Weekly Roundup: In Case You Missed It

June 3, 2022

Please Complete Our 2022 Membership Survey


Complete the 2022 membership survey and will receive a $5 Starbucks gift card and be entered in a drawing to win a Marshall Stockwell II portable speaker! The NSMS conducts a yearly survey to gather information about our members, your needs, your satisfaction with the NSMS overall and with various member services and benefits, and the issues impacting the medical profession. We kindly ask that you complete the 2022 membership survey no later than June 15th, so that we may continue to serve you to the best of our ability and make improvements based on your feedback and recommendations.

First Suspected Case of Monkeypox Reported in Sacramento County


A confirmed case of monkeypox infection has been identified in an adult male residing in Massachusetts with travel to Canada. Additionally, a suspected case of monkeypox infection has been identified in Sacramento County in a person who traveled abroad. Multiple clusters of confirmed cases in other countries have also been reported. Healthcare providers should be alert for patients who have rash illness consistent with monkeypox, according to a health advisory issued by the Napa County Public Health Dept. Please immediately report all instances of suspected monkeypox infection to your local public health department.

NSMS Awards Gala Photos & Thank Yous


Thank you to all the physicians, health care leaders and guests who came out to Eagle Vines Golf Club on May 20th for our 2022 Awards Gala & Dinner. We had a great time celebrating Doctors Andrea Clarke, David Danzeisen and Paul Sweigert for their incredible achievements in medicine, and we had a blast participating in our first-ever murder mystery dinner! Check out the photos here. We'd also like to give a very special thanks to our event sponsors: 

 

CHAMPION SPONSOR: 

The Doctors Company 

 

PARTNER SPONSOR: 

Kaiser Permanente 

 

FRIEND SPONSORS: 

MIEC 

Touro University California 

Partnership HealthPlan of California 

CMA Updates No Surprises Act Guide


The No Surprises Act was not intended to supersede state laws on surprise billing and payment and the Department of Managed Health Care recently issued updated guidance on the interplay between state and federal law. The California Medical Association updated its guide – The No Surprises Act: What Physicians Need to Know – in order to help physicians understand their rights and obligations under the No Surprises Act. 

Pediatricians: Abbott EleCare Infant Formula Available in Limited Quantities


Abbott has a limited supply of EleCare and EleCare Jr. Vanilla available for distribution, and they are ready to work with health care professionals to ensure the products are given to infants and children with urgent medical needs, according to the Napa County Public Health Department. Abbott is releasing this product at no charge in the wake of a shortage. Please see the letter and request form for more information. 

CMA Endorses AMA Principles for Sustainable Medicare Payment Reform


The CMA is one of 120 organizations that has endorsed the AMA’s new Medicare payment reform principles. The principles provide a framework to reshape the Medicare payment system so that it works better for patients and physicians, and puts an end to the annual advocacy exercise of stopping impending payment cuts. Due to a confluence of statutory payment cuts, lack of inflationary updates, significant administrative burdens and fiscal uncertainties physician practices face related to the pandemic, the Medicare payment system is on an unsustainable path threatening patient access to physicians. The AMA framework represents the first stage in medicine’s effort to develop and propose substantial changes to the payment system to improve the financial viability of physician practices and ease its administrative burdens. CMA is advocating for these Medicare payment reforms before Congress and CMS. 

Regulator Issues Guidance on COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination Reimbursement


CMA-sponsored law – SB 510 – requires health plans and insurers to cover COVID-19 testing and vaccine administration with no patient cost-sharing, no prior authorization, and regardless of provider’s network status. The Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) issued implementation guidance that should be helpful for physicians who haven’t been reimbursed or have been underpaid. The guidance clarifies how to distinguish between “in-network” and “out-of-network", understanding lost patient cost-sharing, and timing of payments. Click here to read more.

CMA Calls for Action to Address Epidemic of Gun Violence


CMA President Robert E. Wailes stated, “The physicians of California stand in solidarity with our health care colleagues in Oklahoma and send not just our deepest condolences, but our outrage that such senseless acts of violence continue to plague our nation... We cannot become numb to the nearly daily reports of gun violence and mass shootings. We cannot sit idly by and do nothing while more than 45,000 Americans die each year by gunfire”. Click here to read the full statement and find out what you can do as a physician to help.

Government Offers Third Round of Free COVID-Tests Shipped to Your Home


The Biden Administration is offering a third round of free COVID-19 at-home tests. Each order now includes 8 rapid antigen COVID tests. Click here to place your free order or share the resource with patients. 

KidsVaxGrant Application Extended to July 15


$10 million in grant funding is available for medical organizations enrolled in the federal Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. VFC providers newly enrolled in myCAvax could be eligible for $10,000 to support enrollment and launching a vaccination center. VFC providers who are already enrolled in myCAvax who are expanding operating hours could be eligible for $15,000. The deadline to apply has been extended to July 15, 2022. Click here to apply or learn more. 

FDA Authorizes New At-Home Seasonal Respiratory Virus Test


On May 16, the FDA authorized the Labcorp Seasonal Respiratory Virus RT-PCR DTC test for use without a prescription by individuals with symptoms of respiratory viral infection consistent with COVID-19. The test can identify and differentiate multiple respiratory viruses at the same time, including influenza A and B, respiratory syncytial virus, and SARS-CoV-2. This home sample collection kit can be purchased online or in a store without a prescription.

DHCS Issues Annual Report on Preventive Health Services for Children


The California Department of Health Care Services has published its second annual Preventive Services Report, which describes how Medi-Cal managed care plans (MCPs) deliver preventive health services to children. Based on data from 2020, the PSR shows that the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) likely had a significant impact on whether individuals visited health provider locations to receive care, treatment, or screenings. It is also notable that communities of color experienced greater declines in health outcomes than other groups, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the PHE on these populations.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to Transition to Three-Digit Number


On July 16, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800-273-8255) will be replaced with a simple, easy-to-remember three-digit number (988). The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $105 million to 54 states and territories in advance of this date to help states meet the growing demand for mental health care. For those in crisis, 988 will serve as a universal entry point so that no matter where patients live, they can reach a trained crisis counselor who can help. 

Napa-Solano UC Davis ad 050721.jpg

WEBINARS & EVENTS

Prescribing COVID-19 Therapeutics: Everything You Need to Know 

On-Demand

Free for members and non-members | CME Available 

 

Learn how to treat COVID-19 using authorized therapeutics available to physicians specifically in the Napa and Solano area. Receive an overview of the treatments available, how to prescribe them to patients, and review real-life scenarios to help you better care for patients with COVID. This webinar is brought to you by the Napa Solano Medical Society in collaboration with the Napa County Public Health Dept. and Solano County Public Health Dept. 

 

Watch the webinar here.

Restoring Joy to the Practice of Medicine Together  

On-Demand | CME Available 

  

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

Movie Night: Lightyear - Sold Out/Waitlist Only

Friday, June 17 | 6:30 pm  

 

NSMS has secured a private 83-seat theater in Napa for NSMS physicians and their families. Bring the family, play a Toy Story quiz, win PRIZES, and watch a new movie. Tickets have all been reserved, but you may join the waitlist in the event cancellations occur. If you would like to join the waitlist, email grogers@napasolanodocs.org with your contact information and names of up to three guests.

 

For more information, click here.

Leadership Reading and Discussion Group

Wednesday, July 6 | 6:00 to 7:30 pm   

FREE | CME Available | Online   

   

Physicians are free to join any meeting of the Leadership Reading and Discussion Group; reading the book is not required. Doctor Hilary Worthen, course director of the Physician Leadership Program, facilitates the discussion group that is held on Zoom. The book selection for July is “Healing: Our Path from Mental Illness to Mental Health” by Thomas Insel, MD. This is a terrific book that gives a hard and well-informed overview of the state of care for people with mental illness. 

 

Register here

34th Annual Virtual Conference on Physicians’ Wellbeing

Friday, July 15 | 8:00 am to 12:15 pm 

CME Available 

 

Presented by Riverside County Medical Association, this program is designed to assist hospitals and health care organizations comply with Title 22 Regulations on matters related to health and wellness, addiction, mental illness and behavioral issues of physicians and other health care providers. This event is endorsed by CMA. Registration is $169, with a discounted price of $50 for residents and medical students. 

 

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.