On June 23, the ACCMA sent a letter to the Chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee, requesting that the committee opposed SB 447 (Laird) unless it is amended. The bill would allow non-economic damages (i.e., pain and suffering damages) to be awarded in survival actions. This will lead to increased costs to both health care providers and patients and will threaten the viability of provider practices to continue to deliver care to patients by placing yet another financial burden on physician practices. Review the full letter here.

Last week, the ACCMA sent a letter to local legislators, asking that they keep AB 1130 (Wood) in the policy process rather than including the proposal in the budget. AB 1130 would create an Office of Health Care Affordability and includes major policy changes with far-reaching implications for the health care delivery system. If the bill is included in the budget rather than going through the full policy process, it will not be given adequate focus and review and the specifics of the proposal will not be fully vetted. Review the full letter here.

The California Medical Association’s (CMA) wellness program (CMA Wellness) has launched free, online wellness engagement groups for health care teams that screen for ACEs and toxic stress to empower their personal wellness and prevent feelings of professional burnout. The groups will offer subject matter experts, best practices, and an open forum to share experiences, facilitated by trained, volunteer physicians. Registration is required and CME is available. Participants can choose between joining a Tuesday or Saturday series beginning in July for a 6-month duration.

Members Are Invited to Comment on CMA HOD Major Issues

 

CMA has released the two major issues that will be discussed during this year’s House of Delegates (HOD) in October. The major issues are

Members can comment on these major issues; the testimony provided will help guide the CMA councils in the development of their reports. 

There’s a ‘Severe Blood Shortage’ in the U.S., Red Cross Says, The New York Times, 6/23/21

More Evidence Doctors’ Work Hours Dropped During the Pandemic, Medscape, 6/23/21

The De Kooning in the Surgical Ward, The New Yorker, 6/21/21

The Only Way We’ll Know When We Need COVID-19 Boosters, The Atlantic, 6/23/21

Musical Chairs? Swapping Seats Could Reduce Orchestra Aerosols, The New York Times, 6/23/21 

New Staff Onboarding Series

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.

Click here to register. 

Virtual Grand Rounds: A Fireside Chat with Mark Ghaly, MD 

FREE | CME Available | Presented by CMA 

Secretary of the Health and Human Services Agency in California, Mark Ghaly, MD, is a pediatrician by training and has long worked in the safety net systems of California with a focus on caring for vulnerable patients in our state who fall through the cracks, from children with complex care needs to residents of our jails and prisons and those experiencing homelessness. Dr. Ghaly will share his experience as a key decision-maker and leader during these unprecedented times. 

We will also welcome back Erica Pan, MD, California State Epidemiologist, who will give us updates on the state of the COVID-19 pandemic nationally and in California, review the progress of the vaccine rollout, and the evolving story of COVID-19 variants.

Moderator: Kimberly Newell Green, MD, Associate Clinical Professor, UCSF

Click here to register. 

33rd Western States Regional Conference on Physician Well-being

Speakers: David Bazzo, MD; Kai McDonald, MD; Ajeet Singhvi, MD; and Elizabeth Snelson, Esq.

Register here. 

Click here to register.