Physicians: Your IMQ Participation Can Make a Difference! Are you looking for a new activity? IMQ is looking for physicians who may be interested in becoming surveyors for the Ambulatory Care, Corrections, or CME Review Programs. The Ambulatory Program accredits surgery centers, offices, and medical groups in California. The Corrections Program reviews the healthcare in jails and juvenile facilities, and the CME Program reviews providers of CME. All surveyors contribute directly to the improved quality of care. They interact with colleagues throughout the state, and see best practices and innovation beyond their own medical community. ... February 3, 2016 CMA IMQ 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Capitol Insight With Anthony York: February 1, 2016 CMA Capitol Insight is a biweekly column by veteran journalist Anthony York, reporting on the inner workings of the state Legislature. Crime and the Coast Gov. Jerry Brown announced plans for a major new ballot initiative this fall — but it wasn’t climate change or tax reform in the governor’s crosshairs. Instead, Brown will focus on criminal justice, seeking changes in the parole system to allow more flexibility to locals and to help alleviate the pressures of the jail and prison system caused by years of lock-em-up policies. Those policies, ironically ... February 1, 2016 CMA, Legislation Capitol Insight 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Capitol Insight With Anthony York: January 19, 2016 CMA Capitol Insight is a biweekly column by veteran journalist Anthony York, reporting on the inner workings of the state Legislature. The Budget Battle Begins Gov. Jerry Brown introduced his budget this month, and it was about what was expected for anyone watching the governor in recent years. Brown did propose a solution to the fight over the managed care organization (MCO) tax, though no final deal has been announced. Passing such a tax would require a two-thirds vote, and Republicans have said they’re skeptical of the need for the tax. If ... January 19, 2016 CMA Capitol Insight 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Responds to Unveiling of Governor Brown’s Proposed 2016–17 State Budget January 7, 2016 Steve Larson, MD, president of the California Medical Association (CMA), representing over 41,000 physicians statewide, issued the following statement in response to the unveiling of Governor Brown’s proposed 2016–17 state budget released this morning: “We are pleased to see the governor is committed to working with the Legislature and health plans to find a solution to the MCO tax. Without that, a gaping hole would exist in the state’s Medicaid (Medi-Cal) fund that would have devastating impacts on patients across the state. “Ensuring that Medi-Cal is better funded is ... January 7, 2016 CMA, Medi-Cal Medi-Cal, State Budget, Tobacco Tax 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Capitol Insight With Anthony York: December 7, 2015 CMA Capitol Insight is a biweekly column by veteran journalist Anthony York, reporting on the inner workings of the state Legislature. Whirlwind of a week Jerry Brown set off for Paris but redirected his travel through San Bernardino to meet with law enforcement officials and others on the scene of America’s latest mass shooting. The shooting seems to occupy some strange place between the Paris attacks, which were orchestrated by ISIS, and a very American-style, Fort Hood or office place violence incident. One of the shooters pledged her allegiance to ISIS on ... December 9, 2015 CMA, Legislation Capitol Insight 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Capitol Insight With Anthony York: November 24, 2015 CMA Capitol Insight is a biweekly column by veteran journalist Anthony York, reporting on the inner workings of the state Legislature. Ripples Across the Pond The terrorist attacks in Paris have reverberated through the political world, changing the tenor and tone of the American presidential contest and setting off a debate in statehouses around the country about housing Syrian refugees. Gov. Jerry Brown has said he would like to see California maintain its “traditional role as a place of asylum,” breaking with other governors who have warned that admitting Syrian refugees ... November 24, 2015 CMA, Legislation Capitol Insight 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Capitol Insight With Anthony York: November 9, 2015 CMA Capitol Insight is a biweekly column by veteran journalist Anthony York, reporting on the inner workings of the state Legislature. Capitol Happenings The Legislature may be out of session, but there is plenty of political intrigue swirling about Sacramento. With a new set of rules in place for ballot initiatives, thanks to changes passed by lawmakers last year, the calendar deadline to get final measures into the attorney general’s office for review is fast approaching. Over the last two weeks, we saw a broad coalition (with the backing of Napster founder ... November 9, 2015 CMA, Legislation Capitol Insight 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Capitol Insight With Anthony York: October 26, 2015 CMA Capitol Insight is a biweekly column by veteran journalist Anthony York, reporting on the inner workings of the state Legislature. On the Election Horizon With the informal deadline for ballot measures for the 2016 campaign fast approaching, there remain very different ideas among those who want to legalize marijuana for recreational use. Conventional wisdom would dictate that unless these forces unite behind a single measure, any effort to legalize pot could be in jeopardy. One of the main efforts in the pot fight is being backed and financed by Sean Parker, ... October 31, 2015 CMA, Legislation Capitol Insight 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Capitol Insight With Anthony York: October 13, 2015 CMA Capitol Insight is a biweekly column by veteran journalist Anthony York, reporting on the inner workings of the state Legislature. Another One Bites the Dust The dust is just settling on hundreds of bills that were signed or vetoed by Governor Jerry Brown in the final flurry of activity for the 2015 legislative year. The session ended with some classic Jerry Brown signing messages and vetoes, and a strong, implicit message for lawmakers in the year ahead. The governor’s most personal and talked-about signing message accompanied his signature on a proposal ... October 13, 2015 CMA, Legislation Capitol Insight 0 0 Comment Read More »
2015 CMA HOD Reference Committee Reports Combined Reference Committee Reports Reference Committee A Report: Science and Public Health Reference Committee B Report: Government Health Programs / Health System Reform Reference Committee C Report: CMA Membership, Finance, and Governance Reference Committee D Report: Insurance and Physician Reimbursement Reference Committee E Report: Quality, Ethics, and Medical Practice Issues Reference Committee F Report: Health Professions and Facilities October 9, 2015 CMA HOD 0 0 Comment Read More »