CDPH offers clinical reference tool for adult pneumococcal vaccinations The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has developed a clinical reference chart to help physicians understand and implement the new pneumococcal vaccine recommendations. The chart was produced in response to the increased complexity of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ recent pneumococcal vaccine recommendations. The chart summarizes the latest adult pneumococcal vaccine (PCV13 and PPSV23) recommendations for all adults age 65 and over (effective September 19, 2014, both vaccines now covered by Medicare Part B and adults 19-64 with certain underlying conditions. Download the chart here. Click here for more information ... January 29, 2015 General Immunization, Public Health, Vaccination, Department of Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
AMA asks feds to decouple EHR certification from meaningful use The American Medical Association (AMA) has sent a letter to the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Karen B. DeSalvo, M.D., urging that the certification of electronic health records (EHR) be decoupled from meaningful use certification requirements. “Unfortunately, we believe the meaningful use certification requirements are contributing to EHR system problems, and we are worried about the downstream effects on patient safety,” the letter said. “Many physicians find these systems cumbersome, do not meet their workflow needs, decrease efficiency, and have a limited, if any, interoperability,” the letter said. “”Most ... January 23, 2015 EHR Certified EHRs, EHR, Electronic Health Record, Meaningful Use, AMA 0 0 Comment Read More »
CalHIPSO seeks physicians to sign up for free practice transformation assistance The California Health Information Partnership and Services Organization (CalHIPSO) is applying for a grant from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to give California physicians access to free health practice improvement tools and services that would normally be cost prohibitive. The California Medical Association was a founding member of CalHIPSO, which was established in 2009 as a federally designated Regional Extension Center to provide education, outreach and technical assistance to help physicians select and implement electronic health records. To win this grant, CalHIPSO must show commitment and interest ... January 22, 2015 Medi-Cal, Medicare Health Information Technology, CalHIPSO, HIT 0 0 Comment Read More »
Medical board approves amendment to regulation allowing PAs to conduct surgery without immediate physician supervision The Medical Board of California approved an amendment to California administrative law that would allow physicians assistants (PA) to perform surgery without the immediate physical presence of a supervising physician. Existing law permits PAs to act as first or second assistant in surgery under the supervision of a physician. In 2011, a concern was raised by a PA licensee to the Physician Assistant Board that the current regulation did not reflect current medical community standards and that the law was unclear on the degree of physician supervision required of a ... January 22, 2015 General Physician Assistants, Scope of Practice, Medical Board of California 0 0 Comment Read More »
Mark your calendars now for the 41st annual CMA Legislative Advocacy Day California Medical Association (CMA) and San Bernardino County Medical Society (SBCMS) members are invited to attend the 41st Annual Legislative Advocacy Day (formerly known as Legislative Leadership Conference) on April 14, 2015, at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Sacramento. Plan to join more than 400 physicians, medical students and CMA Alliance members who will be coming to Sacramento to lobby their legislative leaders as champions for medicine and their patients. Prior to the conference members will receive webinar training on legislation and policy affecting the practice of medicine. To view the ... January 22, 2015 General Physician Leadership, State Legislative Advocacy, Legislative Advocacy Day 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA President's Message: The coming year, and beyond Although 2014 will long be remembered as the year that all modes of practice and specialties of the House of Medicine came together in a group effort to defeat Proposition 46, it is imperative that we maintain the momentum we have gained as we confront the issues of the coming year and beyond. Following such a historic year, I would like to take a moment to reflect on what we have accomplished and what we can look forward to over the next 12 months. I have, for over three decades, been ... January 22, 2015 General President's Message 0 0 Comment Read More »
CDC encourages antiviral treatment for influenza With a poorly matched influenza vaccine and influenza activity high across much of the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging physicians to prescribe antiviral drugs to patients who are very ill with flu-like symptoms, particularly those over age 65 and those at high risk of complications from the virus. According to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), flu activity in California is beginning to increase. The first influenza death in the state of a person under the age of 65 for the 2014-2015 season ... January 22, 2015 General Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Flu, Influenza, Public Health, CDC 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA files brief in Medicaid case to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court The California Medical Association (CMA) has filed an amicus brief in a Medicaid reimbursement case (Armstrong v. Exceptional Child Center) that will go before the U.S. Supreme Court this year to determine whether Medicaid providers have a cause of action under the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution to challenge a state’s compliance with Medicaid laws in setting reimbursement rates. CMA established good precedent in the Ninth Circuit appellate district on this specific question in our Medi-Cal rate cut litigation, but the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Armstrong case ... January 22, 2015 Medi-Cal Medicaid, Amicus Briefs, Legal Advocacy, Medi-Cal 0 0 Comment Read More »
Measles Health Advisory HEALTH ADVISORY – January 7, 2015 Measles has been confirmed in seven California residents in 2015 and two Utah residents; all visited Disneyland or Disney California Adventure Park between December 17th and 20th, 2014. Testing is underway on three additional California residents who also visited Disneyland during this same time period. The California confirmed cases reside in five local health jurisdictions and range in age from 8 months to 21 years. Of the seven confirmed cases, six cases were unvaccinated for measles (2 were too young to be vaccinated, and 1 had received appropriate vaccination (two doses ... January 14, 2015 General Public Health, Measles 0 0 Comment Read More »
Educational Interventions Offer an Effective Approach to Avoiding Ethical Dilemmas Physicians regularly grapple with situations that can challenge their ability to maintain an ethical healthcare practice. While many times the choices are clear, some situations require knowledge and skills to avoid problems that may lead to sanctions on a medical license or even loss of practice. Ethical dilemmas are not limited to financial matters, but can arise in communications with and supervision of employees, methods used in advertising and promotion, or in decisions about patient care. Today, medical group and medical staff leaders and attorneys are taking a proactive ... January 9, 2015 General IMQ Professionalism Program , Institute for Medical Quality (IMQ) 0 0 Comment Read More »
