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.
- Some Medi-Cal Payments on Hold Until Budget Impasse Resolved
- While most physicians continue to be paid for Medi-Cal claims, some Medi-Cal payments are being held up while the California Legislature negotiates a new State budget. Read more...
- Impacted Physicians Should Initiate PECOS Enrollment ASAP
- To ensure adequate time to process applications before the January 3, 2011. Medicare is strongly encouraging physicians who are not currently enrolled in PECOS to initiate Medicare enrollment. Read more...
- Medicare to Shift Funding from Urban to Rural States
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed changing the 2011 Medicare physician payment rule to shift more than $1 billion in Medicare funding from urban to rural states. Read more...
- California Physicians are Eligible for Shares in UnitedHealth Settlement
- The deadline to submit claims for payment from the settlement fund is October 5. Read more...
- Regulations Require Physician Participation in Lethal Injections
- Despite ongoing opposition from the CMA, the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) recently approved regulations that would require physician participation in lethal injections. Read more...
- Medicare Audits Find Improper Use of New Patient Codes
- The CMS Recovery Audit Contractor has been requesting a number of refunds from physicians because new patient office visit codes are being used instead of established patient office visit codes. Read more...
- New CalOSHA Regulations Take Effect September 1st
- Effective September 1, new CalOSHA standards will require employers in health care settings to take measures to protect employees from aerosol transmissible diseases. Read more...
- EHR "Meaningful Use" Requirements, and EHR Certification Program Announced
- Medicare has announced "meaningful use" requirements, a key milestone for physicians using electronic health records (EHR) to receive Federal funds, and plans for a EHR certification program. Read more...
- FTC Temporarily Exempts Docs from Red Flag Rule
- The FTC has agreed to temporarily exempt physicians from the commissionâs âred flagâ rule, which would require medical practices to implement identity theft prevention programs. Read more...
- State Pays Providers Millions for 2008 Medi-Cal Cuts
- Medi-Cal recently paid providers $25.8 million as retroactive payment because of CMAâs Federal lawsuit challenging a 10% cut in Medi-Cal rates in 2008. Read more...
- Bill to Erode Ban on Hospitals Hiring Physicians Moves to Senate
- Unfortunately, the California Assembly barely voted (with only 42 votes) to pass SB 726 (Ashburn), a bill that would erode the ban on the corporate practice of medicine. Read more...
- Update on Medicare Fee Schedule and Claims Processing
- Palmetto GBA has provided an update on claims processing and announed the new Medicare fee schedule reflecting the 2.2% increased rates will be posted by July 15th. Read more...
- California Facing Pertussis Epidemic; Dept. of Public Health Urges Vaccinations
- The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced that the number of pertussis cases reported in California this year has increased four-fold and is recommending vaccinations. Read more...
- CMA Publishes New Payor Contracting Guide
- To help physicians understand their rights when it comes to health plan contract amendments, CMA has published "Payor Contract Amendments: An Action Guide for Physicians." Read more...
- REMINDER: Medical Board "Notice to Consumers" Regulation in Effect
- California physicians are now required to provide a "Notice to Consumers" to notify patients that they are licensed and regulated by the Medical Board of California (MBC). Find resources to comply. Read more...
- CMA-Sponsored Legislation Advances
- Several CMA-sponsored bills have cleared either the Assembly or Senate and continue to make their way through the legislative process. Read more...
- Some Private Payors Changing Consultation Code Payment Policies
- Some private payors have followed Medicare and have also made changes to their consultation code payment policies. See which payers have made changes through CMA's Quick Reference Guide. Read more...
- Medicare Fee Schedule Changes
- Palmetto recently posted a revised Medicare fee schedule on its website. The new fee schedule includes changes resulting from practice expense and malpractice RVU corrections. Read more...
- Blue Shield to Publish Flawed Physician Ratings
- Despite vigorous objections from ACCMA and CMA, Blue Shield of California will use the flawed quality measurement system known as the CPPI to publicly identify "Blue Ribbon" physicians. Read more...
- New Medicare Rules Impact Claims
- Last month President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which has resulted in some important changes to Medicare rules. Read more...
- Joint Commission Approves New Medical Staff Standard
- On March 18, the Joint Commission announced that it approved revisions to medical staff standard MS.01.01.01 (formerly MS1.20) that are designed to improve patient safety Read more...
- CMA Launches New Practice Management Bulletin - Subscribe Today
- CMA has launched CMA Practice Resources (CPR), a free monthly e-mail bulletin from the reimbursement experts in CMA's Center. Read more...
- CMA Develops Guidance for Physicians on State Use Tax
- The CMA has prepared guidance to help physicians understand their obligations to pay California Use Tax for certain business-related purchases made from out-of-state vendors. Read more...
- Health Care Reform Becomes Law
- President Obama recently signed the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" and the "Affordable Health Care for America" budget reconciliation bill into law. Read more...
- New HIPAA Changes in Place
- The "Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health" (HITECH) Act has added additional privacy and security safeguards to existing HIPAA regulations. Read more...
- New Timely Access Guide for Physicians
- The CMA has published a new guide to help physicians understand regulations recently adopted by the DMHC that require HMO patients to be seen within certain time frames for various levels of care. Read more...
- CMA Successful in Blocking Medical Board Furloughs
- An Alameda County Superior Court recently ruled in favor of CMA-supported litigation that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger lacks the authority to furlough employees of special fund agencies. Read more...
- CMA Sponsors Bill to Require Coverage for Smoking Cessation
- In an effort to further curb tobacco use, CMA has sponsored legislation (SB 220) that would mandate health insurance coverage for tobacco cessation services. Read more...
- State Approves Regulations to Expand Scope for Nonphysicians
- Despite continued opposition by CMA, the California Office of Administrative Law approved regulations removing requirements that physicians be involved in critical health care activities in hospitals. Read more...
- CMA Sues Governor for Violating Scope of Practice Laws
- CMA and the California Society of Anesthesiologists filed a lawsuit to overturn Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's decision. Read more...
- State Petitions for Review of Decisions to Bar Medi-Cal Cuts
- The California Attorney General has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review prior lower court rulings that forced the State of California to reverse 10 percent cuts in Medi-Cal reimbursement. Read more...
- Physicians Must Enroll in Blue Cross Healthy Families Program by March 31
- Blue Cross is requiring physicians to sign a separate contract by no later than March 31 and accept reduced rates to continue treating Blue Cross-insured Healthy Families and AIM patients. Read more...
- Leadership Academy Focuses on Hospital-Physician Alignment
- The 2010 Leadership Academy will feature sessions on health system reform, health disparities, health information technology, leadership development, and practice management. Read more...
- Information on Volunteering in Haiti
- Information for physicians who are interested in volunteering in Haiti. Read more...
- Governor Proposes 2010-2011 Budget
- Governor Schwarzenegger recently proposed a State budget for 2010-2011 with projected spending at $83 billion and a deficit projected at $19.9 billion over the next 18 months. Read more...
- H1N1 Influenza Update
- UPDATE: CDPH is now accepting supplemental orders for H1N1 vaccine. Requests will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Read more...
- CMA's Annual Legislative Conference is April 27
- Save the date! CMA's annual Legislative Leadership Conference will be held Tuesday, April 27, in Sacramento. Read more...
- Legislature Agrees to Healthy Families Solution
- The California Legislature passed and the Governor signed legislation to avoid disenrolling as many as 600,000 kids from the Healthy Families program. Read more...
- Blue Cross Announces Changes
- Anthem Blue Cross changes fee schedule, reimbursement policies and introduces new claim editing software. Read more...
- Dept. of Insurance Proposes to Halt Illegal Rescissions
- Dept of Insurance recently introduced much needed regulations that would end the illegal practice of insurers cancelling individual health insurance coverage after policyholders utilize coverage. 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...
- 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...
News
- Medi-Cal Payments on Hold
- While most physicians continue to be paid for Medi-Cal claims, some Medi-Cal payments are being held up while the California Legislature negotiates a new State budget.
- PECOS Enrollment Update
- To ensure adequate time to process applications before the January 3, 2011. Medicare is strongly encouraging physicians who are not currently enrolled in PECOS to initiate Medicare enrollment.
- CalOSHA ATD Regulations
- Effective September 1, new CalOSHA standards will require employers in health care settings to take measures to protect employees from aerosol transmissible diseases.
- MBC Notice to Consumers
- California physicians are now required to provide a "Notice to Consumers" to notify patients that they are licensed and regulated by the Medical Board of California (MBC). Find resources to comply.