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"News You Can Use" <> April 24, 2014



CONTENTS:

ABOVE THE FOLD

Vendor-agnostic, Free, Members-only Workshop on Financial and Legal Life Skills: Covering financial, legal, real estate, taxes and accounting, time vs. money, insurance, picking your advisors. May 31, 8:00am–12:00pm. Email me at Gehring@SDCMS.org for information or to RSVP.

Executive Director Comment: Two More Examples of Tangible Member Benefits:

  • SDCMS Members-only Covered California Contract Analyses: We have, for members only, a line-by-line analysis of Covered California agreements for Blue Shield, Health Net, Molina, and Anthem Blue Cross.
  • SDCMS Members-only Report of Average Office and Medical Staff Salaries

SDCMS members who are interested in either of the above, or nonmembers who took the staff salary survey, can contact Marisol Gonzalez, your physician advocate, at (858) 300-2783 or at MGonzalez@SDCMS.org.

Caveat Signor: Read Very, Very Carefully the Anthem Exchange Addendum Language: Section 12 removes a participating physician’s ability to opt out of the individual / exchange product without affecting the underlying Prudent Buyer contract. Click Here

Click Here to Read the San Diego U-T's Article on Our GPCI WIN — Front Page, Above the Fold!

SDCMS’s 2014 White Coat Gala on Saturday, June 14, 2014: At the Hyatt La Jolla at Aventine from 6:00pm to 11:00pm. Email JOhmstede@SDCMS.org.

MICRA FIGHT

Labor Unions Announce Opposition to MICRA Lawsuit Initiative: Two major labor unions have announced their strong opposition to the trial attorneys’ anti-MICRA ballot initiative, both saying it was clear that the initiative served the interests of lawyers and not consumers. AFSCME California PEOPLE and UAPD join the growing list of California public entities and private organizations who have announced their formal opposition and expressed concerns about its impact on costs, patient access and California’s overall health delivery system.

Commit to Defending MICRA: MICRA has helped contain health costs and reduce frivolous lawsuits, but trial lawyers want to change the law. CMA needs your help. Join today to get involved in the campaign to oppose their proposed ballot measure. Click here (you will be asked to give your name, title, city, and email) to commit to voting NO in November.

MEDICAL

Meningococcal Disease Cases Prompt New Immunization Recommendations in Los Angeles County (No San Diego County Cases in 2014): Click Here

Medical Mission Trips to Cameroon and Ecuador: Interested in a vacation with a purpose? Consider a medical mission trip to Cameroon in July or Ecuador in October with Project Compassion in 2014. Click here for further information.

The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Is Saturday, April 26, From 10:00am to 2:00pm: Click here to access PDF flyers of drop-off locations across San Diego County for your patients.

FEDERAL

CMS Releases Medicare Physician Payment Data: Click Here for CMA's Response and Other Resources

Medicare Advantage Plans to See a Modest Increase in Payments, 0.4% for 2015: Click Here

STATE

California Physicians Account for $160+ Billion in Economic Impact and Almost 1 Million Jobs! Each California physician supports approximately:

  • 11.45 Jobs
  • $1.9 Million in Economic Output
  • $1.03 Million in Wages and Benefits
  • $90,814 in Local and State Tax Revenues

To view the full report and an interactive map of the United States, please visit www.ama-assn.org/go/eis.

Click Here to Read CMA’s 2013 Annual Report

Cal MediConnect Resources for SDCMS Members: Contact your physician advocate, Marisol Gonzalez, for a letter geared towards patients who are with the “contracting physician” or the “non-contracting physician,” or if you have any further questions about the Cal MediConnect program: MGonzalez@SDCMS.org or (858) 300-2783.

Anthem Mistakenly Lists Almost 1,000 Physicians as Participating in Individual / Exchange Network: Click Here

Anthem Accidentally Overpays Some Physicians: Click Here

United Healthcare to Begin Rolling Out Premium Designation Program in California: Under the program, physicians will be ranked on both national and specialty-specific measures for quality and various cost-efficiency benchmarks. Click Here

LOCAL

Photos From the March 24 & 25 Medical Student Trips to Sacramento: Click Here

“Trauma Across the Lifespan” CME / CEU Event: Jointly Sponsored by the American Psychiatric Association and the San Diego Psychiatric Society on June 7–8 at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine: Click Here

San Diego Psychoanalytic Center's New Name, Website, and Newsletter: Click here for details, and click here to subscribe to SDPC's newsletter.

July 13 – August 10 Production of "Ether Dome" at the La Jolla Playhouse: Based on the true story of the discovery of ether as an anesthetic in 1846. Click here for details.

CATCH Healthy Habits Looking for Adult Volunteers: San Diego OASIS is looking for adults ages 50+ to volunteer for their program CATCH Healthy Habits, an evidence- and outcome- based intergenerational program that combats childhood obesity. Click Here

BENEFITS / PRACTICE MANAGEMENT

In Case You Missed SDCMS’s Two Last Seminars: Click Here to Watch Previously Recorded SDCMS Seminars & Webinars (Members Can Email Membership@SDCMS.org for Login Assistance):

  • April 10: Medicare Seminar by Dr. Art Lurvey, Medical Director for Noridian Jurisdiction E
  • April 17: “Patient Communication After an Adverse Event” Seminar by The Doctors Company

Deadline for 2013 Medi-Cal EHR Incentive Payments Extended to April 30, 2014: Click Here

If You’re Using Windows XP, You May Need to Upgrade: Click Here

Coordinated Care Initiative (Duals Project) Update From CMA, With Members-only Resources: Click Here

CMA Practice Resources, April 2014:

  • Three major exchange plans provide guidance for physicians: Click Here
  • Anthem Blue Cross to host webinars about its exchange products for contracted physicians: Click Here
  • Noridian begins next round of Medicare revalidation process: Click Here
  • Anthem Blue Cross resolves problems with electronic eligibility and benefits information: Click Here
  • DHCS to automate Medi-Cal provider enrollment: Click Here
  • CMA surveys health plans on implementation plans for CMS 1500 claim form: Click Here
  • CMS suspends RAC audits, sets up physician safeguards: Click Here
  • The Coding Corner: Drug Testing: 80104 vs. multiples of 80101: Click Here

Follow SDCMS’ Twitter Feed and Get a Treasure Trove of Healthcare News Delivered Daily to Your Smartphone: Click Here

Is Your Office Manager / Practice Administrator Using SDCMS’ Online Forum? Click Here to Join

COVERED CALIFORNIA

Covered California Resources for SDCMS-CMA Members:

BUSINESS OF HEALTHCARE

Medical Tourism Firm Creating Network of Providers in SoCal: Click Here

“Wise men are not wise at all hours, and will speak five times from their taste or their humor, to once from their reason.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)



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