Weekly Roundup: In Case You Missed It

October 28, 2022

CMA House of Delegates



The California Medical Association (CMA) recently convened its 151st annual House of Delegates (HOD) meeting in Los Angeles. Over 300 California physicians debated and outlined a policy agenda on major issues that have been determined to be the most important issues affecting members, the association, and the practice of medicine. This year the delegates focused on health care reform, physician workforce, and mental health. CMA also presented the installation of new officers, including new CMA President Donaldo M. Hernandez, MD. Click here to find more information about the newly installed officers and other awards. 

Today is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day


The Drug Enforcement Administration is hosting its 23rd National Prescription Drug Take Back Day today 10/29 from 10 am to 2 pm. This event offers anonymous disposal of unneeded medications at more than 4,000 local drop-off locations nationwide. DEA and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other forms of prescription drugs. Collection sites will not accept syringes, sharps, and illicit drugs. Spread the word on social media today! Encourage your friends and colleagues to empty their medicine cabinets and help prevent overdose.

Physician Wellness Leaders: You’re Invited


Join a roundtable of your colleagues – leaders from medical groups, hospital medical staffs, residency programs and other physician organizations – to learn and share how to apply the organizational culture and practice changes that can reduce physician burnout and drive professional fulfillment with the Bay Area Physician Wellness Collaborative. The next meeting of the collaborative will focus on creating a center or committee for physician wellbeing within your organization. Learn about self-care support systems, peer support resources, mental health referrals and consultation services, life-needs support mechanisms, and other comprehensive wellbeing resources. This collaborative is by invitation only; please click here to indicate your interest in joining the collaborative.

New AMA Resource Helps Physicians Fight Inappropriate E/M Downcoding


Effective Jan. 1, 2021, major changes were made to the evaluation and management (E/M) services’ Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) code set and reporting guidelines to reduce documentation burdens, simplify coding and allow physicians to spend more time with patients. Unfortunately, some health plans are disputing E/M levels for submitted claims and implementing E/M downcoding programs that inappropriately—and often automatically, through claim editing algorithms—reduce payment for provided services. The AMA has created a new resource to support physician practices in navigating such payer E/M downcoding programs. The document offers examples of downcoding scenarios, sample plan communications, guidance on reviewing remittance advice to identify downcoding and documentation tips to support successful appeals. 

Encourage Patients to Get their Bivalent Booster



As we approach the winter flu season, we ask you to encourage your patients and their families to get the bivalent booster. In Napa County and Solano County, only 13% and 10% of the eligible population have received their bivalent booster, respectively. 

 

Additionally, DHCS announced that Medi-Cal Rx will now pay for the bivalent booster vaccines as a pharmacy benefit. 

Window-Shopping for Affordable and Accessible Health Care Marketplace


As of last Wednesday, the Biden-Harris Administration launched the updated site so consumers can preview their health care coverage options and see the savings available to them. Consumers can now visit HealthCare.gov to view detailed information about 2023 health insurance plans and prices offered in their area in advance of the 2023 Marketplace Open Enrollment period that begins November 1, 2022.  

WEBINARS & EVENTS

The Future of Primary Care in California 

Tuesday, November 1 | 12:15 to 1:15 pm 

FREE | Hosted by CMA 

 

Recently, six California payors signed a Memorandum of Understanding committing to work together on a shared set of goals designed to improve the provision of primary care in California over the next three years. The goals include expanded transparency, value-based payment reform, increased investment and practice transformation support for person-centered care. In this webinar, physicians will learn about this new initiative and how it will help them provide higher quality patient care. In addition, physicians will hear a description of how one payor – Blue Shield of California – is implementing Advanced Primary Care in their network. With this knowledge, primary care physicians will be able to prepare their practices to meet the goals of the program, improving the experience of their patients. 

 

Register here

What Congress Needs to Do Now: A Grassroots Update

Thursday, November 3 | 9:00 am 

Hosted by AMA 

 

As we approach the end of this year and head into the next, physicians are taking this message to Congress: Reforming Medicare payment and fixing prior authorization need to top the agenda. Without Congressional action, physician practices that have already been weathered by the pandemic will face an 8%+ pay cut next year. Not only that, but prior authorization continues to delay patient care, cause patient harm and create practice hassles. Join AMA President Jack Resneck, MD, in conversation with Todd Askew, SVP, AMA Advocacy, and Jason Marino, Director, AMA Congressional Affairs, to hear about the AMA’s grassroots calls to action on these issues and what you can do. 

 

Register here

Federation Health Equity Exchange 

Thursday, November 3 | 10:00 am 

Hosted by AMA and the Minnesota Medical Association 

 

The Minnesota Medical Association (MMA) began its health equity efforts nearly 9 years ago when it added “encourage and support physician leadership in reducing racial and ethnic health disparities” to its strategic plan. Since then, the MMA has approached health equity from several angles including advocacy, education, and working to find solutions to dismantle the legacies and policies that enable racism and bias in medicine. In this session, health equity leaders Haley Brickner and Juliana Milhofer will review past efforts of the MMA and provide an in depth look at current initiatives, including: the Workforce Diversification Taskforce, the Health Equity Community of Practice, implicit bias education and training, and anti-racism and restorative justice initiatives. 

 

Register here

Virtual Grand Rounds: COVID-19 Updates and the Health Implications of Wildfire Smoke 

Tuesday, November 8 | 12:00 to 1:00 pm 

FREE | Hosted by CMA 

 

Wildfires seem to have become a yearly norm in California. Many public health experts have wondered what the short -and long-term health impacts of this frequent particulate exposure are for California communities. In the past two wildfire seasons, scientists have also looked at the impact of wildfire smoke exposure on patients with COVID-19 infections. In this webinar, Erica Pan, M.D., MPH, and John Balmes, M.D., will discuss the evolution of COVID-19 in California, as well the impacts of wildfire activity on the state of our health. 

 

Register here

CMS Medicare Updates 2023 

Tuesday, November 8 | 12:15 to 1:15 pm 

FREE | Hosted by CMA 

 

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Regional Chief Medical Officer Ashby Wolfe, M.D., will provide an update on CMS policy for the 2023 calendar year. Information presented will be relevant to practicing clinicians, including an overview of the updates to the 2023 Physician Fee Schedule. 

 

Register here

Bay Area Physician Wellness Collaborative 

Tuesday, November 15 | 6:00 to 8:00 pm 

FREE | CME Available | Online 

 

Join a roundtable of your colleagues – leaders from medical groups, hospital medical staffs, residency programs and other physician organizations – to learn and share how to apply the organizational culture and practice changes that can reduce physician burnout and drive professional fulfillment. 

 

The next meeting of the collaborative will focus on creating a center or committee for physician wellbeing within your organization. Learn about self-care support systems, peer support resources, mental health referrals and consultation services, life-needs support mechanisms, and other comprehensive wellbeing resources. This collaborative is by invitation only; please click here to indicate your interest in joining the collaborative. 

Making a Difference in 10 Minutes: Motivational Interviewing for Substance Use Disorders

Tuesday, November 29 | 12:15 to 1:15 pm 

Hosted by CMA 

 

Motivational interviewing (MI) may have more research to support its effectiveness than most medications and using it increases the chances our interactions with patients will be more rewarding, more connected and less argumentative. MI is applicable to any behavior change, has been studied cross-culturally, and employs some strategies that can actually shorten some visit types. In this practical workshop, you'll get a brief overview of the most current and compelling research on MI and substance use disorders (SUD); learn the five most powerful strategies for helping patients struggling with SUD or other behavior changes; and learn two anti-growth statements to avoid saying to patients to increase the likelihood of positive care outcomes. 

 

Register here.

NSMS Holiday Party

Friday, December 9 | 6:00 to 9:00 pm

Downtown Napa | Free for members + 1 guest


Enjoy complimentary food and wine along the Napa River at Vinoce & Twenty Rows on December 9th. Join fellow physicians from across Napa and Solano counties for a casual and fun event as we say goodbye to 2022 and prepare to ring in the new year! The only agenda will be eating delicious food, drinking great wine and saying hello to new and old friends. 


Register here.

NSMS's On-Demand Library


To access all on-demand programs, go to https://www.pathlms.com/medical-society/courses 

 

QUESTIONS/CONCERNS?

Please contact NSMS at grogers@napasolanodocs.org or (707) 255-3622with any questions or concerns you have.