October 7, 2022

You’re Invited: The NSMS Holiday Party

The Napa Solano Medical Society invites you to join us December 4th for our Holiday Party. Enjoy complimentary food and wine along the Napa River at Vinoce & Twenty Rows. 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.

Physician Voter Guide for November Election

CMA published their November 2022 Physician Voter Guide detailing CMA’s positions on statewide ballots, endorsements for two CMA-supported physicians running for their first terms in office, and CALPAC supported candidates. Kermit Jones, MD, is a candidate for the new Congressional District 3, a district based in the Sierra Foothills and Placer County. Dr. Jones is also an NSMS member and a TPMG physician. 

Napa County Requires All Health Care Workers Receive Flu Shot or Mask



Renewing an order from last year, the Napa County Health Officer is requiring health care facilities implement a program requiring all health care workers to receive their influenza vaccine or if they decline, wear a mask for the duration of influenza season while working in patient care areas. Read the full notice here.

Governor Newsom Signs Multiple Bills into Law

This week, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a number of important bills sponsored and supported by CMA: 

• AB 852: Exempts low volume prescribers from California’s e-prescribing requirement 
• SB 1419: Allows physicians time to interpret potentially life-changing test results before releasing them to the patient electronically, providers additional protection for sensitive data, and clarifies that clinical notes are considered part of the patient medical record 
• SB 1473: Requires health plans and insurers to cover therapeutics approved or granted EUA by the FDA regardless of the provider’s network status. This law applies to COVID-19 and any other disease that the Governor has declared a public health emergency 

Blue Shield Launches New Payment Model for Specialty Care Practices

Blue Shield of California is launching a new value-based, shared savings payment model for specialty care physician practices. The program aims to transform how specialty care services are delivered by shifting away from traditional fee-for-service to value-based care in an “episode of care” arrangement. Practices who join the program would have direct financial incentives via shared savings for improved outcomes for specialty services, with no downside financial risk to the practice. Blue Shield is initially launching the program for orthopedic, maternity and gastroenterology services. To qualify for the program, you must participate in the Blue Shield commercial PPO network. Click here to read more and to access Blue Shield’s on demand webinars and live Q&A sessions. 

CMA Files Brief in Critical Medicaid Case

Health and Hospital Corp. v. Talevski could strip Medicaid beneficiaries and providers of their right to access the courts to enforce state compliance with Medicaid requirements. CMA states in their amicus brief, “This Court should preserve the critical role that private enforcement, including by Medicaid providers, plays in fulfilling the promise of one of the country’s most important social programs, which for decades has delivered beneficial medical care to millions of needy Americans.” Organized medicine and physicians, on behalf of themselves and patients, have utilized Section 1983 to ensure the benefits and promises of Medicaid programs are met. Talevski threatens this important legal right and potentially could shift oversight and enforcement of Medicaid requirements solely into the hands of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which itself admits that it does not have the resources to displace private enforcement of Medicaid. Click here to read more. 

Governor Newsom Vetoes Dangerous Optometrist Scope Bill 

Last week, Governor Newsom vetoed AB 2236 that would have allowed optometrists to perform certain eye surgeries if they met minimal specified education and training conditions that are far inferior to the requirements ophthalmologists must meet. This bill would have left patients vulnerable to serious life-long consequences. Read ACCMA’s letter to Governor Newsom to veto AB 2236. 

Vigilance for Acute Flaccid Myelitis Warranted

CDPH requests healthcare providers and local health departments to be vigilant for acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), which typically presents with sudden limb weakness in children that can lead to permanent paralysis. In August 2022, a similar increase in EV-D68 respiratory disease was detected in sentinel surveillance sites in the U.S., including California, thereby warranting increased vigilance for AFM. Moreover, clinicians should consider polio in patients with suspected AFM who are not fully vaccinated against polio AND have either traveled to or had contact with travelers from areas where polio is circulating. Read the full health advisory from Napa County Health and Human Services Agency. 

Whooping Cough Vaccine Approved for Use During Pregnancy



The FDA approved the first vaccine specifically for use during pregnancy to prevent a disease in infants whose mothers are vaccinated during pregnancy. Boostrix is now approved for use in the third trimester of pregnancy specifically to prevent Pertussis in young infants.

FDA Issues New Guidance to Improve Access to Naloxone



Last week, the FDA issued guidance that allows harm reduction organizations to purchase and distribute increased amounts of naloxone without having to comply with burdensome bureaucratic requirements. This rule only applies under the current opioid public health emergency.

Climate and Health Advocacy Bootcamp

Running every Thursday until October 27 | 12:00 to 1:30 pm 

Hosted by the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health 

Health professionals are the most trusted voices in society and our collective voices are needed to prepare communities to effectively respond to the climate crisis. Through this 5-week bootcamp, you will grow your network by joining colleagues around the country to learn strategies to effectively channel your voice and action as a health professional to address the “greatest health threat” of the 21st Century. 

Register here.

Unconscious Bias in Healthcare: Policy, Practice, and the State of the Science Symposium 

Friday, October 14 | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm 

FREE | Presented by Sutter Health’s Institute for Advancing Health Equity 

Join health equity experts, researchers and change agents for a day of focused discussion and problem-solving around how to effectively mitigate unconscious bias in healthcare settings. The insights and strategies explored during this one-day event will inform evidence-based recommendations and a framework to guide the development and implementation of effective, measurable unconscious bias mitigation strategies. This event is co-sponsored by CMA, Physicians for a Health California, and the California Primary Care Association. 

Register here. 

AMA Digital Health Research: 2022 Findings 

Wednesday, October 19 | 8:00 to 9:00 am 

First launched in 2016, the AMA conducts a study of physicians’ motivations and requirements for the adoption of digital health solutions. To maintain a pulse on trends, the AMA regularly refreshes this study every three years and most recently fielded the survey in Q1 of 2022. The findings report of this study will be released in mid-September. Join this session for an executive summary and walkthrough of this year's key insights along with a longitudinal analysis of key changes in physician motivations and requirements for the adoption of digital clinical tools compared to prior years. 

Register here. 

Understanding the Climate Health Crisis and How California Physicians Can Make an Impact 

Friday, October 21 | 2:00 to 4:00 pm 

Hybrid: Virtual and In-person at L.A. Live 

This free event will be an engaging two-part panel discussion that will explore the health impacts of climate change in California and the opportunities for California's physicians to advance policy-level climate solutions with enormous public health co-benefits. Sponsored by Climate Health Now and the California Foundation on the Environment and the Economy (CFEE) in coordination with CMA. 

Register here.

Harm Reduction and Treatment Strategies for People Who Use Fentanyl

Wednesday, October 26 | 10:00 to 11:00 am 

Hosted by the National Overdose Prevention Network 

Many people use fentanyl, whether by choice or by accident. With overdose-related deaths continuing to rise, how do we keep people safe? This first session in our webinar series on fentanyl will focus on harm reduction strategies and treatment options for people who use fentanyl. We will hear from a harm reduction expert and a clinician on key strategies and opportunities to center people who use drugs and save lives. 

Register here.

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. 

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. Learn more here. 

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.