NYCU December 23, 2025 December 23, 2025 Advocacy, CAHAN Alerts, CMA, Infectious Disease, Medi-Cal, Practice Management, Public Health, SD County Health , SDCMS, Trump Administration, Vaccines 0 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2025 PHYSICIANS: The SDCMS Nominations Committee has announced the annual call for nominations to the SDCMS board and officer positions. The committee will meet in January and prepare a slate of candidates for approval by the board later that month and election in the spring. To be eligible for service on the SDCMS Board of Directors, physicians must have been active members of SDCMS for at least two years as of the date of assumption of duties: June 2026. Additionally, for Geographic Directors, physicians must have their primary practice located within the geographic district. To see the list of positions available for nomination and for more information please CLICK HERE. CALIFORNIA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION CALLS ON CONGRESS TO ADDRESS THE FALLOUT OF ACA TAX CREDITS EXPIRING California Medical Association (CMA) President Rene Bravo, MD, issued the following statement after Congress failed to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits: “Congress’ decision to let the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits expire represents a significant missed opportunity to protect patients. At a time when families are struggling with rising costs, Congress chose inaction, jeopardizing access to health care for millions and undermining the stability of our health care system. This failure will harm patients and physicians, and reverses years of progress. In California, the consequences will be immediate and severe. Nearly 1.7 million Californians who rely on Covered California will see sharp premium increases, forcing impossible choices between health care or basic needs like housing or food. An estimated 400,000 people are expected to be priced out of coverage altogether — a devastating and unacceptable rollback in access to care.” To read the rest of Dr. Bravo’s statement CLICK HERE. IMPORTANT REMINDER | CONSTITUENT ALERT | LOCAL WATER DISTRICT SCHEDULES VOTE TO STOP COMMUNITY WATER FLUORIDATION The Olivenhain Municipal Water District (OMWD) is taking up a staff recommendation on January 21st to discontinue community water fluoridation. Fluoridation is one of the most effective, equitable, and evidence–based public health measures available to prevent tooth decay and improve overall oral health. We have seen firsthand the difference fluoridated water makes in reducing cavities, especially among children and underserved populations. OMWD serves approximately 87,000 customers in Encinitas, Carlsbad, San Diego, Solana Beach, and neighboring communities. If you live in these areas, please reach out to the OMWD Board and share your concerns. You can contact them by phone at (760) 632–4648 or by email: mhahn@olivenhain.com for Matthew Hahn, President Nealmeyersforwater@gmail.com for Neal Meyers, Vice President cguerin@olivenhain.com for Christy Guerin, Secretary elanfried@olivenhain.com for Ebin Lanfried, Director Member smaloni@olivenhain.com for Scott Maloni. Treasurer BE SURE TO FOLLOW SDCMS ON INSTAGRAM @sdcms1870 SDCMS is on Facebook, Twitter (X), and Linkedin. Now you can follow San Diego County Medical Society on Instagram at sdcms1870. We post regularly on all four social media platforms so please stay up to date on the latest SDCMS developments and CMA/SDCMS policy actions, health care news or continuing education opportunities by checking our social media. As always, let me know if you have any questions! Paul Hegyi, CEO WHAT TO KNOW … CAHAN ALERT Health Advisory: Amatoxin Poisoning from Foraged Wild Mushrooms CLICK HERE Inside the FDA’s Vaccine Uproar CLICK HERE HHS to Announce Overhaul to Child Vaccine Schedule, Aligning with Denmark CLICK HERE Trump Signs Executive Order to Ease Marijuana Restrictions CLICK HERE What’s Next for Medi–Cal? A Former State Health Leader Weighs In CLICK HERE Californians Should Be Very Alarmed: Rivas Warns of Health Care Crisis as Cuts Loom CLICK HERE States Advance Medical Debt Protections as Federal Support Turns to Opposition CLICK HERE As GOP Blows Past ObamaCare Deadline, Is It Too Late for A Deal? CLICK HERE Guns Marketed for Personal Safety Fuel Public Health Crisis in Black Communities CLICK HERE WHAT TO DO … JAN 13, 2026: 12-1pm, FREE Webinar for Members, Non–Members, NPs, and PAs, sponsored by CMA and CDPH, ‘Virtual Grand Rounds: The Continued Evolution of Public Health — Recent Federal & State Changes’. The CDC Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recently voted to eliminate the universal hepatitis B birth dose recommendation, overturning longstanding vaccine guidance with no new evidence to justify the change. CMA called this a “profound setback for child health in America,” while other specialty groups also publically disapprove. With several additional efforts to review vaccines underway at the federal level, more change may come. Join Erica Pan, MD, MPH, CA State Public Health Officer & Director of CDPH, for a candid conversation about these changes, current California recommendations plus the winter respiratory virus season and other emerging public health issues . CME Credit Available CLICK HERE JAN 27, 2026: 12:15–1:15pm, FREE Webinar for Members and their Staff, $99 for Non–Members, sponsored by CMA, ‘New Laws Affecting Physicians 2026’. This webinar will discuss the new 2026 laws that are affecting physicians and their practices, highlight pending health legislation and explain CMA’s legal resources available to members. Featuring CMA Senior Legal Counsel Sheirin Ghoddoucy, with a focus on CMA’s legal and legislative advocacy, managed care, and provider reimbursement. For free CMA member staff registration, email events@cmadocs.org with your physician’s CA Medical License number to receive a promo code CLICK HERE JAN 29, 2026: 12–1pm, FREE Webinar for Members, $35 for Non–Members, sponsored by CMA, ‘Words Matter: Removing Biased and Stigmatizing Language from Clinical Communication’. Clinical communication has the power to uplift patients or leave them feeling unheard. Address the critical impact of stigmatizing clinical language that casts doubt on patient experiences, implies blame, or defines patients by their conditions. Biased language towards patients with diabetes, obesity, substance use disorders, and chronic pain can increase patient shame, reduce treatment engagement, influence provider perceptions, and create lasting negative electronic medical records. This webinar will enhance your awareness of stigmatizing language patterns while providing practical tools for clinicians to identify and replace biased terminology with neutral alternatives. Reduce healthcare disparities through more respectful, person–centered communication. CME Credit Available CLICK HERE MAR 5-7, 2026: 8am daily, Catamaran Resort, San Diego, Sponsored by UCSD SOM, ‘13th Annual Essentials & Advances in Apheresis Therapies Conference’. Learn practical, multi–disciplinary up–to–date insights how apheresis is shaping care across medicine. Featuring debates including lipoprotein apheresis vs. plasma exchange in FSGS, controversies surrounding plasma exchange in ANCA–associated vasculitis, plus new data comparing high– versus standard–volume plasma exchange in acute liver failure. Review emerging topics like plasma exchange for longevity and microplastics exposure, as well as advances in gene therapy, photopheresis, immunotherapy–related complications, and transplant desensitization/rejection. CME Credit Available CLICK HERE APR 8, 2026: 8am, State Capitol Building, Sacramento, hosted by CMA, ‘52nd Annual Legislative Advocacy Day’. California Medical Association consistently brings together more than 400 physician and medical student leaders from all specialties and modes of practice. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with legislators on priority health care issues. Gain hands–on experience while learning the nuts and bolts of advocating for both your patients and your profession CLICK HERE WHAT TO READ, LISTEN & WATCH … Podcast ‘What the Health?’ Time’s Up for Expanded ACA Tax Credits LISTEN HERE Alzheimer’s Project Clinical Roundtable Free On–Demand CME Webinar Series on Dementia WATCH HERE Champions for Health & TDC’s Free On–Demand CME Webinar Series ‘Innovations and Smart Approaches in Safe Prescibing’ to Help Fulfill DEA Training Requirements (Modules 1–5) WATCH HERE SDCMS Video Archive: View our FREE digital catalog of videos & webinars WATCH HERE SDCMS Webinar: Are You Ready for the New California Laws? WATCH HERE SDCMS Webinar: The Impact of a Medical Board Investigation on Your Practice WATCH HERE SDCMS Webinar: Strategies to Enhance the Patient Experience and Reduce Your Risk WATCH HERE SDCMS Webinar: Top Five Risks for Your Practice WATCH HERE SDCMS Webinar: Understanding the Anatomy of a Lawsuit WATCH HERE Please Consider Supporting Our Advertisers … Thank You! Comments are closed.