Weekly Roundup: In Case You Missed It

COVID-19 By the Numbers (as of 10/23/20) Alameda County: 23,133 confirmed cases, 456 deaths (including City of Berkeley data) Contra Costa County: 18,621 confirmed cases, 241 deaths California: 892,810 confirmed cases, 17,311 deaths US: 8,469,976 cases; 223,393 deaths CDC COVID-19 Numbers Analysis

Security Prescription Form Required starting January 1, 2021 On January 1, 2021, all security prescription forms will be required to have a uniquely serialized number, a corresponding barcode and other security features. California-approved security printers have been issuing these prescription pads since the beginning of 2020. Starting January 1, 2021, except for limited emergency situations, pharmacists will be unable to fill a controlled substances prescription that is not on a compliant form.

CMA Releases 2020 Legislative Wrap-Up This year’s legislative process was completely upended due to COVID-19. CMA staff worked diligently to adjust to ever-changing dynamics, as both houses of the Legislature scrambled to implement social distancing guidelines and condense their calendars. In the end, CMA successfully maintained state funding for physician services, defeated proposals to increase or add new administrative burdens onto physicians, and secured a number of Executive Orders to protect medical practices as they faced a pandemic unlike any seen in the past century. However, CMA did not escape the legislative session unscathed. Read the full report here.

Learn More About the New "Info blocking Rule taking Effect Nov. 2

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) issued a new “info blocking” rule in March that will take 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. ACCMA's HIPAA webinar further discussed the implications of the info blocking rule, which can be found on-demand in the learning center.

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 Last Tuesday, October 13, the State announced that Alameda County entered the Orange Tier of the color-coded four-tier Blueprint for a Safer Economy. The decreased case and positivity rates required to move tiers is the direct result of Alameda County’s residents and businesses following the Health Officer Orders and safety guidance. Due to stabilized numbers Alameda County will now start reopening at an orange tier level. To view the full list of relaxation efforts being made click here.

In Other News This week, Gov. Gavin Newsom named a team of physicians to independently review the safety and efficacy of any FDA approved vaccine. California is among several states implementing an independent verification process as the issue of a COVID vaccine becomes increasingly politicized and polls show the public is skeptical about the timing and efficacy of a potential vaccine. The state has also devised a COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan, which was submitted to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last week.  On Wednesday, CDC issued new guidance that greatly expands the pool of people considered at risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection by changing the definition of who is a close contact of an infected individual. CDC previously said close contact meant spending a solid 15 minutes within 6 feet of someone who tested positive for coronavirus, but now it has been changed to a total of 15 minutes or more – so shorter but repeated contacts that add up to 15 minutes over a 24-hour period now count. The expanded definition is likely to have its biggest impact in schools, workplaces and other group settings where people are in contact with others for long periods of time. Four major health care associations called on lawmakers to hold off on Medicare sequester cuts through 2021, or at least the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency. The CARES Act suspended the planned 2% Medicare payment cut through the end of 2020, but the American Hospital Association, American Medical Association, American Health Care Association and the National Association for Home Care and Hospice said the continued stress of COVID-19 merits a longer moratorium.  The Justice Department announced that Purdue Pharma has agreed to plead guilty to criminal charges and face penalties of roughly $8.3 billion for its role in the opioid epidemic. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services along with the Department of Defense announced a new partnerships with CVS and Walgreens to provide and administer free COVID-19 vaccines to long-term care facilities across the country. Lastly, on January 7, 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order aimed at achieving cost savings for drug purchases made by the state. A key component of the order requires the California Department of Health Care Services to transition all Medi-Cal pharmacy services from managed care to fee for service by January 1, 2021.

What We're Reading - COVID-19 Resources and Guidance

CDC's Guidance on Using PPE When Caring for Patients with Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19 CDC's Guidance on How to Wash Cloth Face Coverings CDC's Caring for Newborns Contra Costa County Health Services COVID-19 FAQs COVID-19 Resource Guide: Women in Medicine

CDC Optimize PPE Supply AMA Serological Testing for SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies CDC Information for Pediatric Healthcare Providers CDC Interim Guidance for Homeless Service Providers CDC Guidance: Visiting Parks and Recreational Facilities CDC's COVID-19 Guidance

WEBINARS & EVENTS

Physician Wellness: Trauma Informed Practice for Leaders: How Systems Play a Role FREE | CME Available | Thursday, October 29 | 6:00 - 7:00 PM 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. Register Now.

Clinical Leadership in 2021 & Beyond:Well Self, Well Team, Well Organization CME Available | November 4, 2020 - January 20, 2021 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. Register Now.

152nd Annual Meeting of the Alameda-Contra Costa Medical Association 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.

Essentials of Primary Care Pain Management 2020 - Save the Date 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. Register Now.

ACCMA's On-Demand Library Women in Medicine: Introduction to Peer Groups 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). Stress First Aid for Physicians During Unprecedented Times 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. Self Centered: The Pathway to Well-Being 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. Virtual Telehealth Vendor Fair 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. Physician Wellness - Coping with COVID-19  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.  Getting Started in Telemedicine Series 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. Re-Inventing and Re-Opening Your Practice Series 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

Telehealth Series for Small and Medium Sized Practices: Overview Virtual Grand Rounds: COVID-19 State of the Pandemic Children and Opening Schools Employment Law Issues for Reopening Practice COVID-19 Testing Task Force Update Strategies for Redefining Wellness and Resilience During and After COVID

Reopening a Medical Practice: Pediatrics Updated on Telehealth Reimbursement and Privacy Laws: COVID-19 CMS Actions in Response to COVID-19: An Update for Physician  Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder in the Age of COVID-19

QUESTIONS/CONCERNS?

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Please contact ACCMA at 510-654-5383 or accma@accma.org with any questions or concerns you have.