Weekly Roundup: In Case You Missed It |
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COVID-19 Updates
Pfizer announced on Monday that its COVID vaccine is safe and effective in low doses in children ages 5 and 11. The FDA has yet to authorize its use for the 28 million children in this age group in the US.
In a clinical trial, researchers found that a second dose of the J&J vaccine substantially increases its protection against COVID-19, the company announced on Tuesday. The efficacy of two shots against mild to severe COVID goes up to 94 percent from 74 percent with a single shot.
On Friday morning the CDC director endorsed booster shots of the Pfizer COVID vaccine for health care workers, teachers, and other frontline workers. The FDA had authorized boosters earlier in the week for people over 65 who received their second shot at least six months earlier, those who are at risk of serious complications because of exposure to the virus at their jobs, and those who are at high risk of severe COVID.
Solano County reported on Wednesday that 77% of residents 16 years and older have received at least one COVID vaccine dose, and 65% are fully vaccinated.
Napa County reported on Tuesday that 88% of residents 16 years and older have received at least one COVID vaccine dose, and 85% are fully vaccinated.
Solano County reports that, as of September 23, it has given more than 521,000 vaccinations (first and second doses). As of September 23, ICU capacity in the county is at 10% with 24 confirmed COVID patients hospitalized.
Napa County reports that as of September 23, more than 195,000 vaccine doses have been administered by the county. As of September 23, ICU capacity was 13% with 5 COVID patients in ICU.
Apply for CalVaxGrant by October 15
Under CalVaxGrant, a new state program to increase COVID‑19 vaccination rates, physicians and medical practices can apply to receive up to $55,000 in reimbursement for related expenses incurred since November 2020 and through November 2021. Qualifying expenses include staffing and training (most common expenses), technology, infrastructure, supplies and equipment, and administrative overhead. Apply before October 15 at calvaxgrant.org.
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Report on California’s Physician Workforce Trends
California has one of the lowest primary care physician-to-patient ratios in the nation – 31 of 58 counties lack enough primary care providers to meet national standards. That’s one of the findings in a report developed by Physicians for Healthy California on key trends in physician counts, geographic, demographic, and specialty distribution of active patient care physicians, residents, and medical students. To access this resource, click here. |
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HHS Releases Plan to Lower Prescription Drug Prices
On September 9, 2021, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra released a comprehensive plan to lower drug prices. The report released by HHS is guided by the Biden Administration’s principles for equitable drug pricing reform through competition, innovation, and transparency. One of the key policies in this effort is legislation that would allow HHS to negotiate Medicare Part B and Part D drug prices directly with pharmaceutical companies and make those prices available to other purchasers, an approach that is projected to generate reductions in patient cost-sharing and large savings for patients, government, and commercial payers. |
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Sharp Decreases in Opioid Prescribing, Increases in Drug-Related OD & Death
Over the past decade, there has been a 44.4% decrease in opioid prescribing nationwide, according to a new report from the AMA. At the same time, the country is facing a worsening drug-related epidemic of overdose and death. To address this continuing epidemic, AMA is urging policymakers to join physicians to reduce mortality and improve patient outcomes by removing barriers to evidence-based care, specifically:
- Stop prior authorization for medications to treat opioid use disorder.
- Ensure access to affordable, evidence-based care for patients with pain, including opioid therapy when indicated.
- Take action to better support harm reduction services such as naloxone and needle and syringe exchange services.
- Improve the data by collecting adequate, standardized data to identify and treat at-risk populations and better understand the issues facing communities.
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CMA Publishes Guide for Patients Impacted by Wildfires
Under a law enacted in 2018, health plans and insurers are required to act quickly to ensure patients in areas affected by wildfires and other disasters have continued access to care. The California Medical Association has published a guide to help patients navigate these services. This guide includes phone numbers to call if patients are experiencing difficulty refilling prescriptions, replacing medical supplies or obtaining access to care, as well as links with more information about other services each payor is offering. Download the guide here. |
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Available on demand
Member $29.00 | Non-member $79.00
Now available! Current and new staff can receive on-demand training on HIPAA, OSHA, and customer service. Intended for all staff encountering patients in person or by telephone, this course covers customer service techniques, the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). For questions, contact Jenn Mullins, Education and Event Associate, at jmullins@accma.org.
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Tuesdays through December 14
Free to attend | CME Available | Presented by CMA
The California Medical Association's (CMA) wellness program (CMA Wellness) is pleased to launch free, online wellness engagement groups for health care providers who conduct patient screenings for adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Treating patients with multiple ACEs or toxic stress can potentially impact your personal wellness and increase feelings of burnout. CMA Wellness's engagement groups will support providers by offering subject matter experts, best practices, and an open forum to share experiences, facilitated by trained, volunteer physicians. Each monthly webinar is organized around a prevailing theme with a stakeholder co-host to provide a variety of perspectives with a general discussion and breakout rooms. Registration is required, and providers will be joining the Tuesday series for a 6‑month duration.
For more information and to register, click here.
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September 21 – January 18
CME Available
Registration is now open for the 2021–2022 Physician Leadership Program, from the Alameda-Contra Costa Medical Association (ACCMA), is an innovative program developed in 2016 by physician leaders in collaboration with faculty from the UC Berkeley School of Public Health and Haas School of Business. Participants will enhance their leadership effectiveness, learn from nationally recognized experts, expand their network with local colleagues, and will gain practical skills and insights directly applicable to their practice opportunities and challenges. Participants can earn a Certificate of Completion and up to 24 hours of CME credit.
Discounts for medical society members and groups are available! Find out more and register here.
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Wednesday, September 29 | noon – 1:00 PM
FREE | Presented by ACEs Aware
Learn how the how-to guide can help your clinic in its ACE screenings; how practices have implemented ACE screening for pediatrics and women’s health; and about actionable ideas for clinical teams to implement ACE screening.
Speakers include Heyman Oo, MD, MPH; Jodi Chroman; Rachel Steward, MD, MSc, FACOG; Mikah Owen, MD, MPH, FAAP; Dayna Long, MD, FAAP; and Tanya Schwartz, MSW, MPP.
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Thursday, September 30 | 12:15 – 1:15 PM
FREE for members & members’ staff | Presented by CMA
Presenters will provide information on COVID-19 compliance obligations for California physician employers, COVID-19 testing/vaccination issues, and best practices in response to the recent vaccination orders for health care workers issued by the California Department of Public Health. This webinar will be structured as a question-and-answer discussion between Joey Cachuela, California Medical Association legal counsel, and Oscar Rivas, the principal of Rivas Law, APC. Members’ staff: To receive a promo code for free registration, email Becky Paplanus at events@cmadocs.org with your physician’s California medical license number.
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Friday, October 8 | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Discounts for Members; Free for Medical Resident and Student Members | Presented by CMA
The NEPO Summit is known for bringing together some of the most diverse voices in medicine and providing an opportunity to discuss critical topics in health care through the lens of multiculturalism and health equity. This year’s online event will be divided into morning and afternoon sessions. In the morning session, experts will discuss how an awareness of Cultural and Linguistic Competency (CLC) and Implicit Bias (IB) can benefit physicians and patients alike. The afternoon session will focus on issues of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), health outcome disparities in the Asian American and Pacific Islander American communities, and physician wellness.
Learn more and register here.
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Friday, October 15 | 6:00 to 7:00 PM
Online | Free to NSMS members, $50 for non-members
Celebrate your physician colleagues, win raffle prizes, and learn how to make a classy cocktail from an experienced bartender. Register for this year’s virtual gala by Oct. 1 and receive a FREE delivery of cocktail ingredients to your front door so that you can join us in making a drink live during the event. The theme of the drink will be “The Doctor is Gin.” Raffle prizes include hot air balloon rides, signed SF Giants memorabilia, bike rentals, wine, and more!
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Register now and the on-demand program will be provided to you on date of release
On demand | Available Friday, October 15
FREE | CME Available
Review some of the most critical privacy and security standards in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Rules. In this one-hour webinar with expert HIPAA and practice management consultant David Ginsberg, you will receive important updates on who is covered, what information is protected, how you can stay secure in the Information Age, and how to avoid costly mistakes, as well as learning what is new for compliance. For questions, contact Jenn Mullins, Education and Event Associate, at jmullins@accma.org.
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Thursday, October 21 | noon – 1:30 PM
$50 or $75 for 2–3 physicians from same hospital/group | CME Available | Presented by CPPPH/CSAM
This webinar will focus on what medical staff/medical group policy makers need to know about physicians’ use of drugs that are no longer “illegal,” for example, cannabis products and psychoactive agents that are being used therapeutically.
Speakers: Greg Skipper, MD; John G. Rosenberg, MD, MPH; and David M. Balfour, MD
Register here by October 19.
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Thursday, October 21 | 6:15 – 7:30 PM
FREE | CME Available
In this webinar, we will start with the core — you — and then expand. You will have time to think about your attitudes, the way you treat yourself and others, how you spend your time, your purpose, and resilience. The speaker is Linda Clever, MD, of RENEW. For questions, contact Jenn Mullins, Education and Event Associate, at jmullins@accma.org. |
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