March 3, 2023

What the End of the PHE Means for Physicians

After three years of pandemic operations, both the State of California and the federal government are winding down the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). CMA has published a guide – End of the COVID-19 Emergency: What Physicians Need to Know – to help physicians navigate the end of the state’s emergency authority.  

Additionally, as the PHE comes to an end, Medi-Cal providers who were temporarily and provisionally enrolled as Medi-Cal providers who wish to remain enrolled after March 29 must submit a complete application for their provider type and meet all program requirements. Read more here. 

Help Us Advocate for You



Prior authorization: Help us ensure California policy puts patients first. Tell us about your frustrations with prior authorizations and administrative burden. 

Medi-Cal: How has your experience been with the Medi-Cal system? Whether good or bad, we want to hear how Medi-Cal impacts you and your patients. 

COVID-19 Treatment and Updates



Effective immediately, DHCS will no longer require prior authorization for the reimbursement of Remdesivir (Veklury) as a pharmacy benefit. Have additional questions on treatment? This FAQ document addresses your questions regarding prescribing treatments for COVID, Paxlovid, home rapid tests, and more. You may also call the COVID-19 Provider Warmline at 1-866-268-4322 (866-COVID-CA) for free and confidential consultation on COVID testing and treatment.

Data Exchange Framework Webinar

On January 31, CHHS launched the California Data Exchange Framework (DxF). Over the next three years, this framework will require all physician practices in this state to exchange data with other practices, health plans, hospitals and others. Watch this on demand webinar (the first of a webinar series) from CMA and CHHS to receive a general overview of data exchange – what it is, how it works and what resources exist to help practices along the way. 

Anthem’s Denial of Claims for Emergency Services



CMA has submitted a formal complaint with the California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) regarding Anthem Blue Cross’ ongoing pattern of denying payment for emergency department services in violation of California law. “Anthem cannot be allowed to profit from unpaid emergency services provided to its enrollees. DMHC must take swift action to ensure that Anthem complies with California laws designed to protect health care consumers and providers” wrote CMA CEO Dustin Corcoran.  

Tobacco Cessation Resources for Physicians

Physicians for a Healthy California has partnered with CA Quits to provide you with free tobacco cessation resources and learning opportunities. 1) For your patients: Refer patients to Kick It CA, which offers free counseling to stop using tobacco, including vaping products. Start here. 2) For your learning: Watch eight brief 15-30 minute videos about tobacco treatment by UC faculty (claim up to 3.0 CME credits). 3) For your quality improvement efforts: Implement components of the CA Quits Healthcare Systems Toolkit in your clinic.

Complete a Survey: CoCo’s Emergency Ambulance Service



Contra Costa Health (CCH) seeks public participation in a survey to help gather opinions and experience related to emergency ambulance service in the county. Data collected will help CCH evaluate the current state of Contra Costa’s emergency medical services in advance of writing and issuing a request for proposals for a new emergency ambulance services contract in a large section of the county. The survey only takes a few minutes and does not ask for names or other personal identifiers. 

Case of the Month: Court Explains ‘Implied Malice’ in Upholding Physician’s Murder Convictions

Explore how a physician’s role in the deaths of several patients she treated with anxiety and pain management medications led to her murder conviction. Read more in the following Case of the Month, published by the Cooperative of American Physicians (CAP). Interested in reading more case studies? Request your free copy of From Exam Room to Courtroom, a publication featuring ten real-life case studies of physicians who have been involved in medical malpractice legal disputes, summarized by CAP’s former General Counsel, Gordon Ownby. 

Natural History and Pathophysiology of COVID-19

Wednesday, March 8 | 12:00 to 1:00 pm 

Hosted by ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) 

The COVID-19 Test to Treat Equity ECHO assists clinics and community-based sites in implementation of their own Test to Treat programs. This series occurs the 2nd Wednesday of each month with presentations by expert faculty and a moderated Q&A panel discussion.  

Register here. 

AMA Recovery Plan: Addressing Physician Burnout

Thursday, March 9 | 9:00 am 

Join AMA President Jack Resneck, Jr., MD, the U.S. Surgeon General, Vice Admiral Vivek H. Murthy, MD, MBA, and a panel of physician wellness experts: Anjalee Galion, MD; Nigel Girgrah, MD; and Christine Sinsky, MD, as they discuss the symptoms and drivers of physician burnout and examine solutions to address this crisis. Speakers will share their experiences, analyze the latest research and its implications for our nation’s health, and discuss the system-level changes necessary to reduce burnout and restore physician wellness.  

Register here. 

Virtual Grand Rounds: The Changing Landscape of Reproductive Health 

Tuesday, March 14 | 12:00 to 1:00 pm 

Hosted by CMA 

This webinar will review the current legal landscape of reproductiv healthcare, as well as considerations for health care providers and medical staff as they attempt to navigate this rapidly evolving post-Roe legal landscape. An overview of restrictive state laws' impact on medical education and women's health will also be provided. 

Register here. 

The Medical Society Consortium on Climate & Health’s Annual Meeting 

Sunday, March 19 and Monday, March 20 

Virtual or in-person 

Join leaders in climate policy and health equity as they provide their perspectives on the opportunities ahead. This year’s Annual Meeting theme is Seize the Moment for Climate Action: Building the Climate and Health Movement. The historic passage of the Inflation Reduction Act and other recent regional, state, and local climate policy present important new opportunities, but also new challenges, to achieving the goals of their Policy Action Agenda. We need to ensure every medical professional who is willing is empowered and prepared to advocate on the local, state, and federal levels to ensure that these dollars are best spent on climate, health, and equity. 

Register here. 

Leadership Reading and Discussion Group 

Wednesday, April 5 | 6:00 to 7:30 pm 

Join Dr. Hilary Worthen, Program Director of the Physician Leadership Program, and fellow physicians for a rich discussion on creating psychological safety in the workplace. Reading the book of the month is not required to join the discussion, however you can access the book to read on your downtime or download the free audiobook (with the 3-month Audible trial) here.  

RSVP here. 

49th Annual CMA Legislative Day 

Wednesday, April 19  

Join us for an all-day event in Sacramento to lobby legislators on priority health care issues. Members who join us will be provided an agenda that highlights all legislative meetings and talking points, so this is a great opportunity for first-timers to experience the legislative process in action.  

Click here to RSVP. 

Health IT: Powering Value-Based Care 

Monday, May 22 | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm 

Sacramento, CA | Free for CMA members 

Save the date for CMA’s first annual healt IT conference. The conference will bring together thought leaders from across California and the nation to explore the intersection of technology and payment reform. CMA expects a diverse set of attendees that will include physicians, medical groups and IPAs, health plans, health information organizations (HIOs) and others who will take the learnings from this conference to change how care is delivered in this state. 

Register here.