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NYCU July 18, 2023



SDCMS News You Can Use
 
TUESDAY, JULY 18, 2023

Paul HegyiPHYSICIANS: San Diego County Medical Society (SDCMS), in partnership with The Doctors Company (TDC), is sponsoring two FREE webinars this Fall that are of great value to physicians. 1 CME Credit is available for participation in each webinar. I encourage you to put each webinar on your schedule.

On Wednesday, September 20th, from 6:00–7:00pm, is ‘Managing the Noncompliant and Nonadherent Patient’. The increase in noncompliant and nonadherent patients is a concerning issue for healthcare professionals. They must evaluate patients who do not follow recommendations for tests, lab, follow up appointments, and referrals to specialists.

Noncompliant and nonadherent patients are often associated with a variety of chronic and acute issues that need to be identified for treatment. Medical record documentation must reflect identification of patients who do not follow recommendations for treatment and follow up.

The documentation is important to respond to health plan grievances and to respond to Medical Board complaints. The documentation also serves to support dismissal of a patient if warranted. Physicians must understand their responsibility to prepare themselves and their medical office staff to work successfully with nonadherent and noncompliant patients.

You can REGISTER HERE for this webinar.

On November 8th, 2023, there is another FREE webinar sponsored by SDCMS and TDC from 6:00–7:00pm, on ‘Strategies to Enhance the Patient Experience and Reduce Your Risk’. This program will focus on the role of communication and introduce strategies to enhance the patient’s experience. Patients with higher satisfaction may be less likely to have problems and complaints.

The session will illustrate risks using closed malpractice case studies and provide information to reduce and avoid risks in medical record documentation. Physicians and advanced practice providers benefit from an increased awareness and understanding of the risks associated with findings from closed malpractice claims.

You can REGISTER HERE for this webinar.

There is more good news out of Sacramento. The Governor has signed a historic state budget that provides the largest MediCal funding increase in state history set to begin next year. The renewal of the state’s Managed Care Organization (MCO) tax will provide a total of $19.4 billion, with much of it being spent on the state’s health care infrastructure, including the largest Medi–Cal rate increase in California history.

To recap: included in the budget agreement, starting in 2024, provider rates will be increased to at least 87.5% of Medicare for primary care, maternity care and nonspecialty mental health services. This action will restore funding from AB 97 rate reductions to those services, as well as build into the base rate Proposition 56 supplemental payments as part of the 87.5% threshold.

Starting in 2025, the MCO Tax will also provide a new infusion of $6 billion in new funding for the MediCal program and the health care workforce. Specifically, there will be an annual appropriation of $1.38 billion in primary care rate increases, $1.15 billion in specialty care rate increases, $700 million to increase emergency department access (including $200 million for emergency department physicians), at least $500 million for family planning and reproductive health care, and $600 million for behavioral health facilities, including increasing inpatient psychiatric beds.

The budget will also provide at least $75 million annually to train hundreds of additional physicians by expanding graduate medical education (GME) residency slots.

San Diego County Medical Society and the Padres are partnering up to honor your contributions to the community during Healthcare Appreciation Weekend. Please join us along with your physician colleagues and their families as the Padres take on the SF Giants!

This special event is happening on Saturday evening, September 2, 2023 at Petco Park. First pitch at 5:40 PM. Plus, as a special gift each Theme Game package ticket includes a limited–edition retractable badge reel.

Tickets are limited and RSVPs are required, so REGISTER SOON. Hope to see you there.

As always, let me know if you have any questions! Paul Hegyi, CEO

 WHAT TO KNOW …
 
California Supreme Court Rules CMA Can Sue Aetna Health Under Unfair Competition Law  CLICK HERE
 
Aetna Must Litigate Doctors’ Group Suit Over Policy Changes  CLICK HERE
 
‘Hospital–at–Home’ Trend Means Family Members Must Be Caregivers — Ready or Not  CLICK HERE
 
FDA Approves Preventive RSV Treatment for Infants and Toddlers  CLICK HERE
 
Biden’s HIPAA Expansion for Abortion Draws Criticism, Lawsuit Threats  CLICK HERE
 
CMS Expanding Diabetes Prevention Program  CLICK HERE
 
From Rapid Cooling Body Bags to ‘Prescriptions’ for AC, Doctors are Prepare for a Future of Extreme Heat  CLICK HERE
 
Payment Rate Reduced by 1.25% in CMS Proposed Physician Payment Rule  CLICK HERE
 
Treating Alzheimer’s Very Early Offers Better Hope of Slowing Decline, Study Finds  CLICK HERE
 
In Older Adults, a Little Excess Weight Isn’t Such A Bad Thing  CLICK HERE
AKW Medical
 WHAT TO DO …
 
AUG 10, 2023: 12:15–1:15pm, Webinar ‘Medi–Cal Managed Care Plan Transition in January 2024What Physicians Should Know’, Sponsored by California Medical Association. FREE for Members and Non–Members. On January 1, 2024, Medi–Cal enrollees in 20 counties will exit some health plans and transition into a newly entering or expanding health plan. Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) will present an overview of the transition, including health plan changes by county, work underway to ensure a smooth transition, the enrollee continuity of care policy, and physician and patient resources available. DHCS will be available for a question and answer session and would like to hear feedback from physicians about how to ensure a smooth transition for Medi–Cal enrollees and providers  CLICK HERE
 
AUG 15, 2023: 12:15–1:15pm, FREE Webinar for Members and Non–Members, ‘CMA Data Exchange Explainer Series #4How to Optimize Your Practice’s EMR for Data Exchange’. Starting January 31, 2023, California Health & Human Services Agency (CHHS) is launching the CHHS Data Exchange Framework. Over the next 3 years this Framework will require all CA physician practices to exchange data with other practices, health plans, hospitals, and others. To help physicians prepare CMA has partnered with CHHS and developed the ‘CMA Data Exchange Explainer Series’ to walk practices through various considerations in implementing robust data exchange. This webinar reviews an EMR data exchange inspection checklist to ensure your EMR is tuned–up and ready for a successful DxF implementation journey. Also receive an update on the latest DxF developments and important dates practices will need to know  CLICK HERE
 
SEP 2, 2023: 5:40pm, PETCO Park, San Diego Padres vs. San Francisco Giants. Join your fellow physicians at this SDCMS Event as the Padres honor San Diego’s physicians for ‘Healthcare Appreciation Weekend’. Plus, as a special gift each Theme Game package ticket includes a limited–edition retractable badge reel. Tickets are limited and RSVPs are required so please register soon!  CLICK HERE
 
SEP 7-10, 2023: Association of Indian American Physicians 51st Annual Meeting & Health Conference, Nation Building for the Next 50 Years: Empowering and Transforming Native Health and Healers’. Paradise Point Resort & Spa, 1404 Vacation Road, San Diego  CLICK HERE
 
SEP 14-15, 2023: San Jose Marriott, ‘Health Equity Leadership Summit’, sponsored by Physicians for a Healthy California. This event provides an opportunity for physicians, executives, advocates and allies to find community, engage in hands–on trainings and workshops, and hold in–depth conversations about how they are addressing the issue of health equity in California through their care of underserved communities throughout the state. Attendees will leave feeling energized and inspired to continue their important work to improve the lives of all Californians. Early Bird for Members is $225 and $249 for Non–Members, Full Price is $249 for Members and $299 for Non–Members, $99 for Students/Residents. A room block has also been secured  CLICK HERE
 
SEP 20, 2023: 6–7pm, FREE Webinar, sponsored by SDCMS and TDC, ‘Managing the Noncompliant and Nonadherent Patient’. The increase in noncompliant and nonadherent patients is a concerning issue for healthcare professionals. They must evaluate patients who do not follow recommendations for tests, lab, follow up appointments, and referrals to specialists. Noncompliant and nonadherent patients are often associated with a variety of chronic and acute issues that need to be identified for treatment. Medical record documentation must reflect identification of patients who do not follow recommendations for treatment and follow up. Documentation is important to respond to health plan grievances, to respond to Medical Board complaints, and serves to support dismissal of a patient if warranted. 1 CME Credit available  CLICK HERE
 
OCT 12, 2023: 12:15–1:15pm, FREE Webinar for Members and Non–Members, ‘CMA Data Exchange Explainer Series #5How to Optimize Your Practice’s Workflows for Data Exchange’. Starting January 31, 2023, California Health & Human Services Agency (CHHS) is launching the CHHS Data Exchange Framework. Over the next 3 years this Framework will require all CA physician practices to exchange data with other practices, health plans, hospitals, and others. To help physicians prepare CMA has partnered with CHHS and developed the ‘CMA Data Exchange Explainer Series’ to walk practices through various considerations in implementing robust data exchange. This webinar reviews best practices to ensure secure, timely, and accurate data exchange day–in and day–out. Also receive an update on the latest DxF developments and important dates practices will need to know  CLICK HERE
 
NOV 8, 2023: 6–7pm, FREE Webinar, sponsored by SDCMS and TDC, ‘Strategies to Enahnce the Patient Experience and Reduce Your Risk’. This program will focus on the role of communication and introduce strategies to enhance the patient’s experience. Patients with higher satisfaction may be less likely to have problems and complaints. We’ll illustrate risks using closed malpractice case studies and provide information to reduce and avoid risks in medical record documentation. 1 CME Credit available  CLICK HERE
 
DEC 14, 2023: 12:15–1:15pm, FREE Webinar for Members and Non–Members, ‘CMA Data Exchange Explainer Series #6Incentives and Other Funding Opportunities for Data’. Starting January 31, 2023, California Health & Human Services Agency (CHHS) is launching the CHHS Data Exchange Framework. Over the next 3 years this Framework will require all CA physician practices to exchange data with other practices, health plans, hospitals, and others. To help physicians prepare CMA has partnered with CHHS and developed the ‘CMA Data Exchange Explainer Series’ to walk practices through various considerations in implementing robust data exchange. This webinar provides an overview of grant funding opportunities for technical assistance and connecting to a Qualified Health Information Organization to support practices meeting their DSA Requirements  CLICK HERE
 WHAT TO READ, LISTEN & WATCH  …
 
CMA in the Courts  READ HERE
 
Podcast ‘What the Health?’ The Long Road to Reining In Short–Term Plans  LISTEN 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
 
CMA Webinar: Telehealth Reimbursement and Privacy Laws: COVID–19 Emergency  WATCH HERE
 
CMA Webinar: What is Value–Based Care and What Does it Mean for My Practice?  WATCH HERE
 
SDCMS Webinar: Physician Financial Wellness (Part 1)  WATCH HERE
 
SDCMS Webinar: Physician Financial Wellness (Part 2)  WATCH HERE
 
SDCMS Webinar: Best Practice: Documenting Disruptive Patient Behavior  WATCH HERE
 
SDCMS Webinar: Understanding Malpractice Risks for NPs, PAs, and Supervising Physicians  WATCH HERE
 
SDCMS Webinar: COVID–19 for the Long Haul: Post COVID Recovery and Care  WATCH HERE
 
SDCMS Webinar: How to Avoid Being Reported to the Medical Board  WATCH HERE
 
SDCMS Webinar: Understanding the Risks: How to Dismiss a Patient from Your Practice  WATCH HERE
 
SDCMS Webinar: Physician Wellness  WATCH HERE
 
SDCMS Webinar: Biosimilars Overview & Policy Landscape  WATCH HERE
 
Alzheimer’s Project Clinical Roundtable Free On–Demand CME Webinar Series on Dementia  WATCH HERE
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