INFORMATION FOR PHYSICIANS AND PRACTICES ON COVID-19
KCMS Statement on Reopening the County
Now more than ever, Californians are relying on physicians to help guide them through these difficult times. While the outbreak of COVID-19 has created tremendous uncertainty throughout our communities, we have seen countless physicians put their own health and safety at risk to treat people facing a new, deadly disease.

The opinions made by doctors Daniel Erickson and Artin Messihi have earned attention across the state, but it is the opinion of the Kern County Medical Society (KCMS) that the course we are on, is the course that is in the best interest of our communities and our patients. More...
CMA publishes best practices for reopening physician offices and health care facilities
As the COVID-19 pandemic spread throughout the world, California and the United States took steps to limit the transmission and impact of the virus by implementing stay at home orders. While this has so far prevented any surges overwhelming our hospitals, it has also meant that many other parts of the health care system have been idled to preserve resources and capacity in the system and limit opportunity for transmission or exposure of the virus. More...
California’s State Treasurer Responds to COVID-19 by Assisting Health Facilities with Zero Interest Loans and Loan Payment Deferrals
SACRAMENTO – California State Treasurer Fiona Ma announced April 30, 2020, that the California Health Facilities Financing Authority (CHFFA) board, chaired by Treasurer Ma, approved a new $5 million emergency loan program for California health facilities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting today, certain health facilities can apply for zero interest loans of up to $250,000 to pay for a number of COVID-19 purposes. More...
CMS announces payment parity for audio-only telephone visits
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on April 30, 2020, a significant expansion of telehealth services so physicians and other providers can deliver a wider range of care to Medicare patients in their homes. Most notably, CMS will now be increasing payments for telephone visits to match payments for similar office and outpatient visits. This change is retroactive to March 1, 2020. More...
Provider Relief Update: Only those who received payment in phase 1 able to apply for phase 2
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on April 23, 2020, announced a $20 billion phase two round of funding for health care providers from the $175 billion  CARES Act Provider Relief Fund . There is, however, conflicting information about whether a provider who has not previously received funding from the Provider Relief Fund in phase one can apply for this second round of funding.   More...
CMA FAQ (UPDATED 5/1/20)
Three New May Webinars: Register for FREE
The California Medical Association (CMA) has scheduled three new COVID-19 webinars. These webinars are available free to all interested parties as part of CMA’s ongoing support for physicians during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

CMS Actions in Response to COVID-19: An Update for Physicians

Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Regional Chief Medical Officer Ashby Wolfe, M.D., will provide an overview of the CMS Response to COVID-19. Dr. Wolfe will review existing CMS waivers and flexibilities supporting patient care during the pandemic, with a particular focus on flexibilities that impact physicians. She will discuss 1135 waiver authority, the difference between blanket and individual provider waivers, and an overview of existing telehealth, care by phone, workforce and laboratory testing flexibilities.
 
May 5, 2020 - 12:15pm to 1:15pm
 

Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder in the Age of COVID-19

In this webinar, we will review how the COVID-19 public emergency has changed how we care for patients with opioid use disorder. The webinar will also review new state and federal flexibilities to help patients stay safe and access care. Presenters will share how physicians are adapting to the challenges of the epidemic in opioid treatment programs and office settings. We will also here how the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has responded to the emergency to help transform the safety-net behavioral health treatment system from one predominantly dependent on in-person group visits to one that can deliver services by telephone and telehealth.

May 8, 2020 - 12:15pm to 1:15pm


Update on Telehealth Reimbursement and Privacy Laws: COVID-19

This webinar will build on CMA's telehealth webinar from March 26, 2020, focusing on the updated telehealth and privacy flexibilities granted by federal and state governments over the past four weeks. Presenters will discuss recent expansions of telehealth use, state and federal privacy waivers, and updates to telehealth billing guidelines.

May 12, 2020 - 12:15pm to 1:15pm

Latest COVID-19 Facts
Kern County   ( Kern County Public Health )
Total Resident Cases - 939
Non-Resident Cases - 9
Recovered Residents - 543
Kern Resident Deaths - 8

Co nfirmed Cases - 50,442
Deaths - 2,073

Confirmed Cases - 1,062,446
Deaths - 62,402

Confirmed Cases - 3,181,642
Deaths - 224,301

All of these numbers were pulled from the respective websites 5/1/20, 4:00PM.