Invasive Meningococcal Disease (IMD) in San Diego County in 2013 Date: August 9, 2013 Thirteen (13) San Diego County residents have been diagnosed with confirmed or probable Invasive Meningococcal Disease (IMD) during the first seven months of this year. Nine confirmed cases were culture-positive for Neisseria meningitidis. Four probable cases had clinical disease and positive PCR testing for N. meningitidis after no culture growth. Since 2003, the number of confirmed or probable IMD cases reported annually among San Diego County residents ranged from 4 to 19, with an average of 12. Recent IMD cases emphasize the need for both clinicians and laboratories to report suspect ... August 9, 2013 Public Health Invasive Meningococcal Disease 0 0 Comment Read More »
Nurse Practitioner Bill Fails in Committee On behalf of the California Medical Association (CMA) and the Coalition for Patient Access and Quality Care, CMA President Paul R. Phinney, MD, issued the following statement after SB 491 failed to pass out of the Assembly Committee on Business, Professions, and Consumer Protection: “The 37,000 members of CMA and the dozens of groups aligned in the Coalition for Patient Access and Quality Care applaud the members of the Assembly Committee on Business, Professions, and Consumer Protection for their work today. SB 491 would have allowed nurse practitioners to practice ... August 6, 2013 Scope of Practice Scope of Practice 0 0 Comment Read More »
Don't Lose Your TDC Discount! SDCMS MEMBER PHYSICIANS: YOU WILL LOSE YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE PREMIUM DISCOUNT if you are insured by The Doctors Company (TDC) and you have NOT completed at least one approved risk management program in the past two years — at least 60 days prior to your policy renewal date! Please act today! CONTACT SDCMS IF: You do not know whether or not you are receiving a TDC discount. You do not know if you have completed at least one approved risk management program in the ... August 5, 2013 Member Benefits, Risk Management Member Benefits, Professional Liability Insurance, Risk Management, The Doctors Company 0 0 Comment Read More »
Medicare Contractor Transition Resources September 16, 2013 — Are You Prepared? CMA has put together the following resources to prepare member physicians and their staffs for the transition of Medicare contractors (Part B) from Palmetto to Noridian on September 16, 2013. Current CMA Resources CMA’s Medicare Transition Webpage — CMA has created a dedicated Medicare transition webpage, offering practices the ability to access updates and important information regarding the transition in one easy-to-access to location. All resources related to the Medicare transition will be accessible through this CMA webpage. CMA’s ... August 1, 2013 Noridian Medicare, Noridian 0 0 Comment Read More »
Medicare SGR and GPCI Bill Clears Committee Medicare Locality Reform ("The California GPCI Fix") Clears House Congressional Committee As Part of the Medicare SGR Overhaul Legislation On July 31, the House Energy and Commerce Committee voted unanimously to approve a BIPARTISAN Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) overhaul legislation, HR 2810. Included in the bill is the CMA-sponsored California Medicare locality reform known as the “California GPCI Fix.” The California locality provision is a compromise between Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Ranking Democrat Henry Waxman (D-CA) who insisted the California update be part of the committee bill. ... July 31, 2013 GPCI, Medicare, SGR GPCI, Medicare, SGR 0 0 Comment Read More »
Fight to Protect MICRA! TABLE OF CONTENTS: MICRA Timeline: Where Are We Today? MICRA Timeline: How Did We Get Here? Initiative Timeline MICRA's Key Provisions SDCMS-CMA Legislative and Judicial Wins Over the Past 10 Years The Trial Lawyers' Ballot Initiative: "Troy and Alana Pack Patient Safety Act of 2014" Know the Arguments for and Against MICRA in the News MICRA Savings Posters for Your Office and ... July 30, 2013 MICRA MICRA 0 0 Comment Read More »
Trial Lawyers Submit Ballot Initiative to Overturn MICRA Late yesterday, California’s trial attorneys made good on their May threat to ask voters to repeal California’s landmark Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA). Language was submitted to the California Attorney General in Sacramento, the first step in placing an initiative on the ballot. The initiative’s main provision would increase the cap on speculative, “non-economic” damages from the current $250,000 to more than $1.2 million with automatic increases every year. The measure filed yesterday is nothing more than a self-serving attempt by trial lawyers to generate more in legal fees. CMA ... July 25, 2013 MICRA MICRA 0 0 Comment Read More »
Join the Fight to Protect Medicine Your Voice Is Key to Our Success Critical issues affecting today’s physicians are being debated in the legislative arena at a fast and furious pace. MICRA, scope of practice, Medi-Cal, and the corporate bar are just a few of the vital issues being debated and voted on by decision-makers in Sacramento. CMA has some of the best lobbyists, lawyers, and other advocates in the Capitol, but the most powerful weapon in advancing the cause of physicians and their patients is you. Understand the issues, and know the arguments — hearing from physicians with experience from the frontlines of medicine can make all the difference for a legislator facing a ... July 24, 2013 Corporate Bar, Medi-Cal, MICRA, Scope of Practice Corporate Bar, Medi-Cal, MICRA, Scope of Practice 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA White Paper on Opioid Prescribing The California Medical Association (CMA) has released a white paper titled "Opioid Analgesics in California: Relieving Pain, Preventing Misuse, Finding Balance," a report on the use of opioid medications. California, along with the nation, is faced with a serious healthcare dilemma about opioid use and abuse. The white paper discusses how to use opioid medications to relieve pain safely and effectively, while simultaneously reducing the risk of prescription medication misuse, addiction, and overdose. “Physician, patients, law enforcement, and the general public need accurate information about appropriate opioid use,” said Paul R. ... July 5, 2013 Prescription Drug Abuse, Public Health Opioids, Prescription Drug Abuse 0 0 Comment Read More »
Physician Resources for Contracting With Exchange Plans The following information and resources will help prepare practices for contracting with health plans that are participating in Covered California, the state’s health benefit exchange. Current CMA Resources 1. CMA’s Got You Covered: A Physician’s Guide to Covered California, the State’s Health Benefit Exchange. This resource is free for members and includes the following: Background and overview of the ACA and the exchange. A discussion of the exchange participation eligibility, essential health plan benefits, and timeline for implementation. Clarification of physician’s rights ... June 26, 2013 Covered California ACA, Covered California, HIE 0 0 Comment Read More »