Noridian begins deactivation of providers who failed to revalidate The due date for physicians to revalidate their Medicare enrollment information has passed for the most recent cycle of physician revalidation required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Physicians who received a revalidation notice from Noridian, CMS’ Medicare contractor for California, and who did not turn in a completed application to CMS prior to the May 31 deadline, will have their Medicare billing privileges deactivated. If you are deactivated for failure to respond to a revalidation notice, you must submit a reactivation application. The date of receipt ... June 8, 2016 Medicare Noridian, Medicare 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Capitol Insight: June 7, 2016 CMA Capitol Insight is a biweekly column by veteran journalist Anthony York, reporting on the inner workings of the state Legislature. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ All Eyes on California The nation’s eyes will be on California this week, as voters here go to the polls in the final major presidential contest of the long primary season. We’ve seen a massive swell in new voter registration this year. State voter rolls grew by more than 646,000 voters in April and May alone, with more than three-fourths of those voters signing up as Democrats. It will be important ... June 8, 2016 CMA CMA Capitol Insight, Anthony York 0 0 Comment Read More »
California Cancer Registry publishes materials to help inform patients about cancer reporting The California Cancer Registry (CCR) has published free materials to help physicians better inform patients about the registry and cancer reporting. A patient information brochure and poster are now available to physicians to distribute to cancer patients at the time of their diagnosis. CCR, a program of the California Department of Public Health's Chronic Disease Surveillance and Research Branch, is California's statewide population-based cancer surveillance system and is recognized as one of the leading cancer registries in the world. Since 1988, the registry has collected information about almost all cancers ... June 8, 2016 General Cancer, Public Health, California Cancer Registry (CCR) 0 0 Comment Read More »
Are you interested in serving on CMA's councils and subcommittees? The California Medical Association (CMA) is currently accepting applications and nominations for members to serve on the association's councils and subcommittees for 2016-2017. The deadline to submit an application or nomination for the upcoming term is Thursday, June 16. In October 2013, the CMA House of Delegates approved expansive restructuring of CMA’s governance system, including refocusing the role of the House of Delegates, delegating greater policy-making responsibilities to the Board of Trustees, and revamping of CMA’s councils and subcommittees to serve a greater role as drivers of CMA policy making. Positions ... June 8, 2016 CMA CMA Nominations, Council on Legislation, CMA Committees 0 0 Comment Read More »
CPPPH hosting workshop on physician wellness August 24 in Anaheim California Public Protection and Physician Health, Inc. (CPPPH) is hosting “Keys to Physician Wellness: From Burnout to Professional Satisfaction” on August 24 at the Anaheim Marriott. This workshop will focus on personal and organizational stories and solutions to enhance the health of physicians. Attendees will also hear case illustrations and discussions about what tactics would work best in various medical settings. Speakers will review the latest research on physician mental health, burnout and disruptive behavior, while also providing implementable tools and techniques. Faculty at this workshop include specialists on addiction medicine, ... June 8, 2016 General Physician Well-Being, Physician Wellness, California Public Protection and Physician Health, CPPPH 0 0 Comment Read More »
UC Davis offers free course in palliative care on June 25 Health care professionals from all specialties are invited to participate in a Palliative Care Mini Medical School, hosted by UC Davis on June 25 in Sacramento. This half-day course will be moderated by Fred Meyers, M.D., who helped establish the UC Davis Hospice Program, and will feature additional palliative care specialists, oncologists, social workers and more. Panelists will discuss myths, misconceptions and truths about palliative care; questions for patients to ask themselves and their physicians; and strategies for providing the best care possible. Although free, seating is limited and registration is ... June 8, 2016 General Seminars, Palliative Care 0 0 Comment Read More »
DHCS issues new beneficiary card design To commemorate Medi-Cal’s 50th anniversary, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has introduced a new design for the Benefits Identification Card (BIC) for Medi-Cal beneficiaries. This new design, featuring the California poppy, will be provided to newly eligible recipients and recipients requiring replacement cards. There are no plans to provide the new card to the entire Medi-Cal population. Physicians are advised that both the old and the new card (to see both designs, click here) should be accepted by providers. Physicians are reminded, however, that they should continue to ... June 8, 2016 Medi-Cal Medi-Cal 0 0 Comment Read More »
Supreme Court sends contraceptive coverage under ACA case back to lower court On May 16, 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an unsigned unanimous opinion announcing that it would not rule on the merits of the case regarding the contraceptive coverage requirement under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The move is seen as an effort to avoid a four-to-four deadlock. The Court instead vacated the judgments of the lower courts and instructed the courts to afford the parties an opportunity to arrive at compromise. The opinion instructs the courts to allow the parties sufficient time to resolve any outstanding issues between ... June 8, 2016 General Contraception, Legal Advocacy, United States Supreme Court, Affordable Care Act 0 0 Comment Read More »
Nominate an outstanding colleague for 2016 CMA service awards The California Medical Association (CMA) is accepting nominations for four service awards to be given at the association's annual House of Delegates in October. Compassionate Service Award The Compassionate Service Award honors a CMA member physician who best illustrates the association’s commitment to community and charity care. Eligible for nomination are physicians or physician organizations that have demonstrated a history of providing charity or donated care to communities within the state of California. Frederick K.M. Plessner Memorial Award This award honors a CMA member physician residing and practicing in California who best exemplifies ... June 8, 2016 Awards CMA Nominations, Important Deadline, Physician Leadership, Awards, House of Delegates 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA releases white paper on public health threat of flavored tobacco products The public health threat to youth and minority populations from smoking is climbing because of tobacco companies’ development and predatory marketing of new products such as candy and fruit flavored e-cigarettes, according to a new white paper published by the California Medical Association (CMA). Despite decades of policies and education about the deadly health toll of tobacco’s deadly, new products that appeal to young people and are falsely thought to be healthier have led to an uptick in the numbers of new smokers and in continued use among established smokers, ... June 8, 2016 General Public Health, Smoking, Tobacco, Electronic Cigarettes 0 0 Comment Read More »
