PULSE is our electronic publication emailed weekly to keep physicians' practices up to date with time sensitive information.
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PPE Worth $645,000 Distributed by KCMS/CMA Last Week! |
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Last week, the Kern County Medical Society (KCMS) in partnership with the California Medical Association (CMA) and the California Office of Emergency Services, distributed PPE to over 150 qualifying small and medium sized medical practices. Each PPE Relief kit included up to a two-month supply of PPE (a $4,300 value) - including N95 masks, surgical masks, shields, gowns and gloves - and they were available FREE to physician practices. |
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KCMS would like to extend a special thank you to the students from the Nursing Program at Bakersfield College as well as a number of KCMS board members and staff who volunteered at the event. We couldn't have done it without you!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
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Volunteers giving out KCMS swag bags |
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Bakersfield College students posing for a photo |
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Volunteers checking practices in |
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Chrisy Muchow, KCMS Executive Director being interviewed by KUZZ Radio. |
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CERTIFICATED OSHA STAFF TRAINING |
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TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2020
11AM-2PM
Carrie Champness, RN, BSN, Safety Compliance Specialist will provide up-to-date changes and practice requirements to meet the OSHA mandates.
OSHA requires re-training for all practice personnel annually!
Federal OSHA regulation Title 29, Part 1910-1030 requires that all employees who have potential for exposure to blood and blood-borne pathogens (BBP) must receive training before they begin such work and must be retrained annually. If the practice is organized as a PA, LLP or LLC OSHA considers doctors to be employees and they must also receive required training.
- How to handle an OSHA inspection
- What is the General Duty Clause
- Blood borne Pathogens
- Hazardous Communication
- Emergency Preparation
- Workplace Violence
- Shelter in Place Requirements
A certificate of course completion will be given to each attendee. While the certificate documents Safety Training required by Cal-OSHA regulations, it must also be supported by the employer's in-office, site specific Exposure Control Plan.
Advanced registration is required. Space is limited.
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If you are unable to attend after registering, please contact FMMS at least 48 hours prior to the forum to receive a refund minus a $10 processing fee. Physicians and administrators are encouraged to attend. Questions, please call FMMS at 559-224-4224.
FMMS/MMCMS/KCMS/CMA Members
FREE for first person from your office
$25 for each additional employee
NonMember
$30
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Blue Shield announces temporary increases to professional fee schedule |
In an August 5, 2020, notice to providers, Blue Shield announced it would be temporarily increasing reimbursement rates for certain Evaluation and Management services to help reduce the negative impacts to practices as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. More...
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UnitedHealthcare moving exclusively to electronic payments |
The California Medical Association (CMA) has learned that UnitedHealthcare (UHC) is in the process of discontinuing physician payments via paper checks and will instead require both contracted and non-contracted physicians to receive payment via automated clearinghouse (ACH)/direct deposit or through virtual credit card payments. More...
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Provider Relief Fund deadline extended for Medicaid providers, will reopen portal for Medicare providers |
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has extended the deadline for physicians to apply for the Provider Relief Fund for both Medicare and Medicaid providers. More...
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CMS proposes a controversial Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for 2021 |
On August 3, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published its proposed 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. Most notably, CMS is moving forward with the overhaul of the Evaluation and Management (E/M) office visit coding, documentation and payment system. While the California Medical Association (CMA) appreciates that CMS is proposing to implement long overdue and substantial payment increases for office visits, we are opposed to the corresponding payment cuts to the non-primary care specialties. More...
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Cigna implements outpatient advanced radiology policy |
On August 1, 2020, Cigna implemented a new policy restricting outpatient advanced radiologic imaging procedures in the hospital setting. Under the new policy, advanced radiologic imaging procedures performed in the hospital outpatient department—including certain magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance angiography and computed tomography imaging procedures—are only considered medically necessary under the following circumstances: More...
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CMA launches telehealth webinar series for small and medium sized practices |
The California Medical Association (CMA) is launching a new 12-part webinar series – Telehealth for Small and Medium Sized Practices. The 12 presentations will take place over the next six months, and will cover all aspects of implementing telehealth in a medical practice – selecting a platform, reimbursement rules and patient interactions. The webinar series will have an emphasis on the use of telehealth in Medi-Cal. More...
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Ask the expert: How long does a payor have to approve or deny a request for a prior authorization? |
Decisions to approve, modify or deny a standard request for a prior authorization must be made in a timely fashion appropriate to the nature of the patient’s condition, but not to exceed five business days from the payor’s receipt of the information reasonably necessary to make the determination (Health & Safety Code §1367.01(h), Insurance Code §10123.135(h)(1)). More...
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Upcoming FREE CMA Webinars |
Telehealth Series for Small and Medium Sized Practices: Overview
August 13, 2020 | 12:15PM - 1:15PM
Virtual Grand Rounds: Transmission, Testing and Masks: Creating a Culture to Curb COVID-19 *CME Available
September 8, 2020 | 12:00PM - 1:30PM
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Learn more about KCMS at our website!
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