Weekly Roundup: In Case You Missed It
COVID-19 By the Numbers (as of 10/16/20)
New “Info Blocking” Rule Takes Effect Nov. 2
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) issued a new “info blocking” rule in March that will takes effect Nov. 2. The new rule will require physicians to establish a new compliance framework to handle all medical record requests coming into their office. Information blocking rules require physicians to respond to and release patients' medical records for nearly every request they receive unless an appropriate exception can be claimed.
CMA Urges All Physicians to Contact Their Members of Congress to Stop the Medicare Payment Cuts
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is scheduled to cut Medicare payments by double digits starting January 1, 2021. The California Medical Association (CMA) is urging all physicians to contact their members of Congress to tell them that this is unacceptable. Payment cuts of this magnitude will surely strain a health care system that is already stressed by the COVID-19 pandemic and could jeopardize patient access to medically necessary services.
The Governor Has Signed AB 890. Here's What You Need to Know.
AB 890 authorizes two newly created types of nurse practitioners (NPs) who would be allowed to perform certain functions without standardized procedures. The law specifies the education, training, testing, regulatory and governance requirements for these new NPs, including the circumstances in which an NP must consult with or refer patients to a physician. For more information visit ACCMA's AB 890 resource page.
Join ACCMA for our 152nd Annual Meeting

Join the East Bay medical community as we celebrate the152nd ACCMA Annual Meeting. We will honor the tremendous service of our outgoing ACCMA President, Katrina Peters, MD and install the 2021 ACCMA President Suparna Dutta, MD and other incoming officers. Although we cannot gather together in person, we are excited to come together virtually to celebrate accomplishments in the medical community.

You are invited to enjoy a virtual reception at 5:30 pm, followed by the celebration of ACCMA leaders at 6:00 pm. The ACCMA hopes you will join us for this fun event and to honor the contributions of our physician leaders.  Zoom information will be provided on our website.

Support the Future of Medicine in Our Community
Donate to support local medical student research projects aimed at reducing health disparities, expanding access to care, and improving community health outcomes.

PayPal link for donations to the UCSF-UC Berkeley Joint Medical Program (JMP) scholarship program fund: bit.ly/3d98ksk

If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Mullins, Education and Events Associate, at (510)654-5383 or jmullins@accma.org.
County News
California Department of Public Health announced that Alameda County is in the Orange Tier of the color-coded four-tier Blueprint for a Safer Economy Reaching the Orange Tier is a result of decreasing case and positivity rates due, in large part, to the sacrifices made by the County’s residents and businesses, and their adherence to Health Officer Orders and guidance. Contra Costa County still remains in the Red tier.
In Other News
California Department of Public Health released guidance that outlines safer alternatives to celebrate Halloween and Día de los Muertos during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) has issued two significant new waivers for  postgraduate training license and physicians who need to pass or retake Step 3 of the United States medical licensing examination. You can read the full waivers and see a list of current waivers on the DCA website.

Researchers in Australia found that SARS-CoV-2 is extremely robust, surviving for 28 days on smooth surfaces such as glass found on mobile phone screens and plastic banknotes at room temperature, or 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit), which compares with 17 days survival for the flu virus. The study was published in the Virology Journal. 

In addition to proving a COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective, the Food and Drug Administration acknowledges it has to prove its process is driven by science. Read more from the AMA.
 
 California health officials late Friday released rules allowing social gatherings for the first time since the pandemic began, enabling up to three households to get together outdoors. Participants must stay six feet apart and wear masks except while eating or drinking.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has announced amended terms for payment issued under the Accelerated and Advance Payment Program, as required by recent action by President Trump and Congress. This Medicare loan program allows CMS to make advance payments to providers, which are typically used in emergency situations. Under the Continuing Appropriations Act 2021 and Other Extensions Act, repayment will now begin one year from the issuance date of each provider's or supplier's accelerated or advance payment.
What We're Reading - COVID-19 Resources and Guidance
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WEBINARS & EVENTS

As the picture of COVID continues to develop, it is ever more essential to meet the needs of physicians, their families and their patients. The webinar, “When you’re going through hell, keep going,” builds on and extends the first ACCMA Wellness webinar presented by RENEW in April.

The current situation/s we face in our communities have impacted us all on a personal level. We are learning to manage toxic stress, thinking more about self-care, and reacting with inherent resilience. And many of us are working to manage these same issues in the workplace as leaders - whether that is in a small practice or a large health system. How we communicate with others and how we employ trauma informed practices within those work environments has impact - on us, on those we work with and on the people we serve. Now more than ever, we need a dialogue about trauma informed systems: how we can drive culture change in health care settings to ensure
that real healing can occur on all levels.
Clinical Leadership in 2021 & Beyond:Well Self, Well Team, Well Organization

Presented by CMA

The California Medical Association (CMA) believes physician well-being leads to professional fulfillment and that both are critical factors in maintaining patient access to quality care. A core tenet to this approach is the belief that investing in leadership can help advance and build a culture of wellness throughout your organization. To that end, CMA’s wellness initiative (CMA Wellness) is launching a clinical leadership academy that provides a new model of holistic wellness education.
The academy is set apart by its wellness-centered approach, interactive virtual sessions, individualized content and lectures tailored to small discussion groups.
Thursday, November 5th | 5:30 - 6:30PM
Join the East Bay medical community as we celebrate the152nd ACCMA Annual Meeting. We will honor the tremendous service of our outgoing ACCMA President, Katrina Peters, MD and install the 2021 ACCMA President Suparna Dutta, MD and other incoming officers. Although we cannot gather together in person, we are excited to come together virtually to celebrate this past year’s accomplishments in the medical community.

You are invited to enjoy a virtual reception at 5:30 pm, followed by the celebration of ACCMA leaders at 6:00 pm. The ACCMA hopes you will join us for this fun event and to honor the contributions of our physician leaders. Zoom information will be provided on our website.

Support the Future of Medicine in Our Community
Donate to support local medical student research projects aimed at reducing health disparities, expanding access to care, and improving community health outcomes.

PayPal link for donations to the UCSF-UC Berkeley Joint Medical Program (JMP) scholarship program fund: bit.ly/3d98ksk

If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Mullins, Education and Events Associate, at (510) 654-5383 or jmullins@accma.org.
Saturday & Sunday, November 7 & 8 | 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Presented by UCDavis Health: Center for Advancing Pain Relief

This two-day event will feature expert presentations, 20-minute hot topic talks, and engaging panel discussions on the latest issues in pain management. Primary care clinicians and all other health sciences professionals with an interest in pain management are encouraged to attend. This event will be held exclusively online. Zoom information will be provided closer to the date.
ACCMA's On-Demand Library
FREE | Available On-Demand | CME Available
As women physicians, we face unique challenges over the course of our careers: from frequent microaggressions to overt differences in salaries, promotions, and leadership roles. 
Join the ACCMA and RechargedMD for an interactive introduction to the RechargedMD Women Physician Peer group! We’ll explore our experiences as women physicians, discuss how to overcome these barriers together, and make use of tools to make strides in our personal and professional development. The session is free for members (includes CME).

FREE | Available On-Demand | CME Available
Do coping strategies and self-care interventions seem to be failing you? Are you finding yourself with more work, but feeling less productive? Listen to the 3rd session of SCMS/NCMS’ Guide to Resilience series to learn about “Stress First Aid for Physicians During Unprecedented Times,” presented by Gabriela Bronson-Castain, PsyD, a clinical psychologist in the Bay Area and co-chair of the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland Medical Staff Wellbeing Committee. The session is free for members (includes CME), and knowledge of the previous sessions is not necessary to enjoy the webinar.

FREE | Available On-Demand | CME Available
This one-hour, on-demand webinar led by Angela Trapp  MSW, ACC, focuses on self-care and understanding self-preservation. Most of us were taught that being self-centered is an undesirable trait. What if the opposite was true? Could being a little more self-centered improve your well- being and restore resiliency? This presentation identifies the importance of putting SELF first and practicing the 3S Model: Self-Compassion, Self- Awareness and Self Care to continue on the pathway to well-being.

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 accma@accma.org with any questions or concerns you have.