NYCU July 27, 2024 July 30, 2024 CMA, CMA Benefits, Cyber Security/Attacks, Infectious Disease, Leadership, Mental Health, Public Health, SDCMS 0 TUESDAY, JULY 23, 2024 PHYSICIANS: This past month has brought news that two of San Diego’s most important ‘Health Care Heroes’ during the COVID–19 pandemic have retired from public service at the County’s Health & Human Services Agency. We first learned that Dr. Wilma Wooten was retiring at the end of June as San Diego County’s Public Health Officer after 23 years of service, the last 17 as Public Health Officer. During Dr. Wooten’s career, she prioritized the prevention and control of infectious disease, protection from environmental hazards and promoted injury prevention. She worked to publicly reinforce healthy choices and lifestyles, emergency preparedness and fought to eliminate health disparities in traditionally underserved communities. During the pandemic, Dr. Wooten distinguished herself with her leadership and demonstrated tremendous grace under pressure while enduring abuse from a vocal minority who took out their frustrations on her as our region’s public face of the response to the health care emergency. She’s now retiring as a role model to future generations of medical professionals, particularly women of color. Then we learned that the unflappable Dr. Eric McDonald, who spent nearly 15 years as a county medical director, most of them running San Diego County’s Epidemiology and Immunization Services branch, was retiring this month. Dr. McDonald previously served 24 years in emergency medicine in the US Navy, including two deployments to Iraq. He was at the center of the County’s medical response to COVID–19 and also one of the public faces who excelled at explaining complicated medical issues to the public during the pandemic. We want to thank both Dr. Wooten and Dr. McDonald for their many years of leadership and remarkable service to the 3.3 million people who live in San Diego County and wish them all the best on their well–deserved retirements. PLEASE NOTE | EFFECTIVE JULY 31 PHYSICIANS MAY BE SUBJECT TO PENALTIES FOR INFORMATION–BLOCKING VIOLATIONS UNDER NEW FEDERAL RULES The US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) recently finalized a rule establishing financial disincentives for health care providers found to have committed ‘information blocking.’ Effective July 31, 2024, certain Medicare–enrolled providers may be subject to Merit–based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) penalties if they violate federal information blocking regulations. Information blocking is defined as practices that prevent or materially discourage the access, exchange or use of electronic health information. The federal information blocking rule, called for under the 21st Century Cures Act, is intended to enable more widespread access, use, and exchange of patient data, and promote safer, more coordinated care for all patients. With some exceptions, it prohibits any action defined as ‘information blocking’ by physicians, hospitals and health information technology vendors. Physicians have been subject to the information blocking regulations since 2021, but there has been no enforcement mechanism until now. You can find more information and tips on best practices to avoid penalties HERE. CMA ADVOCACY WIN | AETNA TO EXCLUDE CALIFORNIA FROM EMERGENCY SERVICES REVIEW POLICY As a direct result of California Medical Association (CMA) advocacy, Aetna has excluded California from a recent update to its Claim and Code Review Program for emergency services. Under the new policy — which took effect July 8, 2024, and applies to both fully insured and self–funded plans — Aetna has indicated it will be reviewing physician and hospital emergency department claims that include Level 4 or 5 evaluation and management (E/M) codes and following that review “may adjust your payment if the claim details don’t support the level of service billed.” CMA had urged Aetna to immediately rescind the new policy, citing potential violations of state and federal laws, increased costs for physicians and delays for patients in need of life–saving emergency care. Aetna has indicated it will be sending out an official notice to physicians about the change no later than August 1, 2024. For more information about the policy changes and CMA’s advocacy, see their press release HERE. As always, let me know if you have any questions! Paul Hegyi, CEO WHAT TO KNOW … Eric McDonald, A Familiar Face During COVID–19 Pandemic, Retires from County Service CLICK HERE New Law Allows Youth on Medi–Cal to Consent to Mental Health Treatment CLICK HERE Health System’s Tech Vulnerabilities Exposed Again CLICK HERE A Discontinued Asthma Medication Has Patients Scrambling, Some to the ER CLICK HERE White House Cancels $1.2 Billion in Student Loan Debt, Impacting Healthcare CLICK HERE Rescue from Above: How Drones May Narrow Emergency Response Times CLICK HERE Healthcare Costs on Pace to Rise 8% Over the Next Year CLICK HERE Six Straight Quarters of Drug Shortages CLICK HERE Bird Flu that Infected 6 Colorado Poultry Workers is Closely Related to the VIrus in Cows CLICK HERE Coronavirus in California Keeps Rising: Wastewater Levels Worse Than Last Year ? CLICK HERE WHAT TO DO … JUL 30, 2024: 12:15-1:15pm. FREE Webinar for Members and Non–Members, sponsored by CMA, ‘Workplace Violence Prevention in Ambulatory Care Settings’. Workplace violence in ambulatory settings is increasingly prevalent due to factors common within all health care settings, but also some unique to ambulatory care. Chronic and complex health conditions treated more frequently in outpatient settings pose a risk for increasingly frustrated patients and families to demonstrate escalating behaviors health care workers are not trained to safely respond to. Security resources not as prevalent in outpatient settings create vulnerabilities angered individuals may use to their advantage in a violent manner CLICK HERE AUG 8, 2024: 8am-4pm, Hosted Reception AUG 7 6-8pm, FREE Event for Members and Non–Members, sponsored by CMA and The Doctors Company, ‘4th Annual Medical Group Advocacy Symposium — Strategies for Accelerating Health Care Delivery Innovation’. Hear key industry leaders provide insights about health care trends and developments that will have transformational impacts on California’s health care delivery system. Meet passionate industry leaders and health care professionals committed to making a difference. This event offers a casual platform to convene, discuss pertinent advocacy and regulatory concerns, and network with other medical group executives CLICK HERE AUG 20, 2024: 12-1pm, FREE Webinar for Members and Non–Members, sponsored by CMA and CDPH, ‘Virtual Grand Rounds: Rising Valley Fever in California — Understanding Coccidiomycosis’. Several infectious diseases are on the minds of public health officials in California: H5N1 (Avian or Bird Flu), and Coccidiomycosis otherwise known as Valley Fever. A new strain of Avian flu has been ‘Cocci’ and is on the rise in our livestock. Cases of Coccidiomycosis have been increasing since 2023. Up to 97% of this fungal disease is diagnosed in California and Arizona. We’ll hear from our state epidemiologist, Dr Erica Pan, reviewing COVID–19 epidemiology and vaccination recommendations, and Dr George Thompson and Gail Cooksey, who will discuss Coccidiomycosis. CME credit available CLICK HERE AUG 27, 2024: 12:15-1:15pm, FREE Webinar for Members and their Staff, $99 for Non–Members, sponsored by CMA, ‘Prescription for Success: Why Physicians Need Attorneys’. Attorneys can play a crucial role in safeguarding physicians’ practices and careers. This webinar provides expert guidance from CMA staff attorneys specializing in health care law. Don’t miss this opportunity to equip yourself with the knowledge and resources necessary to thrive in the modern health care landscape, featuring Shari Covington, CMA Legal Counsel. For free CMA member staff registration, email events@cmadocs.org with your physician’s CA Medical License number to receive a promo code CLICK HERE SEP 10, 2024: 12-1pm, FREE Webinar for Members, Non–Members, NPs, and PAs, sponsored by CMA and CDPH, ‘Virtual Grand Rounds: California’s Surgeon General on Strong Start and Beyond’. Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death for ALL Californian’s. Data shows cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death for new mothers from pregnancy up until the first year post–partum. We’ll hear from CA Surgeon General Diana E Ramos, MD, MPH, MBA, about a multistakeholder movement ‘Strong Start and Beyond’ spearheaded by the Surgeon General’s office. The program is dedicated to reducing maternal mortality and morbidity, emphasizing on addressing disparities with a concentrated focus on cardiovascular disease across the lifespan. CME credit available CLICK HERE THRU NOV 30, 2024: FREE On–Demand Webinar for Members and Non–Members, sponsored by CMA and CDPH, ‘Break the Bias: Health Equity and the Importance of Screening and Referring for Diabetes Prevention’. This 2 hour virtual event features expert advice on how to screen patients for prediabetes, refer them to the National Diabetes Prevention Program, steps to identifying and overcoming barriers to screening, and how referrals can advance health equity. 2 CME credits available CLICK HERE WHAT TO READ, LISTEN & WATCH … CMA in the Courts READ HERE Podcast ‘What the Health?’ At GOP Convention, Health Policy is Mostly MIA LISTEN HERE SDCMS Webinar: Managing the Noncompliant and Nonadherent Patient WATCH HERE SDCMS Webinar: Are You Aware and Prepared for New 2023 Laws? WATCH HERE SDCMS Webinar: Will Your Documentation Defend You? WATCH HERE SDCMS Webinar: Top Five Risks for Your 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 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 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 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.