CMA Capitol Insight With Anthony York: August 5, 2015 CMA Capitol Insight is a biweekly column by veteran journalist Anthony York, reporting on the inner workings of the state Legislature. Recess, but Not Rest It may be recess for the Legislature, but that doesn’t mean a rest for politics. While lawmakers were scattered off to their districts or far-away lands for the summer junket season, the anti-vax forces were busy gathering signatures to recall Senator Richard Pan, MD, for authoring Senate Bill 277, which removes the personal belief exemption from school vaccination requirements. While it is unclear whether an actual referendum ... August 5, 2015 CMA, Legislation Capitol Insight 0 0 Comment Read More »
Dr. Richard Butcher Named NMA's Practitioner of the Year San Diego physician Richard Butcher, MD, SDCMS-CMA member for nearly 50 years, was named the National Medical Association’s (NMA) Practitioner of the Year at the NMA Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly on Saturday. This prestigious award signifies peer recognition for demonstrated service and characteristics that exemplify the highest standards of professionalism and sense of community. The award is given to a physician who is highly regarded in his community as both a physician and a person, who shows the quality of compassion and has worked toward bettering problems in his ... August 4, 2015 Board of Directors Awards 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Capitol Insight With Anthony York: July 22, 2015 CMA Capitol Insight is a biweekly column by veteran journalist Anthony York, reporting on the inner workings of the state Legislature. An International Impact Gov. Jerry Brown is at the Vatican this week, where he will join Pope Francis and leaders around the globe for a climate change conference. The gathering weaves together threads throughout the former Jesuit seminarian governor’s life that have all shaped him in profound ways. Before Brown was an elected official, he was a student at a Jesuit seminary at Sacred Heart Novitiate in Los Gatos. He ultimately ... July 22, 2015 CMA, Legislation Capitol Insight 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Capitol Insight With Anthony York: July 7, 2015 CMA Capitol Insight is a biweekly column by veteran journalist Anthony York, reporting on the inner workings of the state Legislature. Signatures and Special Sessions A controversial measure was signed into law last week by Gov. Jerry Brown — Senate Bill 277 (Pan), which eliminates the personal belief exemption from mandatory vaccinations for all public school children. The real question now is what comes next. Brown’s signature sets off a 90-day clock for opponents of the bill to qualify a referendum. If the requisite signatures are gathered, the measure would not go ... July 7, 2015 Medi-Cal, Vaccinations End of Life Option Act, Medi-Cal, SB 128, SB 277 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMS and AMA Announce Efforts to Help Get Ready for ICD-10 Click Here to Read the AMA-CMS News Release Click Here to Read CMS's FAQs Today, July 6, the American Medical Association and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) jointly announced that agreement has been reached on important elements of a “grace period” for the October 1, 2015, implementation of the ICD-10 diagnosis code set. In guidance that is being transmitted today, CMS announced that: For a one-year period starting October 1, Medicare claims will not be denied solely on the ... July 6, 2015 ICD-10 ICD-10 0 0 Comment Read More »
DOJ Modifies CURES Implementation Plan Again From CMA's Center for Medical & Regulatory Policy July 1, 2015 Since our last update on the CURES upgrade issues, CMA and other stakeholders continued to express concerns to the Department of Justice (DOJ) about the readiness of CURES 2.0 and the system capacity to run versions 1.0 and 2.0 concurrently. We are pleased that the DOJ has now agreed to undergo real-world testing of the system on a limited basis as the next step, and will delay implementation of the new version statewide. Click here to read their official announcement. In ... July 1, 2015 CURES CURES 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMS’ Open Payments Posts Full Year of 2014 Financial Data Financial Transactions Between Doctors and Medical Manufacturers Total $6.49 Billion — June 30, 2015 By the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today published 2014 Open Payments data about transfers of value by drug and medical device makers to healthcare providers. The data includes information about 11.4 million financial transactions attributed to over 600,000 physicians and more than 1,100 teaching hospitals, totaling $6.49 billion. Acting CMS Administrator Andy Slavitt said, “Consumer access to information is a key component of delivery system reform and making the ... June 30, 2015 CMS, Medi-Cal, Medicare, Sunshine Act Open Payments, Sunshine Act 0 0 Comment Read More »
Coalition Partners Stand Together to Thank Legislature, Governor Brown for Passing and Signing Senate Bill 277 June 30, 2015 Sacramento — Despite three-digit temperatures, dozens of coalition partners came together to rally one last time for Senate Bill 277 (Pan/Allen). The bill passed out of the State Assembly on Thursday and cleared the final hurdle in the State Senate Monday. Governor Brown signed the bill today. “This is a monumental day for Californians. Senate Bill 277 will help keep kids and communities safe and I thank Governor Brown and my colleagues in the State Legislature for their commitment to enacting this important law,” said Dr. Richard Pan, ... June 30, 2015 CMA, Public Health, Vaccinations SB 277, Vaccinations 0 0 Comment Read More »
SB 277 (Pan) Signed by the Governor This morning, June 30, Governor Jerry Brown signed CMA-sponsored SB 277 (Pan) on the elimination of person belief exemptions for vaccination requirements for school entry. It is through the hard work of CMA physicians across the state that we have been able to realize this achievement in protecting the public health in California. Click here to read the governor’s signing message. June 30, 2015 CMA, Public Health, Vaccinations SB 277, Vaccinations 0 0 Comment Read More »
Senate Bill 277 Clears Assembly California Medical Association News Release: June 25, 2015 School Vaccination Bill to Protect Public Health Receives Resounding “yes” Vote, Moves Back to Senate for Final Vote Senate Bill 277 jumped its final hurdle in the state Assembly today, clearing the house with overwhelming 46–30 approval. The bill now heads back to the Senate, where legislators will consider amendments made in the Assembly. “The California Medical Association (CMA) would like to thank the assemblymembers who supported this important piece of legislation that will improve public health and keep our communities safe,” CMA President ... June 25, 2015 Legislation, Vaccinations SB 277, Vaccinations 0 0 Comment Read More »