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Top Doctors 2015

Top Doctors 2015 Election: May 7 – June 19 SAN DIEGO COUNTY PHYSICIANS: The San Diego County Medical Society (SDCMS) invites you to participate in the selection process for “Physicians of Exceptional Excellence” — Top Doctors 2015. SDCMS leadership wishes the selection process to be fair, open, and honest for physician peers selecting the top 5% of the active, board-certified (as of January 1, 2015) San Diego County physicians in any specialty where there are more than 10 such physicians. STEPS FOR SECURE, INTERNET-BASED VOTING: SDCMS Member Physicians: Click Here to Vote: ...

April Is Donate Life Month. Be a Hero. Sign up to Save Lives.

April is National Donate Life Month, a time when Donate Life Month organizations highlight the need for life-saving and life-enhancing organ, eye, and tissue transplants — and that anyone can be a hero and save lives simply by signing up to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor. That one decision could help the more than 123,000 people waiting for life-saving organ transplants in the United States. More than 22,000 of those people live right here in California. People like Caleigh Haber of San Francisco. She has cystic fibrosis, a genetic ...

CMA Capitol Insight: March 30, 2015

From Drought to Political Firestorm and More CMA Capitol Insight is a biweekly column by veteran journalist Anthony York, reporting on the inner workings of the state Legislature. If you’ve passed California Medical Association (CMA) headquarters at 12th and J St. recently, you may have noticed some new artwork. Courtesy of the California Department of Public Health, posters warning of the dangers of e-cigarettes, or “vaping,” adorn the building’s brick walls. The poster, however, is just one component of CMA’s recent resurgence in campaigning against tobacco. CMA is sponsoring and supporting a ...

U.S. House Passes Monumental SGR Reform in Landslide Vote — Bill Goes to Senate

CMA Applauds U.S. House of Representatives for Passing Monumental Medicare-CHIP Reform in Landslide Vote, Urges U.S. Senate to Act Swiftly Today, March 26, the California Medical Association (CMA) congratulates the U.S. House of Representatives for passing monumental Medicare reform and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) extension, and urgently asks their colleagues in the Senate to do the same before spring recess. The 392–37 vote clearly shows that now is the time to make Medicare reform a reality.  The legislation, HR 2, known as the “The Medicare and CHIP Reauthorization Act,” ...

SGR Update and Timeline (From AMA)

Today [March 24], the Medicare physician payment reform legislation was modified to include budget offsets, policy extenders, and other provisions, and reintroduced by Rep. Michael Burgess, MD (R-TX) as HR 2, the “Medicare and CHIP Reauthorization Act” (MACRA). Click here for a section-by-section analysis prepared by staff of the House committees of jurisdiction. The new bill (which replaces HR 1470, introduced last week) builds on the bipartisan, bicameral SGR replacement policy negotiated last year. Additional provisions of interest include the following: The work GPCI floor was extended ...

TRICARE Provider Education Sessions

Click Here to Download This Information in PDF As a provider for TRICARE beneficiaries, you are invited to attend upcoming education sessions to learn more about TRICARE programs, policies, and procedures. Meet Provider Relations staff and participate in an interactive Q&A session. Pre-registration is required as space is limited at each location. Sessions generally run 90 minutes. To Register: Click Here Click on “Training Center” Enter the Session Number (see below) Click “Join Now” Enter in Session ...

CMA Capitol Insight: March 16, 2015

CMA Capitol Insight is a biweekly column by veteran journalist Anthony York, reporting on the inner workings of the state Legislature. The Budget Showdown Begins It’s showdown season in the Capitol, as lawmakers and administration officials begin sparring early over the issues that will shape the 2015–16 budget. Looming large are questions over Medi-Cal, which was back in focus in Sacramento this week. The Assembly and Senate health committees held an oversight hearing on the growing government healthcare program. The four-hour hearing featured Jennifer Kent in her new roll as director of the ...

Physician Networking Opportunity & Mixer on April 24

The San Diego County Medical Society (SDCMS) will be hosting a Physician Networking Opportunity and Mixer on Friday, April 24, from 5:30pm to 8:00pm at 57 Degrees Wine Bar (1735 Hancock Street, San Diego, CA 92101), and we hope that you will all be able to join us! SDCMS member physicians as well as nonmember physicians are welcome to attend. Hosted beer, wine, and light appetizers will be served.  RSVPs are required as space is limited — click here to RSPV. If you have any questions, email Jen Ohmstede at JOhmstede@SDCMS.org ...

SB 128 – The End of Life Option Act

As has been widely reported in the media, legislation has been introduced in Sacramento that would legalize physician prescribing of lethal medications to terminally ill patients who request assistance ending their lives. If SB 128 (Wolk), The End of Life Option Act, is enacted into law, California would join five other states in allowing and regulating physician-assisted suicide / physician aid-in-dying (PAS / PAD). Click here to access the full text of the bill. The California Medical Association (CMA) has current, longstanding policy in opposition to PAS and has successfully ...