Healthcare News and Updates

SDCMS Offices Closed Thursday and Friday, July 22 and 23, 2010

In an effort to provide our members and their staff with optimal support and service, SDCMS will be closed for technical upgrades on Thursday and Friday, July 22 and 23.

We will respond as soon as we can when we return to the office on Monday, July 26, 2010.

Thank you for your patience and understanding!

SDCMS RECORDED SEMINAR: “IT Overview: Networks, Hardware, Software for Dummies” (2010.07.15)

RECORDING: Information Technology Overview

TITLE: “Networks, Hardware, Software for Dummies”

DATE: July 15, 2010

DESCRIPTION / TOPICS COVERED:

CMS Issues Final Meaningful Use Definition (2010.07.13)

On Tuesday morning, July 13, 2010, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services released the final rule laying out the definition of “meaningful use” of an electronic health record (EHR) system. Medicare and Medi-Cal physicians who demonstrate “meaningful use” of EHRs will qualify for federal EHR incentive payments.

While the rule is final, it has not yet been noticed in the Federal Register. It will take effect 60 days after that notice.

Contract Amendments: An Action Guide for Physicians

California law prohibits unilateral amendments to both HMO and PPO agreements, unless the amendment is necessary to comply with state or federal law, regulations, or accreditation requirements. Furthermore, California law only allows a material amendment by the plan where there is prior notice and the physician has the right to terminate the agreement prior to the change becoming effective. Physicians are encouraged to carefully review all proposed amendments to health plan or medical group/IPA contracts.

SDCMS "News You Can Use" (2010.07.09)

SDCMS "News You Can Use"
— July 9, 2010

Executive Director Comment on Pertussis: Please check out the details of the California epidemic of pertussis below. This is a serious issue that every clinician should be thinking about and acting on!

Federal EHR Certification Rule

Background

In order to receive electronic health record (EHR) incentive payments under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (“ARRA” or the “Stimulus Bill”), physicians will have to demonstrate “meaningful use” of a “certified” EHR system.

SDCMS RECORDED SEMINAR: Preventing Sexual and Other Unlawful Harassment in the Workplace (2010.06.24)

RECORDING: Practice Management

TITLE: “Preventing Sexual and Other Unlawful Harassment in the Workplace”

DATE: June 24, 2010

Special SDCMS "News You Can Use" <> SGR Update (2010.06.25)

Special SDCMS "News You Can Use"
— June 25, 2010

Executive Director Comment: Lucy wins again …. Well, you guessed it, once again Lucy (Congress) yanks the football (GPCI fix) away from Charlie Brown (the Docs) at the last minute. Yesterday morning (Thursday) we thought we had GPCI in the bag with a compromise worked out in the Senate. Now physicians get another band-aid on a compound fracture, and San Diego’s physicians have to live with the gross inequity of being treated by Medicare reimbursement as a rural county.

SDCMS "News You Can Use" (2010.06.23)

SDCMS "News You Can Use"
— June 23, 2010

SO WHAT'S UP WITH SGR?

Special SDCMS "New You Can Use" <> Flash Update on SGR/GPCI (2010.06.18)

Special SDCMS "New You Can Use" <> Flash Update on SGR/GPCI
— June 18, 2010

SGR & GPCI UPDATE