INFORMATION FOR PHYSICIANS AND PRACTICES ON COVID-19
URGENT HEALTH BULLETIN
Universal Masking in Healthcare Settings, Resuming Deferred Healthcare Services, Discontinuation of Isolation, Community-Based COVID-19 Testing Sites, Serology Testing, Coordination with Skilled Nursing Facilities

CMS announces additional temporary regulatory flexibilities
On April 30, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)  released an interim final rule  that establishes new regulatory flexibilities in addition to the policies CMS previously announced at the end of March. More...
HHS extends Provider Relief Fund deadlines
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has extended the deadline for physicians to attest to receipt of payments from the Provider Relief Fund and accept the  terms and conditions . Physicians will now have 45 days, increased from 30 days, from the date they receive a payment to attest and accept the terms and conditions, or return the funds. More...
Governor signs order to make it easier to receive workers’ comp for COVID-19 claims
Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday signed an  executive order  to ensure that employees who contract COVID-19 during the course of their employment can receive workers’ compensation benefits. More...
CMA releases regional summaries of COVID-19 survey results
The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented threat to the viability of physician practices. The fallout from this crisis threatens to fundamentally alter California’s health care delivery system not just during the COVID-19 outbreak, but for years to come. The California Medical Association (CMA) recently released the results of its  COVID-19 Physician Financial Health Survey , which highlights the immediate need for financial assistance for physician practices.  More...
Expert U.S. panel develops NIH treatment guidelines for COVID-19
A panel of U.S. physicians, statisticians and other experts has developed  treatment guidelines for coronavirus disease 2019  (COVID-19). These guidelines, intended for health care providers, are based on published and preliminary data and the clinical expertise of the panelists, many of whom are frontline clinicians caring for patients during the rapidly evolving pandemic. More...
Peer coaching support now available for health care workers serving on the front lines of COVID-19
Care 4 Caregivers Now is accepting applications from health care workers impacted by COVID-19 to receive professional and emotional support in a confidential and virtual setting. More...
Upcoming Webinars: Register for FREE
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

CMA FAQ (UPDATED 5/5/20)
Latest COVID-19 Facts
Kern County   ( Kern County Public Health )
Total Resident Cases - 1,133
Non-Resident Cases - 10
Recovered Residents - 674
Kern Resident Deaths - 13

Co nfirmed Cases - 58,665
Deaths - 2,474

Confirmed Cases - 1,219,066
Deaths - 73,297

Confirmed Cases - 3,679,499
Deaths - 254,199

All of these numbers were pulled from the respective websites 5/7/20, 4:30PM.