Weekly Roundup: In Case You Missed It
COVID-19 By the Numbers (as of 7/1/20):

Hitting the Pause Button

On June 29, Contra Costa Health Services announced that, due to the recent upward trend in COVID-19 cases, the county's reopening plans will be postponed. Similarly, Alameda County has also paused their reopening plans as COVID-19 case numbers and hospitalization rates have increased in the county. The Alameda County Public Health Department announced that they will be extending the timeline for reopening businesses and activities in the county, until hospitalization and case numbers stabilize.

Guidance from the California Department of Public Health instructs counties that have been on the County Monitoring List for three consecutive days or more to close indoor operations for certain sectors which promote the mixing of populations beyond households and make adherence to physical distancing with face coverings difficult. Within those sectors, those that are not able to continue their business through outdoor operations must close that portion of their business effective immediately for at least three (3) weeks, in order to further mitigate the spread of the virus. In addition, all brewpubs, breweries, bars, and pubs in these counties must close, both indoors and outdoors.
A Sigh of Relief

On Monday, Governor Gavin Newsom signed the final budget package for 2020-2021. ACCMA and CMA advocacy proved successful in a difficult environment, and we were able to secure a number of  key programs . Most notable, all   Proposition 56 revenue will continue to support expanded access for Medi-Cal patients and physician workforce programs as intended by California voters when they approved Prop 56 and will not be diverted to backfill the state’s general fund. A big thank you to all physicians who contacted their legislators about this issue!
Taking It to the Top

ACCMA and four other Bay Area Medical Societies, representing over 10,000 physician members, submitted a joint letter to Governor Newsom drawing attention to the alarming COVID-19 outbreak at San Quentin state prison. The number of infected, which has passed 1,000, has implications for the incarcerated population and the staff at San Quentin, and for the capacity of the local hospitals to which many of these patients have been transferred. The letter calls attention to recommendations and requests made by the County of Marin Board of Supervisors, among others. You can view the joint letter  here .
Protecting Those Who Protect Us

The California Medical Association (CMA) is sponsoring a bill authored by state Senator Richard Pan, M.D., that will protect California’s public health officers. Under current law, the home addresses of members of the legislature, city councils, board of supervisors and other officials are prohibited from appearing in Department of Motor Vehicle records that can be accessed by the public. Dr. Pan’s bill (SB 483) would extend that prohibition to the disclosure of the home addresses of public health officers.
Testing and Medications

Alameda County announced the expansion of free COVID-19 testing at Native American Health Center and La Clínica de la Raza in the Fruitvale district in Oakland. Testing is available to everyone, regardless of symptoms or insurance status, at all community testing sites.

The Department of Health and Human Services recently announced that they have secured large supplies of the drug remdesivir from Gilead Sciences, which will be available for hospitals to purchase.

Suspected overdoses nationally jumped 18 percent in March, 29 percent in April and 42 percent in May, as shown in data from ambulance teams, hospitals and police.

What We're Reading - COVID-19 Resources and Guidance
WEBINARS & EVENTS
FREE | CME Available | Tuesday, July 14 | 12:00 - 1:30 PM
Presented by the California Medical Association
 
COVID-19 is likely to be part of the clinical landscape for the foreseeable future, so the California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHS) and the California Medical Association (CMA), in partnership with the California Academy of PAs (CAPA) and Osteopathic Physicians & Surgeons of California (OPSC), are hosting a monthly and virtual grand rounds series   on the evolution and management of COVID-19 patients.State health leaders  Mark Ghaly, MD ,  Alice Chen, MD , and  Sonia Angell, MD  will discuss part and current state efforts to prepare for COVID-19 surges and data collection methods for surveillance and planning, as well as related impacts to California communities.  Register online .
Guide to Resilience: A Four-Part Series
FREE | Thursday, July 16 | 12:00 - 1:00 PM

A four-part series providing tools and guidance to physicians as they navigate through the biggest crisis we have faced. Information about future sessions coming soon.

To cope with the stress of the present and the future, doctors will need new resilience in the face of suffering, expanded capabilities to pay attention in more complex environments, and greater emotional intelligence in their relationships to care for others while also caring for themselves. This presentation introduces physicians to a positive psychology framework for promoting resiliency, grit, and self-care to ultimately increase their effectiveness and satisfaction at work and at home. Physicians actively pursuing their own resilience may be better equipped to handle the many challenges presented throughout their medical career and less likely to experience burnout, even in the COVID era. View the full program flyer .
FREE | Tuesday, July 28 | 12:15 - 1:15 PM
Presented by the California Medical Association
 
CMA Physician Services has partnered with Aledade, to help  independent primary care physicians  and  health centers  successfully pursue value-based care. Adelade does this by working with independent primary care physicians and health centers to build and lead Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) that allow them to remain independent and thrive financially by keeping people healthy. Through value-based care, practices can diversify their revenue streams while improving patient outcomes. By way of example in the 2019 Medicare Shared Savings performance year, physicians practices that partnered with Aledade are projected to receive an average of $380,237 in shared savings bonuses. In this interactive webinar, CMA Physician Services and Aledade will give and overview of value-based care and Aledade's partner services. Participants will also hear from a physician who has partnered with Aledade and transitioned into value-based care.  Register online .
ACCMA's On-Demand Library

FREE | Available On-Demand
On June 13, the ACCMA hosted its first Virtual Telehealth Vendor Fair. Telehealth vendors from across California and the Nation showcased their products and services so members can evaluate what solutions will work best in their practice. Vendors include Decoded Health, Doctorgram, TigerConnect, Updox, and VSee.

FREE | Available On-Demand | CME Available
This one-hour, on-demand webinar led by Linda Hawes Clever, MD, MACP, offers practical, creative, and effective remedies to deal with the crush on personal and professional lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. It contains strategies, resources, and suggestions for handling physician wellness, as well as addressing questions and answers, as we listen and see the ingenuity, guts, and devotion with which we are addressing the harrowing challenges we all face as a profession, community, and nation. Discover how to reduce personal stress and learn healthy ways to contend with the impact of COVID-19. 

FREE | Available On-Demand | CME Available
Telehealth services are expanding rapidly during the COVID-19 crisis. In partnership with Bay Area medical associations, the ACCMA teamed up with experts to develop a comprehensive webinar series to help physicians swiftly ramp up their telemedicine capabilities, from technology to practice implementation to coding. Experts discuss choosing a telemedicine platform; compliance; privacy and security considerations; billing and payment; policies, procedures, and workflow; informing your patients; and malpractice. Physicians who have experience practicing telemedicine share their practical reflections.

FREE | Available On-Demand
Medical offices and practices are essential businesses and were not required to close, but many physicians have faced difficulties with staffing, incorporating Telemedicine into their practices, ensuring waiting rooms are safe, etc. Sessions include "Getting Back Up and Running Safely," "HR and Employment Issues," and "Telemedicine and Reimbursement."
CMA On-Demand Library
FREE | Available On-Demand
QUESTIONS/CONCERNS?
Please contact ACCMA at 510-654-5383 or   [email protected]   with any questions or concerns you have.
 
This information will also be posted online at www.accma.org/COVID-19 and will be updated frequently. Please check the ACCMA website regularly for updates.