California State Loan Repayment Program now acccepting applications The California State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) application cycle for 2016 is now open. The program assists with the repayment of educational loans for health care professionals who work in underserved areas of California. The program was congressionally authorized in 1987 to increase the number of primary care physicians and other health care professionals practicing in federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) in California. Grant recipients must commit to two-year, full-time or four-year, half-time service agreement to provide direct patient care in a primary, dental or mental health HPSA. Awardees ... August 25, 2016 General Medical School Debt, Medical School Grants, Medical School Loans, State Loan Repayment Program, Underserved Communities 0 0 Comment Read More »
Medical students: Apply now for 2017 loan repayment program Applications are now being accepted for the National Health Service Corps Students to Service Loan Repayment Program, which offers up to $120,000 to medical students (M.D. and D.O.) in their final year of medical school in return for a commitment to provide primary health care full-time for at least three years or half time for at least six years in a medically underserved area. The application deadline is October 13, 2016. For more information and to apply for the program, click here. August 25, 2016 General Medical School Financing, Medical Students, Medical School Debt, Medical School Loans 0 0 Comment Read More »
Chronic pain and opioid treatment guidelines for injured workers now in effect The California State Division of Workers’ Compensation’s (DWC) new guidelines on the treatment of chronic pain and opioid prescribing for injured workers are now in effect. The guidelines include best practices and universal precautions for safe and effective prescribing of opioids for pain due to a work-related injury. According to DWC, the new guidelines encourage safer prescribing of opioid pain relievers with the primary goal of significantly reducing the rate of opioid-related adverse events and substance misuse and abuse. Since 2014, the California Medical Association (CMA) has provided input to the ... August 25, 2016 General Drug Prescribing, Opioids, Pain Medicine, Workers' Compensation, Division of Workers' Compensation 0 0 Comment Read More »
Call for abstracts: Medical students, residents and fellows invited to submit abstracts for first annual HOD poster presentation The California Medical Association (CMA) is hosting its first ever House of Delegates (HOD) poster session to showcase research by medical students, residents and fellows around the state on Saturday, October 15, 2016, during CMA’s annual meeting in Sacramento. Winners will be announced during the HOD General Assembly on Sunday, October 16. All medical students, residents or fellows who are members of CMA are invited to submit abstracts for their original research. Original research categories for the poster session include: Basic science, clinical research, health policy research and clinical vignette. ... August 16, 2016 CMA Medical Students, Research and Experimental Medicine, Residents and Fellows, House of Delegates 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA endorses ballot initiative to reduce gun violence The California Medical Association (CMA) last week announced an endorsement for Proposition 63, California’s “Safety for All” initiative to reduce gun violence in California. More than 300 Americans are shot each day, and firearms kill over 32,000 Americans each year. In 2013, over 6,000 Californians were hospitalized or treated in emergency rooms for nonfatal gunshot wounds, including 1,275 children and teens. “Far too often, physicians become firsthand witnesses to the horrific aftermath of gun-related tragedies,” said CMA President Steve Larson, M.D., MPH. “We see it in our hospitals, clinics and on ... August 16, 2016 CMA, General Election, Public Health, Ballot Measures, Guns, Political Advocacy 0 0 Comment Read More »
MBC Seeking Expert Reviewers The Medical Board of California (MBC) is seeking physicians to serve as Expert Reviewers in disciplinary cases. The MBC staff report lists 1) the Medical Board’s usage of expert reviewers by specialty and 2) the specialties in which additional experts are needed. As of July 2016, expert reviewers are needed in the following specialties: Addiction Medicine with additional certification in Family, Internal Medicine or Psychiatry Colon and Rectal Surgery Dermatology Family Medicine Neurological Surgery ... August 15, 2016 General expert reviewers, MBC, Medical Board of California 0 0 Comment Read More »
Practices encouraged to take DHCS Medi-Cal provider satisfaction survey The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is conducting a customer service satisfaction survey for Medi-Cal providers. The purpose is to determine the effectiveness of the program's provider relations activities, including the telephone service center, cash control unit, regional representatives, publications and provider seminars/trainings. The survey is completely confidential and anonymous. Your responses to will help Medi-Cal understand how providers can be better supported, and will shape future customer service improvement efforts. The survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete and will be open until September 6, 2016. Click here to ... August 12, 2016 Medi-Cal Medi-Cal, DHCS 0 0 Comment Read More »
DEA denies petition to reschedule cannabis but relaxes restriction on research The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) denied a request to remove cannabis from its schedule 1 classification, despite the fact that 25 states, including California, have approved the medical use of cannabis for a growing list of health conditions. According to the DEA, cannabis remains a schedule I controlled substance because it does not meet the criteria for currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, there is a lack of accepted safety for its use under medical supervision, and it has a high potential for abuse. However, recognizing ... August 12, 2016 General Medical Marijuana 0 0 Comment Read More »
California Medical Association endorses Proposition 58 The California Medical Association (CMA) today announced an endorsement of Proposition 58, California’s “Language Education Acquisition and Readiness Now” ballot initiative that gives local school districts and their academic staff the option of providing bilingual education. Forty-four percent (44%) of California residents over the age of five speak a language other than English at home, and numerous studies support the need for multilingual health care providers. A 2015 report from UCLA’s Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture found a shortage of health care professionals who have the ... August 12, 2016 CMA Ethnic Diversity, Political Advocacy, Ballott Measures 0 0 Comment Read More »
California Medical Association endorses Proposition 63 The California Medical Association (CMA) today announced an endorsement of Proposition 63, California’s “Safety for All” ballot initiative to reduce gun violence in California. More than 300 Americans are shot each day, and firearms kill over 32,000 Americans each year. In 2013, over 6,000 Californians were hospitalized or treated in emergency rooms for nonfatal gunshot wounds, including 1,275 children and teens. “Far too often, physicians become firsthand witnesses to the horrific aftermath of gun-related tragedies,” CMA President Steve Larson, M.D., MPH, said. “We see it in our hospitals, clinics and on ... August 12, 2016 CMA Guns, Political Advocacy, Ballot Measures 0 0 Comment Read More »
