California Medical Association responds to unveiling of Governor Brown's proposed 2016-17 state budget Sacramento – Steve Larson, M.D., 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 ... January 15, 2016 General, Managed Care, Medi-Cal Managed Care, Medi-Cal, Save Lives California, Tobacco Tax, California State Budget 0 0 Comment Read More »
Educate your patients about screenings and vaccinations during Cervical Health Awareness Month January is Cervical Health Awareness Month. During this time, the California Medical Association (CMA) and CMA Foundation encourage physicians to talk to their patients about the risks of cervical cancer – and ways to prevent it, including increased screenings and vaccinations. The main cause of cervical cancer is the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can be prevented through vaccination. Studies have shown that the HPV vaccine has the potential to prevent up to 70 percent of cervical cancer cases and deaths in California annually. Cervical cancer can also be detected through ... January 15, 2016 General Cervical Cancer, HPV, Immunization, Public Health, Vaccination, Women's Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
FDA lifts ban on blood donation by gay and bisexual men The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released final rules that ease restrictions on blood donations by gay and bisexual men. The new rule allows gay and bisexual men to donate blood if they have not had sex with a man for one year. Previously, the FDA banned all blood donations from men who have had sex with another man since 1977. The previous FDA regulations stipulated that gay men were "deferred as blood donors ... because as a group, [they were] at increased risk for HIV, hepatitis B ... January 15, 2016 General California Phyhsician's Legal Handbook, Food and Drug Administration, Blood Donation 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA files amicus brief in case that could weaken physician protections from silent PPOs The California Medical Association (CMA) and nine other physician organizations filed an amicus brief asking the Supreme Court of California to review an appeals ruling that would have significant, widespread negative impact on the health care industry, undermining a California law designed to protect physicians from "silent PPOs." Robust managed health care provider networks and reasonable reimbursement for medical services are vital to ensuring adequate accessibility and the highest quality of medical care. A historical and ongoing threat to these goals is the silent PPO problem, whereby health plans unilaterally ... January 15, 2016 Managed Care Legal Advocacy, Payor Contracting, Provider Networks, Silent PPOs, Amicus Briefs 0 0 Comment Read More »
Free workshops on how standing orders can improve adult immunization rates The Immunization Action Coalition is offering four free workshops in California to help physicians improve adult immunization rates while streamlining their practices. This workshop, “Take a Stand™: Use Standing Orders to Improve Adult Immunization Rates,” is a one-stop shop to help you easily implement standing orders (“standardized procedures”) for adult immunizations in your practice. The workshops will be held on January 19 in San Francisco, January 20 in Sacramento, January 22 in Los Angeles and January 23 in San Diego. Standing orders authorize nurses and other appropriately trained health care personnel, ... January 15, 2016 General Public Health, Seminars, Vaccination, Immunization 0 0 Comment Read More »
Tobacco tax initiative cleared to begin collecting signatures Supporters of a plan to increase California’s tobacco tax by $2 per pack will soon begin collecting the 585,407 signatures necessary to place the initiative on the 2016 election ballot. The California Attorney General finalized the initiative's title and summary on December 15, 2015, clearing the way for the measure’s advocates to collect the needed signatures. The signatures must be submitted by June 13, 2016, in order for the initiative to qualify for the 2016 ballot. The initiative would not only raise California’s current tobacco tax of $0.87 per pack ... January 15, 2016 General Save Lives California, Tobacco, Tobacco Tax, Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
Physicians invited to attend 2016 LUNG FORCE Expo in San Diego The American Lung Association (ALA) is hosting a special one-day educational event, the LUNG FORCE Expo, on April 22, 2016, in San Diego. The event will bring together patients, caregivers and advocates with leading experts to learn about the latest trends, resources and research surrounding lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and other respiratory issues. Speakers from a variety of fields will present current medical information on topics that have the most impact on those whose lives are touched by these conditions, as well as provide up-to-date medical information ... January 15, 2016 General Asthma, Chest Diseases, Public Health, American Lung Association, Lung Cancer 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Capitol Insight: Jan. 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 ... January 15, 2016 General Capitol Insight, Anthony York 0 0 Comment Read More »
Registration Now Open for IMQ/PACE Stepping Up To Leadership Training Program REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! If you’re a Department Chair, Chief of Staff, Committee Chair, or in any active position on a medical staff, you don’t want to miss the upcoming Stepping Up to Leadership conference. This is a great chance to network with colleagues and enhance the practical skills you need to succeed! The Stepping Up to Leadership program is widely recognized as the “go to” course for acquiring knowledge and skills to successfully lead a medical staff. In addition to interactive training in communicating and handling disruptive or impaired individuals, ... January 12, 2016 General Institute for Medical Quality (IMQ), Stepping Up to Leadership 0 0 Comment Read More »
Nominating Committee to Meet January 20, 2016 Submit nominations for SBCMS Board of Directors and District II representation by January 19, 2016. The San Bernardino County Medical Society Nominating Committee will meet January 20, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. at the SBCMS office to nominate candidates for each elective office on the SBCMS Executive Committee, Board of Directors, and for delegates and alternate delegates to the California Medical Association. These positions begin July 1, 2016. One, two and three year terms are available, to be determined. SBCMS members are invited to submit nominations to the Nominating Committee as soon ... January 6, 2016 General SBCMS Board of Directors, CMA Delegation, Nominationgs 0 0 Comment Read More »
