You Practice Medicine, We Do the Rest...
The Alameda-Contra Costa Medical Association
(ACCMA) is a professional association of East Bay
physicians who are dedicated to improving the quality and accesibility of our health care system. The
ACCMA supports physicians and patients in
numerous ways. We invite you to explore our website
and learn how the ACCMA can help you.
- Upcoming Seminars and Webinars
- "CalOSHA Training Webinar" on July 10; "Patient Relations Workshops for Medical Office Staff" on Sept 18, 25 and Oct 2; "MBA in 3 Days Series" in Nov. Read more...
- Uphill Battle for Medicare Payment Reform
- Despite initial Congressional support, competing demands for Federal funding has dulled Congressional enthusiasm for Medicare payment reform this year. Read more...
- Governor's Health Cuts Ill-Advised and Fiscally Reckless
- Responding to a $21 billion budget deficit, Governor Schwarzenegger has proposed $2.2 billion in draconian cuts to California's health care infrastructure Read more...
- FTC "Red Flag Rule" Delayed to August 1
- The FTC has delayed to August 1, 2009 a requirement that physicians must implement identity theft prevention programs. Find guidance for physicians and sample policies in the online compliance center. Read more...
- New Medicare Enrollment Rules Onerous for Physicians
- New rules took effect April 1 that could result in physicians not being paid if they fail to meet Medicare's new strict timelines for providing notification of practice changes. Read more...
- CMA Protects MICRA - Again!
- A court of appeals has sided with CMA to uphold MICRA, California's model tort reform system. Read more...
- CMA Defeats Scope of Practice Bills
- CMA recent killed two bills that would have significantly expanded the scope of practice of pharmacists and physical therapists. Read more...
- CMA Gets Long Sought Audit of Medi-Cal TAR Program
- CMA won legislative approval for an audit of the Medi-Cal Treatment Authorization Request (TAR) process, which diverts much needed funds from actual health care. Read more...
- Swine Flu Update: Active Surveillance Requested
- The Alameda and Contra Costa county public health agencies have issued guidance to physicians for active surveillance of swine influenza. Physicians should check back regularly for updates. Read more...
- Health Information Technology/E-Prescribing Resource Center
- Resources for physicians to plan for and implement electronic medical records (EMR) and to participate in the CMS electronic prescribing program. Read more...
- Medi-Cal to Cut Optional Benefits on July 1
- "Optional" Medi-Cal benefits will be cut starting July 1 because of a provision in the recently passed State budget compromise, resulting in a significant reduction in benefits for Medi-Cal patients. Read more...
- Annual Medi-Cal Eligibility Reporting Restored to Maximize Stimulus
- In an effort to maximize California's share of Federal stimulus dollars for Medi-Cal, state legislators have restored Medi-Cal eligibility and renewal requirements to the pre-July 1, 2008 rules. Read more...
- HealthNet Clarifies Review Policy for Consultations
- At CMA's urging, HealthNet has clarified a new onerous documentation requirement for consultations. Read more...
- Stimulus Package to Provide up to $11 Billion for Medi-Cal
- California's Medi-Cal program is expected to receive more than $11 billion over three years as part of the economic stimulus package, higher than originally estimated. Read more...
- Joint Commission Requires Ongoing Collection of Physician Data
- New Joint Commission standard requires medical staffs to collect physician-specific performance data on a regular basis, in addition to the every two-year credentialing cycle. Read more...
- Cigna Agrees to Drop Ingenix Database
- Cigna will no longer use the flawed Ingenix database and will help establish a new, independent database to help determine fair out-of-network reimbursement rates. Read more...
- Time to Order 2009-2010 Flu Vaccines
- CMA encourages physicians to place their orders early to guarantee that they will receive their supply in time to vaccinate their high-risk patients for the 2009-2010 season. Read more...
- Hot Topic: Palmetto Transition
- Collected information from the ACCMA to help physicians with the transition from NHIC to Palmetto as the Medicare administrator in California. Read more...
- SCHIP Expansion Becomes Law
- Legislation reauthorizing and expanding the federal State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) for five years was signed into law, bringing California $1.5 billion in much-needed funding. Read more...
- HHS Pushes ICD-10 Deadline to 2013
- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has agreed to put off ICD-10 implementation for two additional years until Oct. 1, 2013. Read more...
- IMQ Seeks Primary Care Docs for Review Committees
- IMQ, a subsidiary of the CMA, is seeking primary care physicians to serve on Judicial Review Committees (JRC) for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) Read more...
- Medical Board Changes CME Reporting Requirements
- Effective January 1, physicians are now required to complete 50 CME hours during every two-year licensure period. Previously, physicians were required to complete 100 hours every four years. Read more...
- "Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment" Legally Recognized
- California law gives "Physicians Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment" (POLST) equal status to DNR orders. The POLST form has been endorsed by the ACCMA and the CMA. Read more...
- Blue Shield Will Reprocess Improperly Denied Claims
- Blue Shield of California has agreed to automatically reprocess claims that were incorrectly denied because it failed to add the new 2009 CPT codes into its system. Read more...
News
- ACCMA Seminars/Webinars
- "CalOSHA Training Webinar" on July 10; "Patient Relations Workshops for Medical Office Staff" on Sept 18, 25 and Oct 2; "MBA in 3 Days Series" in Nov.
- Medicare SGR Reform
- Despite initial Congressional support, competing demands for Federal funding has dulled Congressional enthusiasm for Medicare payment reform this year.
- Red Flag Rule
- The FTC has delayed to August 1, 2009 a requirement that physicians must implement identity theft prevention programs. Find guidance for physicians and sample policies in the online compliance center.
- HIT Resources
- Resources for physicians to plan for and implement electronic medical records (EMR) and to participate in the CMS electronic prescribing program.