Weekly Roundup: In Case You Missed It |
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COVID-19 Therapeutics Updates and Resources
The National Institute of Health released updated COVID-19 treatment guidelines as of April 1, detailing changes to treatment guidelines including: FDA amended the EUA for Sotrovimab due to decreased efficacy against the BA.2 Omicron subvariant. You can also access a COVID drug interaction checker from the University of Liverpool. Find a pharmacy-based clinic with the test-to-treat locator here.
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HRSA to Reopen Period 1 Provider Relief Fund Reporting
If you received more than $10,000 in provider relief funds for period 1 and missed the reporting deadline due to extenuating circumstances, you now have between April 1 and April 22 at 8:59 pm PST to submit a late Reporting Period 1 report request. HRSA lists six extenuating circumstances, including failure to click submit and internal miscommunication or error.
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CURES Updates to Begin April 11
The California Dept. of Justice is making changes to the CURES database including improved user interface and new system features, and expanded functionality through which delegates will be authorized to access data in CURES. Click here to learn more about delegate eligibility and changes to CURES. Be aware that CURES will be inaccessible from April 8 at 5 pm until April 11 at 8 am, and that beginning April 11 the Internet Explorer web browser will no longer be allowed to access the CURES web application.
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Med Student Scholarship Application Period Now Open
NSMS is pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications to give away four $1,000 scholarships to any medical students who have shown interest (i.e. participated in a related activity or project) in improving public health, the practice of medicine and/or the quality of patient care, and who have ties to Solano or Napa counties. Click here to review the application and eligibility requirements. The deadline to apply is May 15.
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Share Your Prior Authorization Story
Insurance company prior authorization red tape creates serious and dangerous delays in care for many California patients. CMA is currently supporting bills that impact prior authorization requirements and working to introduce new legislation. Share your unique experience to explain to lawmakers how prior authorization policies harm patients.
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Medicare Patients Can Get Up to 8 Free COVID Tests Per Month
As of April 4, each person with Medicare Part B can get up to 8 OTC COVID-19 tests per month. This coverage continues until the PHE ends. Click here to see a list of participating pharmacies. Encourage patients to call the pharmacy to ensure they are a participating location and remind them about the federal program that will ship 2 sets of COVID-19 tests to their home.
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State Launches Campaign to Help Californians Retain Health Coverage
When the COVID-19 continuous coverage requirement expires at the end of the PHE, California will need to conduct a full redetermination for all beneficiaries who use Medi-Cal or CHIP to access health care. DHCS has launched a customizable Medi-Cal Continuous Coverage toolkit and webpage to help trusted entities and individuals act as DHCS Coverage Ambassadors to push communications to Medi-Cal beneficiaries to encourage them to update their contact information with their counties to ensure they receive important information about keeping their Medi-Cal coverage.
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Return of Medicare Sequestration
On April 1, 2022, physicians receive only partial relief from Medicare sequestration as a 1% Medicare sequester goes into effect for the next three months. Then on July 1, there will be a return of the full 2% Medicare sequester. The AMA and other stakeholders sent a letter to Congress asking that sequestration relief be extended through the end of the public health emergency.
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CMS Releases Guidance on Virtual Credit Cards and EFT/ERA Payments
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Last Chance to Register for NSMS' FREE Movie Night
Join us for a free private screening of the premier of "Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore" on Friday, April 15th at 6:30 pm. Start the night with a Harry Potter World quiz with PRIZES and a brief presentation on how to fight a 2022 ballot measure that would decimate MICRA and negatively impact physicians and patients. Tickets will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis; limit 4 tickets per family. A waiting list will be generated once all tickets are claimed. MEDICAL STUDENTS WELCOMED! Register here.
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Bill Aims to Lower Barriers to Entry for Incoming Medical Workforce
Assemblymember Carlos Villapudua (D-Stockton) today announced AB 2132, the California Future Physician Fund, to address California’s shortage of physicians and medical professionals. CMA is sponsoring AB 2132 to establish the California Future Physicians Fund, which would create a pilot program to provide scholarships to students in underserved communities from undergrad through medical school. Click here to read more.
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Student Loan Forgiveness for Frontline Health Workers
Bill S.3828 has been introduced to provide student loan forgiveness to health care workers who are on the frontline response to COVID-19. Unlike CalHealthCares, student loan forgiveness would be awarded to many types of health care workers: physicians, physician assistants, nurses, interns, home health workers, and EMTs. Click here to read more.
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Friday, April 15 | 6:30 pm
Century Vallejo 14, Gateway Plaza Center
Join us for a free private screening of the premier of "Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore", a Harry Potter World quiz with PRIZES, and a brief presentation on how to fight a 2022 ballot measure that would decimate MICRA and negatively impact physicians and patients. Tickets will be reserved on a first-come, first-serve basis; limit 4 tickets per family. A waiting list will be generated once all tickets are claimed.
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Tuesday, April 19 | Held virtually in coherence with CMA’s Legislative Day
CMA’s Legislative Advocacy Event usually hosts more than 400 California physicians, medical students, and CMA Alliance members as they lobby legislative leaders in Sacramento. NSMS will be hosting all meetings virtually in coherence with CMA’s in-person Legislative Day.
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Tuesday, April 19 | 10:00 to 11:00 am
FREE | Online | Presented by AMA
COVID-19 has put extraordinary stress on health care workers. Clinician well-being has never been more important. Join the American Medical Association (AMA) at noon CDT on April 19 to learn about insights from the 2022 national burnout benchmarking report. Highlights will include current trends in burnout, stress, and job satisfaction in addition to other key drivers of burnout that have emerged during the pandemic. The AMA will also share key strategies to address ongoing burnout and how health systems can reset as we emerge from the pandemic.
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Wednesday, April 20 | 8:00 to 9:00 am
FREE | Online | Presented by AMA and ACEP
This interactive session will provide participants with an overview of the innovative ways that telehealth is currently being used in emergency medicine. This event is co-hosted by the American Medical Association and the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), a Telehealth Immersion Program collaborator.
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Thursdays, April 21 and 28 | 9 am to noon
FREE | CME Available | Online
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.
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Friday, April 22 - Sunday April, 24 | St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco
$499 for Non-CAFP Members
The California Academy of Family Physicians (CAFP) is very excited to announce that physicians are coming together again, face-to-face, at our 2022 Family Medicine Clinical Forum, a 2.5-day event in San Francisco that includes over 20 clinical sessions, procedural workshops, a practice management track, community service event, 5k FundRun, Resident poster contest, Jeopardy CME and so much more.
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Tuesday, April 26 | 12:15 to 1:15 pm
Free for members | Hosted by CMA
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many practices implemented telehealth for the first time. Now, physicians and their patients are starting to think about what happens to telehealth if and when the public health emergency comes to an end. With recent developments at the state and federal level bringing the future into focus, join CMA Vice President of Health Information Technology, David Ford, to hear what the future holds in store for telehealth.
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Thursday, May 5
FREE | Hosted by Physicians for a Healthy California
The GME Leadership Summit aims to develop and sustain new GME programs in medically underserved areas and specialties by convening subject matter experts and thought leaders to provide insight and expertise. All GME champions are invited to attend, especially physician workforce development leaders and those looking to start new GME programs, as well as newly designated institutional officials, program directors and program coordinators.
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Leadership Reading and Discussion Group
Wednesday, May 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. Our next group meets on April 6 to talk about “The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life,” by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander.
Email Mae Lum, Deputy Director, at [email protected] to get the Zoom/videoconference link.
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Friday, May 20 | 6:00 to 9:00 pm
Eagle Vines Golf Club, American Canyon
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.
Andrea Clarke, MD | Physician of the Year | Napa
David Danzeisen, MD | Physician of the Year | Solano
Paul Sweigert, MD | Professor Emeritus | Napa
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Please contact NSMS at [email protected] or (707) 255-3622 with any questions or concerns you have.
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