The COVID-19 Coverage Assistance Fund is running out. The Coverage Assistance Fund reimburses for the claims for testing, treatment and vaccine administration for underinsured individuals whose health plan either does not include COVID-19 vaccination as a covered benefit or covers COVID-19 vaccine administration but with cost-sharing. Claims will be accepted through April 5 at 8:59 pm PST via the COVID-19 CAF portal. Claims submitted to the portal after the April 5 deadline will not be adjudicated. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) notes that claims submitted by the deadline will be paid subject to their eligibility and the availability of funds.

The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) recently announced that the Uninsured Program will stop accepting claims for testing, treatment, and vaccination claims due to insufficient funds. However, DHCS will still accept claims for individuals enrolled in the COVID-19 Uninsured Group Program. Individuals must apply for the COVID-19 Uninsured Group Program through a Medi-Cal Qualified Provider (QP). Visit the COVID-19 Uninsured Group Application Portal for eligibility information and to apply. The COVID-19 Uninsured Group Program will end the last day of the calendar month in which the federal COVID-19 public health emergency ends. For questions or concerns, please email [email protected]. 

Physicians for a Healthy California (PHC) recently launched the KidsVaxGrant program which will award grants of up to $15,000 to Vaccines for Children (VFC) providers. VFC providers newly enrolled in myCAvax could be eligible for $10,000, while those already enrolled who expand operating hours could be eligible for $15,000. PHC is hosting free webinars to discuss the application steps, eligibility, and answer live questions on Wednesday, April 6 and Thursday, April 14 from 5-6 pm. The deadline to apply for the KidsVaxGrant is May 27.

As part of the American Rescue Act Plan (ARPA), effective April 1, 2022, an individual eligible for pregnancy and postpartum care services under Medi-Cal or the Medi-Cal Access Program (MCAP) is now entitled to a total of 12 months of postpartum coverage. This coverage shall include the full breadth of medically necessary services through the pregnancy and postpartum period. All Medi-Cal and MCAP eligible individuals who report a pregnancy or are in their postpartum period are automatically eligible for ARPA PCE, regardless of immigration status or how the pregnancy ends. For questions about this expansion of postpartum care, please email [email protected]. 

The California Medical Association’s partner podcast The Nocturnists is looking for physicians to share their voices during a live performance in San Francisco in June 2022. The Nocturnists’ mission is to provide a safe psychological space for health care workers to express themselves in their full-fledged humanity. The theme is “Together Again,” centered around “separations, rifts, reunifications, gatherings, connections, and more.” This theme can be interpreted concretely or abstractly, and stories do not have to be COVID-related. If you would like to share your story, submissions are due by Sunday, April 3.

Solano County is one of seven mostly rural Northern California counties participating in a pilot program to improve access to, and better integrate behavioral and physical health services for all Medi-Cal beneficiaries. The pilot regional Wellness and Recovery program, launched in 2020, is administered by Partnership Health Plan, the Medi-Cal managed care health system in each county. Read the March 2022 report here. 

Leadership Reading and Discussion Group 

Email Mae Lum, Deputy Director, at [email protected] to get the Zoom/videoconference link. 

MICRA & a Movie 

Register today. 

Register here. 

Fostering Clinician Well-Being: Current Trends and Insights from the AMA’s 2022 National Report 

Register here. 

Clinical Case Study: Telehealth for Emergency Medicine 

Register here. 

Restoring Joy to the Practice of Medicine Together 

Physicians passionate about wellness from medical groups, health clinics, medical staffs, residency programs, and other physician organizations throughout the Bay Area are invited to this free online conference over two half-days on April 21 and 28. Keynote speakers are Marie Brown, MD, AMA Director of Practice Redesign; Paul DeChant, MD, Healthcare Consultant; and John Chuck, MD, Former TPMG Regional Chair for Physician Health and Wellness Leaders. Three panel discussions will cover practice improvements in action; developing evidence-based interventions; and transforming leadership for a culture of wellness. 

Register here. 

2022 Family Medicine Clinical Forum 

Register here.

NSMS 2022 Awards Gala and Dinner 

Please join us for an evening of entertainment as we celebrate the below physicians for their achievements in medicine and enjoy dinner and a show led by the Murder Mystery Co. Free for members, plus on additional guest. Non-members may register for $125. Find the event flyer here. 

Register here.