Weekly Roundup: In Case You Missed It | |
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ACCMA Endorses Proposition 1 to Protect Abortion, Contraception Rights in CA
ACCMA has joined CMA and several other health advocacy organizations in supporting Proposition 1, a ballot measure seeking to enshrine an individual's right to have an abortion, or to use or refuse contraception, in the California Constitution. ACCMA believes medical decisions—including those around abortion or contraception—should be decided by patients in consultation with their health care provider. To learn how to support this initiative or to view a fact sheet directly from the Yes on 1 campaign, click here for more information.
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California’s Big Move on Data Exchange
The Data Exchange Framework, abbreviated “DxF”, will require all actors in the health care system – physicians, hospitals, health plans, skilled nursing facilities, etc. – to make patient data available to all other actors within the bounds of federal and state privacy laws. Once all actors have signed the Single Data Sharing Agreement, practices and others will be contractually obligated to share data across the health care system. The date by which practices must comply with this requirement depends on the size of the practice. Now that the Framework has been published, the timeline for implementation is going to move quickly. It will be important for practices to familiarize themselves with the requirements of the Framework and begin their preparations as soon as possible. Please find the full article from CMA here or access their fact sheet.
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Monkeypox Upcoming Informational Webinars
ACCMA has partnered with Alameda County, Division of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, and Contra Costa Health Services to host a 1-hour webinar on Tuesday, August 23 highlighting the nature of monkeypox, clinical manifestations, viral transmission, vaccinations and treatment, and more. This event is free to all. Please register here.
If you can’t make it, a recording will be available after the event. You can also attend another monkeypox webinar hosted by the Pacific AIDS Education & Training Center on September 9. Find more information in our events section below.
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Updates to COVID-19 Treatment and Prevention Guidelines
Please view the full health advisory from Alameda County Public Health for more information or visit NIH’s ‘What’s New in the Guidelines' webpage. Below are some of the most recent revisions:
- Evusheld: give as PREP to immunocompromised patients, consider consultation with an allergist for those with history of severe reaction to COVID-19 vaccine, FDA authorized repeat dosing every 6 mos. if patients need ongoing protection
- Remdesivir: fully approved for treatment of adults and children for in- and outpatients
- Paxlovid: Limited prescribing by pharmacists now allowed under EUA
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Media Training for Physicians: Express Your Interest
Are you interested in adding your voice in support of Prop. 1 to protect abortion rights in California and/or Prop. 31 to stop the sale of flavored tobacco products? The campaigns in support of the measures are looking for physician volunteers to serve as spokespeople and will be conducting a series of trainings in the coming weeks all over the state (and remotely) where physician volunteers will get message training for media interviews, author op-eds and participate in press conferences and other media events. To sign up, please email svelayas@cmadocs.org and include your name, title, phone number, email address, and which proposition/training you would like to participate in.
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ACCMA Nominations for 2022-23
The nominees listed in the nominations report have agreed to serve in positions on the ACCMA Council and District IX Delegation that are up for election this year. The ACCMA Bylaws also provide that any Active ACCMA member may submit additional nominees, which would then trigger a contested election between that additional nominee and the person nominated. Please note that we have several vacant positions as well. To make an additional nomination, please email the ACCMA at accma@accma.org by September 15, 2022.
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U.S. to Shift COVID-19 Vaccine and Treatment Costs to Insurers, Patients
HHS will be meeting with drugmakers, pharmacies, and other stakeholders on August 30 to map out how insurance coverage and reimbursements would cover the costs of COVID-19 vaccines, tests, and treatments. As COVID-19 cases drop, the Biden Administration shifts this burden onto insurance and patients. Additional news indicates that HHS is likely to extend the PHE into January 2023, ensuring expanded Medicaid coverage, telehealth services, and boosted payments to hospitals.
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Inflation Reduction Act Fails to Address Medicare Payment Reform
The Inflation Reduction Act takes action on climate change, extends premium tax credits for Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace insurance plans and takes steps to slow the growth of drug prices. Unfortunately, it does nothing to address Medicare physician payment reform or to halt payment cuts set to take effect next year. Read the full article from AMA here and see how payment rates for hospitals, nursing homes, etc. are adjusted for inflation but physician payments are not.
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CYBHI Monthly Webinar
On August 29 at 3 p.m., DHCS will virtually host a webinar to keep stakeholders apprised of DHCS’ progress in implementing various work streams of the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI). Key attendees include, but are not limited to, youth, parents, family members, behavioral health providers, Medi-Cal MCPs, county behavioral health departments, and commercial health plans, as well as education and other cross-sector partners. Advance registration is required.
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Advancing Physician Wellness at Your Organization
At its next convening, on Tuesday, September 13 at 6 pm, guest speaker Gaurava Agarwal, MD, CWO at Northwestern Medicine, and Paul DeChant, MD, the program director of the Bay Area Physician Wellness Collaborative, will discuss the variety of forms that a wellness leader role can take depending on the size, nature, and resources of the physician organization. The Bay Area Physician Wellness Collaborative is a roundtable of 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. Click here to indicate your interest in joining the collaborative; participation is by invitation only.
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Give Feedback to Improve Behavioral Health Services for Alameda County Residents
Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services requests your feedback as part of a Strategic Planning Initiative to develop a long-term plan to better serve the needs of the community. As a physician, your perspective is valuable in improving services for underserved and underrepresented communities in Alameda County. Click here to complete the 11-question survey by August 26.
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Children Under Stress: Preventing ACEs and Supporting Childhood Well-being
Tuesday, August 23 | 11:00 to 12:00 pm
Hosted by the National Institute for Health Care Management
The number of families experiencing hardships, including unemployment, food insecurity, and housing instability, rose during the pandemic, with a disproportionate impact on Latino and Black communities. Compounding these stressors are the ACEs that most children experience at least once in their lifetime. This webinar will explore actionable strategies to prevent ACEs and programs to support children and break the cycle of adversity. Speakers will discuss the CDC’s investments in implementing ACEs prevention strategies and opportunities for cross-sector involvement; evidence-based actions that can create safe, equitable, and engaging learning environments, including trauma-sensitive schools; and establishing community programs and partnerships to build social and emotional learning and skills.
Register here.
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The Top HR Issues Impacting Medical Practices...and How to Handle Them
Wednesday, August 24 | 12:00 to 1:00 pm
Hosted by the Cooperative of American Physicians (CAP)
Whether you manage a team of one or 100, implementing structured human resources policies and procedures can improve staff efficiency and help you avoid employment-related lawsuits. CAP's SVP of Human Resources and Operations, Nancy Brusegaard Johnson, will address how to hire great staff, effectively manage HR issues, stay current on employment regulations, and much more.
Register here.
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Therapeutics Webinar Series for Providers
Monday, August 29 | 12:00 to 1:00 pm
Hosted by CDPH
This bi-weekly webinar series features CDPH subject matter experts who will provide updates, resources, and answers to providers’ questions. The webinar series will continue through at least the end of the year.
Register for the whole series here.
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Leadership Reading and Discussion Group
Wednesday, September 7 | 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 September 7 is “An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became Big Business and How You Can Take It Back” by Elisabeth Rosenthal, MD. This book describes how the flawed system of health insurance and delivery has failed patients in the US, and proposes solutions for far-reaching reform.
Register here.
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Monkeypox Management: A Patient-Centered Approach
Friday, September 9 | 12:00 to 1:00 pm
Hosted by the Pacific AIDS Education & Training Center
Join speakers from San Francisco Department of Public Health and Lifelong Medical Care for this virtual webinar addressing the local epidemiology and clinical manifestations of monkeypox, approaches to evaluating and discussing monkeypox with patients, and barriers to health-seeking behaviors using patient-centered techniques. Access the flyer and distribute it with your networks.
Register here.
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Bay Area Physician Wellness Collaborative
Tuesday, September 13 | 6:00 to 8:00 pm
FREE | CME Available | Online
The Bay Area Physician Wellness Collaborative aims to bring together medical group leaders, chief wellness officers, wellness committee chairs, and others who have been charged with “fixing the physician burnout problem” from across the East Bay. Participants will:
- Receive a highly structured road map to make substantive changes over a three-year period that can fundamentally change the practice environment in your organization
- Learn from wellness experts who will provide curated information and implementation tools that they can bring back to their organizations
- Become part of an online community to share information and experiences
- Create a network of peers to support each other in this work
The guest speaker for the September 13 session is Gaurava Agarwal, MD, CWO at Northwestern Medicine and a leader in CWO development nationwide. This collaborative is by invitation only; please click here to indicate your interest in joining the collaborative.
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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.
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ACCMA 2022 Annual Meeting
Friday, November 4 | 6:00 pm
The Claremont Hotel, Berkeley
Join us back in person for the 154th ACCMA Annual Meeting this November! Enjoy a lively reception, formal dinner, and presentation featuring our 2023 ACCMA President, Edmon Soliman, MD, and a very special guest speaker. Keena Turner, Legendary #58 and 4-time super bowl champion for the SF 49ers, will join us to discuss sportsmanship, teamwork, the championship mindset, and what it took to win and sustain dominance during his eleven-year professional football career. Now, Vice President and Senior Advisor to the General Manager, Keena will highlight his "Team of the Decade", the future of today's Niners, and successful leadership tools and qualities.
Reserve your spot here.
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Please contact ACCMA at 510-654-5383 or accma@accma.org with any questions or concerns you have.
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