First annual HOD poster presentations a huge success The California Medical Association (CMA) hosted its first ever House of Delegates (HOD) poster session to showcase research by medical students, residents and fellows around the state. The winners were Alexandra Iacob, M.D., a pediatrics resident at Loma Linda University Medical Center, and Sahil Aggarwall, a second-year medical student from the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Iacob's research looked at the after-effects of non-fatal drowning to see if medical care could be improved and if policies could be developed to reduce the devastating effects "not only for the patient but ... November 4, 2016 Awards, CMA residents and Fellows, House of Delegates, Medical Students 0 0 Comment Read More »
President's Message: Meet Mitzi Young, Physician Advocate November, 2016 Dear Friends and Colleagues, One of the greatest responsibilities we have as a medical society is to partner with you in providing resources for you to successfully manage your practice and consistently deliver the best possible patient care. That’s why I am excited to announce the addition of our very own physician advocate: Welcome Mitzi Young! Mitzi brings the CMA’s Center for Economic Services directly into your office setting to serve as your personal consultant on a wide variety of compliance, contracting, insurance, claims and training issues. She will ... November 3, 2016 CMA, General, President's Message Mitzi Young, Physician Advocate, President's Message 0 0 Comment Read More »
Sacramento physician receives 2016 Compassionate Service Award Sacramento emergency physician Hernando Garzon, M.D., was recognized with the California Medical Association’s (CMA) Compassionate Service Award at the 145th annual CMA House of Delegates, which convened October 15-16, 2016, in Sacramento. The award honors a CMA member physician who best illustrates the association's commitment to community and charity care. For more than 20 years, Dr. Garzon has demonstrated a commitment to disaster response and humanitarian medical relief. In the fall of 2014, Dr. Garzon went to West Africa to assist with the outbreak of Ebola, which had an incredibly ... November 1, 2016 Awards, CMA Awards, Disaster Preparedness, Physician Leadership 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA physicians converge on Sacramento for annual meeting More than 500 California physicians convened in Sacramento this weekend for the 145th Annual Session of the California Medical Association (CMA) House of Delegates (HOD), which convened October 15-16, 2016, at the Sacramento Convention Center. This meeting marks the end of the first year of CMA’s new governance reforms. Under the new system of governance, the HOD now meets to establish broad policy on current major issues affecting members, the association and the practice of medicine. The major issues discussed this year were: MACRA Maintenance ... November 1, 2016 CMA House of Delegates, CMA Policy 0 0 Comment Read More »
Ruth Haskins, M.D., inaugurated as California Medical Association's 149th president The California Medical Association (CMA) installed Ruth Haskins, M.D., as the 149th president of CMA during the organization’s annual House of Delegates meeting October 15, 2016. Dr. Haskins, an OB-GYN practicing out of Folsom, Calif., has been a CMA and Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Association member for 23 years. She served on the CMA Board of Trustees from 2013-15 and as chair of the CMA Council on Legislation from 2010-13. “I’m grateful and excited for the opportunity to make lasting improvements in the field of health and change lives for the ... November 1, 2016 CMA Physician Leadership, CMA Elections 0 0 Comment Read More »
Address of the CMA President, Dr. Ruth Haskins It is with great enthusiasm that I take to this podium, newly installed as your President of the California Medical Association (CMA). I am honored. I am humbled. During this next year I pledge to show you through my words and actions that you made the right choice in your vote. My face and my words will represent the physicians of California, to your colleagues, to the public, to the legislature and other healthcare decision-makers. This year I promise to do my best to restore the value to our profession. Being physicians is ... November 1, 2016 CMA House of Delegates 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA's 2016 Nye Award given to Los Angeles psychiatrist Los Angeles psychiatrist Karen Miotto, M.D., was named the 2016 recipient of the California Medical Association (CMA) Gary S. Nye Award for Physician Health and Well-Being in recognition of her selfless devotion to advocating and promoting the well-being of her fellow physicians The award honors a CMA member who has made significant contributions toward improving physician health and wellness. The award was established by the House of Delegates in 2009 in honor of Gary Nye, M.D., a leader in bringing attention and developing solutions for physician impairment and rehabilitation. Dr. Miotto ... November 1, 2016 Awards, CMA Awards, House of Delegates 0 0 Comment Read More »
Humboldt physician receives CMA's 2016 "country doctor" award Humboldt County family physician Willard M. Hunter, M.D., was awarded the California Medical Association’s (CMA) Frederick K.M. Plessner Memorial Award on Saturday, at the association's annual House of Delegates meeting in Sacramento. The award honors the California physician who best exemplifies the ethics and practice of a rural country practitioner. As a graduate of the prestigious UCLA School of Medicine, Dr. Hunter could have gone anywhere to practice family medicine, but he chose rural Humboldt County, where the natural beauty inspired him. In the 1980s, he started his practice in ... November 1, 2016 Awards, CMA Awards, Frederick K.M. Plessner Memorial Award, House of Delegates 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA to host webinar on AB 72 out-of-network billing In September 2016, Governor Jerry Brown signed a controversial bill, Assembly Bill 72, into law. This bill will change the billing practices of non-participating physicians providing non-emergent care at in-network hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers and laboratories. The October 19 webinar will present an overview of the new law, and will help physicians understand the circumstances under which the bill applies, how physicians can continue to charge their usual and customary rates, and how the bill provides an opportunity to improve network adequacy standards. Presented by Janus Norman, California Medical Association (CMA) ... October 13, 2016 CMA, General Webinars, Out of Network Care 0 0 Comment Read More »
Amador physician featured in Big Tobacco's latest misleading ad, CMA responds The latest misleading ad from the tobacco industry-funded No on Prop. 56 campaign prominently features a retired ob-gyn from Amador county, Arnold Zeiderman, M.D. In the ad he claims, “I do everything in my power to stop people from smoking, but that's not what Prop. 56 is really about." The Executive Committee of the California Medical Association and physician leaders across the state today issued an open letter to Dr. Zeiderman, urging him to reconsider his role as spokesperson for the tobacco industry and join with the rest of the ... October 13, 2016 CMA, General Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tobacco Tax, Ballot Measures, Pediatrics, Prop. 56 (tobacco tax), Tobacco 0 0 Comment Read More »
