Travel Histories and Ebola Preparedness Date: October 8, 2014 Travel Histories and Ebola Preparedness This health advisory reminds local healthcare personnel to increase their vigilance for patients presenting with fever or other symptoms consistent with Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and to ask about travel history to Ebola-affected countries in West Africa. Links to updated resources to address risk assessment, infection control, and patient management for EVD are also provided. Updated Information on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Epidemic Ebola virus transmission is ongoing in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Nigeria, and Senegal have had imported cases, but with close ... October 8, 2014 Infectious Disease, Public Health Ebola 0 0 Comment Read More »
Medical License Application Process — New Video In response to the many inquiries regarding how to correctly complete the application for a California medical license, the Medical Board of California has produced a 20-minute video to assist new applicants with the licensing process. In addition, applicants can go to the Medical Board website, click on individual forms, and see an instructional video just for that form. SDCMS-CMA member physicians who have licensing or renewal questions or issues can contact Marisol Gonzalez, SDCMS's physician advocate, at (858) 300-2783 or at MGonzalez@SDCMS.org. October 3, 2014 General Medical License 0 0 Comment Read More »
Ask Your SDCMS Physician Advocate Have a Practice Management or Membership Question? SDCMS members and their office managers / practice administrators can contact your physician advocate, Marisol Gonzalez, for assistance at (858) 300-2783 or at MGonzalez@SDCMS.org. SDCMS Member Physician Question: My physician is inquiring about a mandatory program he must enroll in for opiate prescriptions. Do you know anything about this? Marisol's Response: Under California law, all individuals practicing in California who possess both a state regulatory board license authorized to prescribe, dispense, furnish, or order controlled substances and a Drug Enforcement Administration Controlled Substance Registration Certificate ... October 3, 2014 Member Benefits, Practice Management Physician Advocate 0 0 Comment Read More »
AMA News Release on CMS's Open Payments Data Release Click Here for a Link to the Open Payments Physician Payment Dataset and Other Background FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 30, 2014 AMA Statement on Sunshine Act Data Release Statement attributed to: Robert M. Wah, MD President, American Medical Association “The American Medical Association (AMA) is committed to transparency and the availability of information for patients to make informed decisions about their medical care, which is why we supported the Sunshine Act. “While we appreciate the efforts of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to verify the identification of physicians in each report from industry and ... October 2, 2014 CMS Open Payments Data, Sunshine Act 0 0 Comment Read More »
AMA's Open Payments Data Media Guide and Physician Talking Points Click here to access the media guide AMA distributed to reporters on September 29, 2014. Click here to access customizable talking points for physicians to use in responding to inquires about the Open Payments data. The underlying message of both documents is that the Open Payments data must be explained and contextualized in order to help people make informed judgments about the value of physician / industry relationships. Additionally, physicians may want to consult two recently published AMA Wire stories: Three ... October 2, 2014 CMS Open Payments Data, Sunshine Act 0 0 Comment Read More »
Cal MediConnect Resources Health Plan Choice Form September 24, 2014 Cal MediConnect Cal MediConnect 0 0 Comment Read More »
DEA Final Rule Rescheduling Hydrocodone Combination Products The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has issued a final rule rescheduling hydrocodone combination products (HCPs) into Controlled Substance Schedule II, effective October 6, 2014. This AMA document provides detailed information, but, essentially, the final rule provides, in part, that prescriptions for HCPs that are issued before October 6, 2014, that have authorized refills may be dispensed in accordance with DEA rules for refilling, partial filling, transferring, and central filling Schedule III–V controlled substances until April 8, 2015. However, it has come to AMA's attention that — due to state laws, insurance ... September 22, 2014 Prescription Drug Abuse HCPs 0 0 Comment Read More »
Enterovirus D68 Detected in Southern California Children With Respiratory Illness Date: September 19, 2014 This health alert describes the first cases of enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) respiratory infection confirmed among hospitalized children in Southern California and provides guidance and references on laboratory testing, reporting, and infection control for EV-D68. No outbreaks of EV-D68 have been reported in San Diego County at this time. Southern California EV-D68 Cases In early September 2014, Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego (RCHSD) notified the San Diego County (SDC) Epidemiology Program of increases in pediatric patients examined and hospitalized with respiratory illness. The increase began in late August with ... September 19, 2014 Public Health Enterovirus D68 0 0 Comment Read More »
No on 46 "Take Action" Contest Is your practice armed with what it needs to stop Proposition 46 and preserve the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA)? Take action and join the campaign to defend MICRA — order FREE No On 46 materials for your practice and encourage patients to vote NO on Prop. 46 this November. Click here for the materials order form. Get involved NOW in this important initiative and your practice could win $500! The California Medical Association (CMA) and California Medical Group Management Association (CAMGMA) are joining forces and offering several chances ... September 10, 2014 MICRA Prop. 46 0 0 Comment Read More »
SDCMS “Outstanding Medical Office Manager” Contest SDCMS Announces Our Sixth Annual “Outstanding Medical Office Manager” Contest Nomination Deadline November 1, 2014 SDCMS wants to recognize San Diego County’s most outstanding medical office manager / practice administrator, i.e., someone who goes above and beyond his or her job description, who anticipates problems before they arise, who works efficiently with the practice’s time and resources, and who strikes the right balance between exercising control and boosting morale when supervising staff. SDCMS member physicians can nominate their office managers by explaining in writing (up to 600 words) why their office manager is ... September 4, 2014 Office Managers Office Managers 0 0 Comment Read More »