IOM report says financing for physician residency programs needs overhauling to meet nation's needs A report by the Institute of Medicine shows that the U.S. should significantly reform the federal system for financing physician training and residency programs to ensure that the public’s $15 billion annual investment is producing the doctors that the nation needs. Current financing – provided largely through Medicare – requires little accountability, allocates funds independent of workforce needs or educational outcomes, and offers insufficient opportunities to train physicians in the health care settings used by most Americans, the report says. For decades, teaching hospitals have received the majority of Medicare's funding ... August 4, 2014 General Insurance/Reimbursement, Physician Workforce, Residents and Fellows, Medicare 0 0 Comment Read More »
Early bird deadline for the 2014 NEPO Leadership Summit is July 31 The California Medical Association Foundation and the Network of Ethnic Physician Organizations (NEPO) invite you to attend the 2014 NEPO Leadership Summit, September 19-21 at the new Riverside Conference Center. Register by the July 31 early bird deadline and save $150. The NEPO Summit is an opportunity for physicians, public health professionals and community leaders who work with underserved communities to learn about emerging health care policy issues, share best practices on how to reduce health disparities and increase access to health care services for the populations they serve. The ... July 22, 2014 General NEPO, Network of Ethnic Physician Organizations, Education 0 0 Comment Read More »
California among six states that pay the least for Medicaid beneficiaries, says GAO report According to a report released this week by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), California is one of six states that spends less than $6,000 per Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) enrollee per year. The other states include Illinois Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee. In contrast the report found that eight states, including New York, spend at least $10,500 per beneficiary. The report also found that Medi-Cal fee-for-service pays on average 61 percent of what private insurers in the state pay for the same evaluation and management services, with Medi-Cal ... July 22, 2014 Medi-Cal Insurance/Reimbursement, Medicaid, Access to Care, Medi-Cal 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA files brief with CA Supreme Court in case that could undermine MICRA's longstanding definition of professional negligence The California Medical Association (CMA), together with other amici, has filed a brief with the California Supreme Court, urging reversal of an appellate court opinion that thwarts the long-standing definition of "professional negligence" in California's Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA). The ruling, if allowed to stand as precedent for future cases, could be misused to undermine the goals of MICRA and adversely affect the entirety of the health care system and safety net in California. In this case, Flores vs. Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital, a hospital inpatient sued for injuries ... July 18, 2014 General Legal Advocacy, MICRA, Professional Liability, Amicus Briefs 0 0 Comment Read More »
Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) Many members think they have coverage for wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination claims by employees or patients (third party). However, most policies exclude coverage for these types of actions or only provide limited coverage (a contribution to defense costs). The San Bernardino County Medical Society sponsored Employment Practices Liability program includes a unique blend of risk management services and insurance specifically designed to assist physician groups in addressing these important employment issues. Among the features of the program are: Special First-Time Buyers program A Helpline ... July 17, 2014 General EPLI, Employment Practices Liablity Insurance, Mercer 0 0 Comment Read More »
Blue Shield data breach affects California doctors The Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) has notified physicians of a data breach that disclosed the social security numbers as well as names, business addresses, telephone numbers, medical groups and practice areas of over 18,000 physicians who contract with Blue Shield of California. DMHC discovered that Blue Shield of California had inadvertently included physician social security numbers in public rosters provided to DMHC. These rosters are generally public documents and subject to disclosure under the Public Record Act (PRA). As a result, DMHC produced the rosters, including the social ... July 15, 2014 General Department of Managed Health Care, Identity Theft, Blue Shield 0 0 Comment Read More »
Physicians can review Sunshine Act data starting today The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that starting today physicians can complete part 2 of the registration process to review and dispute disclosures under the Physician Payments Sunshine Act. Physicians have 45 days to review and dispute their data (plus an additional 15 days to resolve disputes). The review and dispute process ends August 27, 2014. The information will be published publicly on September 30, 2014. Under the Sunshine Act, drug and medical device manufacturers are required to report their financial interactions with licensed physicians – including ... July 15, 2014 General Advocacy, Physician Payment Sunshine Act, Regulatory Advocacy, CMS 0 0 Comment Read More »
California Democratic Party to remain neutral on Prop. 46 Backers of Proposition 46, the MICRA lawsuit measure, were dealt another severe blow this weekend when, despite their intense lobbying, the Executive Board of the California Democratic Party rejected their efforts to gain an endorsement, instead voting to remain neutral. Over the course of the three-day meeting, Democratic Party leaders and activists who reviewed Prop. 46 found that, if the initiative were to pass, health care costs would go up, access to care would go down, community clinics would be harmed and personal privacy will be put at risk. Understanding its ... July 15, 2014 General Access to Care, Professional Liability, MICRA 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMS proposes to end Sunshine Act CME exclusion The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has decided to eliminate the continuing medical education (CME) exclusion for the Physician Payments Sunshine Act. The news was included in the 2015 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule. The Sunshine Act stems from a provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Under the Sunshine Act, drug and medical device manufacturers are required to report their financial interactions with licensed physicians – including consulting fees, travel reimbursements, research grants and other gifts. Any payments, ownership interests and other “transfers of ... July 15, 2014 General Health Care Reform, Physician Payment Sunshine Act, Affordable Care Act 0 0 Comment Read More »
