Make blood pressure control your goal during February Heart Month In a national effort to help prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Million Hearts® campaign encourage physicians to talk to their patients about blood pressure – and, if high, to help them make control their goal. According to the CDC, nearly one in three American adults has high blood pressure – and half don’t have it under control. High blood pressure leads to heart disease and stroke, the first and fifth leading causes of death in the ... February 3, 2016 General Cardiology, Public Health, Blood Pressure 0 0 Comment Read More »
Anthem Blue Cross to review level 5 emergency room claims Anthem Blue Cross announced in its December Professional Network Update that, beginning January 1, 2016, it will initiate a pre-payment review of level 5 emergency department visits billed with CPT 99285 or G0384. Anthem has advised CMA that it will focus on level 5 emergency department visits that are billed in combination with diagnosis codes that “are an unlikely combination for high level visits.” The payor will exclude claims billed with critical care, observation or inpatient admissions. Claims with CPT codes 99285 and G0384 that are selected by Anthem for pre-payment ... February 3, 2016 General Emergency Departments, Emergency Rooms, Emergency Services, Anthem Blue Cross 0 0 Comment Read More »
Reminder: Exchange patients, eligibility and the 90-day grace period Practices are reminded that under the Affordable Care Act, exchange enrollees who receive federal premium subsidies (approximately 90 percent of enrollees) to help pay their premiums are entitled to keep their insurance for three months after they have stopped paying their premiums. In the first month of the grace period, federal law and California regulations require plans to pay for services incurred even if the patient fails to pay the premiums due by day 90 (CCR §1300.65.2(b)(1)(A)). But in months two and three of the grace period, plans can ... February 3, 2016 General, Managed Care Affordable Care Act, Grace Period, ACA 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Capitol Insight: Feb. 1, 2016 CMA Capitol Insight is a biweekly column by veteran journalist Anthony York, reporting on the inner workings of the state Legislature. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Crime and the Coast Gov. Jerry Brown announced plans for a major new ballot initiative this fall – but it wasn’t climate change or tax reform in the governor’s crosshairs. Instead, Brown will focus on criminal justice, seeking changes in the parole system to allow more flexibility to locals and to help alleviate the pressures of the jail and prison system caused by years of lock-em-up policies. Those policies, ironically ... February 3, 2016 General CMA Capitol Insight, Anthony York 0 0 Comment Read More »
Make a Difference - Become an IMQ Surveyor YOUR PARTICIPATION CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Are you looking for a new activity? IMQ is looking for physicians who may be interested in becoming surveyors for the Ambulatory Care, Corrections, or CME Review Programs. The Ambulatory Program accredits surgery centers, offices, and medical groups in California. The Corrections Program reviews the healthcare in jails and juvenile facilities, and the CME Program reviews providers of CME. All surveyors contribute directly to the improved quality of care. They interact with colleagues throughout the state, and see best practices and innovation beyond their own ... February 1, 2016 General Institute for Medical Quality (IMQ) , IMQ Surveyor 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMS to hold webinars for providers on updates to the Physician Compare website The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will host a series of one-hour webinars about recent updates to the Physician Compare website and future plans for public reporting, including benchmark and star ratings. The Affordable Care Act required CMS to create a website that would allow consumers to search for and compare physicians and other health care professionals who provide Medicare services. That site—the "Physician Compare" website, initially launched in 2010—provides contact information, specialties and clinical training, hospital affiliations, and group practice information. In 2014, the website also began phasing ... February 1, 2016 Medicare CMS, Medicare, Webinars, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 0 0 Comment Read More »
IMQ offers free online training course on child abuse and neglect Over 1.5 million children in California suffer at least two instances of childhood abuse and neglect, according to a report by the nonprofit Children Now. There has also been a 3 percent increase in abuse nationally, according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In an effort to prevent more childhood trauma, the California Medical Association's Institute for Medical Quality (IMQ) is offering a free online course to help physicians recognize and report child abuse and neglect. This interactive course, approved for 1.25 continuing ... February 1, 2016 General Continuing Medical Education, Institute for Medical Quality, Maternal and Child Health, CME, IMQ 0 0 Comment Read More »
CDC issues clinical guidelines for possible congenital Zika virus infection The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued interim guidelines for health care providers in the evaluation, testing and management of infants with possible congenital Zika virus infection. The guidelines, developed in conjunction with the American Academy of Pediatrics, were published in the January 26 issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Zika virus is a mosquito-borne infectious disease primarily transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. These mosquitoes, which also transmit dengue and chikungunya viruses, are found throughout much of the Americas, including parts of the United States. The ... February 1, 2016 General Public Health, CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA President's Message: Thinking big to save lives On January 1, 2016, a California Medical Association (CMA) co-sponsored law went into effect that will help protect the health of California’s children and communities by eliminating the personal belief exemption from school immunization requirements. As a physician who has a vested interest in the advancement of California’s public health efforts, I can’t think of a better way to start 2016. With the new year underway, I’m thrilled to stand with you all, as your CMA president, during what will surely be an exciting time for the future of health care ... February 1, 2016 General Physician Leadership, Political Advocacy, Save Lives California, Election, President's Message 0 0 Comment Read More »
SBCMS Now Accepting Application for 2016 Bangasser Medical Student Scholarship This scholarship established in 2008 honors Ronald P. Bangasser, M.D., a physician who was known locally and nationally for his contributions to health care, medicine and his community. Dr. Bangasser was a well respected and compassionate clinician and served in numerous leadership positions throughout his career including president of the California Medical Association and the San Bernardino County Medical Society. Scholarship money will be used to assist medical students at Loma Linda University School of Medicine (LLUSM), University of California Riverside (UCR) Medical School, and Western University of Health Sciences ... January 26, 2016 Awards, General Bangasser Medical Student Scholarship 0 0 Comment Read More »
