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CMA Capitol Insight With Anthony York: March 28, 2016

CMA Capitol Insight is a biweekly column by veteran journalist Anthony York, reporting on the inner workings of the state Legislature. Making the Ballot A deal was reached among Democratic leaders in Sacramento late last week on a plan to bring California’s minimum wage to $15 per hour — the highest in the nation and double the national minimum. The deal comes after years of wrestling in the legislature, and a statewide push that began years ago with a handful of public sector unions in Los Angeles. The accord avoids a fight ...

CMA Capitol Insight With Anthony York: February 29, 2016

CMA Capitol Insight is a biweekly column by veteran journalist Anthony York, reporting on the inner workings of the state Legislature. Rollercoaster of a Week It was a rollercoaster week for Gov. Jerry Brown and his effort to reform the state’s criminal justice system. A judge in Sacramento last week ruled the governor’s initiative violated a new state law regarding amendments to ballot measure proposals. By the end of the week, the state Supreme Court had stayed the ruling, allowing the measure to begin gathering signatures for the November ballot, but ...

Medicare EHR Incentive Program Hardship Application Deadline Now July 1

The Medicare EHR Incentive Program Hardship Application Deadline Is Now July 1, 2016 Today (Friday, February 26, 2016), CMS is extending the application deadline for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program hardship exception process that reduces burden on clinicians, hospitals, and critical access hospitals (CAHs). The new deadline for Eligible Professionals, Eligible Hospitals, and Critical Access Hospitals is July 1, 2016. CMS is extending the deadline so providers have sufficient time to submit their applications to avoid adjustments to their Medicare payments in 2017. In January, CMS posted new, streamlined hardship exception ...

REMINDER: Deadline to Register for CURES is July 1, 2016

REMINDER: Deadline to register for CURES is July 1, 2016 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 (DEA Certificate) must register to use the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES) by July 1, 2016. CMA has compiled a list of educational materials that serve to familiarize physicians with the registration process and key features of the newly upgraded system, CURES 2.0 — ...

CMA Capitol Insight With Anthony York: February 17, 2016

CMA Capitol Insight is a biweekly column by veteran journalist Anthony York, reporting on the inner workings of the state Legislature. Whirlwinds of Change The California Coastal Commission ousted executive director Charles Lester last week, setting off a political firestorm that reached all the way to the governor’s office. Lester’s critics on the commission characterized the issue as one of management, claiming they had tried for years to get him to be more responsive to commissioners and others with business before the commission. Lester’s backers took the effort to oust him ...

Save Lives California

The WHAT The California Healthcare, Research, and Prevention Tobacco Tax Act of 2016 is a ballot initiative to increase California’s cigarette tax by $2 per pack, with an equivalent increase in the tax on other tobacco products like chew and e-cigarettes. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, and American Lung Association in California are standing up to Big Tobacco to save lives and help smokers quit. The WHY Save lives. Smoking is the number-one cause of preventable death in California. This initiative will ...

Zika Virus Resources

CDC MMWR — Preventing Transmission of Zika Virus in Labor and Delivery Settings Through Implementation of Standard Precautions — United States, 2016 (2016.03.25)  CAHAN Alert: Zika Virus Advisory #4 – Interim Guidelines Updated, First Sexual Transmission Confirmed in San Diego County (2016.03.25) CDC MMWR — Update: Interim Guidance for Prevention of Sexual Transmission of Zika Virus — United States, 2016 (2016.03.25) CDC MMWR — Update: Interim Guidance for Health Care Providers Caring for Women of Reproductive ...

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. ...

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 ...

2016–17 SDCMS Board of Directors Elections

2016–17 SDCMS Board of Directors (BOD) Elections: April 12 – May 6, 2016 Notes: “inc.” After Name = Incumbent • # in Parentheses After Name = Term Length in Years OFFICERS: President-elect: Mark W. Sornson, MD (1) Secretary: David E-J Bazzo, MD, FAAFP (1) Treasurer: James H. Schultz Jr., MD, MBA, FAAFP (1) GEOGRAPHIC DIRECTORS: East County #1: Venu Prabaker, MD (inc.) (3) East County #2: Kosala Samarasinghe, MD (1) Hillcrest #1: Gregory M. ...