ACCMA supports our members in navigating changes affecting your practice, and we advocate for you and your patients. We encourage you to get involved, your participation is vital to our success. Policymakers need to hear from physicians and understand how their decisions in Sacramento and Washington impact you and your patients. Your voice is important!

There are many priorities issues that will be front and center in 2022:

• There is another attack on MICRA on the November 2022 ballot, which will significantly increase malpractice rates for you and your colleagues. The proposed measure would effectively eliminate the cap on non-economic damages for medical malpractice awards and hold physicians personally liable to pay medical malpractice awards.

• Stopping Medicare cuts; although we succeeded in getting bipartisan Congressional action in December to stop cuts of up to 9.75%, additional action will be needed in 2022. 

• Reducing administrative burdens by fixing prior authorization requirements and putting the onus on health plans to collect from patients for inpatient procedures. 

• The Healthy California for All Commission is expected to present a pathway to single-payer, universal health care in April 2022. 

• CMA will host its 48th Annual Legislative Day in Sacramento on Tuesday, April 19th. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with legislators on priority health care issues. Register today!  

ACCMA is also here to help your practice navigate and comply with changes in the law. Some recent changes you should be aware of include: 

• The e-prescribing requirement requires physicians to begin transmitting all prescriptions electronically. Find guidance on implementation of this requirement from ACCMA, CMA, and the Board of Pharmacy.

• The No Surprises Act took effect, although CMA has since supported two lawsuits challenging the act. Learn more about what physicians need to know with this new policy in place. 

• Medi-Cal Rx transition from managed care to fee-for-service began. Physicians should register for the Secured Provider Portal to access training and other resources.

• Telehealth policies remain in effect until COVID-19 is no longer considered a public health emergency. CMA published a telehealth policy update summarizing what has been done up to this point and next steps to watch out for in 2022. 

• Find CMA’s list of New California Health Laws of Interest to Physicians for 2022.

If you have any questions regarding your ACCMA member benefits, please contact Mae Lum, Deputy Director at (510) 654-5383, ext. 6307 or [email protected].