CMA physicians travel to D.C. to advocate on critical health care issues A California Medical Association (CMA) contingent of two dozen physician and medical student leaders recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the American Medical Association’s (AMA) National Advocacy Week. They met with 24 members of the California Congressional Delegation and top leadership of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to advocate for many health care issues critically important to California physicians. While in Washington, California physicians focused on promoting the bipartisan Affordable Care Act (ACA) market stabilization bill that would reinstate the cost-sharing reduction payments and provide reinsurance funding, which together would reduce premiums by an estimated 20 percent. They also advocated for an immediate and permanent solution for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals “Dreamers,” many of whom are medical students. They also insisted that the federal government needs to hold electronic health record (EHR) vendors accountable for interoperability. CMA physicians aggressively pushed Congress and CMS to provide more Medicare and Medicaid regulatory relief and expressed our significant frustrations with the 0.25 percent Medicare payment cut slated for 2019. Although the cuts initially proposed were much worse, the 0.25 percent cut will reduce by half the 0.5 percent payment update guaranteed to doctors in the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA). CMA warned Congress that physicians could not meet the difficult MACRA quality and EHR reporting requirements without adequate resources. CMA is urging Congress to restore the 2016 and forthcoming 2019 Medicare payment cuts, and to fund payment increases going forward. Much of the trip was dedicated to educating Congress and CMS about opioids. Congressional leaders are working on a comprehensive package to address the opioid crisis through prevention, treatment and law enforcement efforts. CMA physicians also met with the CMS Medicare Part D team to express serious concerns with the proposed regulations limiting initial opioid prescriptions to three days for acute pain. CMA thanks these physicians and medical students for taking the time away from their busy practices to travel to Washington, D.C., to meet with Members of Congress and CMS on some very important issues. April 5, 2018 CMA, General AMA, American Medical Association, Federal Legislative Advocacy 0 0 Comment Read More »
Call for nominations: California Delegation to the AMA The California Medical Association (CMA) is seeking nominations for physicians to serve as at-large delegates and alternates to the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates. Current delegates who are eligible for reappointment must submit an application for the 2018 term. They will not be reappointed if a form is not submitted. We are seeking physicians who are active CMA members and able to serve as delegates or alternates twice a year during the annual (June) and interim (November) meetings of the AMA House of Delegates for a two-year term beginning January 1, 2018. Service on the delegation entails both a commitment of time and a commitment to advocate for CMA’s interests, as well as a willingness to meet the basic responsibilities of the role set forth by AMA in its “Delegate Role and Responsibilities.” Please submit nominations to nominations@cmanet.org. Please indicate that the nomination is for the California Delegation to the AMA in the subject line. Every nomination must include: Completed nomination form Brief CV (less than five pages) Nominations must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. on Friday, February 23, 2018. The CMA Committee on Nominations will present its recommendations to the CMA Board of Trustees at its meeting on April 27, 2018, and appointments will be announced shortly thereafter. Contact: Brandon Marchy, (916) 551-2062 or bmarchy@cmanet.org. January 30, 2018 CMA, General AMA, American Medical Association, CMA Nominations 0 0 Comment Read More »
AMA urges quick action to stabilize individual insurance market With the window quickly closing to properly price individual insurance products for 2018, the American Medical Association (AMA) is urging President Trump and Congressional leaders to commit to continued funding for the cost-sharing reductions that are critical to stabilizing the individual market. AMA, along with other groups representing insurers, hospitals, health plan purchasers and physicians, sent a letter urging quick action to deliver short-term stability and affordable coverage while broader marketplace stabilization efforts are developed. Nearly 60 percent of all individuals who purchase coverage via the exchange receive financial assistance to make health care affordable. These subsidies reduce out-of-pocket costs for patients who might otherwise be unable to afford health care services despite being insured. The funding helps those who need it the most access quality care: low- and middle-income consumers earning less than 250 percent of the federal poverty level. If the cost-sharing subsidies are not funded, Americans will be dramatically impacted: Choices for consumers will be more limited, leaving individuals with fewer coverage options. Premiums for 2018 and beyond will go up by at least 15 percent, both on and off the exchange. Higher premium rates could drive out of the market those middle-income individuals who are not eligible for tax credits. If more people are uninsured, providers will experience more uncompensated care, which will further strain their ability to meet the needs of their communities and will raise costs for everyone, including employers who sponsor group health plans for their employees. Hardworking taxpayers will pay more, as premiums grow and tax credits for low-income families increase. The California Medical Association shares the sentiments of the letter and looks forward to working with Congress and the Trump Administration to take positive actions to stabilize the health care marketplace. April 19, 2017 General, Managed Care ACA, Affordable Care Act, AMA, American Medical Association, Health Insurance Exchange, Insurance 0 0 Comment Read More »
AMA strengthens anti-tobacco policies The American Medical Association (AMA) adopted policies at its interim meeting reaffirming the commitment of our nation's physicians to preventing tobacco use. The policies ask the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to require tobacco companies to add graphic warning labels depicting the negative health consequences of smoking to all cigarette packages and call for raising the minimum legal purchase age of all tobacco products to 21. California earlier this year passed a California Medical Association (CMA)-sponsored law that would raise California's smoking age to 21, as part of the most robust package of tobacco control legislation the state had seen in decades. The bills will also close loopholes in the state’s smoke-free workplace laws; require that all schools be tobacco free; establish a tobacco licensing fee program under the state Board of Equalization; and, importantly, classify electronic cigarettes as tobacco products. California voters also last week overwhelmingly passed Proposition 56, a CMA-supported measure that will increase the state's cigarette tax by $2 per pack, with an equivalent increase on products containing nicotine derived from tobacco, including e-cigarettes. Smoking kills more than 40,000 Californians each year, and smoking-related health care costs California taxpayers $3.5 billion each year. Each year, nearly 17,000 California kids get hooked on tobacco, one-third of whom will die from tobacco-related diseases. “As part of the AMA’s effort to improve the health of the nation, the policies adopted today further our longtime commitment to keeping all harmful tobacco products out of the hands of young people. California and Hawaii have already raised the minimum legal purchase age of tobacco products to 21, and we encourage all states to follow suit,” said AMA Board Member William E. Kobler, M.D. November 21, 2016 General AMA, Electronic Cigarettes, Prop. 56 (tobacco tax), Public Health, Smoking, Tobacco 0 0 Comment Read More »
AMA introduces new MACRA payment model evaluator The American Medical Association (AMA) has introduced a new online tool to help physicians evaluate the various new Medicare payment models and improve their opportunities for success under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA), which will go into effect in 2017. The AMA Payment Model Evaluator is a free interactive tool offering initial assessments to help physicians determine how their practices will be impacted by MACRA. Once physicians or medical practice administrators fill out the online questionnaire, they will receive guidance on participating in the MACRA payment model that is best for them. They will also receive relevant educational and actionable resources. To help physicians understand the MACRA payment reforms, and what they can do now to start preparing for the transition, the California Medical Association (CMA) has created a MACRA resource center. There you will find an overview of MACRA, and a comprehensive list of tools, resources and information from CMA, AMA and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. View the CMA resource center at www.cmanet.org/macra. October 14, 2016 Medicare American Medical Association, AMA, MACRA, Medicare 0 0 Comment Read More »
AMA publishes guide to physician-focused alternative payment models The legislation that repealed the Medicare sustainable growth rate—the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA)—created major new opportunities to advance alternative payment models (APM). Starting in 2019, MACRA will provide a 5 percent annual bonus payment to physicians who participate in APMs and it exempts them from participating in the fee-for-service meaningful use and quality reporting programs (MACRA's Merit-Based Incentive Payment System). In addition to accountable care organizations, medical homes and bundled payments for hospital-based episodes, MACRA also provides for the development of “physician-focused” APMs. The American Medical Association (AMA) worked with Harold Miller at the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform to develop a “Guide to Physician-Focused Alternative Payment Models,” which describes seven different APMs that can help physicians in every specialty redesign the way they deliver care in order to improve patient care, manage health care spending and qualify for APM annual bonus payments. The seven APMs include: Payment for a High-Value Service Condition-Based Payment for Physician Services Multi-Physician Bundled Payment Physician-Facility Procedure Bundle Warrantied Payment for Physician Services Episode Payment for a Procedure Condition-Based Payment The seven APMs described in the guide have been designed to be able to meet the MACRA eligibility criteria for APMs; however, this will require validation from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in the future rulemaking process. Under each APM, physicians would take accountability for specific aspects of spending and quality they can control or influence. Physicians will be required to accept some downside financial risk. However, unlike many APMs that have been implemented to date, the physician-focused APMs would not place physicians at financial risk for costs they cannot control. Importantly, each of the APMs in this report would give participating physicians the resources and flexibility they need to redesign care systems so they can successfully improve care and manage spending for the particular patients, conditions and episodes for which they would be accountable. In addition to describing the APM designs, the guide also provides examples of how the APMs are being used by different specialties and how they could be applied to diverse patient populations, including cancer care, cardiovascular care, chronic disease management, emergency medicine, gastroenterology, maternity care and surgery. Click here for more information. Contact: Elizabeth McNeil, (800) 786-4262 or emcneil@cmanet.org. January 15, 2016 Medicare AMA, American Medical Association, Medicare, Alternative Payment Models (APM) 0 0 Comment Read More »
Former CMA president throws hat in ring for AMA vice speaker James T. Hay, M.D., 2012 California Medical Association (CMA) president, last week officially began his campaign for the position of vice speaker of the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates (HOD). The San Diego family physician began his long association with the AMA in 1986 as a delegate to the association’s Hospital Medical Staff Section. For more than a decade, he has been a delegate to the AMA HOD, while also serving as vice speaker, speaker, president-elect and, ultimately, president at CMA. In 2012, Dr. Hay was selected to serve on Governor Jerry Brown’s “Let’s Get Healthy California Task Force,” a governmental body charged with taking actions that would make California the healthiest state in the nation. Additionally, he created and served as the first president of the San Diego County Medical Society Foundation and championed its “Project Access,” which connects uninsured patients to volunteer physicians. To date, this project has resulted in more than $9 million in free health care. In past leadership roles, Dr. Hay was responsible for taking organizations in bold, new directions. In the early 2000s, he chaired CMA’s Reengineering Task Force, an effort that eliminated the organization's redundancies and led to a much more efficient governance structure. And, as CMA president, Dr. Hay initiated actions that have led to major governance reforms, as well as to improvements in communications and membership numbers. A tireless advocate for medical students, residents and young physicians, Dr. Hay has been a mentor and encouraged their involvement in local societies, the CMA and AMA. A dedicated member of CMA’s Political Action Committee and strong advocate for the work that AMA’s Political Action Committee (Gold Member) does, many legislators call him a friend and have followed his guidance on issues important to the profession. Dr. Hay received his undergraduate degree from Duke University in Durham, N.C., and his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in Pennsylvania. He served his residency at the Naval Hospital in Camp Pendleton, Calif. Visit www.facebook.com/DrJimHay or www.DrHayAMA2015.com to learn more about Dr. Hay’s campaign. If you know AMA delegates from other states, please encourage them to support Dr. Hay at the election on Tuesday, June 9, in Chicago. To coordinate your help with CMA, contact Tony Campa at (916) 551-2062 or tcampa@cmanet.org April 23, 2015 General American Medical Association, Physician Leadership, AMA 0 0 Comment Read More »
AMA asks feds to decouple EHR certification from meaningful use The American Medical Association (AMA) has sent a letter to the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Karen B. DeSalvo, M.D., urging that the certification of electronic health records (EHR) be decoupled from meaningful use certification requirements. “Unfortunately, we believe the meaningful use certification requirements are contributing to EHR system problems, and we are worried about the downstream effects on patient safety,” the letter said. “Many physicians find these systems cumbersome, do not meet their workflow needs, decrease efficiency, and have a limited, if any, interoperability,” the letter said. “”Most importantly, certified EHR technology can present safety concerns for patients.” AMA believes there is an urgent need to change the current certification program to better align end-to-end testing to focus on EHR usability, interoperability, and safety.. AMA suggested seven changes to the EHR certification. In addition to decoupling EHR certification from the meaningful use program, AMA is also urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to reconsider alternative software testing methods; establish greater transparency and uniformity on user centered design testing and process results; incorporate exception handling into EHR certification; develop consolidated clinical document architecture guidance and tests to support exchange; seek further stakeholder feedback; and increase education on EHR implementation. “Ensuring patient safety is a joint responsibility between the physician and technology vendor and requires appropriate safety measures at each stage of development and implementation,” the letter stated. Physicians, software developers and vendors have reported to the AMA that meaningful use certification has become the priority in health information technology design at the expense of meeting physicians’ needs, patient safety and product innovation. “While training is a key factor, the safe use of any tool originates from its inherent design and the iterative testing processes used to identify issues and safety concerns. Ultimately, physicians must have confidence in the devices used in their practices to manage patient care,” the letter said. The letter was also signed by 35 medical societies and specialty societies. Click here to read the full letter. January 23, 2015 EHR Certified EHRs, EHR, Electronic Health Record, Meaningful Use, AMA 0 0 Comment Read More »
Highlights from AMA's 2014 interim meeting The nation’s physicians gathered at the 2014 American Medical Association (AMA) interim meeting in Dallas, Texas, this past week. The delegates debated a large number of resolutions, establishing new policies related to the worldwide Ebola epidemic, expanded network access for the Affordable Care Act and electronic health records. A number of these resolutions were put forward by the California delegation. Below are highlights of some of the resolutions adopted as policy. Ebola: Resolution 925 put forth by the California delegation was incorporated into AMA policy that calls on AMA to strongly support U.S. and global efforts to fight the Ebola epidemic and support health care workers and volunteers that are fighting Ebola worldwide. The policy also supports the use of quarantine and isolation when it is based on science and asks AMA to make emergency recommendations on Ebola for the medical community and the general public. Adequate Networks for Patient Access, Choice: AMA adopted policy that calls for health insurers to make updates to their provider networks prior to the open enrollment period begins each year to avoid patient confusion. The policy also reiterates the need for health insurers to provide patients with an accurate, complete directory of participating physicians through multiple media outlets. These lists also should identify physicians who are not accepting new patients. Medicaid Enhanced Rates: The AMA delegates adopted policy (Report 7) that requires AMA to advocate for the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid primary care payment increases to continue past 2014 in a manner that does not negatively impact payment for any other physicians. AMA Promotion of Improved Electronic Records: The delegates passed a resolution (210) that asks AMA to continue advocating with the Centers for Medical & Medicaid Services (CMS) for a halt to meaningful use penalties. Hospital Sponsored Electronic Health Records: The delegates referred for study a California resolution (825) that asked AMA continue to urge Congress and the CMS to mandate that all EHR systems be interoperable, and to require hospitals to protect physician rights to control and have access to their patients' medical records. The resolution was referred so that current regulations, practices and legal implications could be reviewed. Preventing Drug Manufacturers from Restricting their Distribution Networks: AMA reaffirmed policies D-110.993, H-110.992 and H-110.998 in lieu of California resolution 229 that asked the AMA to oppose attempts by drug manufacturers and distributors to increase profits by restricting the distribution of their medications. The resolution also asked AMA partner with the American Hospital Association, the federal government and other interested parties, to oppose Genentech’s plan to restrict the distribution of its products as a restraint of trade. Facilitating Multiple State Licensure: AMA delegates voted to support the Federation of State Medical Boards compact designed to facilitate a speedier medical licensure process with fewer administrative burdens for physicians seeking licensure in multiple states (Report 3). The compact includes model legislation to make it easier for physicians to obtain licenses in multiple states while providing access to safe, quality care. The California Medical Association will be working with the Medical Board of California to review the compact and determine the best course of action in our state. Cannabis: The delegates adopted a resolution (213) asking AMA to encourage model legislation to put a warning on all cannabis products not approved the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that says: “Marijuana has a high potential for abuse. It has no scientifically proven, currently accepted medical use for preventing or treating any disease process in the United States.” The resolution also urges legislatures to delay full legalization of any cannabis product until further research is completed on the public health, medical, economic and social consequences of chronic use of cannabis. More news from the AMA Interim Meeting is available on the AMA website. Contact: Elizabeth McNeil, (800) 786-4262 or emcneil@cmanet.org. November 17, 2014 General AMA, House of Delegates, American Medical Association 0 0 Comment Read More »
AMA introduces tool that allows physicians to pinpoint underserved patient care areas The American Medical Association (AMA) announced today that it was introducing a mapping tool that lets physicians see the distribution of physicians and nonphysician clinicians by specialty, state, county or metropolitan area. Called the Health Workforce Mapper, AMA believes the tool will be useful to physicians so they can identify the best locations to establish or expand a medical practice based on regional needs for access to care and the existing health care workforce. The tool can identify and prioritize underserved areas; create and display ratios of physicians and nonphysician clinicians to population in any given region; map the practice locations of physicians and other clinicians in specific states or regions; select and compare across multiple categories of physician specialty types; identify shortage areas, hospital locations, population indicators and relevant health data; and view geographic features, including highways, mountain ranges and waterways. AMA members have access to the tool for free. A limited view of the tool is open to anyone. Sign up for a live webinar demonstration of the AMA Workforce Mapper at 1 p.m. Eastern time on Nov. 14. November 5, 2014 General American Medical Association, Rural Health, Underserved Communities, AMA 0 0 Comment Read More »
