Ebola Virus Disease Ebola Virus Disease August 18, 2014 This health alert provides an update on the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa and contains related resource links and recommendations for local healthcare providers. Outbreak Update West Africa is currently experiencing the largest Ebola outbreak in history and the first in the region. The severity of the outbreak prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other agencies and partners are taking steps to respond to ... August 19, 2014 Infectious Disease, Public Health Ebola 0 0 Comment Read More »
Pertussis Epidemic in San Diego County and California Pertussis Epidemic in San Diego County and California Date: August 11, 2014 This health alert informs the local medical community of continued increases in pertussis cases in San Diego County, provides links to treatment and prevention references, and reminds providers about important management issues. The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) has confirmed 1,183 pertussis cases in San Diego so far in 2014, a rate of 37.4 cases per 100,000. This surpasses the 1,179 cases reported locally during the 2010 pertussis epidemic. The California Department of Public Health ... August 14, 2014 Public Health Pertussis, Whooping Cough 0 0 Comment Read More »
DHCS Continues Fixes to Computer Systems for ACA Primary Care Rate Increases DHCS Continues Fixes to Computer Systems for ACA Primary Care Rate Increases By the California Medical Association As of April 11, 2014, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) updated its computer systems to process individual fee-for-service (FFS) claims at the new higher rates under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) primary care provider rate increase. With that update DHCS also released local code crosswalks for evaluation and management (E/M) and vaccine administration codes. There were, however, a few remaining exceptions for some specialized claims that were being paid at the lower ... August 4, 2014 ACA, Medi-Cal Medi-Cal Primary Care 0 0 Comment Read More »
Implementation of AB 97 Medi-Cal Provider Payment Reductions The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has announced the implementation plan for the provider payment reductions required pursuant to Assembly Bill 97 (Chapter 3, Statutes of 2011). AB 97 requires DHCS to implement 10% provider payment reductions to most categories of services in Medi-Cal fee-for-service (FFS) as well as actuarially equivalent reductions in Medi-Cal managed care. DHCS received federal approval for the reductions, effective June 1, 2011, but has been prevented from implementing many of these reductions due to a court injunction in the Managed Pharmacy Care, et al ... July 28, 2014 Medi-Cal AB 97, Medi-Cal Cuts 0 0 Comment Read More »
Wawona Packing Company Fruit Recall and Listeria monocytogenes Wawona Packing Company Fruit Recall and Listeria monocytogenes Date: July 24, 2014 This health alert informs the medical community about a recent fruit recall due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination and provides resources for clinicians on listeriosis and on the management of high-risk individuals with potential exposure. Fruit Recall Wawona Packing Company of Cutler, California, voluntarily recalled certain lots of whole peaches (white and yellow), nectarines (white and yellow), plums, and pluots packed between June 1, 2014, and July 12, 2014, due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. Wawona Packing has notified retailers ... July 24, 2014 Public Health Fruit Recall, Listeria monocytogenes 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Capitol Insight With Anthony York CMA Capitol Insight Is a Biweekly Column by Veteran Journalist Anthony York, Reporting on the Inner Workings of the State Legislature The Calm Before the Storm July is the eye of the hurricane in the state capital. The town is eerily quiet. As temperatures skyrocket, politicians scatter for their districts — or places ever farther afield. More on that in a minute. In the meantime, there’s not a lot of visible activity under the dome. The Legislature is on its annual month-long summer recess, and the town has ground to a virtual ... July 21, 2014 CMA Capitol Insight 0 0 Comment Read More »
San Diego Medical Office Overview: Q1 2014 By Chris Ross — Mr. Ross is vice president of healthcare solutions for Jones Lang LaSalle. He is a commercial real estate broker specializing exclusively in medical office and healthcare properties in San Diego County. He can be reached at (858) 410-6377 or at chris.ross@am.jll.com. Market Conditions and Trends Real estate activity among the county’s larger health systems remains steady. In particular, Scripps Health, Sharp Healthcare, and UC San Diego Health System have been relatively active in the leasing, acquisition, and/or construction of both acute care and outpatient facilities, especially over the ... July 11, 2014 Real Estate Real Estate 0 0 Comment Read More »
MICRA Lawsuit Measure Assigned Proposition Number. Will Appear on November Ballot MICRA Lawsuit Measure Assigned Proposition Number. Will Appear on November Ballot The California trial lawyers’ MICRA lawsuit initiative will appear on the November 2014 general election ballot as Proposition 46. The true intent of this measure is to eliminate the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA), increasing the overall number of medical lawsuits. I am asking you to join thousands of your colleagues across the state in contributing to the protection of MICRA today! If passed, the initiative will raise the healthcare costs of California’s state and local governments by “hundreds of ... July 11, 2014 MICRA MICRA 0 0 Comment Read More »
Chikungunya Case Confirmed in San Diego County Resident Chikungunya Case Confirmed in San Diego County Resident Date: July 9, 2014 This health alert informs the medical community about the first case of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection confirmed in a San Diego County resident and provides resource links for clinicians on this emerging disease. The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) requests that healthcare providers report suspect cases of CHIKV to the Epidemiology Program, especially when CHIKV testing is being considered or has been requested. Case Description A previously healthy San Diego County resident was visiting Haiti in ... July 9, 2014 Public Health Chikungunya 0 0 Comment Read More »
Eligible Professionals Must Submit Hardship Exception Applications by July 1, 2014 Eligible Professionals Must Submit Hardship Exception Applications by July 1, 2014 By the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services CMS reminds eligible professionals that the deadline to submit a hardship exception application is approaching. An interactive tool is available to help eligible professionals determine if they will avoid upcoming 2015 and 2016 Medicare EHR Incentive Program payment adjustments by demonstrating meaningful use, or if they should apply for a hardship exception. If an eligible professional determines that they need to apply for a hardship exception, the application must be submitted by July ... June 26, 2014 EHR, Meaningful Use EHR, Incentive Programs, Meaningful Use 0 0 Comment Read More »