On July 2, the US Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Treasury, and Labor issued an interim final regulation implementing Part 1 of the No Surprises Act, which Congress passed in December 2020. The legislation bans balance billing for out-of-network services starting in 2022 to protect patients and establishes a baseball arbitration-style independent dispute resolution (IDR) process to allow physicians and insurers to resolve their payment differences. To learn more, click here.

The US Department of Education has reopened its negotiated rule-making process to make changes to the Higher Education Act, which includes the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). The California Medical Association (CMA) and the Texas Medical Association (TMA) have for years been urging the department to correct an unjust denial of the PSLF benefits to physicians in California and Texas because of conflicting state laws. CMA is aggressively pursuing both legislative and regulatory fixes to the issue so California and Texas physicians are not precluded from participating in the loan forgiveness program. For more information, click here.

 

The 2022 Medicare conversion factor would be reduced by approximately 3.75% from $34.8931 to $33.5848. This is largely a result of the expiration of a 3.75% increase to the conversion factor at the end of calendar year 2021, as averted for 2021 by Congressional action. The CMA and the AMA are strongly advocating that Congress avert this significant cut and extend the 3.75% increase for 2022. A payment impact chart by specialty can be assessed here.

Today’s dynamic health care environment requires effective physician leaders to ensure organizational and individual success. The Physician Leadership Program, developed in 2016 by physician leaders in collaboration with faculty from the UC Berkeley School of Public Health and Haas School of Business, is a structured course that builds upon the deep knowledge that clinicians already have of complex systems such as the human body, families, and communities, as well as their experience of exerting influence through clinical encounters and clinical team leadership. Participants will enhance their leadership effectiveness, learn from nationally recognized experts, expand their network with local colleagues, and 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. To find out more and to register, go to learning.accma.org/leadership.

Duration of Status Retained for J-1 Visa Holders 

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has withdrawn its proposed rule to eliminate duration of status as an authorized period of stay for J‑1 visa holders and replace it with the program end date. Last fall, the AMA strongly urged DHS against this rule as it related to J‑1 International Medical Graduates. If implemented, the rule would have significantly disrupted the specialty and subspecialty training of foreign medical graduates.

Physicians are encouraged to apply for the “extreme and uncontrollable circumstances” exception to request reweighting of 2021 MIPS performance categories due to the COVID‑19 public health emergency. Those who apply, whether reporting traditional MIPS or the APM Performance Pathway (APP), will be held harmless from a penalty of up to ‑9%. Click here to learn more.

Networks of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission, Science, 7/9/21

Alcohol Abuse Is on the Rise, but Doctors Too Often Fail to Treat It, The New York Times, 7/15/21

Small California School Districts Will Refuse to Follow Mask Mandate, CalMatters, 7/15/21

How ERs Fail Patients with Addiction: One Patient’s Tragic Death, Kaiser Health News, 7/15/21

The Pandemic Has Worsened Childhood Vaccination Rates Around the World, National Public Radio, 7/15/21

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.

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.

Click here to register. 

Physician Leadership Program

Discounts for medical society members and groups are available! Find out more and register here.

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.