Weekly Roundup: In Case You Missed It |
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COVID-19 Updates
Pfizer asked the FDA on Tuesday to expand authorization of their COVID booster shot to all adults. It is considered likely that the request will be granted, likely before Thanksgiving.
In preparation for another possible winter surge of coronavirus cases, Gov. Newsom signed an executive order that through March 31 will continue to allow out-of-state medical workers to treat patients in California and allow emergency medical technicians and others to keep administering vaccines and providing other related services.
Contra Costa Health Services is offering pediatric and adult vaccines. Eligible people can make appointments at covidvaccine.cchealth.org/COVIDVaccine or (833) 829-2626. Homebound residents can request a home vaccination from the CCHS mobile team by going here.
Alameda County Public Health will begin offering vaccines for children ages 5 to 11 the week of November 15. A vaccination clinic calendar is available here.
Contra Costa County reported on Wednesday that 83% of residents 5 years and older have received at least one COVID vaccine dose, and 78% are fully vaccinated.
Alameda County reported on Wednesday that 92% of residents 12 years and older have received at least one COVID vaccine dose, and 87% are fully vaccinated.
Alameda County reports that it has administered more than 2,623,000 doses as of November 11. As of November 4, ICU capacity in the county is at 37% with 23 confirmed COVID patients hospitalized.
Contra Costa reports that it has administered more than 1,870,000 doses as of November 1. As of November 4, ICU capacity in the county is at 25% with 16 confirmed COVID patients hospitalized.
CMS Vaccine Requirement for Participating Facilities
On November 5, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an Interim Final Rule mandating that health care workers at facilities participating in the Medicare and Medicaid programs be fully vaccinated, having received either two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, by January 4, 2022. Covered facilities must have a process or plan in place that ensures all eligible staff receive their first dose or one-dose vaccine by December 5, 2021.
Changes to Medicare Advantage Claims for Vaccine Administration
Effective January 1, CMS will change the way physicians bill for COVID-19 vaccine administration for Medicare Advantage enrollees. For Medicare Advantage patients vaccinated on or after January 1, COVID-19 vaccine administration claims should be submitted to the patient’s Medicare Advantage plan. Fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare will no longer pay these claims.
CalVaxGrant Application Deadline Extended to December 17
Under CalVaxGrant, a 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. Click here to apply before December 17.
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Advocacy on Surprise Billing
The California Medical Association is continuing to work with the American Medical Association to impact the No Surprises regulations, including providing recommended revisions to eliminate the increased leverage given to insurance companies in the second interim final rule released by the Department of Health and Human Services on September 30. Read more here.
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Updating Your Practice Information with Contracted Payors
To ensure that your information is accurate, practices are encouraged to review their information with each contracted payor annually, at minimum. Updates may take up to 90 days to complete, so submitting updates in a timely manner is extremely important. The California Medical Association has compiled information on how to update provider information with major payors, “ Updating Demographic Information with Payors,” which is available free to CMA members. |
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MIPS Automatic Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Policy
CMS has agreed, after ongoing advocacy from the American Medical Association, to apply the Automatic Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Exemption Policy (EUC) for the 2021 MIPS performance year. This 2021 policy change recognizes the continued challenges physicians face with providing care during the public health emergency and reduces administrative burden. If a physician participates in MIPS as an individual, they don’t need to take any action to have the automatic EUC policy applied to them. For more information on the automatic EUC policy, click here. |
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MBC Waives License Reactivation or Restoration Requirements
As of October 29, the Medical Board has temporarily waived continuing education requirements AND renewal/delinquent fees for reactivating licenses. These waivers apply only to an individual’s license that: (1) is in a retired, inactive, or canceled status, and (2) has been in such status no longer than five years. Read more here. |
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Are You Ready for California’s Electronic Prescribing Mandate?
Beginning on January 1, almost all prescriptions written in California must be transmitted electronically. The electronic prescribing mandate was contained in a law passed by the California State Legislature in 2018. The law is partially based on the Medicare electronic prescribing for controlled substances requirement, which is also set to take effect on January 1. The state mandate applies to almost all prescriptions, not only those for controlled substances. |
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More than 500K Californians Screened for Adverse Childhood Experiences
ACEs Aware, an initiative to establish routine screening for adverse childhood experiences in primary care and develop a network of care, recently announced that over 500,000 children and adults have been screened and over 20,500 clinicians have been trained for screening. If you are interested in screening for ACEs, please sign up for a free, two-hour training. Physicians receive CME/MOC credits on completion and reimbursement for providing ACEs screening to Medi-Cal beneficiaries. |
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My Green Doctor: A New Money-Saving ACCMA Membership Benefit
Do the environmental improvements we make in our clinics and offices really impact the big picture? This month, ACCMA’s My Green Doctor answers this question and shares ideas for your practice (5-minute read). Register at My Green Doctor and save $60 by using discount code MGDACCMA. My Green Doctor adds only five minutes of environmental sustainability business to each office staff meeting. Everything you need is in the “Meeting-by-Meeting Guide” so there’s nothing for the office manager or you to study. You will also be helping to prepare your patients for the health threats of climate change. Please register today at https://www.MyGreenDoctor.org/ or https://www.MyGreenDoctor.es (en espanol). My Green Doctor can now mail you free waiting room patient brochures (in English and Spanish) about wise environmental and climate choices. Email mygreendr@gmail.com with “Brochures” as the subject line.
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CMS Final 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Confirms Payment Cuts
CMS has released the final rule for the 2022 Medicare physician fee schedule. This rule confirms the combined 9.75% Medicare payment cuts that are in store and that Congress must address before the end of the year. The ACCMA has been strongly advocating to local Congressional members to avert these payment cuts. Please contact your Senators and Representative today to tell them to cancel the cuts by clicking here.
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ACCMA History Talk on November 17
Former ACCMA Executive Director Donald Waters, author of “Medical Care for All, Regardless,” will present highlights from the book via Zoom in a program hosted by UCSF Department of Archives on November 17 from noon to 1:10 pm. You can attend by clicking here; registration is limited. Mr. Waters will discuss ground-breaking programs launched by the ACCMA in 1945 that boldly guaranteed high-quality medical care to everyone in the community. The book, which was published last month, is available for download here or members can request a hard copy by contacting the ACCMA at (510) 654‑5383 or accma@accma.org. |
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Dues Discount Ends December 15
ACCMA members who renew their 2022 membership by December 15 qualify for a 5% discount on their dues. Click here to pay your dues online. Nonmembers who join now and pay in full for 2022 will receive the remaining months of this year for free. Click here to join now! |
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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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Wednesday, November 17 | noon to 1:10 PM
FREE | Presented by UCSF Library Archives & Bay Area History of Medicine Society
Former ACCMA Executive Director Donald Waters, author of “Medical Care for All, Regardless,” will present highlights from the book, which covers ground-breaking programs launched by the ACCMA in 1945 that boldly guaranteed high-quality medical care to everyone in the community. The book is available for download here or members can request a hard copy by contacting the ACCMA at (510) 654‑5383 or accma@accma.org. Register here; registration is limited. |
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Thursday, November 18, 2021 | 12:30 – 1:30 PM
FREE | CME Available | Presented by CA Dept. Of Public Health
This training will cover how to effectively communicate with your patients about COVID-19 vaccines, fertility, and pregnancy, including overall safety, safety and efficacy during pregnancy and post-partum lactation, and the evidence regarding COVID-19 vaccination and future fertility. Presenters are LaTanya Hines, MD, and Michael Policar, MD, MPH.
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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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