Cal MediConnect Physician FAQs What You Need to Know About Keeping Your Patients and Billing for the Dual-Eligible Population By the California Medical Association In an effort to save money and better coordinate care for the state’s low-income seniors and persons with disabilities, the 2012 California state budget authorized a three-year demonstration project, the Coordinated Care Initiative (CCI). The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the State of California and CMS on March 27, 2013. CCI contains two main components: Cal MediConnect, which transitions ... November 21, 2014 Cal MediConnect Cal MediConnect, Dual Eligibles, Medi-Medi's 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Names Luther Cobb, MD, Its 147th President CMA Names Luther Cobb, MD, Its 147th President: Dr. Cobb Takes Lead of Over 40,000 Physician Members — November 13, 2014 Sacramento — Humboldt County physician Luther Cobb, MD, has been installed as the 147th president of the California Medical Association (CMA), taking the reins from immediate past president Richard Thorp, MD. Dr. Cobb takes office on the heels of the momentous defeat of Proposition 46, a campaign in which doctors and healthcare providers across California rallied together to oppose the measure that ultimately failed 33-67%. “What a thrilling time to be assuming ... November 13, 2014 CMA, Governance CMA 0 0 Comment Read More »
County of San Diego Influenza Watch Click Here to Read / Download the March 25, 2015, Report Click Here to Read / Download the March 18, 2015, Report Click Here to Read / Download the March 4, 2015, Report Click Here to Read / Download the February 25, 2015, Report Click Here to Read / Download the February 18, 2015, Report Click Here to Read / Download the February 11, 2015, Report Click Here to Read / Download the February 4, 2015, Report Click Here to Read / Download the January 28, 2015, Report Click Here to Read / Download the January 21, ... November 12, 2014 Flu Flu, Influenza 0 0 Comment Read More »
SDCMS Board of Directors: Call for Self-nominations SDCMS Member Physicians: To be eligible for service on 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 2015. Additionally, for geographic directors, physicians must have their primary practice located within the geographic district. The young physician director must be in his or her first eight years of practice or 40 years old or younger. Requirements for Voting SDCMS Board Members: Participate in quarterly SDCMS board of directors meetings — ... November 11, 2014 Board of Directors Board of Directors, Call for Nominations 0 0 Comment Read More »
Pick Up a "No On 46" Yard Sign at a Location Near You! PHYSICIANS: In an effort to get more "No On 46" yard signs into physicians’ hands and minimize travel, the following physicians have volunteered to serve as local distribution points for "No On 46" yard signs. If you haven't already picked up your "No On 46" yard sign, please feel free to do so at any of the below locations. Call ahead to verify they still have signs, to verify their office location, and to verify they'll be open when you get there! Though we want to get all our remaining signs out and ... October 24, 2014 MICRA No On 46 0 0 Comment Read More »
Travel Histories and Ebola Preparedness Date: October 8, 2014 Travel Histories and Ebola Preparedness This health advisory reminds local healthcare personnel to increase their vigilance for patients presenting with fever or other symptoms consistent with Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and to ask about travel history to Ebola-affected countries in West Africa. Links to updated resources to address risk assessment, infection control, and patient management for EVD are also provided. Updated Information on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Epidemic Ebola virus transmission is ongoing in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Nigeria, and Senegal have had imported cases, but with close ... October 8, 2014 Infectious Disease, Public Health Ebola 0 0 Comment Read More »
Medical License Application Process — New Video In response to the many inquiries regarding how to correctly complete the application for a California medical license, the Medical Board of California has produced a 20-minute video to assist new applicants with the licensing process. In addition, applicants can go to the Medical Board website, click on individual forms, and see an instructional video just for that form. SDCMS-CMA member physicians who have licensing or renewal questions or issues can contact Marisol Gonzalez, SDCMS's physician advocate, at (858) 300-2783 or at MGonzalez@SDCMS.org. October 3, 2014 General Medical License 0 0 Comment Read More »
Ask Your SDCMS Physician Advocate Have a Practice Management or Membership Question? SDCMS members and their office managers / practice administrators can contact your physician advocate, Marisol Gonzalez, for assistance at (858) 300-2783 or at MGonzalez@SDCMS.org. SDCMS Member Physician Question: My physician is inquiring about a mandatory program he must enroll in for opiate prescriptions. Do you know anything about this? Marisol's Response: Under California law, all individuals practicing in California who possess both a state regulatory board license authorized to prescribe, dispense, furnish, or order controlled substances and a Drug Enforcement Administration Controlled Substance Registration Certificate ... October 3, 2014 Member Benefits, Practice Management Physician Advocate 0 0 Comment Read More »
AMA News Release on CMS's Open Payments Data Release Click Here for a Link to the Open Payments Physician Payment Dataset and Other Background FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 30, 2014 AMA Statement on Sunshine Act Data Release Statement attributed to: Robert M. Wah, MD President, American Medical Association “The American Medical Association (AMA) is committed to transparency and the availability of information for patients to make informed decisions about their medical care, which is why we supported the Sunshine Act. “While we appreciate the efforts of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to verify the identification of physicians in each report from industry and ... October 2, 2014 CMS Open Payments Data, Sunshine Act 0 0 Comment Read More »
AMA's Open Payments Data Media Guide and Physician Talking Points Click here to access the media guide AMA distributed to reporters on September 29, 2014. Click here to access customizable talking points for physicians to use in responding to inquires about the Open Payments data. The underlying message of both documents is that the Open Payments data must be explained and contextualized in order to help people make informed judgments about the value of physician / industry relationships. Additionally, physicians may want to consult two recently published AMA Wire stories: Three ... October 2, 2014 CMS Open Payments Data, Sunshine Act 0 0 Comment Read More »