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Medical Society Installs New officers with Dr. Eric Hansen at the Helm

The San Bernardino County Medical Society (SBCMS) held its 125th Officers’ Installation and Recognition Dinner, welcoming Eric R. Hansen, M.D. as President for 2017-18, on Friday, June 23 at the Mission Inn in Riverside, California. Close to 200 guests gathered for a reception followed by sit-down dinner and program. A family practice physician in Hesperia, California, Dr. Hansen also serves as the Chair of the Solo and Small Group Practice Forum for the statewide California Medical Association (CMA), the umbrella organization for SBCMS. He and his practice were also awarded ...

Molina Healthcare HOPE Diaper Drive

Molina Healthcare, Hines and other community partners are collecting baby diapers and adults briefs to aid our local babies, families & seniors! How You Can Make A Difference Join this grass root opportunity that lets you, your co-workers and your agency share in the spirit of giving!  We are collecting diapers of all sizes--from birth and beyond! Collection dates and drop off From now until July 14th you may drop off your donations at our San Bernardino regional office: 550 E. Hospitality Lane, Ste. 100 San Bernardino CA 92408 or call us at 1-855-665-4621 for ...

Child Health and Disability Prevention code and claim form conversion effective July 1

The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is currently transitioning Child Health and Disability Prevention (CHDP) program billing processes to be compliant with HIPAA standards for national health care electronic transactions and code sets. Rather than billing on the CHDP Confidential Screening/Billing Report (PM 160) claim form, claims will be submitted using CPT codes on the CMS 1500 or UB-04 claim forms or equivalent electronic claim transactions. The transition, effective for dates of service on or after July 1, 2017, affects claims for Medi-Cal Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis ...

DHCS preps contingencies in case of delayed budget approval

The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) recently announced it will implement a contingency plan for claim payment if the state budget is not enacted before the beginning of the 2017-2018 fiscal year on July 1. Although the state legislature passed a budget by the June 15 deadline, the Governor has not yet signed it. According to DHCS, providers should continue to submit claims for processing as normal, but payments for some programs may be delayed until the budget is signed. Claims for the following services will be processed ...

Free CME: Medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorders

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is offering two free training sessions on the use of medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorders. The training, “The Effective Use of Medication Assisted Treatment in an Opioid Dependent Population,” will be held in Sacramento on July 18 and repeated in Orange County on July 20. Registration is first-come, first-served. Attendance is capped at 100 participants – you must register by July 3. Physicians can receive up to 7 continuing medical education (CME) credits. To register, click on the links below: ...

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.

Free CME: Effective Strategies for Reducing Patients' Diabetes Risk, June 29 in San Diego

Physicians are invited to attend a free dinner meeting, "Effective Strategies for Reducing Patients' Diabetes Risk," Thursday, June 29, 2017, from 6-8 p.m., at the San Diego County Medical Society. 13 million California adults—nearly half of the state’s adult population—have prediabetes, increasing their risk of developing type 2 diabetes over the next few years. One out of every three Californians between the ages of 18 and 39 is estimated to have prediabetes. With the clinical burden of diabetes on the rise, physicians should be armed with evidence-based solutions to prevent ...

CDI issues instructions for "average contracted rate" under new out-of-network billing and payment law

On July 1, 2017, a new law (AB 72, 2016) will take effect that changes the billing practices of non-contracted physicians providing non-emergent care at in-network facilities including hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers and laboratories. The law is designed to reduce unexpected medical bills when patients go to an in-network facility but receive care from an out-of-network doctor.  While patients with out-of-network benefits can consent to treatment from out-of-network providers, absent a valid consent form, health plans and insurers are required to reimburse out-of-network physicians at an interim payment rate. The ...

Diabetes Prevention: How to get your male patients in for prediabetes screening

Being a father is a big responsibility—with big demands. Dads spend a lot of time thinking about, taking care of, providing for and worrying about their families, which means they don’t necessarily put their own needs—or their health—first. This may in part explain why it’s so difficult to get your male patients into the office, let alone to get them screened for prediabetes. But it also may be an opportunity and incentive to get them there as well, so they can do more of the things they enjoy with their ...

CHA to host webinar on cancer surgery volumes and patient outcomes

The California Hospital Association (CHA) is hosting a webinar to unveil new research on how a hospital’s volume of cancer surgeries impacts patient outcomes. The webinar, “Cancer Surgery Volumes on Outcomes," will take place on July 6, 2017, from 10 a.m.to 12 p.m. The California HealthCare Foundation has partnered with the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, a health services researcher at Stanford and the Cancer Prevention Institute of California on a study to measure the volume of cancer surgeries performed at each hospital for certain cancers for ...