April 22, 2022

New COVID-19 Therapeutics Webinar Available On-Demand Now

The NSMS developed a webinar in collaboration with the Napa County Public Health Dept. and Solano County Public Health Dept. 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 free for members and non-members; CME available. Watch the webinar here. 

FQHC, RHC, and Tribal FQHC Providers May Submit Claims for Vaccine Administration

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently approved the DHCS State Plan Amendment (SPA 21-0020) for coverage and reimbursement of COVID-19 vaccine administration in a vaccine-only encounter provided by Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), Rural Health Centers (RHC) and Tribal FQHCs. The $67 per shot reimbursement rate approved by CMS is retroactive to November 2, 2020. Providers who already billed Medi-Cal for the reimbursement of a COVID-19 vaccine-only encounters and entered a billed amount less than $67 can void and resubmit their claims electronically. Click here to read more.

CMS Opens Federal Independent Dispute Resolution Process Under the No Surprises Act

On Friday, April 15, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) opened the long-awaited federal Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) process called for under the No Surprises Act, through which providers and payors can resolve payment disputes for certain out-of-network charges. Browse the CMS webpage for more information, or check their IDR Guidance for Certified IDR Entities document.

The AMA also published a second toolkit to aid physicians in disputing out of network payments.

CMA Files Brief in Federal Court that will Shape California’s Corporate Bar

CMA filed an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in a case – American Academy of Emergency Medicine Physician Group (AAEMPG) v. Envision Healthcare Corp – that will shape the boundaries of California’s prohibition on the corporate practice of medicine (known as the “corporate bar”). CMA’s amicus brief sought to provide the court with a thorough picture of how Envision’s business model threatens not just the physicians involved in the lawsuit, but, if left unchecked, could provide a roadmap for corporate entities to similarly disempower physicians in every corner of the state. Click here to read more about the lawsuit and find CMA’s amicus brief.

Thriving in Practice Through Value-Based Care 

Thursday, April 28 | 12:15 to 1:15 pm 

Free for members & non-members | Hosted by CMA 

With growing value-based care contracts, more physicians are taking the leap into the world of value-based care, but not all are succeeding. The complexities of managing changing benchmarks, different payor relationships and decreasing fee-for-service revenue is putting a strain on primary care physicians and health centers that have already seen anywhere from a 10-30% decrease in revenue due to the pandemic. In this webinar with CMA Vice President of Health Information Technology David Ford and partner organization Aledade, learn the tools necessary to ensure that your practice or health center takes the steps required to succeed this year. 

Register here. 

Protecting Mental Health in Disasters: COVID-19 and Beyond

Wednesday, May 11 | 10:00 am to 11:00 am

FREE | Hosted by AMA

COVID-19 is the most far-reaching and long-lasting disaster in generations, with a long "tail" of expected mental health effects impacting patients, providers, and their families. Understanding the range of mental health effects and aspects of risk and resilience are critical to effective response and recovery. In this AMA STEPS Forward™ webinar, speaker Joshua C. Morganstein, MD, CAPT, discusses how the use of evidence-based early interventions by individuals, organizations, and leaders can reduce distress, foster resilience, enhance operational sustainment, and help treat psychiatric disorders that may emerge.

Register here.