Join SMLMA's extraordinary Board members and our esteemed Executive Director for an evening of cocktails/nibbles and a lively discussion on what SMLMA can be to/for future generations of physicians.

Tuesday, July 9th | 5:30 -7:30pm | Private Home in Windsor, CA

Address provided when you RSVP

rsvp: events@smlma.org or call: (707) 525-4375.

Save the Date!

Financial Health Dinner

Wednesday, July 30th

5:30-7:30 pm

Ca' Bianca in Santa Rosa

You asked for it, so now it is BACK!

SMLMA FINANCIAL HEALTH DINNER

No Cost to SMLMA Members

$45 Non-Members

JOIN US for dinner and cocktails on Wednesday, July 30th: 5:30-7:30 pm at Ca Bianca in Santa Rosa.

Limited seating. Reserve your seat today by emailing events@smlma.org or call (707) 525-4375.

Subject Matter Expert Host:

First Citizen's Investor Services - Eric Stern

Women in Leadership: Join this virtual evening session to learn tips and tools to support your leadership journey.

Save the Date!

Thursday | July 31st 3 | 6-7:30 pm

RSVP for virtual link:

events@smlma.org | Call: (707) 525-4375

Presented by Dr. Shannon Udovic-Constant, President of the CA Medical Association and Founder/CEO of Physician Women Rising.

SMLMA Regional

Mid-Career Physicians Retreat

Save the Date!

Friday | October 3 | 1:00 -7:30pm

events@smlma.org | Call: (707) 525-4375

More details soon. Have a suggestion for a guest speaker or topic? Want to join the planning committee? Email me at exec@smlma.org.

Practice-Changing Developments: Your Medical Knowledge Upgrade

Senate Unanimously passes Bill to Cut Prior Authorization Delays. The California Senate unanimously passed SB 306, the CMA-sponsored "Defending Physicians Decisions Act", which would eliminate prior authorization for medical services that insurers routinely approve - reducing delays, cutting red tape, and improving patient access. The bill now moves to the Assembly for consideration. Continue reading

Measles Cases and Outbreaks - Center for Disease Control. The measles outbreak has surpassed 1,088 cases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed, a grim milestone that has only been achieved twice in the last 30 years. Continue reading

Medical Board Begins Phasing Out Paper Renewals: The Medical Board of California is transitioning to a paperless renewal process and will not accept paper renewal forms for licenses expiring on or after June 30, 2025. Continue reading

SB 1061 prohibits reporting medical debt to credit agencies beginning January 1, 2025, and requires new disclosure language in patient financial contracts starting July 1, 2025, or the debt will be void and unenforceable. Continue reading

Don’t forget to claim your share of the BCBS Provider Antitrust Settlement: The settlement is the largest antitrust settlement in the history of the U.S. health care sector. The claims period is now open and will run until July 29, 2025. CMA hosted a webinar to show physicians how to submit a claim for their share of the settlement proceeds. The webinar is available on-demand and is free for CMA members.

SMLMA members can run FREE classified ads in News Briefs?

($1 per word for non-members). To place an ad in the next issue....

contact Wendy Davies via email at exec@smlma.org.

Volunteer Opportunities: Treasure House Consignment Shop:

Located at 3450 Airway Drive, Santa Rosa.

Home Consignment Shop serving Sonoma County since 1962.

Profits support local non-profit community organizations.

Volunteer requirement: 2-5 hours shifts per month | Monday-Saturday 10:30 am-3:15 pm.

Contact Wendy at (707) 236-2589 for a tour and more info!

Reforming the Business of House and Resolutions Process to better serve members: The California Medical Association (CMA) Governance Technical Advisory Committee (GTAC) has released a new proposal to change the business of the House of Delegates (HOD) and modify the resolution process. This reform package is designed to strengthen member engagement, elevate the voice of the HOD, increase transparency, and ensure that CMA’s governance remains nimble, representative and strategic. Members are invited to provide feedback by June 13, 2025.  Continue reading.

California Medical Association| CME Accredited Webinar Programs

See CMA's upcoming events and browse CMA's extensive library of pre-recorded webinars, covering a wide range of medical practice and public health topics.

June 12 | 12:15pm: Navigating the DMHC's Provider Complaint Process - A Physician's Guide

June 17 | 12:15pm: Webinar: From Capitol Hill to California - Policy Trends Shaping Healthcare

August 13 9am-3pm Sacramento, CA | Medical Group Advocacy Symposium

The Sutter Health Virtual Grand Rounds is a Continuing Education (CE) webinar series hosted by Sutter Health Network providers for all medical professionals across Northern California including Interactive Q&A sessions with each live event. Join a Sutter Grand Round today.

The California Medical Association's (CMA) health law library is the most comprehensive health law and medical practice resource for California physicians. The library contains nearly 5,000 pages of up-to-date information on a variety of subjects of importance to practicing physicians. It includes content from the California Physician's Legal Handbook, as well as more specialized information on peer review, payor contracting and other topics. 

Members: Do you need help?

• Problems Getting Paid? CMA provides direct reimbursement assistance to physicians and their staff.

• Practice Empowerment: CMA offers tools, resources and education to empower physician practices.

• Experienced Staff: CMA's practice management experts have a combined experience of over 125 years in medical practice operations

• Reimbursement Help Line: Members can get free assistance by contacting CMA at (800) 786-4262 or economicservices@cmadocs.org.

PHYSICIANS: CMA Physician Services has unveiled MedWay, a new administrative support service to help independent practices thrive. MedWay is a comprehensive, affordable and tailored administrative solution designed to help practices succeed without sacrificing autonomy.

MedWay is available to all physician–led practices and health centers in California, regardless of CMA membership. MedWay offers a suite of administrative services designed to meet the unique needs of healthcare providers.

Discover how MedWay can dramatically help your practice by scheduling a demo at MedWayDocs.com or by calling (916) 775–0175.

The Cooperative of American Physicians (CAP) proudly celebrates 50 years of delivering exceptional medical malpractice coverage and innovative practice solutions to help physicians succeed. Explore how you can benefit from the organization’s legacy of strength, stability, and vast array of services designed to promote your well-being and profitable medical practice in CAP’s 50th-anniversary edition of Physician Today.

Discover why 13,000 physician members trust CAP to safeguard their careers. Request your free copy now!

Case of the Month: Combating the Elusive Diagnosis of Appendicitis: Three Case Studies

Appendicitis is the third most common condition cited in adult malpractice insurance claims.* CAP's recent Case of the Month presents three scenarios in which appendicitis was missed or nearly missed and offers strategies that can be applied to different clinical situations to help reduce the risk of lawsuits arising from common oversights. Explore These Cases

Request your free copy of From Exam Room to Courtroom, a publication featuring ten case studies of physicians who have been involved in medical malpractice legal disputes.

To learn more about becoming a CAP member, please call 800-356-5672 or email MD@CAPphysicians.com. Request an Instant Quote today to see how much you can save on medical malpractice coverage as a member of CAP.

Request an instant quote on medical malpractice coverage

To learn more about the Cooperative of American Physicians:

Contact Dorine Leong at 650-543-2183 or DLeong@CAPphysicians.com.