Weekly Roundup: In Case You Missed It |
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COVID-19 Updates
ACCMA hosted a virtual membership townhall meeting on COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination plans in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. A recording is available here.
There will be a major expansion of eligibility March 15, when people ages 16–64 with underlying health conditions will be in tier to be vaccinated. The list of eligible conditions can be found on the CDPH website and is subject to change as additional scientific evidence is published and as CDPH obtains and analyzes additional state-specific data.
The CMA is urging physicians to contact the governor and legislators to push for immediate action on AB 80 for CA tax treatment of PPP loans. Details are here.
Contra Costa Health Services reports that it has administered more than 300,000 doses as of February 25. As of February 25, ICU capacity in the county is at 27% with 30 confirmed COVID patients hospitalized..
Alameda County reports that it has administered more than 376,000 doses as of February 25. As of February 25, ICU capacity in the county is at 35% with 172 confirmed COVID patients hospitalized.
Alameda and Contra Costa counties remain in the Purple Tier. Statewide ICU capacity is at 20%. Also in Alameda County, there has been a major reduction in deaths and hospitalizations in skilled nursing facilities since vaccinations started to happen.
The #ThisIsOurShot campaign has launched a private Facebook group that has up-to-date information. The campaign also holds weekly Zoom calls to discuss digital engagement campaigns, hear from guest speakers, and have breakout sessions to plan for future campaigns. These calls are held on Tuesdays at 5:30 PM.
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 March 5 session can be accessed through this link or by calling (415) 655-0001. The event number is: 145 305 3168. The password is: Immunize2021!
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 available only to solo and small practices. 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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ACCMA Advocates for Reduced PM2.5 Emissions
At the recommendation of the ACCMA Community Health Committee, the ACCMA submitted a letter this week to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District urging them to "protect the health of our patients and our community by requiring oil refineries to take steps to meaningfully and substantially reduce PM2.5 emissions."
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CMS Holds Physicians Harmless from MIPS Penalties
On Feb. 25, CMS announced it will hold physicians harmless from up to 9% MIPS penalties due to the significant disruptions of the COVID-19 public health emergency on physician practices' performance in 2020. Read more.
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Help Keep Our Practices Viable and Accessible
In an effort to provide relief to our physician members, CMA is introducing legislation to keep physician practices in their community viable and maintain their constituents' access to quality care. In doing so, we are strategically asking different legislators to co‑author three CMA sponsored bills:
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SB 242 (Newman): Reimbursement for PPE and other critical pandemic safety supplies
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AB 454 (Rodriguez): Financial assistance for medical and dental practices
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AB 457 (Santiago): Ensuring integrated care in telehealth
If you have any questions , please reach out to David Lopez, ACCMA Associate Director of Advocacy and Strategic Initiatives, at dlopez@accma.org or at (510) 654‑5383, ext. 6320.
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47th CMA Virtual Legislative Day
Join us for the 47th CMA Virtual Legislative Day on Tuesday, April 6. CMA's Legislative Advocacy Event usually hosts more than 400 California physicians, medical students, and CMA Alliance members as they lobby legislative leaders in Sacramento, but this year it is all virtual. We will be scheduling all meetings on the same day as CMA’s program, which will be at 10:00 am on April 6. As we did last year, we will create an agenda packet with all legislative meetings and talking points and send it out prior to the event. We are usually allotted 30 minutes to meet with the legislators; if a legislator is pulled into a committee meeting, we meet with staff. To RSVP for the April 6 ACCMA Virtual Legislative Day, please click here. If you have any questions, please contact David Lopez, ACCMA Associate Director of Advocacy and Strategic Initiatives, at dlopez@accma.org or at (510) 654‑5383, ext. 6320.
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CMA Joins Medical Cannabis Research Advocacy Alliance
The CMA has joined the Medical Cannabis Research Advocacy Alliance (MCRAA), a new physician-led and patient-focused organization to advance medical cannabis research and education. "We started MCRAA because there was a need for an alliance that welcomed physicians, other clinicians, researchers, cannabis companies, pharmaceutical companies and patient groups to work together to improve access to medical cannabis research and education,” said Ted Zanker, MD, and MCRAA Board Chair. Physicians are encouraged to join MCRAA’s first virtual conference, Medical Cannabis: Advancing Research and Policy in the Modern Age, 8:00 AM-12:00 PM Saturday, March 13, to learn more about medical cannabis while earning CME.
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CMA Hosting Townhall on Q2 HOD Resolutions
The CMA is hosting a virtual townhall 6:00-8:00 PM Thursday, March 4, to discuss the Q2 HOD resolutions, which are primarily focused on climate change, where all members can provide testimony on the resolutions. Among the resolutions included:
- 101-20: Support pricing of carbon emissions
- 106-20: Limit use of desflurane and nitrous oxide
- 111-20: Sustainable management of medical waste
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Monday, March 9 | 12:00-1:30 PM
FREE | CME Available
Hear from state experts regarding the epidemiology of the virus and its variants, the state of the vaccine rollout, in-depth information on vaccines in use – as well as vaccines in development – and the latest information on personal mitigation techniques and strategies.
Speakers: Erica Pan, MD, MPH, California State Epidemiologist and Deputy Director, California Department of Public Health, Center of Infectious Diseases; Debra Wadford, PhD, MS, PHM, M(ASCP)CM, Chief, Viral and Rickettsial Disease Laboratory, California Department of Public Health; and Monica Gandhi, MD, MPH, UCSF Professor of Medicine and Associate Chief in Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases, and Global Medicine and Director of UCSF Center for AIDS Research.
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Saturday, March 13 | 8:00 AM-12:30 PM
CMA Members $49; Non-Members $149 | CME Available
The CMA is encouraging physicians to participate, and CMA members can enjoy a special $49 registration by choosing "member" ticket on line. Physicians are encouraged to join MCRAA’s first virtual conference, Medical Cannabis: Advancing Research and Policy in the Modern Age, 8:00 am–12:00 pm March 13 to learn more about medical cannabis while earning CME.
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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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