HHS begins phase 2 of HIPAA Audit Program As part of continued efforts by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to measure and evaluate HIPAA compliance among covered entities and their business associates, the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has begun phase 2 of its HIPAA Audit Program. OCR is required to perform periodic audits of covered entities and their business associates to ensure HIPAA compliance. Over the next several months, OCR will notify selected covered entities via email to request documentation for a desk audit. Those selected will be required to provide the requested ... April 29, 2016 General OCR, Department of Health and Human Services, HHS, HIPAA, Office for Civil Rights 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMS releases draft MACRA regulations The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on Wednesday released a 962-page proposed rule that lays out the agency's plan for implementing last year's groundbreaking Medicare reform law, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Ahead of CMS’ release of the rule, physician leaders testified before the U.S. House of Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health during a special MACRA hearing last week. The physicians expressed cautious optimism and said the law represents a critical opportunity to enhance flexibility and innovation in health care that can lead ... April 29, 2016 Medicare Regulations, Regulatory Advocacy, CMS, MACRA, Medicare 0 0 Comment Read More »
IMQ offers consulting services for hospital medical staffs After 40 years of partnership, the Joint Commission has, effective April 30, 2016, terminated its joint survey program with the Institute for Medical Quality (IMQ), a subsidiary of the California Medical Association (CMA). Although this is a huge blow to California medical staffs, IMQ continues to offer valuable hospital consulting services, including assistance for hospitals preparing for licensure and accreditation surveys. Medical Staff Consultations IMQ’s medical staff consultation services range from individualized consultations to group presentations and workshops that provide in-depth learning experiences addressing key medical staff functions such as performance ... April 29, 2016 CMA, General IMQ, Institute for Medical Quality, Medical Staff, Hospital Medical Staff 0 0 Comment Read More »
Physicians show cautious optimism for MACRA during Capitol Hill meeting Physician leaders expressed cautious optimism for the landmark Medicare payment reform law (known as MACRA) during a key congressional committee hearing on April 19. The physicians said the law represents a critical opportunity to enhance flexibility and innovation in health care that can lead to improved care and better outcomes for patients, but the law also needs to allow physicians to focus on practicing medicine by aligning and simplifying quality reporting programs. “MACRA makes significant improvements over the current system, including the repeal of the flawed sustainable growth rate formula ... April 28, 2016 Medicare MACRA, Medicare 0 0 Comment Read More »
California Medical Association joins lawsuit against Dignity Health over patients' access to tubal ligations SACRAMENTO — The California Medical Association (CMA) announced today that it has filed a motion to intervene in Chamorro v. Dignity Health, a case involving a Redding, Calif., woman who was denied a tubal ligation agreed upon by her and her physician at Mercy Medical Center Redding, a Dignity Health hospital. “California law clearly forbids unlicensed, untrained administrators from making medical decisions,” said CMA President-Elect Ruth Haskins, M.D. “It is imperative that patients and their physicians determine the best course of medical care to ensure quality treatment and patient safety.” The ... April 28, 2016 CMA, General Corporate Practice of Medicine, In the Courts, Legal Advocacy, Corporate Bar 0 0 Comment Read More »
Sign up for CMA daily news alerts by keyword Did you know that you can sign up for daily news alerts from the California Medical Association (CMA) on topics that are of interest to you? You will then be notified any time there is new content posted in one of your chosen interest areas. To sign up, visit your account dashboard on the CMA website, click on “my alerts” or simply mouse over the “areas of interest” listed on most website pages. You can adjust the frequency and format that you receive alerts via the account dashboard. If you need ... April 28, 2016 CMA Website Features 0 0 Comment Read More »
All CMA-sponsored bills survive key committee deadline All of the bills sponsored by the California Medical Association (CMA) this year have survived a key deadline, passing out of policy committees so that they can continue through the legislative process. Measures that did not receive committee approval were shelved for the year. More details about CMA's sponsored bill package are below: AB 2121 (Gonzalez) – Responsible Beverage Service Training This bill seeks to help reduce alcohol service to intoxicated individuals and to reduce drunk driving by requiring establishments that serve alcohol to employ servers and managers who have received responsible ... April 28, 2016 CMA, General Emergency Services, State Legislative Advocacy, Alcohol, Physician Wellness 0 0 Comment Read More »
CSU and palliative care coalition launch eduction programs on advance care planning and billing In response to the nation’s growing demand for physicians trained in advance care planning conversations, the California State University Institute for Palliative Care has partnered with the Coalition for Compassionate Care of California to co-design a comprehensive continuing education curriculum for health care professionals. New this year, Medicare providers can be reimbursed for advance care planning conversations with patients. The newly implemented reimbursement provides an impetus for clinicians to spend time exploring patient health care preferences and documenting goals of care. “Patients want to have these conversations with their providers, and ... April 28, 2016 General Advance Health Care Directive, End of Life Issues, Medicare, Palliative Care, Advance Directive, CME 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Capitol Insight: April 26, 2016 CMA Capitol Insight is a biweekly column by veteran journalist Anthony York, reporting on the inner workings of the state Legislature. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Legislative Scramble Last week was a frantic one inside the Capitol as lawmakers faced a key deadline to pass bills out of policy committee. Measures that did not receive committee approval last week were shelved for the year. A number of major proposals lived to fight another day, but many efforts were left on the prominent pile of abandoned bill ideas that accumulates each and every year. Among ... April 28, 2016 CMA, General CMA Capitol Insight, Anthony York, State Legislation 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA opposes proposed changes to duals demonstration The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) recently released a series of proposals that would change the Coordinated Care Initiative (CCI) enrollment process to 1) passively enroll beneficiaries into Cal MediConnect; and to 2) streamline enrollment by allowing plans to eliminate or dramatically reduce the role of the enrollment broker. The California Medical Association (CMA), in partnership with Justice in Aging and other patient advocacy groups, signed a joint letter strongly opposing the proposals. The Coordinated Care Initiative was authorized by the state in July 2012 in an effort to save ... April 28, 2016 General, Medi-Cal, Medicare Dual Eligible, Medi-Cal, Medicare, DHCS, Regulatory Advocacy 0 0 Comment Read More »
