Weekly Roundup: In Case You Missed It |
|
COVID-19 Updates
On March 11, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 pandemic relief package. “The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021” (HR 1319) will provide both economic and health care assistance to millions of Americans. Here is a summary of the legislative package as it relates to health care.
Beginning March 15, healthcare providers may use their clinical judgment to vaccinate individuals age 16–64 who are deemed to be at the very highest risk for morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 as a direct result of one or more severe health conditions. Public transit workers, social workers, the homeless population, and others are also included in the updated COVID-19 vaccine eligibility guidelines. California leads in vaccine equity with 40% of vaccine doses set aside for hardest-hit communities and the establishment of a vaccine equity metric. CDPH has launched a "Let’s Get to ImmUnity" campaign to boost COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.
CMS announced Monday that it would double Medicare payment for administration of the COVID-19 vaccine, effective for COVID-19 vaccines administered on or after March 15, 2021. This payment increase follows significant advocacy by CMA and the American Medical Association (AMA).
A San Bernardino County resident is the first in California to test positive for a coronavirus variant from Brazil, known as P.1, that is believed to be more contagious than the most common strain of the virus, officials said.
On March 15, Bay Area Health Officers issued a statement that all three COVID-19 vaccines are safe and have been shown to be highly effective at preventing symptomatic illness and hospitalization.
Alameda County reports that it has administered more than 658,000 doses as of March 18. As of March 16, ICU capacity in the county is at 39% with 30 confirmed COVID patients hospitalized. Alameda County issued a Health Advisory to inform clinicians of the availability of monoclonal antibody (MAB) therapy for high-risk patients with mild to moderate SARS-CoV-2 infections who are not yet hospitalized.
Contra Costa Health Services reports that it has administered nearly 484,000 doses as of March 18. As of March 17, ICU capacity in the county is at 17% with 14 confirmed COVID patients hospitalized. The first cases of the UK COVID variant have been reported in Contra Costa County.
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 26 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.
|
|
CMA Tells Congress to Stop Medicare Sequestration Cuts Before April 1
This week, CMA and ACCMA urged all physicians to contact their Members of Congress to ask them to pass HR 1868, a bill to stop the 2% Medicare reimbursement sequestration cuts from being reinstated on April 1. Congress reversed the cuts at the outset of the pandemic in recognition of the considerable financial pressures confronting physician practices, which are continuing. HR 1868 was approved by a vote of 246-175 in the House of Representatives on Friday.
|
|
Ongoing Ebola Virus Disease Outbreaks in Congo and Guinea
The risk for importation of Ebola virus into California remains very low. However, CDPH continues to remind healthcare providers in hospitals, emergency departments, and clinics to routinely ask patients with signs or symptoms of acute and possibly infectious illness about recent international travel.
|
|
Medical Board of California to Raise CURES Fees
The fee charged to maintain the Controlled Substances Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES) is set to increase from $6 to $11 for licenses that expire on or after July 1, 2021 (pursuant to AB 3330). For more information about CURES, see here.
|
|
Optum Pay Restores Access to UHC Remittances
In response to advocacy coordinated by the CMA and MAM, UnitedHealthcare has advised that the Optum Pay basic service will restore free access to payment remittances. Additionally, providers who enrolled in Optum Pay premium during the recent free trial period can cancel their enrollment through the end of March without penalty.
|
|
UnitedHealthcare Narrowing Network Access for Laboratory Services
UHC will limit outpatient laboratory services coverage to Designated Diagnostic Provider labs, which are freestanding or hospital outpatient labs that have met certain quality and efficiency requirements. The change will take effect beginning with UHC commercial large group benefit plans in July 2021 followed by small group benefit plans in January 2022.
|
|
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.
|
|
Tuesday, March 23 | noon – 1 PM
FREE | CME Available | Presented by the Santa Clara County Medical Association
Due to disjointed COVID-19 vaccine distribution, shortage of vaccines, evolving vaccine development, confusion about patient access and eligibility, and vaccine hesitancy, many physicians are unsure of how to discuss the ethical, legal and practical concerns with patients.
In addition, physicians need to be able to address patient concerns regarding vaccine equity and roll-out amongst historically marginalized communities.
Speakers: Michelle Oberman, JD, MPH, Santa Clara University School of Law; Craig Stephens, PhD, Santa Clara University Department of Biology and Public Health Program; Charles Binkley, MD, Santa Clara University Center for Applied Ethics; Barry Brummer, MD (moderator)
|
|
Tuesday, March 30 | 12–1:30 PM
FREE | CME Available | Presented by CMA
After nearly a full year of public-school closures and at-home learning, pediatricians and others are reporting significant mental health distress in children. This virtual grand rounds webinar will feature experts who will discuss COVID-19 testing in schools, pediatric mental health and school reopenings, especially through an equity lens.
Speakers: Naomi Bardach, MD, UCSF; Carol Glaser, MD, Office of the State Public Health Laboratory; and Kimberly N. Green, MD, UCSF (moderator)
|
|
Thursday, April 8 | 12:15–1:15 PM
FREE | Presented by CMA
CMA is inviting practices to bring any and all questions about the future of telehealth. There will be minimal planned presentation – just a review of some of the most commonly asked questions. Come prepared with your most pressing thoughts and questions to hear from CMA’s experts on the issue.
|
|
Tuesday, April 13 | 12–1:30 PM
FREE | CME Available | Presented by CMA
Since last summer, patients and increasingly physicians have recognized that COVID-19 causes prolonged sequelae in a significant number of patients. As experts work to understand the nature and etiology of this syndrome, patients themselves are looking for answers and forming patient support and advocacy groups. In this grand rounds, we will feature physicians working clinically to monitor and care for patients with prolonged sequelae, and a researcher who is investigating the epidemiology and causes of post-acute COVID symptoms.
Speakers: Erica Pan, MD, MPH, California Department of Public Health; Michael Peluso, MD; Lekshmi Santosh, MD; and Kimberly N. Green, MD, UCSF (moderator)
|
|
ACCMA's On-Demand Library
|
|
Please contact ACCMA at 510-654-5383 or accma@accma.org with any questions or concerns you have.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
