NYCU January 31, 2023 February 8, 2023 Champions for Health, CMA, CMA Benefits, COVID-19, COVID-19 Vaccinations, Infectious Disease, Maternal Health, Public Health, Regulations, SDCMS 0 TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2023 PHYSICIANS: On January 24th, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, led by Chair Nora Vargas and Supervisor Terra Lawson–Remer, recognized Maternal Health Awareness Day. In attendance was SDCMS’ own President, Dr. Lase Ajayi, and Past President Dr. Holly B. Yang, along with members of the PowerMom research team. Dr. Ajayi is a leader in researching and working to overcome disparities in maternal health care. The first step is awareness and increasing numbers of health care professionals and government leaders are beginning to see this serious issue and seek to improve maternal health care for all communities. We thank the Board for the recognition and Dr. Ajayi, Dr. Yang and PowerMom Scripps for their efforts on this important matter. San Diego County Medical Society is excited to congratulate one of our own, Dr. Karl Steinberg, for winning a prestigious award for advancing palliative care. California State University – San Marcos announced that, “A nursing facility and hospice medical director who has served as a passionate advocate for palliative care in the San Diego region has been named the 2022 recipient of the Doris A. Howell Award for Advancing Palliative Care, presented annually by the CSU Shiley Haynes Institute for Palliative Care.” “Karl Steinberg, MD, medical director for many San Diego–based agencies and facilities since the mid–1990s, is this year’s Howell honoree, the Cal State San Marcos–based institute announced. Steinberg has served as medical director for organizations that include Hospice by the Sea, Carlsbad By The Sea Care Center, Mariner Health Care (21 facilities), Shea Family Care, La Paloma Healthcare Center and Scripps Coastal Medical Center.” A reminder that SDCMS is holding our first webinar of the year, along with The Doctors Company, titled ‘Will Your Documentation Defend You?’ on Wednesday, March 15th from 6 to 7pm. You can earn 1 CME credit while you benefit from gaining an increased awareness and understanding of the risks associated with medical record documentation. The session will also illustrate risks identified in malpractice litigation and during audits of office practice medical records. Strategies to reduce and avoid risks in documentation will be presented. Please register HERE for this important and helpful webinar. A continuing reminder and urgent request for blood donations, as San Diego’s blood supply is critically low and the San Diego Blood Bank is experiencing supply chain challenges. To be eligible to donate blood you must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 114 pounds and be in general good health. Appointments are encouraged and available at SDBB by visiting sandiegobloodbank.org or by calling (619) 400–8251. Walk–ins are also welcome. Please spread the word! Finally, California Medical Association has reported that UnitedHealthcare (UHC) Community Plan has announced that it is no longer providing services to approximately 30,000 Medi–Cal members in San Diego County effective January 1, 2023. According to the notice mailed to Community Plan physicians in October 2022, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) transitioned all UHC Community Plan members in San Diego County to other participating Medi–Cal managed care plans effective January 1. According to the DHCS, the other currently participating Medi–Cal plans are in San Diego County are: Aetna Better Health of CA Health Net Community Solutions Blue Shield of CA Promise Health Plan Kaiser Permanente Health Plan Community Health Group Partnership Plan Molina Healthcare of CA Partner Plan Patients may be able to continue to see their physician, even if the physician is not contracted with the patient’s new plan or delegated entity, under California’s continuity of care law. UHC Community Plan enrollees who wish to request continuity of care, need assistance in selecting an alternative Medi-Cal health plan or who have questions about the transition can call Health Care Options at (800) 430–4263 As always, let me know if you have any questions! Paul Hegyi, CEO WHAT TO KNOW … Telehealth Payment Parity Only Good Through 2023 CLICK HERE Why Experts are Urging Swifter Treatment for Children with Obesity CLICK HERE Change to COVID Vaccine Formulation Signals Start of FDA Pivot in Immunization Strategy CLICK HERE FDA Drafts New ‘Gender–Inclusive’ Guidance on Blood Donation Eligibility, HIV Risk Reduction CLICK HERE It’s Easy to Buy Flavored Vapes in California, Even in Cities with Longtime Bans CLICK HERE California’s Resolve Questioned After it Grants Medi–Cal Contract Concessions CLICK HERE California Allocates $20 Million Toward Abortion Clinics’ Physical, Digital Security CLICK HERE FDA Says New Regulations are Needed to Manage CBD Risks CLICK HERE HHS Projects Savings on Insulin Due to Inflation Reduction Act CLICK HERE New COVID Boosters Cut Risk of XXB.1.5 Infection in Half, Study Finds CLICK HERE WHAT TO DO … FEB 9, 2023: 12:15–1:15pm, FREE Webinar for Members and their Staff [with Promo Code], $99 for Non–Members, ‘2023 CPT Coding Updates’, sponsored by California Medical Association and presented by Lynn Handy, CPC, CPC–I, COC, CCS–P, LPN. Updates to CPT codes in 2023 include hundreds of new and revised codes in multiple specialty areas. This webinar will cover some of the most significant changes, including Evaluation and Management (E&M) changes, a complete overhaul of abdominal hernia repair codes, new and revised codes for arthrodesis and arthroplasty, several changes to the paravertebral spinal nerves and branches section, and new codes for both placement of endovascular pulmonary arterial stenting for revascularization and pulmonary angiography CLICK HERE FEB 14, 2023: 12–1pm, FREE Webinar for Members and Non–Members, ‘Virtual Grand Rounds: COVID–19 Therapeutics — When and How to Treat for COVID–19’. COVID–19 remains a predominant part of our lives. Armed with several outpatient treatment options, few patients receive treatment as recommended by CA public health authorities. State Epidemiologist Erica Pan, MD, MPH, will address the state of COVID–19 in California, as well as other relevant public health announcements. We will also hear from experts about COVID–19 therapeutics including efficacy, treatment recommendations, interactions and other details to help clinicians support their patients with appropriate therapeutics CLICK HERE FEB 16, 2023: 12:15–1:15pm, FREE Webinar for Members and Non–Members, sponsored by California Medical Association supported by a grant from CA Health & Human Services Agency, ‘CMA Data Exchange Explainer Series #1 — Overview of Data Exchange’. Starting January 31, 2023, California Health & Human Services Agency (CHHS) is launching the CHHS Data Exchange Framework. Over the next 3 years this Framework will require all CA physician practices to exchange data with other practices, health plans, hospitals, and others. To help physicians prepare CMA has partnered with CHHS and developed the ‘CMA Data Exchange Explainer Series’ to walk practices through various considerations in implementing robust data exchange. The first in this series provides a general overview of data exchange — what it is, how it works, and what resources exist to help practices along the way. This webinar also includes an introduction to the Data Exchange Framework (DxF), including important dates that practices will need to know CLICK HERE FEB 23-25, 2023: Los Angeles County Medical Association (LACMA) in partnership with ICD Events will be hosting a ‘Healthcare Burnout Symposium’ at the UCLA Luskin Conference Center. They have secured HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra as the morning speaker on day one, and new California Surgeon General Diana Ramos to be the lunchtime speaker CLICK HERE FEB 28, 2023: 12:15–1:15pm, FREE Webinar for Members and their Staff [with Promo Code], $99 for Non–Members, ‘2023 ICD–10 Coding Updates’, sponsored by California Medical Association and presented by Lynn Handy, CPC, CPC–I, COC, CCS–P, LPN. There are significantly more new, deleted and revised ICD–10 diagnosis codes in 2023 than in previous years — nearly 1,500. This webinar will cover updates to some of the most significant changes, including behavioral and neurodevelopmental disorders as well as new cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, genitourinary, pregnancy, childbirth, puerperium, injuries, and poisoning codes. Of special interest are many new codes related to vascular dementia CLICK HERE MAR 15, 2023: 6–7pm, FREE Webinar for Members and Non–Members, ‘Will Your Documentation Defend You?’, sponsored by San Diego County Medical Society and The Doctors Company. Earn 1 CME Credit. Physicians and advanced practice providers benefit from an increased awareness and understanding of risks associated with medical record documentation. This program will provide information and guidance on best practice medical record documentation. The session will also illustrate risks identified in malpractice litigation and during audits of office practice medical records. Strategies to reduce and avoid risks in documentation will be presented CLICK HERE MAY 18-19, 2023: 8:30am daily, Coalition for Compassionate Care of California (CCCC) 15th Annual Palliative Care Summit ‘Learning, Listening, & Leading: Shaping the Future of Serious Illness Care’, Hyatt Regency Orange County, Earlybird rates thru 2/24. All in the palliative care and end–of–life communities are encouraged to participate. CMEs/CEs available CLICK HERE WHAT TO READ, LISTEN & WATCH … CMA in the Courts READ HERE Podcast ‘What the Health?’ Part II: The State of the Abortion Debate 50 Years After ‘Roe’ LISTEN HERE CMA Webinar: Telehealth Reimbursement and Privacy Laws: COVID–19 Emergency WATCH HERE CMA Webinar: What is Value–Based Care and What Does it Mean for My Practice? WATCH HERE SDCMS Webinar: Physician Financial Wellness (Part 1) WATCH HERE SDCMS Webinar: Physician Financial Wellness (Part 2) WATCH HERE SDCMS Webinar: Best Practice: Documenting Disruptive Patient Behavior WATCH HERE SDCMS Webinar: Understanding Malpractice Risks for NPs, PAs, and Supervising Physicians WATCH HERE SDCMS Webinar: COVID–19 for the Long Haul: Post COVID Recovery and Care WATCH HERE SDCMS Webinar: How to Avoid Being Reported to the Medical Board WATCH HERE SDCMS Webinar: Understanding the Risks: How to Dismiss a Patient from Your Practice WATCH HERE SDCMS Webinar: Physician Wellness WATCH HERE SDCMS Webinar: Biosimilars Overview & Policy Landscape WATCH HERE Alzheimer’s Project Clinical Roundtable Free On–Demand CME Webinar Series on Dementia WATCH HERE Please Consider Supporting Our Advertisers … Thank You! Comments are closed.