CMA publishes 2025 Mid-Year Legislative Update

The California Medical Association (CMA) has published its 2025 Mid-Year Legislative Update, highlighting key wins and ongoing advocacy to protect physician-led care and reduce administrative burdens. The report outlines our progress over the first half of the year and previews the major policy fights still ahead. More...

CMS releases 2026 proposed Medicare fee schedule with big changes

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) this week released the proposed 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Quality Payment Program rule. Most physicians would see an average 3.6% conversion factor increase, while qualifying Alternative Payment Model (APM) participants would receive an average 3.83% conversion factor bump. The fee schedule also includes two additional conversion factors for anesthesia services. 

The conversion factor is the multiplier used to determine Medicare reimbursement rates for physician services. The increases are due to a one-year 2.5% increase provided by Congress in HR 1, an additional 0.75% increase for APM participants and a 0.25% increase for all other physicians based on current the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) law and a 0.55% increase due to work relative value unit (RVU) changes. 

But the conversion factor increase is only part of the story. CMS is also proposing structural reforms that could significantly reshape how physicians are reimbursed—including a major shift in site-of-service payments and new efficiency adjustments. More...

Beverage industry sues to overturn Santa Cruz soda tax

Santa Cruz is facing a lawsuit from the American Beverage Association and allied industry groups over its newly enacted soda tax, escalating a legal fight that could have far-reaching implications for local public health policy in California.

Approved by voters in the November 2024 election, Measure Z imposes a 2-cent-per-ounce tax on distributors of sugar-sweetened beverages. Public health advocates have championed this and other similar taxes as a way to reduce consumption of sugary drinks—a leading contributor to diabetes, obesity, heart disease and dental decay. More...

Congress introduces bill to dramatically expand residency slots

For decades, the number of Medicare-funded residency slots has remained effectively frozen, creating a bottleneck that’s worsened the country’s physician shortage and left aspiring doctors with fewer pathways to practice. Recently, Congress revived H.R. 3890, the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act, a bipartisan bill that would add 14,000 new Medicare-supported residency slots over the next seven years—marking the most significant expansion of the physician training pipeline in nearly 30 years. More...

Need help reviewing a contract? CMA members get exclusive discounted services

What You Need to Know: CMA members have access to exclusive discounts on professional contract review services to help evaluate, negotiate and protect their physician agreements.

California Medical Association (CMA) members have access to two valuable member benefits that provide legal analysis of physician contracts – such as employment agreements, managed care contracts, hospital recruitment contracts and more – at reduced rates. More...

White House AI plan could help boost transparency, oversight



What’s the news: The White House this week unveiled its action plan on AI, identifying more than 90 recommended policy changes in federal government policy that the Trump administration will pursue in the coming months. According to the White House, the plan is built on three pillars: “accelerating innovation, building American AI infrastructure and leading in international diplomacy and security.” The plan is an encouraging step forward, as the administration is prioritizing the responsible development and deployment of augmented intelligence (AI)—often called artificial intelligence—to improve health outcomes. More...

DEA and CMS warn physicians that they are being targeted by scams

Two federal agencies have recently issued warnings about scams targeting physicians that use deceptive schemes and other nefarious means in attempts to gain access to medical records or personal information and even to fraudulently obtain payments.

In one scheme, the scammer—presumably seeking personal information—impersonates a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent and tells physicians that they are under investigation.

The DEA alert reports that both DEA-registrant and non-registered physicians have been contacted by scammers via letters and telephone calls in this scheme.

“It is not the DEA’s practice to call registrants regarding investigative matters,” says the DEA alert.

In the other scheme, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) says Medicare providers and suppliers are being targeted and are receiving requests for medical records or payment of alleged Medicare debts. More...

What doctors wish patients knew about the impact of caffeine

Many people can’t imagine starting their day without a cup of coffee or tea. Caffeine has become the silent hero fueling our daily lives, helping people get through that afternoon slump. It can also have positive effects on alertness, cognitive function and athletic function. But as we indulge in our favorite caffeinated beverages, there are also some concerns about excessive consumption and potential health risks. 

Caffeine is a chemical stimulant that can be found naturally in coffee beans, tea leaves, cacao beans, guarana berries and yerba mate leaves and quickly boosts alertness and energy levels. It can also be made synthetically and added to drinks, food, tablets and supplements. More...

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