Weekly Roundup: In Case You Missed It |
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COVID-19 Updates
Join us for an ACCMA Townhall: COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout on Monday, February 22 from 6:30 to 8 pm. Randy Bergen, MD, Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist at TMPG, will discuss the vaccines currently available and those in the pipeline. Kathleen Clanon, MD and Ori Tzvieli, MD will discuss the current plan of deployment as Medical Directors in their respective county health departments. This event is free to everyone and CME is available. Click here to register.
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced its recently launched CalVax Provider system will now become myCAvax, a statewide centralized system for healthcare providers enrolled or interested in participating in the state COVID-19 vaccination program. The name change does not impact the information in the system, and enrollments approved through COVIDReadi will automatically transfer into myCAvax. Providers can access myCAvax with their current username and password at this time. Click here for an FAQ about the name change.
State Health Director Mark Ghaly, MD, said Friday that starting March 15 people between ages 16-64 who are severely disabled, and those with health conditions that put them at high risk can get in line for shots. This represents a significant expansion of the state's population that is eligible for vaccine, pending a greater supply of vaccine to California.
CDPH is holding weekly “office hours” to provide an update on COVID-19 vaccination planning and allow providers in the state to ask questions, on Fridays from 9-10 am. The February 19 session can be accessed through this link or by calling (415) 655-0001. The event number is: 145 305 3168. The password is: Immunize2021!
Contra Costa Health Services reports that, as of February 11, it has given almost 199,250 vaccinations (first and second doses) with a 7-day rolling average of 5,701 per day. The county's goal is to reach 1 million vaccinations by July 4. As of February 11, ICU capacity in the county is at 23% with 114 confirmed COVID patients hospitalized.
Alameda County reports that it has administered over 226,370 doses as of February 12. As of February 11, ICU capacity in the county is at 25% with 230 confirmed COVID patients hospitalized.
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, by going to this link. A two-month supply of N95 masks, surgical masks, isolation gowns, face shields, goggles, coveralls, and hand sanitizers may be ordered. Vinyl gloves are out of stock until further notice. If approved, orders are shipped directly to medical offices. Only shipping and handling fees are charged for each individual case shipped. For groups with multiple offices, a separate order 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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Deadline Extended for CalHealthCares Loan Repayment Application
The 2021 application cycle for the CalHealthCares loan repayment program has been extended to February 26. The program awards loan repayment grants of up to $300,000 in exchange for a five-year service obligation to provide care to Medi-Cal beneficiaries. Recorded tutorials provide an overview of the program requirements and application.
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Save the Date for CMA's Legislative Advocacy Conference, April 5-9
The ACCMA will be meeting virtually with state legislators on priority health care issues the week of April 5 to 9. Before these meetings, attendees will receive a virtual training on CMA’s current legislative priorities and policy issues affecting the practice of medicine. This is a unique event for ACCMA physician members, residents, and medical students to join their colleagues as they prepare to lobby their legislative leaders and serve as champions for the house of medicine. If you are interested in joining the ACCMA delegation, contact David Lopez, Associate Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives, at (510) 654-5383, ext. 6320 or dlopez@accma.org.
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Thursday, February 18 | 12:15 - 1:15 PM
Members and Members' Staff (with promo code): FREE | Non-members: $99 | Presented by CMA
The federal information blocking rule, issued by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT, takes effect on April 5, 2021. This rule will, with some exceptions, prohibit any action defined as information blocking by physicians, hospitals, and health IT vendors. Join this webinar to learn about the components of this new rule and steps physicians should take to come into compliance.
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Monday, February 22 | 6:30 - 8:00 PM
Members and Non-Members: FREE | CME Available
Join us for this online townhall with a local expert providing a clinically focused discussion on the vaccines in production, those submitted for government approval, and those under investigation, how they work, differences and similarities and clinical considerations to follow. Additionally, we will be joined by representatives from both Alameda and Contra Costa County to provide an update on the plan of deployment in our local communities.
Speakers: Randy Bergen, MD, MPH, Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist, TPMG; Kathleen Clanon, MD, Medical Director, COVID-19 Shelter and Surge Planning Director, Alameda County; Ori Tzvieli, MD, Medical Director, Operations Section Chief, CCHS COVID-19 Response, Contra Costa County
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Wednesday, February 24 | noon - 1:00 PM
FREE | CME Available | Presented by ACEs Aware
This webinar will discuss the secondary health effects associated with stress caused by COVID-19. Presenters will share how ACEs Aware training and resources to treat toxic stress can equip providers with the knowledge and tools they need to effectively incorporate ACE screening into patient care, and to better respond to and support their patients during this time.
Speakers: Devika Bhushan, MD, FAAP, Chief Health Officer, Office of the California Surgeon General; Eric Ball, MD, FAAP, CHOC Primary Care Network; and Martina J. Jelley, MD, MSPH, FACP, University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine
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Wednesday, February 24 | 12:15 - 1:15 PM
Members and Non-members: FREE | Presented by CMA
Just in case you missed it, we will cover the Medicare updates for this year and answer questions regarding the new evaluation and management (E/M) coding guidelines. Covered topics include:
- Telehealth and other communications technology
- New CMS E/M 2021 guidelines
- Noridian documentation changes
- Medicare Part B issues
Speakers: Cheryl Bradley, Associate Director, CMA Center for Economic Services and Arthur N. Lurvey, MD, FACP, FACE, Contractor Medical Director, Noridian Healthcare Solutions
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Tuesday, February 25 | 6:00 - 7:00 PM
Members and Non-members: FREE | CME Available - free for members; $99 for non-members
This is a four-hour online training for qualified prescribers (including physicians, Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants) to receive half of the 8 hours of training required to obtain a MAT waiver for treatment of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD).
Speaker: Kenneth Saffier, MD, FASAM, is a family physician at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center's Family Medicine Residency program. He specializes in addiction medicine and chronic pain management, and is board certified in family and addiction medicine. He is president of the Medical Education and Research Foundation for the Treatment of Addiction (www.merfweb.org).
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ACCMA's On-Demand Library
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Adaptive Leadership and Trust in Times of Crisis, with Claire-Cecile Pierre, MD (with CME)
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Trust, Governance, and Change in Times of Crisis, with Arpana Vidyarthi, MD (with CME)
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Strategy and Adaptation in Times of Crisis, with Read Pierce, MD (with CME)
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Communication in Times of Crisis, with Niraj Sehgal, MD (with CME)
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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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