Q4 resolutions now accepting testimony As part of its policy-making process, the California Medical Association (CMA) allows members to submit resolutions for debate and discussion throughout the year. These resolutions will be considered by the standing Councils and Subcommittees, and will be presented to the Board of Trustees for consideration to be adopted as policy for the association. There are now eight new resolutions online for consideration in the fourth quarter of 2017. They are posted at www.cmanet.org/hod and will be available for testimony until September 8, 2017. After testimony closes, the resolutions and all the ... August 10, 2017 CMA CMA Policy, House of Delegates, Important Deadline 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Doc: Richard Pan, M.D. Senator Pan presenting Senate Bill 277 in Senate Health Committee "Vaccines are so effective that parents, and even many younger physicians, have never seen many vaccine preventable diseases. This lack of personal experience with these diseases has created opportunities for anti-vax charlatans to spread misinformation and create anxiety and doubt about vaccines for their own personal gain." --Sen. Richard Pan, M.D. As a physician, I have witnessed first-hand how vaccines protect our children and communities from dangerous diseases. I attended medical school at the University of Pittsburgh, where I learned microbiology ... August 9, 2017 CMA, General California Senate, CMAdocs, Pediatrics, Vaccination 0 0 Comment Read More »
Register today for CMA webinar on mental health in young adults The California Medical Association (CMA) is hosting a one-hour webinar about depression treatment and suicide prevention in young adults on Wednesday, August 16, from 12:15 to 1:15 pm. The presenter, Michelle Famula, M.D., is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the UC Davis School of Medicine Department of Public Health. She has spent the past 30 years providing young adult primary care and developing her interests in sexual, transgender and mental health care. This webinar, "The Pursuit of Happiness: A Practical Approach to Depression Treatment and Suicide Prevention in Young Adults," ... August 9, 2017 CMA, General Depression, Mental Health, Suicide, Webinars 0 0 Comment Read More »
Join CMA to learn how to challenge the interim payment for out-of-network services at in-network facilities On July 1, 2017, a new law (AB 72) took effect that changes the billing practices of non-participating physicians providing covered, non-emergent care at in-network facilities including hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers and laboratories. The law was designed to reduce unexpected medical bills when patients go to an in-network facility but receive care from an out-of-network doctor. The new law requires fully insured commercial plans and insurers to make “interim payments” to non-contracted physicians for non-emergent services performed at in-network health facilities, and places limitations on the ability of physicians in ... August 8, 2017 CMA AB72, Out of Network Care, Regulatory Advocacy, Webinars 0 0 Comment Read More »
Updated payor profiles for 2017 now available The California Medical Association’s (CMA) Center for Economic Services is publishing updated profiles on each of the major payors in California including Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, CIGNA, Health Net, UnitedHealthcare, Medicare/Noridian and Medi-Cal. Each profile includes key information on health plan market penetration; a description of the plan’s dispute resolution process; and the name and contact numbers for medical directors, provider relations, and other key contacts. Don’t waste your time searching the internet for this information – members can download CMA’s Payor Profiles free of charge ... August 1, 2017 CMA, Managed Care, Medi-Cal, Medicare Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Cigna, Health Net, Insurance, Medi-Cal, Medicare, Noridian, Payor, Payor Profiles, Running a Practice, UnitedHealthcare 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA CFO honored by Sacramento Business Journal Lance Lewis, chief operating and financial officer for the California Medical Association (CMA) was honored as one of the Sacramento Business Journal's CFOs of the Year. Lewis was recognized because his innovative leadership over the past 18 years has helped transform CMA into a thriving organization that cultivates and values talent, systems and processes that support a diverse, high performance workplace culture. Lewis oversaw the complete transformation of the association’s financial processes, revamping the budgeting process from a traditional accounting method to an activity-based costing model tied to the strategic ... July 24, 2017 Awards, CMA Awards, CMA in the News 0 0 Comment Read More »
Webinar: Medical staff self-governance and the Tulare medical staff trial Medical staff self-governance is a vital part of a carefully crafted system designed to ensure the delivery of quality patient care in California hospitals. Join us for a one-hour webinar on Wednesday, September 13, 2017, at 12:15 p.m., for an overview of the rights and responsibilities of the self-governing medical staff under state and federal law, including credentialing, establishing clinical criteria and standards, organizing committees to monitor patient care, reviewing medical records, working with hospital administrators and governing bodies, and peer review, among other things. Presenter: Long Do, CMA legal ... July 24, 2017 CMA, General Hospital Medical Staff, Legal Advocacy, Medical Staff, Medical Staff Self-Governance, Webinars 0 0 Comment Read More »
Medical students, residents and fellows invited to submit research abstracts and poster The California Medical Association (CMA) and Network of Ethnic Physician Organizations (NEPO) are hosting a joint annual poster session to showcase research by medical students, residents and fellows across California. All medical students, residents and fellows in the state are invited to submit abstracts for their original research, regardless of membership status. Students who serve marginalized and underserved populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Research categories include basic science, clinical research, clinical vignette, health policy, and social science research. Applicants may only submit one abstract with a 350 word limit, ... July 24, 2017 CMA Residents and Fellows, Building Healthy Communities Summit, House of Delegates, Medical Students, NEPO 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA to tackle three major issues at 2017 annual meeting The 146th Annual Session of the California Medical Association (CMA) House of Delegates (HOD) will tackle three major issues when it convenes October 21-22, 2017, at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim. The HOD establishes 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. Discussions on these major issues are now available for comment. All members are welcome to submit comments online at www.cmanet.org/hod. This year's major issues are: Health Care Reform ... July 21, 2017 CMA House of Delegates 0 0 Comment Read More »
Save the date: NEPO Building Healthy Communities Summit, Oct. 19-20 in Anaheim The 2017 Network of Ethnic Physician Organizations (NEPO) Building Healthy Communities Summit will be held on October 19-20 at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim. The theme this year is "Striving for Health Equity in the Era of Change." Register today for the early bird rate of $199. A block of rooms has been registered for members at a discounted rate of $215/night. Rates are guaranteed until September 27 or until full. Stay tuned for more information on this year's agenda and speakers. June 22, 2017 CMA, General Ethnic Diversity, NEPO, Building Healthy Communities Summit, Network of Ethnic Physician Organizations 0 0 Comment Read More »