Weekly Roundup: In Case You Missed It |
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COVID-19 Updates
On Wednesday the FDA authorized booster shots for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccines. It also updated its authorization for all three vaccines — Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and Pfizer — to allow medical providers to boost people with a different COVID vaccine than the one they initially received. It did not recommend any one vaccine over another as a booster, and also remained silent on whether it is preferable to stick with the same vaccine when possible.
The Biden administration, anticipating that the FDA and the CDC will make COVID vaccines available to 5- to 11-year-olds in the coming weeks, laid out plans on Wednesday to ensure that some 25,000 pediatric or primary care offices, thousands of pharmacies, and hundreds of school and rural health clinics will be ready to administer shots if the vaccine receives federal authorization.
Effective Oct. 18, Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) Xavier Becerra has renewed the nationwide COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) for an additional 90 days. The COVID-19 PHE was first declared on Jan. 27, 2020, and has been renewed every 90 days since then. The current extension of the PHE will take it into late January 2022.
Contra Costa County reported on Wednesday that 88% of residents 12 years and older have received at least one COVID vaccine dose, and 83% are fully vaccinated.
Alameda County reported on Wednesday that 89% of residents 12 years and older have received at least one COVID vaccine dose, and 84% are fully vaccinated.
Alameda County reports that it has administered more than 2,451,000 doses as of October 21. As of October 14, ICU capacity in the county is at 36% with 35 confirmed COVID patients hospitalized.
Contra Costa reports that it has administered more than 1,747,000 doses as of October 21. As of October 14, ICU capacity in the county is at 20% with 23 confirmed COVID patients hospitalized.
Apply by October 26 for Provider Relief Fund Distribution
All physicians may apply for Phase 4 funding from the HHS Provider Relief Fund to assist physician practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Physicians will be reimbursed for their revenue losses and increased COVID-related expenses from July 1, 2020, through March 31, 2021 (as compared to revenues in 2019). There will be bonus payments for physicians treating Medicaid/CHIP patients. Small practices will receive a higher percentage of their lost revenues and increased expenses. Applications must be received before midnight, October 26, 2021.
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New California Law Expands Screening for Adverse Childhood Experiences
A bill co-sponsored by the California Medical Association, SB 428 (Hurtado), the ACEs Equity Act, was recently enacted to expand health insurance coverage for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) screening. It applies to all health care service plan contracts, including Medi-Cal managed care plan contracts, and health insurance policies issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2022, that provide coverage for pediatric services and preventive care. All physicians, particularly Medi-Cal providers, are encouraged to receive a free, two-hour training to learn how to screen for ACEs; physicians can receive 2 CME credits and 2 MOC credits upon completion.
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Doctors Ask CMS to Enforce Rules on Zero-Fee EFT Payments
The California Medical Association has joined other medical and specialty societies to express strong concerns over unfair business practices around electronic payments. CMA has for many years urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to clarify and enforce the right of physicians to receive electronic payments via the Automated Clearing House electronic funds transfer (EFT) standard without being forced to pay percentage-based fees for “value-added” services. 57% of medical practices reported that health plans charge fees that the practice has not agreed to when sending payments via EFT, with 86% reporting average fees of 2 –3% of the claim payment. Read the joint letter that was sent to CMS by the medical and specialty societies here. |
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Aetna to Halt Paper Checks and Remittances by September 2022
The payor said it plans to transition to the exclusive use of electronic remittance advices (ERA), electronic funds transfer (EFT) and electronic explanation of benefit (EOB) statements for all participating and non-participating providers by September 2022. This method is beneficial to payors, but costly for physicians. Health plans often receive cash-back incentives from credit card companies for VCC transactions. Meanwhile, VCC payments are subject to transaction and interchange fees, which are borne by the physician practice and can run as high as 5% per transaction. Physicians can avoid these interchange fees by enrolling in EFT. |
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Join Us for the ACCMA Virtual Annual Meeting
Join us as we celebrate the East Bay medical community at the 153rd ACCMA Virtual Annual Meeting on Thursday, November 4 from 5:45 to 6:30 pm. Learn how to make the classic Negroni with an experienced bartender and chemistry professor, who will talk about the science and history of gin in “The Doctor is Gin.” Plan to join us online (link to come) for your cocktail lesson on November 4.
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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, October 27, 2021 | 12:15 – 1:15 PM
FREE for members & members’ staff | Presented by CMA
Three different value-based care programs will be discussed: the Primary Care Reimagined program, the Medicare Shared Savings Program, and PBGH’s California Quality Collaborative’s Advanced Primary Care Standards. Learn about these models and what the shift toward value-based care means for you and your practice. Members’ staff: To receive a promo code for free registration, email Becky Paplanus at events@cmadocs.org with your physician’s California medical license number.
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- Prior authorization information and instructions
- Beneficiary eligibility lookup
- Claims submission, activities, and inquiries
This webinar will review what’s changing, what’s staying the same, how to sign up to use the new portal, and where to go to learn more.
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Thursday, November 4 | 5:45 – 6:30 PM
Join the East Bay medical community as we celebrate the 153rd ACCMA Annual Meeting, featuring the installation of 2022 ACCMA President Robert Edelman, MD and other incoming officers. We will also hear a brief presentation from the current President of the American Medical Association, Gerald E. Harmon, MD, on the AMA’s priorities and what’s on the horizon for organized medicine.
Enjoy a cocktail on us! Be among the first 100 registrants to receive a FREE box of cocktail ingredients at your front door. Then learn how to make the classic Negroni with an experienced bartender during the event. Nerd out about the science and history behind gin in "The Doctor is Gin." To receive the cocktail ingredients by mail, sign up at bit.ly/3AKa0DL. Limited to one per address to the first 100 registrants before October 21.
For questions, contact Jenn Mullins, Education and Event Associate, at jmullins@accma.org or (510) 654-5383, ext. 6305.
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Tuesday, November 9, 2021 | noon – 1:30 PM
FREE | CME Available | Presented by CMA
Learn from vaccine experts and policy makers about the data behind the evaluation of booster shots and the examination of data on pediatric vaccines for children under 12. We will also hear from Erica Pan, MD, California’s State Epidemiologist, about the state of COVID-19 in California, efforts to keep the virus at bay, progress on vaccines and vaccination efforts, and an update on the status of California schools.
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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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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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