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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 ...
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Ocular Syphilis on the West Coast

To: CAHAN San Diego Participants Date: March 11, 2015 Ocular Syphilis This health alert informs providers of recently reported cases of ocular syphilis on the West Coast and provides diagnostic, treatment and reporting recommendations for ocular syphilis and general sexually transmitted disease (STD) screening guidelines for men who have sex with men (MSM). CLICK HERE TO READ / DOWNLOAD THIS CAHAN REPORT

CMA Capitol Insight: March 2, 2015

CMA Capitol Insight is a biweekly column by veteran journalist Anthony York, reporting on the inner workings of the state Legislature. Major Policy Proposals They’re baaaack … in the Capitol. Nurse practitioners and their allies in Sacramento are back with legislation that will renew the scope of practice fight that has dogged the Capitol for the last several years. State Senator Ed Hernandez and Assemblywoman Susan Eggman are carrying the bill, which would open the way for nurse practitioners to perform dozens of core healthcare functions without doctor supervision. For now, Senate Bill ...

New EHR Attestation Deadline for Medicare Eligible Professionals: March 20, 2015

Eligible professionals now have until 11:59 pm ET on March 20, 2015, to attest to meaningful use for the Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program 2014 reporting year. CMS extended the deadline to allow providers extra time to submit their meaningful use data. CMS continues to urge providers to begin attesting for 2014 as soon as they can. This extension also allows eligible professionals — who have not already used their one “switch” — to switch programs (from Medicare to Medicaid, or vice versa) for the 2014 payment year until ...

2015–16 SDCMS Board of Directors Elections

Election Opens April 7 and Closes May 5, 2015 CANDIDATES: President-elect: Mihir Y. Parikh, MD Secretary: Mark W. Sornson, MD Treasurer: David E.J. Bazzo, MD La Jolla Geographic Director #1: Geva E. Mannor, MD, MPH East County Geographic Director #2: Alexandra (Alexe) E. Page, MD South Bay Geographic Director #2: Michael H. Verdolin, MD North County Geographic Director #3: Michael A. Lobatz, MD North County Geographic Director #1: Patrick A. ...

Measles Resources for Physicians

• CDC Guideline for Isolation Precautions • CMA’s Jan. 21 Health Advisory • CDPH Healthcare Facility Infection Control Recommendations for Suspect Measles Patients (March 2014) • Visiting Another Country Flyer for Medical Offices: English • Tagalog • Attention: You Could Have Measles Poster for Medical Offices: English • Spanish * Fever and Rash? … Consider Measles (CDPH Poster for Providers) * CAHAN San Diego Measles Update (Jan. 18)

The SGR: Here We Go Again … !

On the heels of one of the most maddening congressional sessions in history, angry yet determined CMA physician leaders will return to Washington, DC, to once again push Congress to pass the bipartisan, bicameral Medicare SGR repeal and payment reform legislation. This last Congress has been appropriately labeled “The Worst Congress Ever” for their permanent state of acrimony and lack of productivity, which has brought them, the Medicare program, and even the United States government to the brink of collapse. Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein, well-respected congressional scholars, have opined ...

Second Year of Sunshine Act Data Submission Begins

Second Year of Data Submission Begins Beginning February 2, 2015, applicable manufacturers and applicable group purchasing organizations (GPOs) will be able to register or recertify their registration in the Open Payments system and begin data submission for any payments or transfers of value that occurred in the 2014 calendar year. All applicable manufacturers and GPOs must register or recertify their registration. Applicable manufacturers and GPOs can now submit corrected 2013 data (if needed) and submit their 2014 data to the Open Payments system. March 31, 2015, is the deadline for ...