California Medical Association responds to vote on Senate Bill 323 Sacramento – After today’s Assembly Business and Professions Committee vote, California Medical Association President Luther F. Cobb, M.D., responded with the following statement regarding Senate Bill 323: "Today was a good day for the health of Californians. We commend the Assembly for rejecting SB 323, which would have significantly compromised patient safety. SB 323 would have done nothing to address access to care, and absent a bar on the corporate practice of medicine, adequate physician and medical board oversight, and the extensive training necessary, this legislation would have only put ... July 6, 2015 General SB 323 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA asks Congress and CMS for two-year grace period for ICD-10 conversion With the implementation of ICD-10 only 90 days away (October 1, 2015), the window for the transition from ICD-9 is rapidly closing for many physician practices. The California Medical Association (CMA), in collaboration with the American Medical Association and other medical associations, sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and Congressional leadership urging them to help mitigate the impact of the transition by supporting a two-year grace period whereby physicians would use ICD-10 but not have claims delayed, denied or subject to audits because ... July 6, 2015 General ICD-10, Regulatory Advocacy, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 0 0 Comment Read More »
Coalition partners stand together to thank Legislature, Governor Brown for passing and signing Senate Bill 277 Representing tens of thousands of advocates across the state, doctors, parents, school representatives join in Sacramento for one final rally on SB 277. Sacramento – Despite three-digit temperatures, dozens of coalition partners came together to rally one last time for Senate Bill 277 (Pan/Allen). The bill passed out of the State Assembly on Thursday and cleared the final hurdle in the State Senate Monday. Governor Brown signed the bill today. “This is a monumental day for Californians. Senate Bill 277 will help keep kids and communities safe and I thank ... July 6, 2015 General Immunizations, Public Health, I Heart Immunity, Vaccinations 0 0 Comment Read More »
Educate office staff to avoid fraud and abuse In February 2015, the California Medical Association (CMA) issued a fraud alert to warn its members about clinical laboratory payments to referring physicians that may trigger fraud and abuse concerns. Some clinical labs have been offering physicians cash and gift incentives for blood draws of Medicare patients. CMA has continued to receive reports about these anti-kickback violations, which have led to several recent physician arrests in New Jersey, Virginia and other states. Furthermore, physicians' employees have also been implicated in these alleged bribes, including clerical staff and physician assistants. ... July 6, 2015 General Fraud and Abuse 0 0 Comment Read More »
Anthem Blue Cross begins medical chart reviews in July In July, Anthem Blue Cross will begin chart reviews on enrollees who purchased Affordable Care Act (ACA)-compliant plans in either the individual and small group insurance markets (both on and off the exchange, known as “Covered California”). The records requests are a result of the commercial risk adjustment program created by ACA Section 1343. The primary goal of the risk adjustment program is to spread the financial risk borne by payors more evenly in order to stabilize premiums and provide issuers the ability to offer a variety of plans to ... July 6, 2015 General, Managed Care Affordable Care Act, Anthem Blue Cross, Covered California, ACA, Health Insurance Exchange 0 0 Comment Read More »
Vaccine bill passes through state Assembly and Senate; heads to Gov. Brown for signature A widely supported vaccination bill cleared its second house in the California legislature on Thursday, and passed through the Senate again today. Senate Bill 277, which passed through the Assembly Health Committee on June 9, was approved on the Assembly floor with a 46-30 vote. Today the bill was approved on the Senate floor with a 24-14 vote. The bill’s next stop is the desk of Governor Jerry Brown. “Overwhelmingly, doctors will tell us that vaccines are one of the greatest health achievements in all of mankind,” Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez ... July 6, 2015 General Advocacy, Immunization, Public Health, State Legislation, Vaccination, I Heart Immunity 0 0 Comment Read More »
Supreme Court upholds ACA subsidies In a major victory for the Obama administration, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a key provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), reaffirming that 6.4 million people in 34 states can continue to receive subsidies to purchase health care insurance. The question in the case, King v. Burwell, was what to make of a phrase in the law that seems to say the subsidies are available only to people buying insurance on “an exchange established by the state.” Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Anthony Kennedy joined the court’s four Democratic ... June 26, 2015 General Affordable Care Act, United States Supreme Court, ACA 0 0 Comment Read More »
Registration now open for IMQ 2015 Medical Staff Conference The California Medical Association's Institute for Medical Quality (IMQ) has opened registration for its annual Medical Staff Conference, to be held October 29 at Embassy Suites Hotel near LAX. At the conference, attendees will discover solutions and best practices that physicians need to successfully lead their medical staffs. The conference will answer questions about tackling difficult decisions that face medical staffs, such as granting privileges for aging physicians and those reentering practice after an absence. Through examples and discussion, the faculty will demonstrate how, by maintaining a focus on quality and ... June 26, 2015 General Institute for Medical Quality Medical Staff, IMQ, Medical Staff 0 0 Comment Read More »
Governor calls for special Medi-Cal session after budget agreement struck with legislators Governor Jerry Brown has called for a special session of the Legislature to address “Health Care Financing” after he struck a deal with Democratic lawmakers last week. California legislators passed a $115.4 billion budget, part of a deal with Governor Brown to hold back on spending despite the state’s improving financial picture. Left out of the budget agreement were higher rates for Medi-Cal providers. In a typical year, the conclusion of budget negotiations would mean the end of the California Medical Association’s (CMA) hopes of improving access for the over ... June 26, 2015 Medi-Cal Medi-Cal, Medi-Cal Cuts, State Budget, California State Budget 0 0 Comment Read More »
Senate Bill 277 Clears Assembly Sacramento — Senate Bill 277 jumped its final hurdle in the state Assembly today, clearing the house with overwhelming 46-30 approval. The bill now heads back to the Senate, where legislators will consider amendments made in the Assembly. “The California Medical Association (CMA) would like to thank the Assemblymembers who supported this important piece of legislation that will improve public health and keep our communities safe,” CMA President Luther F. Cobb, M.D., said. “Diseases that were once declared eradicated have resurfaced in recent years and SB 277 will help to ... June 26, 2015 General Public Health, State Legislation, Vaccination, Advocacy, I Heart Immunity, Immunization 0 0 Comment Read More »
