Highlights from AMA's 2013 House of Delegates The California delegation to the American Medical Association’s (AMA) House of Delegates presented a number of important resolutions at the AMA annual meeting in Chicago. The following are summaries of some of the California resolutions that the AMA House of Delegates adopted as policy. 1. Health Risks of Sitting (Res. 413): The delegates adopted a resolution that asks AMA to recognize that there are potential risks of prolonged sitting and encourage efforts by employers, employees and others to make available alternatives such as standing work stations and isometric balls, and ... June 27, 2013 General AMA, American Medical Association, House of Delegates 0 0 Comment Read More »
Scope of practice bills to be heard on July 2, urge your legislator to OPPOSE these bills The California Medical Association (CMA) is urging physicians to contact legislators and ask for NO votes on SB 491, SB 492 and SB 493. These three bills will expand scope of practice of nonphysician practitioners and remove necessary physician supervision, ultimate harming patients and decreasing quality of care. These bills may be heard in the Assembly Business, Professions and Consumer Protection Committee as early as July 2. Senate Bill 491 (Hernandez) would allow nurse practitioners to open practices without any oversight from a trained medical doctor and prescribe dangerous, addictive ... June 27, 2013 General Advocacy, Scope of Practice 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMS conducts meaningful use audits in California The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has begun auditing California physicians who received payments through the federal electronic health record (EHR) incentive programs. Physicians selected for the audit have received letters from CMS contractor Figliozzi and Co., with requests for documentation to support their stage 1 meaningful use attestation. Figliozzi is an accounting firm that specializes in auditing health care facilities for Medicare cost compliance. Under the 2009 federal economic stimulus package, health care providers can qualify for Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments by demonstrating meaningful use of ... June 27, 2013 EHR EHR, Incentive Payments, Meaningful Use, CalHIPSO, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA amicus brief argues exorbitant 'nominal' damage puts patient care at risk In June, the California Medical Association (CMA) filed an amicus curiae letter with the Court of Appeals in the case Regents of the University of California v. The Superior Court of Los Angeles County (Platter). This case arises from the theft of a computer hard drive containing private, confidential information on approximately 16,000 patients. The plaintiffs filed a class action lawsuit alleging that the UC Regents failed to have proper safeguards in place to prevent the theft in violation of the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA). The plaintiffs seek $1,000 ... June 27, 2013 General Legal Advocacy, Amicus Briefs 0 0 Comment Read More »
Medical board decides it does have authority to discipline utilization review physicians The Medical Board of California recently considered the issue of whether workers' compensation utilization review can be considered the "practice of medicine" and, if so, does the medical board have the authority to discipline physicians who do not practice within the standard of care when performing utilization review on behalf of payors and other entities? After testimony by the California Medical Association (CMA) and the California Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (CSPMR), the board agreed that physicians conducting worker's compensation utilization review were indeed engaged in the practice of ... June 27, 2013 General Medical Board of California, Professional Liability, Workers Comp, Disciplinary Actions 0 0 Comment Read More »
SBCMS Alliance Disbanding After 83 Years of Service For 83 years the Alliance of the San Bernardino Medical Society has sponsored, developed, and participated in many worthwhile community programs and coordinated social activities for physicians and their spouses. As times change, so has our Alliance. We have seen a decline in membership and active participation in our organization. The SBCMS Alliance Board of Directors has come to the decision to recommend that we close the Alliance on June 30, 2013. On June 4, a vote of the membership was taken to dissolve the membership. We invite any ... June 21, 2013 General Alliance, SBCMS Alliance 0 0 Comment Read More »
Memorial Service for Wendell Moseley M.D. Dr. Wendell Moseley, 85, beloved husband, father and physician, went home to be with the Lord on June 17, 2013 in San Bernardino, CA. A General Practitioner in the San Bernardino area for over 45 years, he was a graduate of Redlands University and Loma Linda University School of Medicine. He proudly served our nation during WWII in the United States Army. Some of his many accomplishments are: past President of the San Bernardino County Medical Society, President of Medical Staff at St. Bernardine Medical Center and San Bernardino ... June 19, 2013 General past president, Wendell Moseley 0 0 Comment Read More »
California Medical Association releases White Paper on Opioids Sacramento – Today, the California Medical Association (CMA) released 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 health care dilemma: 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. Phinney, M.D., CMA president. “CMA has developed the white paper ... June 18, 2013 General Opioids, Pain, Prescription medication 0 0 Comment Read More »
2013 SBCMS Installation of Officers The San Bernardino County Medical Society’s (SBCMS) Installation of Officers dinner was held on June 11th at the Sierra Lakes Golf Club in Fontana. Nearly 200 people were in attendance to pay tribute to a number of physicians being recognized and honored at the annual event. SBCMS President Leroy Ounanian, MD, served as Master of Ceremony for the evening at which the new board officers were introduced including Raman Poola, MD, who will serve as the Society’s 121st president during 2013-14. Dr. Poola is a Gastroenterologist who practices in Apple ... June 13, 2013 Awards, General Bangasser Medical Student Scholarship, SBCMS Presidential Award, Installation of Officers, Outstanding Awards 0 0 Comment Read More »
Noridian Transition Date Set Transition of the Medicare Administrative Contract from Palmetto GBA to Noridian is scheduled for September 16, 2013 (Part B). To help physicians understand what is changing, Noridian is offering a series of Implementation 101 and EDI Support Services web-based workshops. Noridian is also holding in person “Meet and Greet” workshops at the following locations: June 11-13 Doubletree by Hilton Sacramento 2001 Point West Way Sacramento, CA 95815 June 18-20 Embassy Suites San Francisco Airport South 250 Gateway Boulevard South San Francisco, CA 94080 July 9-11 Embassy Suites Anaheim South 11767 Harbor Boulevard Garden Grove, CA ... June 6, 2013 Medicare Noridian, Palmetto GBA, Medicare 0 0 Comment Read More »
