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"News You Can Use" <> June 10, 2014



CONTENTS

ABOVE THE FOLD

SDCMS Member Physicians: If you would like to receive specialty-specific compensation data from our 2013 Physician Workforce and Compensation Survey, email me at Gehring@SDCMS.org.

Is Your Specialty Represented in the 2014 “Physicians of Exceptional Excellence” Voting?

These Specialties, With 10–20 In-specialty Voters, Will Most Likely Be Underrepresented:

  • Cardiovascular Disease
  • Neurology
  • Pain Medicine
  • Pathology
  • Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
  • Pulmonary Disease
  • Sports Medicine

These Specialties, With Fewer Than 10 In-specialty Voters, Will Most Likely Have No Selectees:

  • Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Colon and Rectal Surgery
  • Endocrinology
  • Hematology
  • Hospice and Palliative Medicine
  • Infectious Disease
  • Nephrology
  • Plastic Surgery
  • Radiation Oncology
  • Rheumatology
  • Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery
  • Urology
  • Vascular Surgery

The Deadline to Vote Is Midnight on June 20

To Vote if You Are an SDCMS Member:

  • If we have your email address, your 2014 ballot invitation to vote for this year’s “Physicians of Exceptional Excellence” was emailed to you with instructions and your password.
  • If we do not have your email, we mailed you your ballot.
  • If you have any questions, contact James Beaubeaux at James.Beaubeaux@SDCMS.org, at (619) 851-1235, or click here.

To Vote if You Are a Nonmember: Click Here

SDCMS’s 2014 White Coat Gala Is This Saturday, June 14 at the Hyatt La Jolla at Aventine from 6:00pm to 11:00pm: Tickets still available — email JOhmstede@SDCMS.org for details!

Medi-Cal to Delay Payments for Two Weeks in June: Click Here for Details

East County Physician Networking Opportunity & Mixer on July 10, 5:00pm–8:00pm: Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be served! Near Grossmont Hospital. To RSVP, email your name and telephone number to Jen at JOhmstede@SDCMS.org or click here to RSVP online. Questions? Call Jen at (858) 300-2781.

FEDERAL

Beginning June 1, Physicians Can Register to Review (and Potentially Dispute) Their Sunshine Act Data Reported by Manufacturers of Drugs and Medical Devices: Click Here for Details

New Medicare Rules Authorize Multi-hospital Systems to Establish System-wide Medical Staffs: Click Here for Details

CMS Proposes Revised Meaningful Use Timeline: Click Here for Details

STATE

CMA-sponsored SB 1000 — Which Would Require All Sugary Drink Bottles, Cans, Vending Machines, Dispensers, and Restaurateurs to Display a Warning — Has Passed the Senate Floor: Facing significant opposition from the beverage industry, this was a huge win, but the battle continues.

AB 1771, Seeking to Require Health Insurance Companies Licensed in California to Pay Contracted Physicians for Telephone Patient Management, Has Passed the Assembly Floor 76–1

AB 2400, Which Would Ban So-called All-payor Clauses That Require Physicians to Take Every Product if They Sign up for One Insurance Product From a Given Health Plan, Has Passed the Assembly Floor 55–8

CMA Scores Big Victory: HHS Requiring DHCS to Modify Primary Care Payment Methodology: As a direct result of CMA’s advocacy, the U.S. DHHS is requiring the California DHCS to change its payment methodology to ensure that California physicians get the full benefit of the ACA primary care increase. Click Here for Details

June 30 Deadline Looms for Physicians Who Want to Opt out of Anthem Blue Cross Individual / Exchange Network: Click Here for Details

CMA Files Amicus Brief in Industry Challenge to State Rescission Rules Case: Click Here for Details

CMA Urges United to Delay Implementation of Premium Designation Program for a Minimum of Six Months to Allow Time for the Insurer to Address Serious Deficiencies: Click Here for Details

Court Limits Application of the Nominal Damages Provision Under the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act: Click Here for Details

Division of Workers’ Comp Seeking Public Comment on Opioids Treatment and Proposed Rules for Medical Provider Networks (MPNs): Click Here for Details

CMA’s Legislative Hot List — June 3, 2014, Update: Click Here

Please Tell Us Your Stories That Demonstrate Medi-Cal Network Inadequacy and Hindered Access to Continuous, Quality Care: Click Here to Tell Your Story 

Click Here to Watch SDCMS's May 1 Seminar “Cal Mediconnect: What You Need To Know”: Contact SDCMS for login assistance at (858) 565-8888 or at Membership@SDCMS.org.

LOCAL

SDCMS Physicians (Including Retired Physicians), Family, and Friends Are Invited to Attend a Sunday, July 13 Production of "Ether Dome" at the La Jolla Playhouse: Included is a mixer at 5:30pm at the new Jame's Place, where light appetizers of sliders, fish tacos, and sushi will be served, as well as one drink ticket toward a glass of wine or beer. The play will began at 7:00pm following the mixer. $45 per person. Click here and enter the promo code SDCMSF to order tickets. Promo code extended to June 15 — order your tickets today!

BENEFITS / PRACTICE MANAGEMENT

Ask Your SDCMS Physician Advocate, Marisol Gonzalez:

  • Member Question: My physician’s license is about to expire. He has asked me to gather all of his CME paperwork as part of the renewal process. Will he need to submit this paperwork to the Medical Board when he gets his license renewed?
  • Answer: When going through the process of medical license renewal, it is only necessary to sign the self-certification statement on the renewal application form, and return it with the renewal payment. CME documentation does not need to be sent with a license renewal unless the physician is being audited for CME completion. For further assistance, please contact Marisol at (858) 300-2783 or at MGonzalez@SDCMS.org.

Do You Have the New or the Old Form of Disability Coverage? The new covers your overhead expenses and pays you a personal income benefit if you are too sick or too hurt to work. The rates are increasing after August 31. Until then, women get up to a 43% discount on their premiums, and men get one 10% discount. Arrange for your SDCMS complimentary review of coverage through Wealth Legacy Group by calling R. J. Kelly at (619) 972-4488.

Follow SDCMS’ Twitter Feed and Get a Treasure Trove of Healthcare News Delivered Daily to Your Smartphone: Click Here

Is Your Office Manager / Practice Administrator Using SDCMS’ Online Forum? Click Here to Join

COVERED CALIFORNIA

Covered California Resources for SDCMS-CMA Members:

“The best servants of the people, like the best valets, must whisper unpleasant truths in the master’s ear. It is the court fool, not the foolish courtier, whom the king can least afford to lose.” — Walter Lippmann, American Writer, Reporter, and Political Commentator (1889–1974)



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