CMA to tackle six major issues at annual meeting The 145th Annual Session of the California Medical Association (CMA) House of Delegates (HOD) will tackle six major issues when it convenes October 15-16, 2016, at the Sacramento Convention Center. Beginning this year, the HOD will establish broad policy on current major issues that have been determined to be the most important issues affecting members, the association and the practice of medicine. Reports on these major issues are now available for download and comment through October 7. All members are welcome to submit comments online at www.cmanet.org/hod. MACRA: As the Medicare ... September 22, 2016 CMA House of Delegates 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA fights federal bill that would allow VA to preempt state telemedicine laws The California Medical Association (CMA) and the American Medical Association (AMA) are fighting a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2017 that would preempt state telemedicine laws and dismantle accountability mechanisms needed to ensure patient protection. The NDAA is an annual piece of legislation that primarily authorizes the federal government to spend money for war operations and military base operations. The two houses of Congress passed their own versions of this annual legislation over the summer. The version passed by the U.S. Senate includes language ... September 22, 2016 CMA, General Telemedicine, Veterans, Regulatory Advocacy 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Q4 council reports now available for comment The California Medical Association (CMA) has posted its fourth-quarter council reports online, part of the year-round (quarterly) policy-making process instituted at the close of the 2015 CMA House of Delegates. In August 2016, the fourth-quarter resolutions were opened for online testimony. At the close of the comment period, the testimony received was used to inform CMA's various councils, which then met and developed recommendations that will go before the Board of Trustees in October. These council reports are now available online and open for further comment and discussion until October 10, ... September 22, 2016 CMA House of Delegates 0 0 Comment Read More »
Know Your Rights: Making the most out of your appeals Thanks to California Medical Association (CMA)-sponsored legislation (AB 1455) signed into law in 2000 and the resulting regulations, payors are required to have a fast, fair and cost-effective dispute resolution mechanism (i.e., “appeal process”) to resolve provider disputes. Anytime a payor contests, adjusts or denies a claim, they are required to advise the provider of the availability of the appeal process and instructions for submitting the appeal. Payors are also required to acknowledge receipt of a written appeal within two working days for electronic appeals or 15 working days for ... September 13, 2016 CMA, General Know Your Rights, Appeals 0 0 Comment Read More »
Call for abstracts: Medical students, residents and fellows invited to submit abstracts for first annual HOD poster presentation The California Medical Association (CMA) is hosting its first ever House of Delegates (HOD) poster session to showcase research by medical students, residents and fellows around the state on Saturday, October 15, 2016, during CMA’s annual meeting in Sacramento. Winners will be announced during the HOD General Assembly on Sunday, October 16. All medical students, residents or fellows who are members of CMA are invited to submit abstracts for their original research. Original research categories for the poster session include: Basic science, clinical research, health policy research and clinical vignette. ... August 16, 2016 CMA Medical Students, Research and Experimental Medicine, Residents and Fellows, House of Delegates 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA endorses ballot initiative to reduce gun violence The California Medical Association (CMA) last week announced an endorsement for Proposition 63, California’s “Safety for All” initiative to reduce gun violence in California. More than 300 Americans are shot each day, and firearms kill over 32,000 Americans each year. In 2013, over 6,000 Californians were hospitalized or treated in emergency rooms for nonfatal gunshot wounds, including 1,275 children and teens. “Far too often, physicians become firsthand witnesses to the horrific aftermath of gun-related tragedies,” said CMA President Steve Larson, M.D., MPH. “We see it in our hospitals, clinics and on ... August 16, 2016 CMA, General Election, Public Health, Ballot Measures, Guns, Political Advocacy 0 0 Comment Read More »
California Medical Association endorses Proposition 58 The California Medical Association (CMA) today announced an endorsement of Proposition 58, California’s “Language Education Acquisition and Readiness Now” ballot initiative that gives local school districts and their academic staff the option of providing bilingual education. Forty-four percent (44%) of California residents over the age of five speak a language other than English at home, and numerous studies support the need for multilingual health care providers. A 2015 report from UCLA’s Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture found a shortage of health care professionals who have the ... August 12, 2016 CMA Ethnic Diversity, Political Advocacy, Ballott Measures 0 0 Comment Read More »
California Medical Association endorses Proposition 63 The California Medical Association (CMA) today announced an endorsement of Proposition 63, California’s “Safety for All” ballot initiative to reduce gun violence in California. More than 300 Americans are shot each day, and firearms kill over 32,000 Americans each year. In 2013, over 6,000 Californians were hospitalized or treated in emergency rooms for nonfatal gunshot wounds, including 1,275 children and teens. “Far too often, physicians become firsthand witnesses to the horrific aftermath of gun-related tragedies,” CMA President Steve Larson, M.D., MPH, said. “We see it in our hospitals, clinics and on ... August 12, 2016 CMA Guns, Political Advocacy, Ballot Measures 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA now accepting online testimony for fourth quarter resolutions At the close of the California Medical Association (CMA) 2015 House of Delegates, new governance reforms took effect. One of the most significant changes to the bylaws allow for the submission of resolutions for debate and discussion throughout the year. In accordance with the new rules, there are now 11 resolutions online for member consideration in the fourth quarter of the year-round resolution process. They are posted at www.cmanet.org/hod and will be available for comment until September 4, 2016. Resolutions to be considered in Q4 include: 111-16: ... August 12, 2016 CMA House of Delegates 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA publishes MACRA preparation checklist On April 16, 2015, President Obama signed into law the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA), changing the health care financing system in the most significant and far-reaching way since the program's inception in 1965. To help physicians understand MACRA payment reforms, and what they can do now to start preparing for the transition, the California Medical Association (CMA) has published an important checklist titled, “MACRA: What Should I Do Now to Prepare?” The checklist is available in CMA's MACRA resource center at www.cmanet.org/macra. There you will ... August 8, 2016 CMA, Medicare Practice Resources, Running a Practice, MACRA, Medicare 0 0 Comment Read More »
