Weekly Roundup: In Case You Missed It |
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Anthem Clarifies Scope of CVS Specialty Medication Policy
After meeting with the California Medical Association, Anthem Blue Cross has clarified that only physicians and hospitals that were notified directly by the company in September would be required to obtain certain specialty medications administered in the office or an outpatient hospital setting for commercial PPO and EPO patients through CVS Specialty pharmacy. The policy is effective for dates of service on or after December 1, 2020. If you have questions after your practice received such a letter or want to confirm whether your practice is included in this requirement, contact Anthem Network Relations at CAcontractsupport@Anthem.com. For additional assistance, please get in touch with the ACCMA at (510) 654-5383 or accma@accma.org.
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Quick Survey: How do Health Disparities Show Up?
Do your patients have equal access to quality care? Is systemic racism a true public health emergency? ACCMA wants to hear your opinion! Take this 5-minute survey by Friday, Dec. 4.
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Guidance for ONC Final Rule on Information Blocking
MIEC, the endorsed medical malpractice insurer of the ACCMA, recently issued guidance to its policyholders regarding patients' rights to directly access their electronic health information under a new federal requirement beginning in April 2021.
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CMS Finalizes Changes to the Physician Self-Referral Law
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule on November 20 to update and clarify the Medicare physician self-referral law (often called the "Stark Law"). The final rule reduces the regulatory burdens on physicians and other healthcare providers while reinforcing the Stark Law’s goal of protecting patients from unnecessary services and being steered to them because of a physician’s financial self-interest. It creates new, permanent exceptions to the Stark Law for value-based healthcare delivery and payment systems and opens additional avenues for physicians and other healthcare providers to coordinate the care of the patients they serve—allowing providers across different healthcare settings to work together to ensure patients receive the highest quality of care. For the major provisions of the final rule (CMS-1720-F), click here.
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Reminders for Physicians Who Prescribe Controlled Substances
Beginning January 1, 2021, paper prescription forms for any Schedule II through V controlled substances must be printed with a 12-character serial number, corresponding barcode, and other security features required by AB 149. Prescribers must order tamper-resistant forms from security prescription printer companies that have been pre-approved by the state Department of Justice to produce the forms. ACCMA members can receive 15% off RxSecurity's already low prices; email them at info@rxsecurity.com or go to www.rxsecurity.com/neworder.
Also starting January 1, 2021, dispensers must report controlled substance prescriptions to CURES within one working day after the medication is released to the patient or the patient's representative. Previously the deadline to report was seven days after dispensing. This requirement applies to pharmacists and prescribers who dispense Schedules II, III, IV, and V drugs. |
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COVID-19 Updates
President-Elect Joseph Biden's transition team began receiving briefings from federal agencies on the COVID-19 response on Wednesday. The transition team has requested briefings on the COVID-19 vaccine distribution, Operation Warp Speed, testing, and the PPE supply chain.
The ACCMA and the California Medical Association (CMA) are continuing to provide PPE directly to medical practices in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. A two-month supply of N95 masks, surgical masks, isolation gowns, face shields, vinyl gloves, goggles, coveralls, and hand sanitizers may be ordered (click here for specs). PPE order forms are reviewed and if approved, will be shipped directly to medical offices. Only shipping and handling fees are charged for each individual case shipped. For groups with multiple offices, a separate form must be completed for each location. Please contact the ACCMA at accma@accma.org or (510) 654-5383 for more information.
Cal-OSHA approved emergency workplace rules to protect employees from COVID-19 exposure last week. Healthcare workers, who already have their own standards, are exempt from these new workplace standards.
Due to very rapid and widespread increases in COVID-19 cases, Alameda County, city of Berkeley, and Contra Costa County remained in the purple tier, the most restrictive level in the state's reopening framework. A limited curfew order is in effect through 5 am on Monday, Dec. 21; the curfew order is from 10 pm to 5 am daily for all counties in the purple tier.
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Tuesday, December 1 | 12:15 - 1:30 PM
Members: FREE | Non-members: $149
Good news for physicians tired of counting bullet points to assign an evaluation and management level for outpatient office visits. Per new AMA guidelines, it's going to be a whole lot simpler. As of January 1, 2021, physicians will select an E/M code based on total time spent on the date of the encounter or medical decision making (MDM) - whichever is most financially advantageous. This means streamlined documentation.
Join Mary Jean Sage for a discussion of:
- Which E/M services will have changes in 2021
- CPT's new Table of Medical Decision Making - what does each element mean
- Documenting the Elements of MDM
- Documenting Time for New Patient and Established Patient Visits
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Wednesday, December 2, 2020 | 10:00 - 11:00 am
Presented by CMA and Rockpointe
This activity has been planned for clinicians who manage patients with diabetes with the most up-to-date information so that they can appropriately advise patients with diabetes on how to avoid infection, monitor patients with diabetes who develop COVID-19, and recognize and manage complications as they occur to minimize morbidity and mortality.
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On-Demand Webinar Available Thursday, December 3
Members: FREE | Non-members: $49
CME Available | Presented with MIEC
Physicians who are facing medical malpractice litigation—a common occurrence in the medical profession—experience a unique type of stress which, if not addressed effectively, can compromise their ability to care for patients both during and after a lawsuit.
You will learn how the litigation process works, how to best cope with the stress of litigation, what lessons physicians should learn from the experience, and how to incorporate constructive changes into your practice. Presenters include an experienced liability defense attorney, a physician discussing his experience of being a defendant, and the manager of patient safety and risk management at MIEC.
Click here to register for the on-demand webinar. |
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FREE | Presented by CMA and Rockpointe
Webinar is scheduled for:
- Wednesday, December 9, 2020, 4:00pm - 5:00pm PST
- Tuesday, December 15, 2020, 10:00am - 11:00am PST
This program will provide clinicians with the most up-to-date information on telemedicine in asthma care to promote easier transitions to this new and necessary form of care for their patients. Education on best practices for incorporating telemedicine in the asthma and allergist clinic, including different strategies for virtual healthcare visits and remote patient monitoring, how to manage treatment in the telemedicine setting, and how to navigate the complex and continuously evolving legal and regulatory landscape pertaining to telehealthcare.
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Thursday, January 7 | 12:15 - 1:30 PM
Members: FREE | Non-members: $49
Don’t miss your opportunity to make the most of the ever-changing healthcare reimbursement landscape! First you must understand the challenges you may be facing. Learn the important changes in Medicare for 2021 and how they may affect your practice reimbursement for the coming year(s). Changes are sometimes subtle, but they can have a lasting effect on your practice.
Join Mary Jean Sage for a discussion of:
- Overall Payment Update
- Medicare Telehealth Services
- E & M Services: 2021 & beyond
- Coding and documentation
- Payment
- Advanced Diagnostic Imaging: Latest update
- MIPS 2021 – What you need to report
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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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