from “Open Payments” ... January 14, 2019 CMA, General Practice Management, Public Payors 0 0 Comment Read More »
2019 Q1 reports open for comments The California Medical Association (CMA) is now accepting comments on council reports for the first quarter of 2019. The reports represent recommendations from CMA's various councils—informed by testimony from CMA members—that will go before the Board of Trustees at its first quarter 2019 meeting. These council reports are available online and open for further comment and discussion through January 20, 2019. If you have any feedback that you think would be critical for the board to consider, now is your opportunity to make your voice heard. To view the reports and/or to ... January 14, 2019 CMA Physician Leadership 0 0 Comment Read More »
New Laws 2019: What physicians need to know The California Legislature had an active year, passing many new laws affecting health care. In particular, there was a strong focus on health care coverage, drug prescribing, public health and mental health issues. To help physicians understand the most significant new health laws, the California Medical Association has published its annual new laws round up, “Significant New California Laws of Interest to Physicians for 2019.” This document is free to all interested parties. January 14, 2019 CMA, General Health Care Reform, Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
