May? May Day! May Day! Is it just me or does it feel like the months of 2019 are flying by so quickly. Join us for the many programs and events prepared just for you right here in Sonoma County before 2019 is a distant memory! 

Please come join the fun! I look forward to seeing you soon.

Wendy Young | Direct: (707) 525-4141. Call me anytime.

This always worthwhile event runs from 5:30-8:00 pm and is a great chance to reacquaint with colleagues and make new connections with your fellow physicians. Spouses and significant others are welcome. Wine/bubbles sponsors are needed! Please contact us and help SCMA keep this event free to members!

RSVP: [email protected] or (707) 525-4375.

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Join SCMA for Transcendence Theater's production of A Chorus Line where the physicians of SCMA will be honored for their service to the community as the chosen professional organization of the evening. Special pricing for SCMA physicians to attend, food trucks and wine tasting prior. Contact SCMA at (707) 525-4375 for your tickets. Limited seating available!

**SCMA will be providing the First Aid Tent for all summer shows for Broadway Under the Stars Summer 2019 Season. We need physician and/or first aid certified volunteers. Volunteers receive two tickets to that evening's performance, dinner tickets for the food trucks on site and VIP parking. Everything if provided for the First Aid tent by SCMA, we just need volunteers to staff it throughout the season. SCMA will provide the set up and the first aid supplies. We just need warm bodies to staff the tent and provide first aid as needed to guests and performers. 22 shows throughout the 2019 Summer season = 22 opportunities. Shows start the weekend of June 14th. See the event schedule below.

Click here to see all show dates and to sign up to volunteer. There are four different shows this summer. Feel free to volunteer four times so you can see all four productions!

SCMA Members receive discount on tickets to all shows during the summer 2019 schedule. However, Join SCMA on Friday, June 28th to see the production of A Chorus Line and save $20 per ticket; purchase dinner from one of the food trucks on site, or bring a picnic and enjoy a glass of wine from our wine sponsors: James Family Cellars.

Call us at SCMA for your discount ticket to June 28th.

(707) 525-4735 or [email protected].

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Sonoma County Physicians rally behind vaccine issue via the  Press Democrat  on Sunday, May 5 with the support of SCMA. See the Spring/Summer 2019 Issue of Sonoma Medicine for a follow-up story from  Brian Gabriel Prystowsky, MD.

This follow-up story Advocating for Vaccines was published in the Press Democrat on Thursday, May 9th .

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Weigh in your support or opposition on the SCMA website here.

How Did We Get Here? 7 Things to know about Measles - National Public Radio - April 30, 2019

Should Adults Get a Measles Booster Shot - New York Times - April 30, 2019

Orange County Confirms 1st measles case of 2019; possible exposure site includes 'Avengers' screening - Orange County Register - April 30, 2019

CA Bill limiting vaccine exemptions draws Capitol crowd - Sacramento Bee, April 24, 2019

With record attendance, more than 600 physicians, residents, medical students and stakeholders gathered in Sacramento on April 24 to bring the voice of medicine to legislators for the 45th annual California Medical Association (CMA)  Legislative Advocacy Day . SCMA was represented by Drs. Patricia May and Rajesh Ranadive.

Wearing white coats, physicians converged on the Capitol to educate legislators about  critical health care issues , including the dangers of  sugar-sweetened beverages  and creating standards for vaccine medical exemptions. 

Attendees also heard from keynote speaker, California Governor Gavin Newsom, who told the packed room about his strong commitment to increasing  access to care  for all Californians. “I want to be known as the health care governor,” Gov. Newsom said. 

Legislative issues highlighted during our conversations included:

 

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Independent Dispute Resolution Process Webinar

May 22, 2019, from 12:15 - 1:15 p.m.

 In an effort to encourage physician utilization of the Independent Dispute Resolution Process (IDRP) to dispute interim payments made under California’s out-of-network billing and payment law (AB 72), CMA is hosting a webinar. This members-only webinar will be May 22, 2019, from 12:15-1:15 pm.

The webinar, presented by Jodi Black and Juli Portola, will provide a brief review the out-of-network billing and payment law, including when the law applies, appropriate billing practices and the new payment structure.

The webinar will focus on the basics of how to appeal for additional reimbursement, how to increase a physician’s chances of success, how to craft an effective narrative justification, what to include in the supporting documentation and how CMA can help.

Physician members can  register here today . With CMA's new website and the integration with CV, CMA member’s staff can also register for free, but will need to contact Victoria Travis at [email protected]  or  916-551-2061  and include their CMA member’s California medical license number to obtain a promo code, which will allow them to register for free.

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MOMs 2.0 Meeting

Wednesday, May 22, 2019 | 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.

Partnership HealthPlan, Santa Rosa

Brown Bag Lunch

RSVP: (707) 525-4375 or [email protected]

NEWS FLASH: YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF CA AB1825 and CA SB1343 :

Starting January 2019, the threshold has changed for mandatory harassment training in California. Now, companies doing business in California with five or more employees (including full-time, part-time, and temporary) or contractors must provide supervisors in California with two hours of sexual harassment training every two years in accordance with AB1825 and SB1343. The threshold is met even if most employees and contractors work outside of California. New supervisors must be trained within six months from hire or promotion date, and every two years thereafter.

Employers with at least five employees must provide at least one hour of sexual harassment prevention training to all non-supervisory employees in California within six months of start of employment. The training must be provided once every two years.

Employers must provide sexual harassment prevention training to temporary or seasonal employees within 30 calendar days after hire or within 100 hours worked if the employee will work for less than six months.

SCMA will provide both employee and supervisor training on Friday, August 16, 2019 at 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. in Santa Rosa and Friday, August 16, 2019 from 3:00 - 5:30 p.m. in Ukiah [Locations TBD once we know attendance size] will encompass both one hour and two hour trainings. Those who only need one hour (employees) can leave during the one hour break. Those who need two hours (supervisors) will stay until the end of the program.

RSVP: (707) 525-4375 or [email protected].

This program is expected to fill up quickly. Please sign up early so we can prepare accordingly. Cost: FREE to SCMA Members and staff (up to 3 staff per physician member, $25 per staff thereafter) | $60 each to Non-Members and office employees.

Facilitated by: David Berry, Esq.,

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Have you wanted to learn how to truly understand this whole arena of investing? How to pick stocks, read "the market" and understand how to grow your investments/retirement accounts? Join us for our next meeting on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 here in Santa Rosa.

The first session covered "Investing 101" (don't worry, we can catch you up if you missed the first one) and kicked off this new adventure for SCMA. This is your group and you decide where it goes from there (i.e., meeting frequency, topics, requirements, investment partnership, etc.) No investment experience necessary but experienced investors are welcome to help round out the knowledge of the group. Please RSVP to SCMA at (707) 525-4375.

Email Wendy to express interest