Last chance for some providers to prevent deactivation by Medicare Noridian, Medicare’s administrative contractor for California, will soon begin deactivating billing privileges for physicians who received revalidation notices from Noridian but have not submitted completed applications to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Last month, Noridian reported that only 19 percent of providers had responded to the most recent Medicare Part B revalidation notices. Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), all Medicare providers and suppliers have been required to revalidate their Medicare enrollment information under new enrollment screening criteria in an effort to prevent ... August 8, 2016 Medicare Noridian, Medicare 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA publishes MACRA preparation checklist On April 16, 2015, President Obama signed into law the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA), changing the health care financing system in the most significant and far-reaching way since the program's inception in 1965. To help physicians understand MACRA payment reforms, and what they can do now to start preparing for the transition, the California Medical Association (CMA) has published an important checklist titled, “MACRA: What Should I Do Now to Prepare?” The checklist is available in CMA's MACRA resource center at www.cmanet.org/macra. There you will ... August 8, 2016 CMA, Medicare Practice Resources, Running a Practice, MACRA, Medicare 0 0 Comment Read More »
Save the date for the 20th Annual President's Reception and Awards Gala The California Medical Association (CMA) and the CMA Foundation invite you to the 20th Annual President’s Reception and Awards Gala, October 15, at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium. The black tie event will immediately follow CMA’s annual House of Delegates session that day. Each year, CMA and the CMA Foundation honor the extraordinary leadership of individuals and organizations making a difference in the health of Californians. Because 2016 marks 160 years that CMA has been protecting the practice of medicine, there is even more reason to celebrate. The incoming CMA president and ... August 8, 2016 Awards, CMA CMA Foundation (CMAF), House of Delegates, Awards, Physician Leadership 0 0 Comment Read More »
Hear from African American physicians about their journey August 31 On Wednesday, August 31, the Los Angeles County Medical Association (LACMA) is hosting a live roundtable discussion, "African American Physicians: The Searing Journey." During this event, leading African American physicians will share their compelling stories, how they have been affected by social injustice and best practice strategies. The roundtable will take place at 6:30 p.m. at LACMA headquarters (801 South Grand Ave., Suite 425, Los Angeles 90017). Additional speakers include other health care professionals, local government officials and members of LACMA’s African American Physicians Advisory Committee. The discussion will include ... August 8, 2016 General Ethnic Diversity, Los Angeles County Medical Association 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA joins 97 specialty and state medical societies in letter to VA about plan to allow advanced practice registered nurses to practice independently The California Medical Association (CMA) joined 97 specialty and medical societies to send a letter to the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) expressing concerns with a proposed rule that would allow advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) to practice independently in the VA health system. CMA also submitted an additional letter opposing the proposed regulations. The agency announced at the end of May that it wants to expand the scope of practice for APRNs to allow them to order and read diagnostic tests, administer anesthesia, prescribe medications and manage acute and ... August 8, 2016 General Registered Nurses, Regulatory Advocacy, Scope of Practice, Veterans, Nurses 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Capitol Insight: Aug. 3, 2016 CMA Capitol Insight is a biweekly column by veteran journalist Anthony York, reporting on the inner workings of the state Legislature. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ November Ballot Rundown California’s ballot has evolved into an impressive – and daunting – laundry list of policy proposals, running the gamut of fiscal and social policy. While the 17 measures on the ballot are not a statewide record, many of the state’s hot-button political issues – including health care, guns, criminal justice and environmental protection – will all be decided by voters this fall. Tax measures loom large this ... August 8, 2016 General CMA Capitol Insight, Election, Political Advocacy, Ballot Measures 0 0 Comment Read More »
IMQ offers customized peer review to assist medical staffs Did you know that the Institute for Medical Quality (IMQ), a subsidiary of the California Medical Association (CMA), offers peer review consultations? IMQ currently offers two types of consultations—a clinical case review or a comprehensive evaluation of a physician’s practice. In both cases, IMQ's physician reviewers are in active practice in the clinical specialty or sub-specialty of the case selected for peer review. These services are customized for each medical staff, group or clinic, with fees based on the scope of services provided. Upon completion, the reviewers create a report detailing ... August 8, 2016 General IMQ, Institute for Medical Quality, Peer Review, Hospital Medical Staff, Medical Staff 0 0 Comment Read More »
August is National Immunization Awareness Month; talk to your patients about the importance of vaccination August marks National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM), a national effort to promote vaccinations and protect children and adults from serious, and sometimes deadly, preventable diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), immunizations are one of the top 10 public health accomplishments of the 20th century. Among children born between 1994-2013, vaccination will prevent an estimated 322 million illnesses, 21 million hospitalizations and 732,000 deaths over the course of their lifetimes. As part of this important effort, the California Medical Association (CMA) and its county medical societies ... August 8, 2016 General Public Health, Vaccinations, Immunizations 0 0 Comment Read More »
California Medical Association promotes child and adult vaccinations during National Immunization Awareness Month August marks National Immunization Awareness Month, a national effort to promote vaccinations to protect children and adults from serious, and sometimes deadly, preventable diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), immunizations are one of the top 10 public health accomplishments of the 20th century. Among children born during 1994-2013, vaccination will prevent an estimated 322 million illnesses, 21 million hospitalizations and 732,000 deaths over the course of their lifetimes. In response, CMA President Steve Larson, M.D., MPH, issued the following statement: “By protecting your loved ones, we ... August 8, 2016 General Immunization, Practice Resources, Public Health, Vaccination, I Heart Immunity 0 0 Comment Read More »
Prepare for Zika transmission in the U.S. with August 10 webinar The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Medical Association (AMA) are hosting an important one-hour webinar next week focused on transmission of the Zika virus in the United States. The webinar will be next Wednesday, August 10, 2016, at 4 p.m. PT. All interested parties are invited to participate in this free webinar. CDC Medical Epidemiologist Susan Hills will present an update on the epidemiological and clinical aspects of the current outbreak. CDC Medical Officer Kiran Perkins, M.D., MPH, will present on the implications for pregnant ... August 5, 2016 General Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Public Health, Webinars, Zika Virus, CDC 0 0 Comment Read More »
