INFORMATION FOR PHYSICIANS AND PRACTICES ON COVID-19
COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma
MESSAGE FROM JOERG SCHULLER, VP OF MEDICAL AFFAIRS FOR MERCY MEDICAL CENTER MERCED:

Dear Colleagues,

We now have access to convalescent plasma should we need it. Mercy has a source and a process for procurement set up. Merced has been designated as one of the Vitalant West Division donor sites. I have attached both the Donor Form as well as Collection Instructions for your reference and distribution. Please forward to anyone else you think would benefit from having these documents available.

Prospective donors would need a physician to complete the donor form once eligibility to donate has been established. Is there a way you could assist by contacting convalescing COVID-19 patients who meet criteria to donate plasma and asking them if they would be willing to donate? Patients would then come to you for the referral to the blood bank in Merced.

The phone number to call for donor referral is:

1-866-CV-PLSMA (1-866-287-5762)

I have also included a template letter, a template social media announcement, and a flyer to use in recruiting prospective donors. Hopefully these will make it easier to recruit some donors from our area.

Please let me know how else I might be of assistance.

Joerg Schuller, M.D.
Vice President Medical Affairs
Mercy Medical Center
333 Mercy Avenue
Merced Ca 9 5340
Office (209) 564-5030
Cell (209) 631-6576

CMA FAQ (UPDATED 4/21/20)
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The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented threat to the viability of physician practices. The California Medical Association (CMA) today released the results of its  COVID-19 Physician Financial Health Survey , which found that 95% of physician practices are worried about their financial health due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Practice revenue has declined by 64% since March 1, 2020, with 75% of practices experiencing a revenue decline of 50% or greater. The results highlight the immediate need for financial assistance. More...
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On April 23, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan “Interim Economic Relief” agreement that contains $485 billion in new COVID-19 pandemic funding assistance. The bill already passed the U.S. Senate and now goes to President Trump for his signature. During Thursday’s White House press briefing, Trump said he expects to sign the bill as soon as this evening. More...
FREE CMA Webinar: Medicare for California Physicians During the COVID-19 Crisis
In this webinar, Noridian Medical Director Arthur N. Lurvey, M.D., will discuss Medicare financial updates related to COVID-19, types of telemedicine covered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and many private insurance companies, suspension of some Medicare audits and waivers, and a brief look at eases in documentation and E&M changes.
 
April 28, 2020 - 12:15pm to 1:15pm
 
HHS allocates $10 billion to cover COVID-19 treatment for uninsured
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a process for allocating approximately $10 billion of the $100 billion Public Health and Emergency Fund enacted as part of the CARES Act to cover treatment of uninsured patients diagnosed with COVID-19. In addition, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act appropriated $1 billion to reimburse providers for conducting coronavirus testing for the uninsured. The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will begin distributing funds on April 27, 2020. More...
HHS to release additional $20 billion in payments from CARES Act Provider Relief Fund
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a $20 billion second wave of funding for providers from the $100 billion  CARES Act Provider Relief Fund . These payments do not need to be repaid. More...
CMA and Mercury Ins. partner to provide wellness care for frontline health care workers
SACRAMENTO and LOS ANGELES – The California Medical Association’s Wellness Program (CMA Wellness) and  Mercury Insurance  April 23 announced a partnership on a new initiative, Care 4 Caregivers Now, that provides frontline health care workers with mental and emotional wellness support and coaching. Care 4 Caregivers Now will train and connect volunteer physicians, nurses and health care workers to provide peer-to-peer coaching to assist those serving on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. More...
Medicare QPP deadline approaching; reporting optional during COVID-19
Physicians who plan to report on 2019 measures for the  Medicare Quality Reporting Program  (QPP) must do so by April 30, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, reporting for 2019 measures is optional. Clinicians who have not submitted any Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) data by April 30, 2020, will qualify for the automatic extreme and uncontrollable circumstances policy and will receive a neutral payment adjustment for the 2021 MIPS payment year. Physicians do not need to take any additional action to qualify for the automatic extreme and uncontrollable circumstances policy. More...
Latest COVID-19 Facts
Confirmed Cases - 100
Active - 40
Recovered - 57
Deaths - 3

Mariposa County ( Mariposa County Public Health)
Confirmed Cases -0
Deaths - 0

Co nfirmed Cases - 37,369
Deaths - 1,469

Confirmed Cases - 828,441
Deaths - 46,379

Confirmed Cases - 2,549,632
Deaths - 175,825

All of these numbers were pulled from the respective websites 4/23/20, 8:30PM.