Health Policy

Deep Medicare Cuts Set to Take Effect Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Senior Citizens Could Face New Obstacles to Getting Care, After Payments Are Cut 21%

For the third time this year, Congress has failed to prevent deep cuts in Medicare reimbursements from taking effect, jeopardizing senior citizens' access to healthcare and aggravating physicians who are doing their best to serve their patients but don't know if they can pay their bills month to month.

Reform Law Provision Sparks Controversy: What Is the IPAB?

NOTE: From May 13, 2010, "Health System Reform" by AMA.

Given the new direction for the nation's health system, the AMA has developed Health System Reform Insight to help you understand the health system reform legislation and what it means to you and your patients.

Independent Payment Advisory Board

WellPoint Rescissions Underscore Need for CMA Bill

A Reuters report on April 22, 2010, exposing the shocking practice of WellPoint targeting women with breast cancer for rescissions has prompted a letter from Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, urging the insurer to “immediately cease” this “unconscionable practice.”

CMA Pulls out of Doctor Rating Initiative, Slams Blue Shield for Misleading Patients With Faulty Data

(Click Here to Access This News Release in PDF)

For Immediate Release
Contact Andrew LaMar at CMA: (916) 551-2881
Contact Kyle Lewis at SDCMS: (858) 300-2784

April 23, 2010

CMA Pulls out of Doctor Rating Initiative, Slams Blue Shield for Misleading Patients With Faulty Data
Blue Shield’s ratings will confuse patients, raise healthcare costs and irreparably harm physicians’ reputations by using a defective reporting system

2009 SDCMS Physician Workforce and Compensation Survey

Click Here to Download the Complete Report (Minus Appendix 4: "Compensation by Specialty")

NOTE TO SDCMS MEMBERS: To download Appendix 4, please log in and click on link at bottom.

Key Conclusions

Stop the Medicare Meltdown: Sign the Petition Today!

Click Here to Sign AMA's Petition to Stop the Medicare Meltdown!

Deep Medicare Cuts Set to Take Effect Thursday, April 1, 2010

For Immediate Release
Contact: Andrew LaMar at (916) 551-2881
March 31, 2010

Deep Medicare Cuts Set to Take Effect Thursday
Senior citizens could face new obstacles to getting care, after payments are cut 21 percent

Sacramento — For the second time this year, Congress has failed to prevent deep cuts in Medicare reimbursements from taking effect, jeopardizing senior citizens’ access to healthcare.

SDCMS Special Update on Healthcare Reform (2010.03.23)

SDCMS Special Update on Healthcare Reform
— March 23, 2010

Executive Director Comment: “Healthcare in 20 Seconds”

CMA Takes Position on Healthcare Reform Bills HR 3590 and HR 4278

CMA’s board of trustees voted on Friday, March 19, 2010, to support the following provisions in the federal healthcare reform legislation:

SDCMS Special Update on Healthcare Reform (2010.03.19)

SDCMS Special Update on Healthcare Reform
— March 19, 2010

Executive Director Comment: