Weekly Roundup: In Case You Missed It |
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COVID-19 Updates
New Federal Rules Will Mandate Vaccination for Millions of Americans
Under President Biden's plan, private-sector businesses with 100 or more employees will have to require vaccination or mandatory weekly testing after the Occupational Safety and Health Administration drafts a rule. Roughly 17 million health care workers employed by institutions that accept Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement will also face strict new vaccination requirements, as will federal contractors and most federal workers.
Local Physicians Join in Signing Vaccination Plea to the Community
Last Friday, the ACCMA began organizing a letter campaign for East Bay physicians to encourage their patients and residents in their communities to get vaccinated. Within days, over 400 physicians had added their names to the letter. You can read the sample letter at conta.cc/3hkxwjd and sign on, if you haven’t already, by sending an email to accma@accma.org with your name, specialty, and vaccination status – e.g., “Carlos X. Chin, MD, internal medicine, vaccinated.” The letter, with all its signatories, will be sent to the local media and circulated widely.
Deadline Extended to October 15 for CalVaxGrant Application
Under CalVaxGrant, a new state program to increase COVID-19 vaccination rates, physicians and medical practices can apply to receive up to $55,000 in reimbursement for related expenses incurred since November 2020 and through November 2021. Qualifying expenses include staffing and training (most common expenses), technology, infrastructure, supplies and equipment, and administrative overhead. Apply before October 15 at calvaxgrant.org.
COVID Proposals Stall in State Legislature
California lawmakers failed to advance bills to require workers to either be vaccinated or get weekly COVID testing to keep their jobs. A late push by Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Campbell) to make sure state law protected businesses that chose to require their workers to be vaccinated failed to come together before a legislative deadline Tuesday evening. Another proposal by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland), which fell apart last week, would have required all workers to either receive the coronavirus vaccine or submit to weekly testing. Bills had to be introduced by Tuesday evening for the California legislature to vote on them this year.
FDA/CDC Warn Against Use of Ivermectin to Prevent and Treat COVID-19
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a health alert warning physicians and the public about the rise in prescriptions for the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin for use in the treatment or prevention of COVID-19. The CDC also cautioned about the risk of severe illness caused by ivermectin, which was seen in increased calls to poison centers. Current NIH Treatment Guidelines state that there is insufficient evidence to recommend either for or against the use of ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19 outside of clinical trials. For additional information, see the FDA Information Page and the FDA Ivermectin FAQ.
LA First Large School District to Mandate Vaccinations
CMA President Peter N. Bretan, Jr., MD, issued a statement in response to the Los Angeles Unified School District decision to require vaccines for all eligible students, teachers and school employees.
Contra Costa County reported on Wednesday that 85% of residents 12 years and older have received at least one COVID vaccine dose, and 79% are fully vaccinated.
Alameda County reported on Wednesday that 89% of residents 12 years and older have received at least one COVID vaccine dose, and 76% are fully vaccinated.
Alameda County reports that it has administered more than 2,282,000 doses as of September 9. As of September 2, ICU capacity in the county is at 34% with 62 confirmed COVID patients hospitalized.
Contra Costa reports that it has administered more than 1,611,000 doses as of September 9. As of September 2, ICU capacity in the county is at 19% with 56 confirmed COVID patients hospitalized.
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Registration Ends Next Week for Bay Area Physician Leadership Program
You can enhance your leadership effectiveness over eight live online sessions, starting Tuesday, September 21, in the Bay Area Physician Leadership Program. Learn from nationally recognized experts and gain practical skills and insights directly applicable to your practice opportunities and challenges, while earning up to 24 CME credits. Member discount and group discounts are available. Registration ends on September 17. Click here to learn more.
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Current MBC Licensure Issues
Join us on Thursday, October 7 at 6 PM for an online presentation by Reji Varghese, Deputy Director of the Medical Board of California. He will discuss the process of evaluation and intervention, the second phase of the Death Certificate Project investigation, and the current status of the Physician Health Program. All ACCMA members are welcome to join this meeting of our Advisory Committee for Physician Wellbeing for this informative presentation and discussion. If you would like to attend, email rsvp@accma.org. |
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Deadline for CalMedForce Grant Is September 17
The fourth funding cycle of the graduate medical education (GME) grant program, CalMedForce, is open through September 17, 2021. GME programs in primary care (family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, OB/GYN) and emergency medicine are eligible to apply. New this year is that combined residency programs with at least one eligible discipline are also eligible to apply. CalMedForce administers annual grants to fund new residency positions at GME programs throughout California from dedicated Proposition 56 revenues. Click here to learn more. |
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DOJ Sues Texas Over Restrictive Abortion Laws
The Biden administration on Thursday sued the state of Texas over its highly restrictive abortion law that the Supreme Court allowed to take effect last week. “The act is clearly unconstitutional under longstanding Supreme Court precedent,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a news conference. CMA President Peter N. Bretan, Jr., MD, stated, " Clearly, this is no longer a decision we can leave up to the courts. We support Congressional action — the passage of California Congresswoman Judy Chu’s “Women’s Health Protection Act — to ensure women get the reproductive health care they need, and that physicians and other health care providers can offer that care without fear of their personal safety or well-being.” |
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FDA Restricts Vaping Products
The FDA on Thursday banned the sale of hundreds of thousands of vaping and electronic cigarette products, but delayed its decision on the industry's leading company, Juul. The agency faced a court deadline to issue decisions on marketing applications from the vaping giant and other companies after anti-tobacco groups successfully sued the agency to speed its review. Regulators previously said they would prioritize Juul and other key players, but none were included in the announcement. |
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18th Annual Healthy Living Festival
Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley is inviting seniors to attend the free 18th Annual Healthy Living Festival on Thursday, September 30, from 9 am to 1 pm. It will be a drive-through event at the Oakland Zoo. Free COVID-19 vaccinations, testing, and flu shots will also be available. The event is sponsored by United Seniors of Oakland and Alameda County. Alameda County seniors (ages 60 and older), their providers, families, and/or friends must register by September 24 to receive a free nutritious meal and swag bag. Parking is free, and registered participants can also visit the Zoo at no charge. Call (510) 729-0852 for more information.
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Available on demand
Member $29.00 | Non-member $79.00
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.
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Tuesdays through December 14
Free to attend | CME Available | Presented by CMA
The California Medical Association's (CMA) wellness program (CMA Wellness) is pleased to launch free, online wellness engagement groups for health care providers who conduct patient screenings for adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Treating patients with multiple ACEs or toxic stress can potentially impact your personal wellness and increase feelings of burnout. CMA Wellness's engagement groups will support providers by offering subject matter experts, best practices, and an open forum to share experiences, facilitated by trained, volunteer physicians. Each monthly webinar is organized around a prevailing theme with a stakeholder co-host to provide a variety of perspectives with a general discussion and breakout rooms. Registration is required, and providers will be joining the Tuesday series for a 6‑month duration.
For more information and to register, click here.
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Tuesday, September 14 | 10 – 11 AM
FREE | Presented by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
This webinar is a physician-focused presentation covering key aspects of the information-blocking requirements of the 21st Century Cures Act. Participants will also be able to ask questions.
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Tuesday, September 14 | 12:00 – 1:15 PM
FREE | Presented by CMA
Erica Pan, MD, MPH, from the California Department of Public Health will provide an update on COVID-19 in California, including efforts to keep the virus at bay, progress on vaccinations, and the hope for keeping schools open. We will also hear from The Nocturnists, a medical storytelling live show and podcast in which healthcare workers can pause and examine their inner landscapes. The Nocturnists helps us examine the forces that drive burnout and moral distress, and in doing so, provides hope that we can find ways to flourish in the face of the extreme stresses of medical practice, particularly in the setting of a pandemic.
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Friday, September 17 | 10 – 11 AM
FREE | Presented by the American Medical Association
Celebrate Women in Medicine Month with a webinar featuring Margot Savoy, MD, MPH, FAAP, senior vice president of education, American Academy of Family Physicians. Doctor Savoy will explore ways that medical education, leadership development, and medical practice can help promote gender equity in medicine.
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Friday, September 17 | 12:30-1:30 PM
FREE
A grassroots coalition of CMA member physicians and medical students will be hosting a forum with the candidates for CMA President-Elect to discuss climate change. Candidates are in alphabetical order: C. Freeman, MD (LA), Catherine Gutfreund, MD (Santa Rosa), Donaldo Hernandez, MD (Santa Cruz), and Ramin Manshadi, MD (Davis area).
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September 21 – January 18
CME Available
Registration is now open for the 2021–2022 Physician Leadership Program, from the Alameda-Contra Costa Medical Association (ACCMA), is an innovative program developed in 2016 by physician leaders in collaboration with faculty from the UC Berkeley School of Public Health and Haas School of Business. Participants will enhance their leadership effectiveness, learn from nationally recognized experts, expand their network with local colleagues, and will gain practical skills and insights directly applicable to their practice opportunities and challenges. Participants can earn a Certificate of Completion and up to 24 hours of CME credit.
Discounts for medical society members and groups are available! Find out more and register here.
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Thursday, September 23, 2021, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Hybrid meeting: In person (Los Angeles) and virtual
State of Reform, one of the most important statewide events in California health care, pulls together practitioners, thought leaders and policymakers — each working to improve our health care system in their own way — into a unified conversation in a single place. Choose to attend in person or virtually; registration fee varies. CMA members receive a 20% discount on registration with promo code CMA20.
For more information and to register, click here. |
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Thursday, September 23 | 12:15 – 1:15 PM
FREE for members & members’ staff | Presented by CMA
Two of the most pressing issues facing medical practices now are telehealth and COVID-19 vaccine administration. This webinar will help ensure that your practice can avoid billing challenges with both of these crucial services. Members’ staff: To receive a promo code for free registration, email Becky Paplanus at events@cmadocs.org with your physician’s California medical license number.
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Thursday, October 7 | 6:00 PM | FREE
Join us for an online presentation by Reji Varghese, Deputy Director of the Medical Board of California. He will discuss the process of evaluation and intervention, the second phase of the Death Certificate Project investigation, and the current status of the Physician Health Program. All ACCMA members are welcome to join this meeting of our Advisory Committee for Physician Wellbeing for this informative presentation and discussion.
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Friday, October 8 | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Discounts for Members; Free for Medical Resident and Student Members | Presented by CMA
The NEPO Summit is known for bringing together some of the most diverse voices in medicine and providing an opportunity to discuss critical topics in health care through the lens of multiculturalism and health equity. This year’s online event will be divided into morning and afternoon sessions. In the morning session, experts will discuss how an awareness of Cultural and Linguistic Competency (CLC) and Implicit Bias (IB) can benefit physicians and patients alike. The afternoon session will focus on issues of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), health outcome disparities in the Asian American and Pacific Islander American communities, and physician wellness.
Learn more and register here.
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Register now and the on-demand program will be provided to you on date of release
On demand | Available Friday, October 15
FREE | CME Available
Review some of the most critical privacy and security standards in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Rules. In this one-hour webinar with expert HIPAA and practice management consultant David Ginsberg, you will receive important updates on who is covered, what information is protected, how you can stay secure in the Information Age, and how to avoid costly mistakes, as well as learning what is new for compliance. For questions, contact Jenn Mullins, Education and Event Associate, at jmullins@accma.org.
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Thursday, October 21 | 6:15 – 7:30 PM
FREE | CME Available
In this webinar, we will start with the core — you — and then expand. You will have time to think about your attitudes, the way you treat yourself and others, how you spend your time, your purpose, and resilience. The speaker is Linda Clever, MD, of RENEW. For questions, contact Jenn Mullins, Education and Event Associate, at jmullins@accma.org. |
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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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