Weekly Roundup: In Case You Missed It |
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COVID-19 Updates
Click here to read the latest COVID vaccinations update sent out by the ACCMA.
Alameda County received an additional 4,875 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and 14,800 doses of the Moderna vaccine last week, and more are expected to arrive by the end of this week.
Contra Costa Health Services received 13,800 doses of the Moderna vaccine last week, and additional Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are expected to arrive by the end of this week.
The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices updated their recommendations for COVID-19 vaccine allocation last week. Adults 75 years and older and those who are 65 to 74 with health conditions are now being considered for inclusion in the roughly 15 million people next up for shots after health care workers and long-term care facility residents.
Governor Newsom announced on Monday that the second group may also include educators, child care workers, and workers in emergency services, food distribution and farming, and these vaccinations could begin as early as February.
Governor Newsom warned that the Limited Stay at Home Order for Alameda and Contra Costa counties may be extended beyond January 8. As of December 30, the Bay Area had 7.5% remaining ICU capacity. Statewide ICU capacity stayed at 0%.
Physicians are encouraged to post photos of their vaccinations with the hashtag #ThisIsOurShot on Twitter or Instagram.
CMA's COVID-19 Vaccine Resource Center can be accessed here.
The ACCMA and the California Medical Association (CMA) are continuing to provide PPE directly to medical practices in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. A two-month supply of N95 masks, surgical masks, isolation gowns, face shields, vinyl gloves, goggles, coveralls, and hand sanitizers may be ordered (click here for specs). PPE order forms are reviewed and if approved, will be shipped directly to medical offices. Only shipping and handling fees are charged for each individual case shipped. For groups with multiple offices, a separate form must be completed for each location. Please contact the ACCMA at accma@accma.org or (510) 654-5383 for more information.
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Federal COVID-19 Relief Package Becomes Law
On December 21, Congress adopted a massive $1.4 trillion omnibus spending package and a $900 billion COVID-19 relief package. On Sunday, President Trump signed the spending and COVID-19 relief package into law. The legislation includes:
- $3 billion in additional funding to the COVID Provider Relief Fund
- $284 billion to the Paycheck Protection Program for physician employers, which allows physicians to deduct expenses associated with these loans
- Changes to the Medicare physician fee schedule that mitigated the proposed cuts for almost every physician specialty and provided an additional 2% payment increase
- 1,000 new graduate medical education residency training programs
- A surprise medical billing agreement that will finally protect patients from surprise bills while ensuring a more balanced process for insurers and physicians to resolve disputes
To view the CMA’s highlights of the bill, please click here. To read a more detailed summary from the American Medical Association, please click here.
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MBC Extends Licensing Waivers
The Medical Board of California has further extended temporary licensing waivers for retired/inactive licensees, lengthening the deadline for medical residents to obtain a postgraduate training license (PTL) and for deferral of continuing medical education requirements for physicians seeking license renewal.
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December 31 Deadline for Some MIPS Reporting
Physicians who are participating in the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) should take note of the December 31 deadline for the following:
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2021 Virtual Group Election period closes. Solo practitioners and groups with 10 or fewer clinicians (including at least one MIPS eligible clinician) who want to participate in MIPS as a virtual group for the 2021 performance year must submit their election to CMS by this date.
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New CMA Publications
CMA has also published frequently asked questions (FAQ) about Cal/OSHA emergency temporary standards on COVID-19 infection prevention and their applicability to physician practices. Click here to download the FAQ.
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On-Demand Webinar Available Thursday, January 7
Members: FREE | Non-members: $49
Don’t miss your opportunity to make the most of the ever-changing healthcare reimbursement landscape! First you must understand the challenges you may be facing. Learn the important changes in Medicare for 2021 and how they may affect your practice reimbursement for the coming year(s). Changes are sometimes subtle, but they can have a lasting effect on your practice.
Presenter Mary Jean Sage will discuss:
- Overall Payment Update
- Medicare Telehealth Services
- E & M Services: 2021 & beyond
- Coding and documentation
- Payment
- Advanced Diagnostic Imaging: Latest update
- MIPS 2021 – What you need to report
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Register by Friday, January 8 | Access Available Through February 22
FREE | Presented by VitalTalk and the Stupski Foundation
Thanks to generous support from the Stupski Foundation, Bay Area clinicians have complimentary access to the VitalTalk Mobile Advance Care Planning course this winter. The online mobile-friendly course is offered by VitalTalk, a national leader in serious illness communication training. The course takes 30-60 min to complete and uses a COVID clinical scenario to illustrate a core skill set that every physician who cares for seriously ill patients should master. Questions may be sent to: Wendy.Anderson@ucsf.edu.
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Tuesday, January 12 | 12:15 - 1:15 PM
FREE | Presented by CMA
With modifications to the outpatient evaluation and management (E&M) coding guidelines set to take effect on January 1, 2021, physician practices should be ready for the most impactful overhaul of E&M codes in more than 25 years. In this webinar, Mary Jean Sage of the Sage Associates discusses the upcoming changes in E&M coding and other coding changes set to take effect in the new year.
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Thursday, January 14 | 12:15 - 1:15 PM
FREE | Presented by CMA
This installment of CMA's Telehealth Webinar Series for Small and Medium Sized Practices will focus on the future of pandemic-era telehealth laws and waivers. The webinar will also cover California's new telehealth parity law, AB 744, set to take effect on January 1, 2021, and and other new telehealth legislation in 2021.
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Thursday, January 21 | 6:00 - 7:00 PM
Members and Non-members: FREE
Interested in setting yourself up for financial success in the New Year? Join Gayatri Brar and and Natalie Schnuck of First Republic for a special presentation and Q&A to learn more. Whether you are focused on saving for retirement, purchasing a home, or paying down debt, First Republic can help you achieve your financial goals.
Gayatri Brar is a Managing Director and Banker at First Republic Bank. With over 12 years of experience in private banking and finance, Gayatri's passion is to take care of her clients and their needs. She does so by providing creative financial solutions to her clients and empowering them to accomplish their goals. Her expertise includes providing customer service tailored to each individual's unique situations with an emphasis on various types of lending (personal (real estate, student loan refinance, partner buy-in loans) and business lending).
Natalie Schnuck is a Managing Director and Wealth Manager at First Republic Investment Management. In her role as Wealth Manager, Ms. Schnuck is responsible for helping clients target their financial needs and goals and gives special focus to strategic asset allocation and risk assessment analysis.
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Tuesday, February 2 | 6:00 - 7:00 PM
Members and Non-members: FREE | CME Available
This webinar will provide an opportunity for you to pause for a bit and, for a change, to think about yourself, despite the remarkable slurry of uncertainties and challenges in which we find ourselves. You will be able to visit or re-visit your own purpose and develop ways to move ahead.
To do this, we will explore your context, the Big Picture of culture and attitudes that shape society's, hospitals', and systems' policies about physicians. Importantly, we will also look at barriers that can hold you back and - the good news - boosters that can propel you forward. You will discover practical and achievable ways to replenish your energy, find opportunities, and reach toward your own goals.
You are encouraged to submit questions in advance to help her address the range of clinician concerns and responses to the crisis. And you can also briefly share any personal tips and practices that are helping you during this difficult time. Please send your questions and comments to edanmeier.renew@gmail.com.
Speaker: Linda Hawes Clever, MD, MACP, is the founder of the nonprofit organization RENEW. She is a graduate of the Stanford Medical School and board certified in internal and occupational medicine. Dr. Clever is active at UC Berkeley and Stanford University, a member of the National Academy of Medicine, and the author of The Fatigue Prescription: Four Steps to Renewing Your Energy, Health and Life.
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ACCMA's On-Demand Library
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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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