NYCU December 10, 2024 December 10, 2024 Advocacy, Artificial Intelligence, CMA, Infectious Disease, Public Health, Reproductive Rights, SDCMS, Transgender Healthcare, Vaccines 0 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2024 PHYSICIANS: California Medical Association (CMA) Senior Vice President and Chief Lobbyist Stuart Thompson has published CMA’s annual Legislative Wrap-Up ‘Fighting for Physicians on All Fronts’ providing an inside look at what went down the 2024 legislative session. The wrap up highlights CMA’s accomplishments and achievements and showcases CMA’s ability to advocate for the physicians and patients of California. This year four of CMA’s priority bills made it to the governor’s desk and all four were signed. CMA was also at the forefront of key legislative battles, ensuring that many bills that would have negatively impacted patients and the practice of medicine would not move forward through the legislative process. For more information on CMA’s many successes and the numerous bills CMA followed this session, see their 2024 Legislative Wrap Up HERE. SDCMS AND CMA THANK OUTGOING SAN DIEGO LEGISLATORS FOR SUPPORTING PATIENT AND PHYSICIAN PRIORITIES A new group of state lawmakers was sworn in to the California legislature on December 2, 2024. 30 Senators and Assemblymembers left their offices, whether due to term limits, not seeking re–election or running for other offices. San Diego County Medical Society (SDCMS) and California Medical Association (CMA) wish to extend particular thanks to outgoing lawmakers who have advocated for our priorities, carried sponsored legislation and served as strong partners in improving conditions for California’s patients and physicians. Two San Diego legislators stand out. Senator Toni Atkins, the first woman to lead the California state senate, has been a strong champion for access to reproductive health. Atkins authored CMA–sponsored SB 487 (2023–24), which prevents providers from having their Medi–Cal provider eligibility threatened by states with abortion bans. SDCMS has a particularly strong relationship with Senator Atkins, and she keynoted this past year’s Champions for Health & SDCMS Gala at The Prado. You can expect to hear more from her as she is now a major candidate for Governor in the 2026 election. Assemblyman Brian Maienschein has a record of voting to support physician priorities and supported AB 366 (2015–16), which would have raised Medi–Cal reimbursement rates for providers. He also stood with CMA against AB 890 (2019–20), which created two new classifications of nurse practitioners with varying requirements for physician engagement. We thank him for his public service. As always, let me know if you have any questions! Paul Hegyi, CEO WHAT TO KNOW … USDA Orders Testing Across Nation’s Milk Supply Amid Rising Bird Flu Cases CLICK HERE Cervical Cancer Deaths Drop Among Younger Women; Study Credits HPV Vaccine CLICK HERE Trump: ‘I Don't Think’ Access to Abortion Pills is Going to Change CLICK HERE Democrats Propose Deal to GOP Extending Affordable Care Act Subsidies by a Year CLICK HERE Business Groups Sound the Alarm on Historic Surge in Health Care Costs for 2025 CLICK HERE UnitedHealthcare Has Faced Scrutiny Over Denying Claims CLICK HERE Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Calls Off Surgery Anesthesia Cap CLICK HERE Hospital Workplace Violence is a Public Health Emergency. Why is No One Listening? CLICK HERE WHAT TO DO … JAN 14, 2025: 12-1pm, FREE Webinar for Members, Non–Members, NPs, and PAs, sponsored by CMA and CDPH, ‘Virtual Grand Rounds: January’. Featured Speakers are Erica Pan, MD, MPH, California State Epidemiologist and Deputy Director, California Department of Public Health, Center of Infectious Diseases and Kimberly Newell Green, MD, CMA Trustee; Associate Clinical Professor, University of California, San Francisco. More information to come. CME credit available CLICK HERE JAN 15, 2025: 12:15–1:15pm, FREE Webinar for Members and Non–Members, sponsored by CMA, ‘CMS Medicare Updates 2025’. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Regional Chief Medical Officer Ashby Wolfe, MD will provide an update on CMS policy for the 2025 calendar year. Information presented is to practicing clinicians, including an overview of the updates to the 2025 Physician Fee Schedule CLICK HERE JAN 25, 2025: 7:30am-3:30pm, UCSD main campus MET Building, La Jolla, Early Bird Registration before 11/25: $125 for Physicians, $50 Allied Health, $10 for Community/Trainees/Students, sponsored by UCSD SOM, ‘6th Annual UC San Diego Transgender Healthcare Symposium’. Provide a comprehensive review of the different aspects of gender–affirming medical care and features sessions on gender–inclusive cultural awareness, behavioral health care, primary care, and medical and surgical gender–affirming interventions. All topics presented are to help providers from varied disciplines care for transgender and non–binary individuals in a sensitive and effective manner in plenary sessions, followed by a brief Q&A and topic–specific breakouts. This course is targeted toward anyone interested in in–depth exposure to medical care for the transgender/non–binary patients, including physicians (in practice and in training) and allied health professionals in primary care, endocrinology, plastic surgery, urology, obstetrics/gynecology, dermatology plus mental health professionals, social workers, nurses, and students of all above disciplines. Community members also welcome. CME credit available CLICK HERE JAN 30-FEB 1, 2025: 8am daily, Catamaran Hotel, 3999 Mission Blvd, San Diego, sponsored by UCSD SOM, ‘44th Annual Advanced Nephrology Conference: Nephrology for the Consultant’. This conference attracts over one–hundred nephrologists and allied health professionals throughout the country, with the goal of providing up–to–date reviews and the latest information on topics commonly encountered in and relevant to clinical nephrology, structured into a series of presentations extending from Thursday morning to Saturday afternoon. Early Registration ends December 15. Fees range from $450 to $725 for Early Registrants. CME credit available CLICK HERE MAY 7-8, 2025: Westin San Diego Bayview, sponsored by CMA, ‘Third Annual Health IT Summit: Building the Future’. Early–Bird Registration is $100 for CMA Members, $250 for Attendees, deadline is January 31! CA’s premier health IT event brings together thought leaders, innovators and health care professionals to explore the intersection of health care technology. As health care continues to evolve through digital innovation and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), this summit will offer a deep dive into the tools, strategies and partnerships shaping the industry. Attendees can expect engaging sessions on AI, health information exchange and Qualified Health Information Organizations (QHIOs), plus the evolving role of technology in patient care CLICK HERE JUN 26-27, 2025: Kimpton Sawyer Hotel in Sacramento, sponsored by CMA, ‘Annual CME Provider Conference and Workshop’. June 26 Workshop | June 27 Conference. Attend BOTH for $999 and save $349! These in–person educational opportunities provide valuable strategies and insights to improving your CME program, and an opportunity to connect with Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education leadership and California Medical Association staff along with other accredited CME providers CLICK HERE JUL 10-11, 2025: The Westin Pasadena, sponsored by CMA, ‘2025 Health Equity Leadership Summit’. This event provides an opportunity for physicians, executives, advocates and allies to find community, engage in hands–on trainings and workshops, and hold in–depth conversations about how they are addressing the issue of health equity in California through their care of underserved communities throughout the state. Attendees will leave feeling energized and inspired to continue their important work to improve the lives of all Californians. Early–Bird Member $225, Early–Bird Non–member $249, Full Price Member $249, Full Price Non–Member $299, Student/Resident $99 CLICK HERE WHAT TO READ, LISTEN & WATCH … CMA in the Courts READ HERE Podcast ‘What the Health?’ A Colorful Cast Could Lead Key Health Agencies LISTEN HERE Alzheimer’s Project Clinical Roundtable Free On–Demand CME Webinar Series on Dementia WATCH HERE Champions for Health & TDC’s Free On–Demand CME Webinar Series ‘Innovations and Smart Approaches in Safe Prescibing’ to Help Fulfill DEA Training Requirements (Modules 1–5) WATCH HERE SDCMS Video Archive: View our FREE digital catalog of videos & webinars WATCH HERE SDCMS Webinar: Are You Aware and Prepared for New California Laws? WATCH HERE SDCMS Webinar: Managing the Noncompliant and Nonadherent Patient WATCH HERE SDCMS Webinar: Physician Financial Wellness (Part 1) WATCH HERE SDCMS Webinar: Physician Financial Wellness (Part 2) WATCH HERE SDCMS Webinar: Top Five Risks for Your Practice WATCH HERE SDCMS Webinar: Will Your Documentation Defend You? WATCH HERE Please Consider Supporting Our Advertisers … Thank You! Comments are closed.