Weekly Roundup: In Case You Missed It |
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COVID-19 Updates
The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) recently announced that effective for dates of service on or after March 15, 2021, Medi-Cal has raised its payment rate for COVID-19 vaccine administration fee to $40 per dose, regardless of vaccine manufacturer. This represents an increase from about $45 to $80 for the two-shot combo.
CDPH released updated vaccine eligibility guidelines. Individuals aged 50-64 will be eligible for the vaccine starting April 1, and starting April 15, everyone in California over the age of 16 will be eligible.
CDC has updated their COVID-19 variant surveillance guide, which now lists the two California variants as variants of concern.
The federal government shared concerns regarding the use of bamlanivimab monotherapy in regions where the SARS-CoV2 mutation L452R found in B.1.429/B.1.427 lineages (the California variants) are circulating in high numbers. Given these concerns that the clinical activity of bamlanivimab monotherapy is impacted by this variant, the Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response has stopped the distribution of bamlanivimab to California.
FDA has released revised fact sheets for health care providers, which now include information on susceptibility of SARS-CoV2 variants to each of the monoclonal antibody therapies.
CDPH updated their guidance related to cohorts, specifically applying to groups of children and youth.
AstraZeneca updated its clinical trial analysis in response to criticism of earlier analysis. The company found its coronavirus vaccine to be 76% effective, rather than the 79% reported previously. The report maintains that it is 100% effective at protecting against severe covid.
A Hope and Healing event honors Contra Costa residents lost to COVID-19 on March 22, 2020, one year after the first Contra Costa resident death.
Alameda County is transitioning operations of the Fairgrounds POD to Stanford Health Care/Valley Care and Sutter Health and providing vaccine to administer on their behalf starting April 3.
Alameda County also received notice this week that CalOES/FEMA will conclude operations at the Coliseum mega POD on April 11. They are in conversations with the state about potential transitions.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is being delivered to community vaccination centers in Alameda County. Dr. Erica Pan, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, and Dr. Tomas Aragon all received the J&J vaccine during a visit to the Coliseum in Oakland.
Alameda County meets the Orange Tier metrics set by the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy, but must remain in the current Red Tier for a minimum of three weeks. The County could transition to the Orange Tier toward the end of this month.
Alameda County has posted information about who is in which tier and where they can go to get an appointment. The site includes phone numbers for certain sites in case patients don’t have internet access. You can print this page for your patients. There is also a Google Translate icon at the top, so the page can be viewed in many languages.
Alameda County reports that it has administered more than 782,000 doses as of March 25. As of March 23, ICU capacity in the county is at 40% with 81 confirmed COVID patients hospitalized.
Contra Costa Health Services reports that it has administered more than 570,000 doses as of March 25. As of March 24, ICU capacity in the county is at 20% with 13 confirmed COVID patients hospitalized.
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 April 2 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.
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Congressional Action on the Medicare Sequester
On Thursday, the Senate voted 90-2 to pass an agreement reached by Leaders Schumer and McConnell to extend the 2 percent Medicare sequester moratorium that expires on April 1. The bipartisan legislation would provide a nine-month extension of the moratorium, through December 31.
The House of Representatives passed different legislation last week that would both extend the moratorium through the end of the pandemic and eliminate an additional 4 percent Medicare sequester scheduled to take effect on January 1. Consequently, the House will need to pass the Senate language when it returns from its Easter recess in mid-April. The House is expected to vote favorably, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is expected to hold off on processing April claims until then to avoid making reduced payments. CMA and the American Medical Association (AMA) are urging bipartisan support of this important legislation to avert Medicare sequestration cuts.
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Newsom and Richardson Keynote CMA Advocacy Conference
Gavin Newsom, Governor of California, and Yolanda Richardson, California Secretary of Government Operations, will address attendees during the CMA 47th Annual Legislative Advocacy Conference program scheduled for Tuesday, April 6 at 10:00 AM.
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UHC/Optum Restore Access to Remittances
UHC and Optum have altered their basic service to again allow for access to remittances without the need to subscribe to Optum Pay. In addition, they have again allowed providers to have access to the PDF versions of the remittances. For providers who signed up to Optum Pay Premium, there might be an opportunity to cancel their subscription to avert any costs.
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CMA Publishes FAQ on New Info-Blocking Rule
The rule takes effect April 5. It will, with some exceptions, prohibit any action defined as “information blocking” by physicians, hospitals, and health information technology vendors.
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CMA Applauds Confirmation of Xavier Becerra as HHS Secretary
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra has served California well as Attorney General, and he will be an important voice for better and more equitable health care as part of the Biden Administration. To view the full CMA statement, click here.
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Special ACA Enrollment Extended Until August 15
The Biden administration announced t hat Americans can sign up on an Affordable Care Act exchange for an additional three months.
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Rachel Levine, MD, Confirmed as HHS Asst. Secretary of Health
The US Senate voted Wednesday to confirm Dr. Rachel Levine as assistant secretary for health in the Department of Health and Human Services, making her the first openly transgender federal official to be confirmed by the Senate.
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Assembly Member Rob Bonta Appointed Next Attorney General for CA
On Wednesday morning, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that East Bay Assembly Member Rob Bonta will become the next California (CA) Attorney General (AG). Asm. Bonta’s appointment is subject to confirmation by the State Senate and Assembly within 90 days. Asm. Bonta’s appointment makes him the first Filipino to hold the office of CA AG. Asm. Bonta has represented the East Bay since 2012.
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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.
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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; Raul Guttierez, MD, UCSF; Jeanne Noble, MD, UCSF; Kimberly Newell Green, MD, UCSF (moderator)
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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.
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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)
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Wednesday, May 19 | 10 AM – 2:30 PM
FREE to attend | CME Available
This will be a four-hour online training for qualified prescribers (including physicians, Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants) to receive half of the 8 hours of training required to obtain a Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) waiver for treatment of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). Open to members and non-members. Counts for 4 CME credits.
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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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