SDCMS-CMA Political Advocacy
Hundreds of California physicians convened in Sacramento this past October for the 2008 House of Delegates, the California Medical Association's annual meeting. Each year, physicians from all 53 California counties, representing all modes of practice, meet to discuss issues related to healthcare policy, medicine, and patient care. The following is a ranked list of action priorities adopted by this year's House. For each adopted or referred item of business, delegates assigned a priority using a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 = "highest" priority and 5 = "lowest" priority. This list of action priorities represents the breadth and depth of issues that the member physicians of the California Medical Association actively address in order to protect and defend ALL physicians and their patients in California.
Priority Title (Resolution/Report Number)
1.8 Balance Billing (402a)
1.9 Pre-authorization for Diagnostic Testing (A-2)
2.0 Economic Profiling and Pay-for-Performance (D-3)
2.1 Payment for Services of Non-contracted Physicians (410a)
2.3 Disclosure of Health Insurance Payment Recipient (407)
2.4 Support for Non-contracted Physicians (106a)
2.4 State Vaccine Registry Interfaces (107a)
2.4 Elimination of Medicare TAR Program (206)
2.4 Medicare Part B Contractor Changes (213)
2.4 Definition of Abortion and Access to Contraception (711)
2.5 Internet Submission of Medicare Claims (103a)
2.5 Power for Computers at House of Delegates Meetings (306)
2.5 Payor Fee Schedules and Medicare Rates (403a)
2.5 Performance of History and Physical by a Podiatrist (617)
2.5 Scope of Practice in Licensed Health Facilities (619)
2.5 MRSA Active Surveillance Testing (703a)
2.5 Influenza Vaccine Distribution (704a)
2.5 Disposal of Unused Pharmaceuticals (718a)
2.6 Full Payment for Medicare Recipients' Care (203a)
2.6 Medi-Cal Managed Care Drug Coverage (209)
2.6 Public Service Message on Impact of Medicare Cuts (212)
2.6 CMA Guiding Principles for Health Reform (B-4)
2.6 CMA Officer Conflict of Interest (308a)
2.6 Recruitment of Young Physicians (311)
2.6 Denial of Contracted Physician Referrals (408a)
2.6 Contracted Physician Referrals to Non-contracted Providers (409a)
2.6 Disclosure of Information Originating from B&P Section 805 Reports (501)
2.6 Legal Support for Non-beneficial Treatment Decisions (505)
2.6 MBC Jurisdiction Over Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Anesthetists (602a)
2.6 Retail Health Clinic Ownership and Disclosures (610a)
2.6 Physical Education for Elementary School Children (716a)
2.6 Banning Tobacco Product Sales in Pharmacies (719)
2.7 Free Electronic Prescribing (109)
2.7 Single-payer Hospital Care (202a)
2.7 Business and Professions Code Section 801 Reporting (509)
2.7 Peer Review of Medical Expert Witness Testimony (510)
2.7 Use of the Terms "Physician" and "Doctor" by Chiropractors (611a)
2.7 Unsupervised Physician Office Limitations (F-2)
2.8 Free Electronic Claims Billing (108)
2.8 Electronic Health Records Software (110)
2.8 Electronic Health Records (111)
2.8 Medicare Advantage Plans (208a)
2.8 Reimbursement for Children's Health and Disability Prevention Exams (211a)
2.8 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative Payment (214)
2.8 Enforcement of Standards for Utilization Review (415a)
2.8 Malpractice Insurance for Physician Volunteers (503a)
2.9 Control and Use of Physician Data (101a)
2.9 CMA Positions on Ballot Initiatives (307)
2.9 Definition of Medical Necessity (1) (401)
2.9 Definition of Medical Necessity (2) (414)
2.9 Ethics in End-of-Life Care (506a)
2.9 Identification of Healthcare Professionals' Qualifications (612a)
2.9 Strengthening Medicare Requirements on Self-governance (618)
2.9 Distribution of Compounded Asthma Inhalant Medications (706)
2.9 Smoke-free Gaming Venues (708)
3.0 PUC-Style Regulator for Healthcare (B-2)
3.0 E&M Coding Correction (406)
3.0 Validity of Quality of Care Mandates (504a)
3.0 Physician Guidelines for Completion of Capacity Declaration (511)
3.0 Ownership of Medical Groups by Hospital Organizations (609a)
3.0 Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) (616)
3.0 Timing of Kindergarten Entry Examination (707)
3.0 DMV Testing of Older Drivers (709a)
3.1 Interstate Availability of Health Insurance Coverage (205a)
3.1 Tax Deduction for Uncompensated Care (B-3)
3.1 Patient Confidentiality in Biobanks (502)
3.1 Conflict of Interest Rules for Physicians (507)
3.1 Feedback to Joint Commission on Workflow (607)
3.2 Forced Deportation of Patients (105a)
3.2 CMA Membership Categories and Benefits (302a)
3.2 Representation of Residents in CMA Governance (C-9)
3.2 California School Nurses (601a)
3.2 Marine Vessel Air Pollution and Emissions Reduction (715)
3.3 Alcohol Industry Fund for Indigent and Unfunded Patients (207a)
3.3 Compensation for Research Participants Providing Oocytes (512)
3.3 Substance Abuse Screening and Care (710)
3.4 HOV Lane Access for Physicians (102a)
3.4 Private Health Insurance Vouchers for Medicare Patients (210a)
3.4 CMA Ethnic Medical Organization Section Restructure (309a)
3.4 Agreed and Qualified Medical Examination Appointments (413a)
3.4 Transparency of Healthcare Provider Education and Degree (608a)
3.4 Ski and Snowboard Industry Safety Standards (702a)
3.4 Breastfeeding and "Mother Friendly" Businesses (713)
3.5 Torture and Physician Licensure (E-3)
3.5 Taxation of Not-for-profit Hospitals (604a)
3.5 Nursing Home Medical Direction (613)
3.5 Head Protection in Soccer (717a)
3.6 Tax Exemption for Charitable and Public Benefit Organizations (605a)
3.6 Medical Marijuana Law Implementation (714a)
3.7 Highly Enriched Uranium in Radiopharmaceutical Production (705a)
3.8 Lynch Syndrome Database Registry (701)