June 17, 2022

U.S. House Fast Tracks Reckless Scope of Practice Legislation



The Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act (HR 6087) was rushed to the floor of the House of Representatives and passed unanimously. The bill now moves to the Senate. If passed, this bill would allow nurse practitioners and physician assistants to diagnose, prescribe, treat, and certify an injury and extent of disability for purposes of compensating federal workers under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act. Not only does H.R. 6087 threaten patients’ health and safety, but its dangerous approach has also been shown to lead to increased health care costs while doing little to expand access, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Tell congress to vote no on HR 6087 to prevent this reckless legislation from passing. 

FDA Authorizes First COVID-19 Vaccine for Youngest Children



Yesterday, The FDA authorized the first COVID-19 vaccines for young children. Vaccinations for this age group are likely to begin next week, as CDC advisers finalize the recommendation plan throughout the weekend. Moderna’s vaccine is for children 6 months to 5 years and Pfizer’s is for children 6 months to 4 years. 

With this news, we remind you that KidsVaxGrant has extended its application deadline 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.

Bipartisan Agreement Reached in U.S. Senate on Gun Reforms



While the bipartisan agreement coming out of the Senate falls short of the wide-ranging reforms passed last week by the House of Representatives, CMA is encouraged that there has been progress toward ending the decades long impasse over passing federal gun reform legislation. Although the Protecting Our Kids Act (HR 7910) is unlikely to pass the Senate amid widespread GOP opposition to stricter gun laws, the Senate compromise would include: red flag provisions, funding for school safety resources, enhances review process for buyers under age 21, and closing the “boyfriend loophole”. Click here to read more and see what would not be included in the Senate compromise. 

CMS Approves Expanding Medicaid and CHIP for Postpartum Period

On May 25, CMS approved actions in California, Florida, Kentucky and Oregon to expand Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program coverage to 12 months postpartum. The AMA applauds these states for prioritizing maternal health and is hopeful that others follow suit. This extension provides over 120,000 more families with guaranteed coverage as they navigate this critical postpartum period. Insurance coverage disruptions are one of many factors that contribute to high rates of maternal mortality among the Medicaid-eligible population. This action addresses the coverage gaps women from minoritized and marginalized communities face and the subsequent disparity in the maternal mortality rate.

CDI Tells Insurance Companies to Stop Unlawful STI Screening Limits

The California Department of Insurance (CDI) is warning health insurers that refusing to cover necessary treatments and limiting coverage or STI screening to one year is unlawful. At a time when the CDC reports an alarming increase in STIs nationwide, the CDI is finding that several insurers are creating many unnecessary and unlawful obstacles in obtaining treatment for STIs. The Affordable Care Act and California law both prohibit limiting STI screenings of persons who are at increased risk of infection. 

California Physicians Advancements and Awards from AMA Annual Meeting

 

CMA congratulates several California physicians for their achievements announced at the AMA annual meeting: 

• Jack Resneck Jr., MD, a dermatologist and health policy expert from San Francisco, was inaugurated as the next president of the AMA 
• Two CMA physicians were elected to the AMA Board of Trustees – Toluwalase Ajayi, MD of San Diego and Alex Ding, MD of San Mateo County 
• AMA awarded two California physicians with Excellence in Medicine awards for their service and leadership – Lonnie Bristow, MD of San Pablo and Jerry Abraham, MD of Los Angeles 

Submit Nominations for 2022 PHC Leadership Awards

Physicians for a Healthy California and the Network of Ethnic Physician Organizations (NEPO) are seeking nominations of extraordinary individuals and organizations for the 2022 Leadership Awards, which celebrate the efforts of those who make a difference in the health of Californians. These awards will be presented virtually during the 19th Annual NEPO Summit on Thursday, October 6, 2022. Nominations are due on July 18, 2022.

Accelerating Behavioral Health Integration Through Telehealth

Tuesday, June 21 | 8:00 to 9:30 am 

Hosted by AMA | FREE 

Participants will learn about the opportunities and challenges of incorporating technology to advance more coordinated and equitable behavioral health care, as well as practical solutions stakeholders across the health care ecosystem can pursue to advance digitally enabled BHI. The session will feature experts from Penn Medicine and the Department of Veteran Affairs, who will discuss their BHI models, how digital tools have been incorporated, and the comprehensive value it has generated. 

Register here.

Parenting as a Physician: It Takes a Lot of Patience 

Tuesday, June 21 | 10:00 to 11:45 am 

Hosted by AMA | FREE 

Finding work-life balance during the COVID-19 pandemic has required parents to constantly recalibrate, shifting the demands of parenting to meet the needs of their employers. Burnout rates remain particularly high among physicians, and those who also take on the responsibilities of caring for their children face a unique set of challenges. This panel discussion webinar at noon on June 21 features multiple physician parents and will provide tips on how to set limits, balancing family life as a physician, simply finding the time, and best practices for managing family activities. 

Register here.

Best Practices in Implementing Peer Recovery Support Services in Hospital Settings 

Wednesday, June 22 | 10:00 to 11:30 am | FREE 

Hosted by the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant and Substance Abuse Program (COSSAP) 

Peer recovery support services (PRSS) are increasingly offered across diverse community, criminal justice, and health care settings to address opioid, stimulant, and other substance use disorders. The power and potential of PRSS come from the unique roles that peers play, promoting both hope and pragmatic steps for change. With a goal of strengthening programmatic outcomes and advocating for greater programmatic implementation, BJA's COSSAP has begun focusing on the evaluation of peer programs. This session will explore the implementation of peer support within two hospital settings from both an individual hospital and hospital network perspective. 

Register here.

Foundations of Racism in Medicine

Wednesday, June 29 | 4:00 to 5:30 pm 

Hosted by the American Medical Association | CME Available 

Dr. Emily Cleveland Manchanda, the Director for Social Justice Education and Implementation at the AMA, will give a 60-minute didactic presentation followed by 30-minutes for Q&A. The presentation will include descriptions of basic terminology around race and racism; manifestations of racism in medicine at interpersonal, institutional, and systemic levels; and recommendations for additional reading and learning for physicians to continue their health equity education. 

Register 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. 

Virtual Grand Rounds 

Tuesday, July 12 | 12:00 to 1:00 pm 

Hosted by CMA 

Learn from experts about the status of COVID-19 and monkeypox in California. CMA will be welcoming back state epidemiologist Erica Pan, MD who will share the latest updates about COVID-19, including information about vaccinations, epidemiology and patient care. 

Infectious disease expert Peter Chin-Hong, MD from UCSF will discuss the emergence of monkeypox as a global phenomenon, as well as the epidemiology, signs and symptoms of this disease. 

Register here. 

Making MAT Happen In-Person Workshop 

Oakland | Friday, July 15 | 9:00 am to 3:30 pm 

Hosted by CA Bridge 

CA Bridge is excited to return to in-person training events! We are hosting a series of regional workshops to review the basics of the CA Bridge model for initiating medication for addiction treatment (MAT) in emergency departments and navigating patients to ongoing care. These workshops are tailored to hospitals that are new to the program, had delays in getting started, or have run into challenges along the way. 

Register here.