CMS and AMA Announce Efforts to Help Get Ready for ICD-10 Click Here to Read the AMA-CMS News Release Click Here to Read CMS's FAQs Today, July 6, the American Medical Association and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) jointly announced that agreement has been reached on important elements of a “grace period” for the October 1, 2015, implementation of the ICD-10 diagnosis code set. In guidance that is being transmitted today, CMS announced that: For a one-year period starting October 1, Medicare claims will not be denied solely on the ... July 6, 2015 ICD-10 ICD-10 0 0 Comment Read More »
DOJ Modifies CURES Implementation Plan Again From CMA's Center for Medical & Regulatory Policy July 1, 2015 Since our last update on the CURES upgrade issues, CMA and other stakeholders continued to express concerns to the Department of Justice (DOJ) about the readiness of CURES 2.0 and the system capacity to run versions 1.0 and 2.0 concurrently. We are pleased that the DOJ has now agreed to undergo real-world testing of the system on a limited basis as the next step, and will delay implementation of the new version statewide. Click here to read their official announcement. In ... July 1, 2015 CURES CURES 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMS’ Open Payments Posts Full Year of 2014 Financial Data Financial Transactions Between Doctors and Medical Manufacturers Total $6.49 Billion — June 30, 2015 By the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today published 2014 Open Payments data about transfers of value by drug and medical device makers to healthcare providers. The data includes information about 11.4 million financial transactions attributed to over 600,000 physicians and more than 1,100 teaching hospitals, totaling $6.49 billion. Acting CMS Administrator Andy Slavitt said, “Consumer access to information is a key component of delivery system reform and making the ... June 30, 2015 CMS, Medi-Cal, Medicare, Sunshine Act Open Payments, Sunshine Act 0 0 Comment Read More »
Coalition Partners Stand Together to Thank Legislature, Governor Brown for Passing and Signing Senate Bill 277 June 30, 2015 Sacramento — Despite three-digit temperatures, dozens of coalition partners came together to rally one last time for Senate Bill 277 (Pan/Allen). The bill passed out of the State Assembly on Thursday and cleared the final hurdle in the State Senate Monday. Governor Brown signed the bill today. “This is a monumental day for Californians. Senate Bill 277 will help keep kids and communities safe and I thank Governor Brown and my colleagues in the State Legislature for their commitment to enacting this important law,” said Dr. Richard Pan, ... June 30, 2015 CMA, Public Health, Vaccinations SB 277, Vaccinations 0 0 Comment Read More »
SB 277 (Pan) Signed by the Governor This morning, June 30, Governor Jerry Brown signed CMA-sponsored SB 277 (Pan) on the elimination of person belief exemptions for vaccination requirements for school entry. It is through the hard work of CMA physicians across the state that we have been able to realize this achievement in protecting the public health in California. Click here to read the governor’s signing message. June 30, 2015 CMA, Public Health, Vaccinations SB 277, Vaccinations 0 0 Comment Read More »
Senate Bill 277 Clears Assembly California Medical Association News Release: June 25, 2015 School Vaccination Bill to Protect Public Health Receives Resounding “yes” Vote, Moves Back to Senate for Final Vote Senate Bill 277 jumped its final hurdle in the state Assembly today, clearing the house with overwhelming 46–30 approval. The bill now heads back to the Senate, where legislators will consider amendments made in the Assembly. “The California Medical Association (CMA) would like to thank the assemblymembers who supported this important piece of legislation that will improve public health and keep our communities safe,” CMA President ... June 25, 2015 Legislation, Vaccinations SB 277, Vaccinations 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Capitol Insight With Anthony York: June 23, 2015 CMA Capitol Insight is a biweekly column by veteran journalist Anthony York, reporting on the inner workings of the state Legislature. Finding the Fix: Healthcare and Transportation Democratic lawmakers and Governor Jerry Brown came to agreement on a $115.4 billion spending plan this week, which included billions more for schools, the California State University system, and child care, while agreeing to expand Medi-Cal coverage to thousand of undocumented children. Despite some of the details of the landmark agreement, the budget may be more notable for what was not in the spending plan. ... June 24, 2015 CMA, Legislation Anthony York, CMA Insight 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Works With DOJ to Identify Short-term Solution to CURES Upgrade Problem June 24, 2015 In response to concerns raised by the California Medical Association (CMA), the Department of Justice (DOJ) has agreed to a short-term solution to prevent thousands of Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES) prescribers and dispensers from losing access when the new system is launched on June 30. DOJ has committed to keeping the current version of CURES accessible for users who cannot access the new version because of browser compatibility issues. Without intervention, there would have been immediate and greatly reduced access to this valuable ... June 24, 2015 CURES CURES 0 0 Comment Read More »
CURES July 1 Upgrade Will Jeopardize Physician Access to Critical Information From the California Medical Association, June 19, 2015 The California Medical Association (CMA) has been tracking Department of Justice (DOJ) efforts to update CURES, California’s prescription drug monitoring database. We have become aware of a major issue that will impact controlled substance prescribers if the new system is released as planned on July 1, and we want to alert you to this concern. According to DOJ, accessing the new version of CURES will require Internet Explorer version 11, Firefox, or Chrome Internet browsers. DOJ has indicated that, effective July 1, users of Internet Explorer 10 or ... June 22, 2015 CURES CURES 0 0 Comment Read More »
What Has CMA Done for You Lately? Click Here to Read "The Power of CMA Membership: Why Join Today?" Click Here to Read "What Has CMA Done for Anesthesiologists: Organized Medicine's Commitment to the Specialists Within Our Ranks" Click Here to Read "What Has CMA Done for Hospitalists: Organized Medicine's Commitment to Protecting Physician Independence" Click Here to Read "What Has CMA Done for Ophthalmologists: Organized Medicine's Commitment to Protecting Physician Independence" Click Here to Read "What Has CMA Done for Primary Care Physicians: Organized Medicine's Commitment to ... June 16, 2015 CMA Anesthesiology, Hospitalists, Medical Groups, Ophthalmologists, Primary Care, Radiologists 0 0 Comment Read More »