NYCU September 30, 2025 October 1, 2025 Advocacy, American Medical Association, CAHAN Alerts, Champions for Health, CMA, Dementia, Member Social, Physician Workforce, Public Health, SD County Health , SDCMS, Trump Administration, Vaccines 0 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 PHYSICIANS: This past week, San Diego County Medical Society and California Medical Association, represented by Dr. William Tseng, joined US Senator Adam Schiff, Congressman Mike Levin and colleagues at TrueCare in Oceanside to stand up for our patients. Physicians live by the oath “primum non nocere”, …first do no harm. That oath doesn’t stop at the clinic door. It must also guide Congress as it decides whether to extend the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits. This is a vital issue of patient access, and as Dr. Tseng was quoted as saying in the local media, “If Congress fails to act, the harm will be real: children without care, families without doctors, communities without hospitals. It will be every physician’s nightmare — standing at a bedside knowing the harm was preventable if only someone had acted sooner.” You can read more about this important press conference HERE. CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH (CDPH) ISSUES SB 144 HEALTH CARE PROVIDER LETTER AND FAQ ON VACCINES Sayone Thihalolipavan, MD, MPH, Public Health Officer for the County of San Diego has shared that CDPH just issued a health care provider letter and FAQ on vaccines for the medical community. The health care letter is on the new law, SB 144, impacting California’s Immunization Policies and Updated Respiratory Virus 2025–2026 Recommendations. It can be found HERE. The CPDH Public Health for All Vaccines Questions and Answers can be found HERE. CONSIDER PARTICIPATING IN THE PHYSICIAN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM (PLP) I’d like to invite you to consider participating in the Physician Leadership Program (PLP), put on for nearly a decade by our sister–society Alameda–Contra Costa Medical Association. Now with a Southern California cohort, PLP equips physicians with essential leadership skills, bridging clinical expertise with organizational competencies such as strategic communication, people management, and cross–functional collaboration. This hybrid program, worth 22.75 CME, has received praise for balance of theory and practical application, with 88% of participants giving a very satisfied rating. Sessions include Principals of Leadership and Leading Change, Negotiation, Leading and Managing Projects, among others. Learn more about the Physician Leadership Program HERE. AMA URGES PHYSICIANS TO CONTACT CONGRESS MEMBERS ON EXEMPTING PHYSICIANS FROM $100K APPLICATION FEE FOR H–1B VISAS The American Medical Association Grassroots Action Network has issued an urgent plea to physicians nationally: “The Administration recently issued a proclamation that would impose a $100,000 application fee for H–1B Visas. “This exorbitant fee would have to be paid by the physician’s employer, creating yet another roadblock to bringing highly trained physicians into our communities. It would also place a heavy financial strain on Federally Qualified Health Centers, Rural Health Clinics, and non–profit hospitals — many of which are already struggling with severe doctor shortages and growing patient demand. “With the U.S. projected to face a shortage of 86,000 physicians by 2036, these fees will only make the problem worse — limiting patient access to care, especially in rural and underserved areas, and increasing the risk of physician burnout. “Please contact your members of Congress and ask them to urge the Department of Homeland Security to issue an exemption for physicians! “If the H–1B Visa payment fees stay in place, our country’s most vulnerable patients will not be able to receive the high–quality care they rely on. Lend your voice today so that we can ensure that international medical graduates remain able to serve patients across the country.” REMINDER | SDCMS TO HOST AN IMPORTANT FUNDRAISER ON OCTOBER 8TH FOR DR. SION ROY FOR STATE SENATE Earlier this year former CMA Board Member and practicing cardiologist Sion Roy announced he is running to replace Ben Allen in the California State Senate. We have seen the impact that physicians such as Drs. Richard Pan and Akilah Weber Pierson have had in the legislature. Sion will be the additional voice we need as two of the three physicians currently in the legislature will be leaving. Dr. Roy has long been an advocate for physicians and their patients, having his voice in the State Senate is among CMA’s top priorities. Now more than ever we see how important it is to have physicians in public office helping shape the policy developed. You can learn more about Dr. Roy at DrSionRoyforSenate.com. SDCMS will be hosting a fundraiser for Dr. Roy Wednesday, October 8th. I hope you, your colleagues and friends will be able to join us. This is a campaign where we will need every physician that is able to make a personal contribution, helping amplify the support CALPAC makes for his campaign. You can RSVP to attend directly to the campaign through Dylan Ford at djford09@gmail.com. ENJOY A ‘DAY AT THE RACES’ ON NOVEMBER 21ST AT THE DEL MAR THOROUGHBRED CLUB TO SUPPORT CHAMPIONS FOR HEALTH Join us for Champions for Health’s Day at the Races at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in the Crosby Celebrity Suite. Enjoy an exclusive afternoon of exciting horse racing, delicious food, and refreshing drinks while supporting vital healthcare programs for San Diego’s underserved communities. It’s from 12:00 to 4:00 pm on Friday, November 21st at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The first race is at 12:30 pm. Come and have fun while doing good to help provide health care access to our County’s most needy patients. You can buy tickets HERE. For sponsorship information, please contact Gabriela Stichler at gabriela.stichler@championsfh.org or at (858) 300–2789. As always, let me know if you have any questions! Paul Hegyi, CEO WHAT TO KNOW … CAHAN ALERT Health Advisory: Cross–border Pollution in the Tijuana River Valley and Potential Health Effects CLICK HERE CAHAN ALERT Health Advisory: Ebola Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo CLICK HERE Scripps Health Plans to Add Third Tower at La Jolla, Eventually Close Green Hospital CLICK HERE RFK, Jr. Sets Off New Abortion Alarms CLICK HERE More Kids are Severely Ill or Dying from the Flu, CDC Reports CLICK HERE Trump Advises Parents on Hepatitis B Vaccine. Here’s Why Doctors Say He’s Wrong CLICK HERE What to Know About Spiking ‘Nightmare Bacteria’ and CDC’s New Warning CLICK HERE AI Will Soon Have a Say in Approving or Denying Medicare Treatments CLICK HERE Leucovorin for Autism? Many Scientists — and Parents — are Skeptical CLICK HERE WHAT TO DO … OCT 10, 2025: 5:30–8:00pm, UC San Diego Ida & Cecil Green Faculty Club, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, ‘SDCMS Physician Social & Mixer’. Please note this event is open exclusively to physicians and their guests and space is limited so rsvps are required. SDCMS members and non–members are welcome and encouraged to attend. Complimentary light appetizers and hosted wine and craft beer will be provided CLICK HERE OCT 17, 2025: 11am–4pm, JW Marriott @ LA Live, Los Angeles, Sponsored by California Medical Association’s Organized Medical Staff Section (OMSS), ‘Annual Assembly and Education Conference’, immediately preceding 2025 CMA House of Delegates. Open to all physicians and medical staff professionals concerned about the role of strong self–governing medical staffs in improving patient care and safety. Attendees will learn about topics of importance regarding the growth and development of medical staffs. $75 for Members, $100 for Members of CA Assoc of Medical Staff Services, $150 for Guests or Non–Members CLICK HERE OCT 25, 2025: 8am, Tecolote Shores South Mission Bay, sponsored by Head for the Cure Foundation, ‘2nd Annual Head for the Cure 5K Run/Walk San Diego’. To raise awareness and funds for brain tumor research. Join or contribute to the effort by visiting the Team Dave! UCSD page created in honor of the late Dr. David Bazzo, former SDCMS President. Please support this worthwhile cause in Dr. Bazzo’s memory. For full details about the event CLICK HERE NOV 4, 2025: 12-1pm, FREE Webinar for Members, Non–Members, NPs, and PAs, sponsored by CMA and CDPH, ‘Virtual Grand Rounds: Emerging Public Health Issues’. Presenters include Erica Pan, MD, MPH, CA State Public Health Officer & Director of CDPH, and Kimberly Newell Green, MD, CMA Trustee & UC San Francisco Associate Clinical Professor. More information to come. CME credit available CLICK HERE NOV 13, 2025: 12:15-1:15pm, FREE Webinar for Members and their Staff, $99 for Non–Members, sponsored by CMA, ‘2026 ICD–10 Coding Updates’. Learn about 2026 changes to ICD–10 guidelines and codes, including 487 new codes, 28 deletions and 38 revisions. The chapters that will see the most new codes are Pain Management, Signs and Symptoms, Neurodevelopment Disorders, Financial Insecurity (SDOH), plus Chapters 12 and 19. 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 NOV 18, 2025: 6-7pm, FREE Webinar for Members and Non–Members, sponsored by TDC and SDCMS, ‘Understanding the Anatomy of a Lawsuit’. This webinar outlines and discusses the course that a medical malpractice lawsuit takes when filed against a physician in California. Walk through the physician’s receipt of a Notice of Intent to Sue and explore the litigation process, looking at what elements a Plaintiff must prove in order to prevail and how a defense would be built for the Defendant physician. We’ll also provide several proactive steps physicians can take in their own practice to be prepared if ever involved in a suit. CME credit available CLICK HERE NOV 20, 2025: 12:15-1:15pm, FREE Webinar for Members and their Staff, sponsored by CMA, ‘Navigating the MultiPlan Litigation — What Physician Practices and Facilities Need to Know’. A sweeping federal antitrust lawsuit is moving forward against MultiPlan, Inc. and several major insurers including Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealth and Blue Cross Blue Shield, alleging a price–fixing conspiracy that artificially suppressed out–of–network payment rates and cost providers billions of dollars. Following a key court ruling in June the case is headed into discovery, with potential damages tripled under federal law for successful claims. Matt Lavin, AGG Healthcare Litigation partner and member of the Executive Committee for direct–action plaintiffs will walk through the litigation’s origins, key legal developments and strategies for affected providers to consider, plus why now is a critical time to evaluate participation in the case to protect your rights and support industry reform. An open and confidential discussion will be encouraged during Q&A. 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 NOV 21, 2025: 12-4:30pm, Del Mar Racing, Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar, CA. Join Champions for Health at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club for ‘A Day at the Races’. Enjoy an exclusive afternoon of exciting horse racing, delicious food and refreshing drinks while supporting vital healthcare programs for San Diego’s underserved communities CLICK HERE WHAT TO READ, LISTEN & WATCH … Podcast ‘What the Health?’ Public Health Further Politicized Under the Threat of More Filings 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 Aware and Prepared for New California Laws? WATCH HERE SDCMS Webinar: Managing the Noncompliant and Nonadherent Patient WATCH HERE SDCMS Webinar: Physician Financial Wellness (Part 1) WATCH HERE SDCMS Webinar: Physician Financial Wellness (Part 2) WATCH HERE SDCMS Webinar: Will Your Documentation Defend You? WATCH HERE Please Consider Supporting Our Advertisers … Thank You! Comments are closed.