2015 Medicare Meaningful Use Hardship Exception Applications Now Available APPLYING FOR A MEANINGFUL USE EXCEPTION Because of a delay in the publication of regulations governing the Medicare meaningful use program, CMS is allowing eligible physicians and hospitals to apply for an exception under the “extreme and uncontrollable circumstances” category. Physicians are urged to preemptively file for a 2015 hardship exception to avoid penalties in 2016. Physicians are encouraged to apply even if they are uncertain whether they will meet the program requirements this year. Doing so will not preclude physicians from receiving an incentive if they do meet meaningful ... January 25, 2016 Meaningful Use, Medicare Meaningful Use 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: January 4, 2016 CMA Capitol Insight is a biweekly column by veteran journalist Anthony York, reporting on the inner workings of the state Legislature. Back to Work The Legislature and Gov. Jerry Brown are back in Sacramento, taking up much of the unfinished business of the 2015 legislative year, and with a few new initiatives in store. The action begins in earnest later this week when Brown releases his state budget plan. With state revenues still strong, the dynamics of the state budget fight are familiar: Democrats will be pushing for expanded spending on social ... January 4, 2016 Legislation Capitol Insight 0 0 Comment Read More »
Update on Federal Legislation From AMA Just before midnight on December 15, House leaders revealed the details of two legislative packages for passage before Congress adjourns for the holidays. The FY2016 omnibus appropriations package will fund federal agencies and programs through September 30, 2016. Many of the earlier debated policy riders, such as the proposal to “defund” Planned Parenthood, were omitted from the bill. However, the $1.1 trillion spending package does include a two-year delay of the so-called “Cadillac tax” on benefit-rich health insurance plans (for 2018 and 2019), as well as a one-year delay of ... December 17, 2015 Legislation AMA 0 0 Comment Read More »
Political Veteran Paul Hegyi Takes Over as SDCMS CEO Political Veteran Paul Hegyi Takes Over as SDCMS CEO CMA Alum Takes Reins on Heels of Current CEO’s Retirement Announcement Contact: Kyle Lewis, (858) 300-2784, KLewis@SDCMS.org San Diego – After over five years with the California Medical Association (CMA), vice president of membership, marketing, and communications Paul Hegyi will take over as chief executive officer of the San Diego County Medical Society (SDCMS) effective January 1, 2016. The transition comes after longtime SDCMS CEO Tom Gehring announced his retirement. “We could not be happier to have Paul come on board and join our ... December 15, 2015 SDCMS Leadership Paul Hegyi 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 »
Informal Review for 2016 Value Modifier and 2016 PQRS Payment Adjustment Extended to December 16 The informal review period for the 2016 Value Modifier has been extended. All requests must be submitted by 11:59pm ET on December 16, 2015. The informal review process allows groups (as identified by their taxpayer identification number) with 10 or more eligible professionals that are subject to the 2016 Value Modifier to request a correction of a perceived error in their Value Modifier calculations. Additional information about the 2014 QRURs and how to request an informal review is available on the 2014 QRUR website and through the QRUR Help ... November 25, 2015 PQRS PQRS 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 »