January 2016 Download PDF Here SCMA NEWS Countywide physician survey 135 new health laws in 2016 Still time to receive a 5% discount on dues Watch for Sonoma Medicine this month SCMA member donations create new scholarship funding high! Join us at the Capitol for Legislative Advocacy Day April 13 Applicants PEOPLE CALIFORNIA NEWS Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine opening in 2019 State launches CURES 2.0 and streamlined registration TOP CMA STORIES RESOURCES / WEBINARS / CME CLASSIFIEDS ABOUT SCMA SCMA NEWS Countywide physician survey As part of SCMA's ongoing commitment to address issues and activities that concern local physicians, we invite you to participate in a brief survey. It will only take a few minutes to complete. Your feedback will help SCMA better serve our community and you, your practice and your patients. Survey results will help guide SCMA board members as they consider updating SCMA's strategic plan for 2016 and beyond. All responses are anonymous. However, if you wish to be entered in a drawing for one of five $20 VISA gift cards, please provide your name and email address at the end of the survey. Card winners will be selected at random. Click here to access the survey. Please complete by Friday, Jan. 29, 2016; the online survey will be closed after that date. Survey results will be published in a future issue of Sonoma Medicine. The report will also include comparisons of results from the 2013 and 1996 physician surveys. Thank you in advance for your valued input! 135 new health laws in 2016 The California Legislature had an active year, passing many new laws affecting health care. In particular, there was a strong focus on health care coverage, public health issues and end-of-life care. Click here to access the list of significant new health laws of interest to physicians (PDF download). Still time to receive a 5% discount on dues Pay your dues by Jan. 15, 2016 and save 5%. The discount is already calculated on SCMA invoices, and you can pay by check or credit card. For questions regarding your invoice, contact Rachel Pandolfi at 707-525-4375 or rachel@scma.org. Watch for Sonoma Medicine this month The winter 2016 issue focuses on mental health, featuring articles by local experts that cover mental illness and mass shootings, integrated behavioral health care, advances in child and adolescent psychiatry, and mental health services at the county jail. The magazine will be mailed later in January and will also be available online at www.scma.org. SCMA member donations create new scholarship funding high! The Holiday Greeting Card, now celebrating its Golden Anniversary, has almost reached its goal of $50,000 in recognition of funding more than 800 scholarship awards during the past 50 years. This achievement has been made possible by the generosity of donors who raised the bar on their annual giving for scholarships. Three donors joined the Circle of Champions with $1,000 gifts and an unprecedented seven donors gave gifts of $500 each. To date, $19,000 in donations has been received for the card fund. These funds will be added to the $20,000 contribution from SCMAAF's Gala85 and the 2015 Garden Tour. An investment with the Sonoma County Community Foundation will also factor in, as well as a pending grant from the Pacific Foundation for Medical Care. Holiday Greeting Card chair, Barbara Ramsey, thanks everyone for their contributions benefiting local students who pursue a career in medicine. For more information about the scholarship fund and other SCMA Alliance activities, visit www.scmaa.org. Join us at the Capitol for Legislative Advocacy Day April 13 SCMA members, you are invited to join your peers at CMA's annual Legislative Advocacy Day on Tuesday, April 13, at the Sheraton Grand in Sacramento. Attended by more than 400 physicians, medical students and alliance members, this conference provides an opportunity to meet with local legislators regarding pressing health care issues. For more information contact Dr. Brad Drexler at b9drexler@gmail.com, or Cynthia Melody at 707-525-4375, cmelody@scma.org. Applicants Welcome, new SCMA/CMA members! Cuyler Goodwin, DO, Psychiatry, Touro Univ Oreoluwa Ogunyemi, MD, Urology, 6880 Palm Ave., Sebastopol, UC Los Angeles Sonoma County Indian Health Project Meredith Coble, DO, Family Medicine, 144 Stony Point Rd., Santa Rosa, Touro Univ PEOPLE In November, HIFU Prostate Services, LLC, a leading provider of minimally-invasive prostate cancer treatment using High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), announced that physician partner and Medical Director, Michael J. Lazar, MD treated the first prostate cancer patient in California with minimally invasive HIFU, in San Francisco at the San Francisco Surgery Center. This was the second patient ever treated in the country using Sonablate HIFU technology. CALIFORNIA NEWS Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine opening in 2019 Kaiser Permanente announced plans to open the Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine as part of the organization's ongoing effort to lead in meeting America's demands for 21st century health care. The school is scheduled to open in the fall of 2019 and will be located in Southern California. Shifts in the U.S. population have created more diverse communities, which require greater cultural competency and understanding. The Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine will teach advanced skills in decision-making, teamwork, the use of technology, evidence-based medicine and communication tailored to specific populations. State launches CURES 2.0 and streamlined registration The upgrade to the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES) prescription drug monitoring system was rolled out Jan. 8, 2016. Commonly referred to as "CURES 2.0," it is available to all users in compliance with the system's security requirements. The upgraded database promises an improved user experience and features-added functionalities, including the ability to delegate report queries and new practitioner-identified patient alerts. Also a streamlined, fully-automated registration process enables licensed health care prescribers and pharmacists to request access to CURES and validate their credentials entirely online using a secure web browser. All individuals practicing in California who possess both a state regulatory board license authorized to prescribe, dispense, furnish or order controlled substances and a Drug Enforcement Administration Controlled Substance Registration Certificate must be registered to use CURES no later than July 1, 2016. To register using the new automated system, visit http://oag.ca.gov/cures. Physicians who experience problems with the new system are encouraged to contact CMA's member help line at 800-786-4262 or email memberservice@cmanet.org. TTOP CMA STORIES CMA publishes the biweekly e-newsletter, CMA Alert, to keep its members up-to-date on critical issues affecting the practice of medicine in California. Click here to view the current issue RESOURCES / WEBINARS / CME CMA Practice Resources (CPR) is a free monthly e-bulletin from the California Medical Association's practice management experts. It focuses on critical payor and health care industry changes and how they directly impact the business of a physician practice. Each issue includes tips on reimbursement and contracting-related issues, along with information on the latest practice management news. View the current issue. New 2016 POLST form Proposed revisions to the California POLST form were approved by the Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) Commission at their December meeting, allowing providers to move forward with full implementation of the provisions of Assembly Bill 637. AB 637 (Wolk) authorizes nurse practitioners and physician assistants (under the supervision of a physician and within their scope of practice) to sign POLST forms and make them actionable medical orders. The bill went into effect Jan. 1, 2016. Click here for more information. Upcoming Webinars (click here for full list of titles and descriptions) • CMA Federal Advocacy Update. Jan. 20, 12:15 p.m. • CMA Priorities: Health System Transformation and the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization. Jan. 27, 12:15 p.m. • HIPAA Compliance: Key Risks all Physicians Should Know. Feb. 24, 12:15 p.m. • Closing a Medical Practice. March 9, 12:15 p.m. Archived webinars CMA's archived webinars are free to SCMA members and staff. Nonmember fee: $99. For more information, contact CMA's member-help center, 800-786-4262 or memberservice@cmanet.org. Free online CME: Child Abuse Prevention, Recognition and Reporting When is a child's bruise from an accident or something more? Do you know what, when, and how to report? Take this complimentary course to learn essential signs that should be reported. Free CMEs available. Click here to pre-register for this free course. Western Health Care Leadership Academy. May 13-15, 2016 Save the date for the 2016 Western Health Care Leadership Academy, which will be held at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square from Friday, May 13, through Sunday, May 15. Click here for more information. CLASSIFIEDS SCMA members get free classifieds! SCMA members can place free classified ads in News Briefs or Sonoma Medicine. Cost for nonmember physicians and the general public is $1 per word. To place a classified ad, contact Susan Gumucio at susan@scma.org or 707-525-0102. ABOUT SCMA The Sonoma County Medical Association, a 501(c)(6) nonprofit association, supports local physicians and their efforts to enhance the health of the community. Founded in 1858, SCMA is affiliated with the California Medical Association and the American Medical Association. © 2016 SCMA, 2312 Bethards Dr. #6, Santa Rosa, CA 95405 January 27, 2016 SCMA News Briefs SCMA News Briefs 0 0 Comment Read More »
December 2015 Download PDF Here SCMA NEWS Upcoming SCMA online survey offers chance to win a $50 Starbucks gift card Pay your dues by Jan. 15 and receive a 5% discount SCMA Awards Dinner attracts full house Join the fight to protect medicine: be a Legislative Key Contact Save the date: Legislative Advocacy Day April 13 SCMA membership holds steady: directory to publish in February Applicants TOP CMA STORIES PRACTICE RESOURCES CLASSIFIEDS ABOUT SCMA SCMA NEWS Upcoming SCMA online survey offers chance to win a $50 Starbucks gift card In mid-January SCMA will be sending an online survey to all local physicians asking for their thoughts and insights about the medical association and health care-related issues. Survey results will help guide SCMA board members as they consider updating SCMA's strategic plan for 2016 and beyond. The goal of the plan is to ensure that the medical association fulfills its mission of supporting physicians and their efforts to enhance the health of the community. SCMA members who choose to identify themselves will be entered into a drawing with a chance to win a $50 Starbucks gift card. Nonmembers who submit an application form and pay their 2016 dues will also be entered into the drawing. Pay your dues by Jan. 15 and receive a 5% discount Invoices for 2016 were recently mailed to all SCMA members. To receive a 5% discount, simply pay by Jan. 15, 2016. The discount is already calculated on the invoice, and you can pay by check or credit card. In addition to standard dues, the invoice allows members to make additional donations to CMA's political action committee (CALPAC) at a variety of levels. Donations can also be made to the MICRA Education Fund and the CMA Physician's Issues Committee. For questions regarding your invoice, contact Rachel Pandolfi at 707-525-4375 or rachel@scma.org. SCMA Awards Dinner attracts full house The Rose Ballroom at the Vintners Inn was full on Wednesday evening, Dec. 2, as SCMA honored individual physicians and recognized the 50th anniversary of the Holiday Greeting Card. SCMA President Dr. Mary Maddux-González acted as emcee for the event, holding with alacrity the attention of more than 120 doctors, spouses and guests. The first award, for Outstanding Contribution to Sonoma County Medicine, went to Congressman Mike Thompson and Drs. Brad Drexler, Jan Sonander, and Len Klay. Presenters Elizabeth McNeil, CMA's VP of Federal Government Relations, and Stephen Gale, the Congressman's district director, praised the award recipients for their leadership, commitment and determination to fix the California GPCI and abolish the SGR. Dr. Nancy Davidson presented the Outstanding Contribution to the Community award to Dr. Richard Powers in appreciation of his leadership and steadfast commitment to reopen the West County hospital as Sonoma West Medical Center. Retired NORCAL Mutual Insurance claims supervisor Audrey Pulis presented the Outstanding Contribution to SCMA award to the Medical Review Advisory Committee. The committee members were recognized for more than 20 years of dedicated, confidential peer review service to determine factors influencing Sonoma County medical professional liability claims. Dr. Richard Andolsen, longtime MRAC chair, accepted the award. Dr. Mark Sloan presented the Article of the Year award to Dr. Tara Scott for her article "Planned Birth at Home," which appeared in the spring 2015 issue of Sonoma Medicine magazine. Dr. Rob Nied concluded the evening by presenting SCMA's 2015 Recognition of Achievement award to Barbara Ramsey, acknowledging the 50th anniversary of the Holiday Greeting Card that raises money for scholarships awarded to qualified students entering a medically related field. Join the fight to protect medicine: be a Legislative Key Contact Critical issues affecting today's physicians are being decided in the legislative arena. Health care reform, medical liability and insurance regulations are being debated and voted on by decision-makers in Sacramento. CMA has the best lobbyists, lawyers and other advocates in the Capitol, but the most powerful weapon in advancing the cause of physicians and their patients is YOU. Hearing from a physician with experience from the frontlines of medicine can make all the difference for a legislator facing a complicated health care issue. You don't have to be a political expert or know a legislator directly to serve as a Legislative Key Contact. You just need the desire to make an impact, and SCMA/CMA will give you the rest. Click here for more information. You can also contact Dr. Brad Drexler, SCMA Government Relations chair, 707-431-8876, b9drexler@gmail.com, or Cynthia Melody at 707-525-4375, cmelody@scma.org. Save the date: Legislative Advocacy Day April 13 The California Medical Association (CMA) will host its annual Legislative Advocacy Day on April 13 at the Sheraton Grand in Sacramento. Please join your peers meeting our local legislators in their Capitol offices about a variety of pending legislation and health care issues. For more information, visit www.cmanet.org/events or contact Cynthia Melody at 707-525-4375 or cmelody@scma.org. SCMA membership holds steady: directory to publish in February Despite the changes in physicians' mode of practice from solo to group practice, membership in SCMA held steady with 54 percent of market share in 2015. To help keep track of all physicians practicing in Sonoma County, SCMA will be publishing the 2016 edition of its Sonoma County Physician Directory in late February. The directory, a standard reference book for local medical offices, includes photos and complete specialty, address and training information for SCMA members, along with an alphabetical listing of most local physicians, various specialty indexes, and a guide to medical resources (including the entire CMA On-Call Index). Each SCMA member receives one free copy of the directory. Additional copies cost $30 for members ($25 if ordering five or more), $40 for nonmembers, health care facilities and the general public ($35 if ordering five or more). To order, click here for the order form or contact Rachel Pandolfi at rachel@scma.org or 707-525-4375. Applicants Welcome, new SCMA/CMA members! Jen Hayes, MD, Dermatology*, 7064 Corline Ct. Bldg. C, Sebastopol, David Geffen Med Sch 2010 TPMG - 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa Caitlin McCarthy, MD, Internal Medicine, Univ Southern California Annadel Medical Group Steven Kmucha, MD, Otolaryngology*, 108 Lynch Creek Way #7, Petaluma 94954, Univ Chicago 1984 Zachary Lewton, MD, Neurology*, Sleep Medicine*, Neuromuscular Medicine*, Electrodiagnostic Medicine, 1194 Montgomery Dr., Santa Rosa, Univ Rochester Sutter Medical Group of the Redwoods Shumaila Syed, MD, Surgery, 34 Mark West Springs Rd., Santa Rosa, Virginia Univ * = board certified Italics = medical interest TOP CMA STORIES CMA publishes the biweekly e-newsletter, CMA Alert, to keep its members up-to-date on critical issues affecting the practice of medicine in California. Click here to view the current issue. PRACTICE RESOURCES Webinars and Leadership Academy Upcoming Webinars Dec. 16: Meaningful Use: 2015 and 2016 Modified Rules Jan. 12: Care Integration for Opioid-Dependent High Utilizers Learn how the Center for Integrative Medicine set up a patient-centered and sustainable model for high utilizers of emergency departments, integrating addiction and mental health treatment into primary care, and lowering ED visits by over 50%. Discussions include: Rationale for integrated care models; Comprehensive care and the Center for Integrative Medicine Model; Funding streams for integrated care in California; Setting a foundation for successful implementation; The role of teams in integrated care; and Clinical approaches (medication-assisted treatment, pain management, trauma-informed care, and behavioral health). This all-day seminar runs from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Oakland Marriott City Center, 1001 Broadway, Oakland. Click here for details and registration. Archived webinars CMA's archived webinars are free to SCMA members and staff. Nonmember fee: $99. For more information, contact CMA's member-help center, 800-786-4262 or memberservice@cmanet.org. May 13-15: 2016 Western Health Care Leadership Academy Save the date for the 2016 Western Health Care Leadership Academy, which will be held at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square from Friday, May 13, through Sunday, May 15. Click here for more information. CMA Practice Resources (CPR) is a free monthly e-bulletin from the California Medical Association's practice management experts. It focuses on critical payor and health care industry changes and how they directly impact the business of a physician practice. Each issue includes tips on reimbursement and contracting-related issues, along with information on the latest practice management news. View the current issue. CLASSIFIEDS SCMA members get free classifieds! SCMA members can place free classified ads in News Briefs or Sonoma Medicine. Cost for nonmember physicians and the general public is $1 per word. To place a classified ad, contact Susan Gumucio at susan@scma.org or 707-525-0102. ABOUT SCMA The Sonoma County Medical Association, a 501(c)(6) nonprofit association, supports local physicians and their efforts to enhance the health of the community. Founded in 1858, SCMA is affiliated with the California Medical Association and the American Medical Association. © 2015 SCMA, 2312 Bethards Dr. #6, Santa Rosa, CA 95405 December 15, 2015 SCMA News Briefs SCMA News Briefs 0 0 Comment Read More »
November 2015 Download PDF Here SCMA NEWS Still time to RSVP for Dec. 2 SCMA Awards Dinner Pay membership dues by Jan. 15 and receive a 5% discount Alliance holiday giving opportunities Applicants TOP CMA STORIES PRACTICE RESOURCES CLASSIFIEDS ABOUT SCMA SCMA NEWS Still time to RSVP for Dec. 2 SCMA Awards Dinner The hour is late, but reservations are still being accepted for the annual SCMA Awards Dinner on Dec. 2. The dinner is free for SCMA members. Spouses, guests and nonmembers are $59. The dinner runs from 6 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 2, at the Vintners Inn, 4350 Barnes Rd., Santa Rosa. The festivities begin with a social hour at 6, followed by dinner and the award presentations. Award winners include Drs. Jan Sonander, Brad Drexler, Len Klay, Richard Powers, Richard Andolsen and the entire Medical Review Advisory Committee. Congressman Mike Thompson and the SCMA Alliance Foundation Holiday Greeting Card will also be honored. To RSVP and/or to purchase tickets, contact Rachel Pandolfi at 707-525-4375 or rachel@scma.org and indicate dinner choice: either "duet" (short ribs and salmon) or vegetarian. The invitation can be accessed by clicking here. Pay membership dues by Jan. 15 and receive a 5% discount Invoices for 2015 were recently mailed to all SCMA members. To receive a 5% discount, simply pay by Jan. 15, 2016. The discount is already calculated on the invoice, and you can pay by check or credit card. In addition to standard dues, the invoice allows members to make additional donations to CMA's political action committee (CALPAC) at a variety of levels. Donations can also be made to the MICRA Education Fund and the CMA Physician's Issues Committee. For questions regarding your invoice, contact Rachel Pandolfi at 707-525-4375 or rachel@scma.org. Alliance holiday giving opportunities With the holidays fast approaching, the SCMA Alliance and Foundation would like to remind local physicians about two longstanding charitable projects. The Holiday Greeting Card, now in its 50th year, raises scholarship money for local students wishing to pursue medical careers. The scholarships, which are awarded by the SCMA and SCMA Alliance Health Careers Scholarship Committee, provide critical financial assistance at a time when community resources are fast depleting. Since the project began in 1965, scholarships have been awarded to more than 800 local students, including several who went on to become practicing physicians in Sonoma County. Click here to learn how you can make a donation. This year was a milestone for the Give-a-Gift Program and marked the largest number of computers donated so far. With the help of a very generous donor base, the Alliance was able to donate 30 computers to former foster youth attending Santa Rosa Junior College and Sonoma State University. The Alliance is currently accepting donations to the Give-a-Gift Program so that more deserving students can receive laptops to help achieve their educational goals. Visit www.scmaa.org and click Donate. Applicants Welcome, new SCMA/CMA members! Emily Conway, MD, Cardiovascular Disease*, 4415 Sonoma Hwy., #D, Santa Rosa, Brown Univ 2003 Danielle Franzini, Third year osteopathic medical student, Touro Univ 2018 John Hau, MD, Pain Medicine, 392 Tesconi Cir., Santa Rosa, Temple Univ 2009 TPMG - 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa Linda Armstrong, MD, Pediatrics*, Tehran Univ 1999 Stephanie Barlin, MD, Emergency Medicine*, Case Western Reserve 2006 Cortney Harper, MD, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Tulane Univ 2005 Lea Hoff Arcand, MD, Family Medicine*, Univ Montreal 2012 Amir Prushani, MD, Internal Medicine*, Dartmouth Med Sch 2003 Adam Ryan, MD, Diagnostic Radiology, State Univ NY Buffalo Med Sch 2009 Annadel Medical Group Brenda Manfredi, MD, Family Medicine*, 8911 Lakewood Dr. #13, Windsor, Virginia Med Sch *board certified TOP CMA STORIES Top story: DMHC fines Blue Shield and Anthem for provider directory inaccuracies On Nov. 3, the California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) announced it hadfined two of the state's largest health plans for inaccurate Covered California provider directories. Blue Shield of California was fined $350,000, while Anthem Blue Cross was fined $250,000. Also in this issue: Have you checked your medical board profile recently? CMA urges Congress to fix EHR meaningful use program Supreme Court to hear ACA challenge by religious nonprofits Be prepared for Covered California changes in 2016 CMS changes enrollment requirements for Part D prescribers CMA publishes summary of new health care laws for 2016 Ask the Expert: If an exchange patient fails to pay the premium, is the plan requiredto pay for services? Noridian conducting numerous prepayment reviews Providers who refer, order or prescribe for Medi-Cal beneficiaries must enroll withDHCS CMA supports ballot measure on hospital fee program to stabilize health care accessfor low-income residents Two flu deaths confirmed by CDPH CMA publishes the biweekly e-newsletter, CMA Alert, to keep its members up-to-date on critical issues affecting the practice of medicine in California. Click here to view the current issue. PRACTICE RESOURCES Upcoming Webinars Dec. 2: Medicare 2016-New Rules, Policies and Procedures Dec. 16: Meaningful Use: 2015 and 2016 Modified Rules Archived webinars CMA's archived webinars are free to SCMA members and staff. Nonmember fee: $99. For more information, contact CMA's member-help center, 800-786-4262 or memberservice@cmanet.org. May 13-15, 2016 Western Health Care Leadership Academy Save the date for the 2016 Western Health Care Leadership Academy, which will be held at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square from Friday, May 13, through Sunday, May 15. Click here for more information. CMA Practice Resources (CPR) is a free monthly e-bulletin from the California Medical Association's practice management experts. It focuses on critical payor and health care industry changes and how they directly impact the business of a physician practice. Each issue includes tips on reimbursement and contracting-related issues, along with information on the latest practice management news. VView the current issue. CLASSIFIEDS SCMA members get free classifieds! SCMA members can place free classified ads in News Briefs or Sonoma Medicine. Cost for nonmember physicians and the general public is $1 per word. To place a classified ad, contact Susan Gumucio at susan@scma.org or 707-525-0102. ABOUT SCMA The Sonoma County Medical Association, a 501(c)(6) nonprofit association, supports local physicians and their efforts to enhance the health of the community. Founded in 1858, SCMA is affiliated with the California Medical Association and the American Medical Association. © 2015 SCMA, 2312 Bethards Dr. #6, Santa Rosa, CA 95405 December 1, 2015 SCMA News Briefs SCMA News Briefs 0 0 Comment Read More »
October 2015 Download PDF Here SCMA News GPCI and SGR Warriors, Peer Review Committee, and Dr. Powers to receive SCMA Recognition New this Year: Awards Dinner Program Sponsorship and Advertising Just Published! Fall Sonoma Medicine Alliance Holiday Giving Opportunities What is the Most Pressing Issue in your Medical Practice? Applicants Top CMA Stories Practice Resources Classifieds About SCMA SCMA News GPCI and SGR Warriors, Peer Review Committee, and Dr. Powers to receive SCMA Recognition SCMA's 2015 Outstanding Contribution awards will be presented on the evening of Dec. 2. Recognition of Achievement awards will also be presented to the SCMA Alliance Foundation Holiday Greeting Card and for the Sonoma Medicine Article of the Year. Congressman Mike Thompson and Drs. Drexler, Sonander, and Klay will receive the Outstanding Contribution to Sonoma County Medicine award in recognition of their leadership, commitment and determination spanning a 14-year period to fix the California GPCI and abolish the SGR. Dr. Powers will receive the Outstanding Contribution to the Community award in appreciation of his leadership and steadfast commitment to reopen the West County hospital as Sonoma West Medical Center. The Medical Review Advisory Committee will receive the Outstanding Contribution to SCMA award in recognition of more than 20 years of dedicated, confidential peer review service to determine factors influencing Sonoma County medical professional liability claims. The SCMA Alliance Foundation Holiday Greeting Card will receive a special Recognition of Achievement award in acknowledgment of the 50th anniversary of raising money for scholarships awarded to qualified students entering a medically related field. The Article of the Year winner will be announced in November. The Awards Dinner, scheduled for 6 to 9 p.m. at the Vintner's Inn, 4350 Barnes Rd., Santa Rosa, is free for SCMA members, but RSVPs are required. Tickets for spouses, guests and nonmembers are $59 each. To RSVP and/or to purchase tickets, contact Rachel Pandolfi at 707-525-4375 or rachel@scma.org. The invitation can be accessed by clicking here. New this Year: Awards Dinner Program Sponsorship and Advertising The new, booklet-form program for SCMA's Awards Dinner will offer a limited, once-a-year opportunity to place your message before an exclusive audience of Sonoma County health care leaders and decision makers. SCMA appreciates your consideration to help recognize our medical community leaders through event sponsorship and program advertising at a variety of levels. Click here for the rate sheet and details about ways your organization can participate. Sponsorship and advertising reservations are due Oct. 16 and artwork for the program is due Oct. 23 for the Dec. 2 gala event Just Published! Fall Sonoma Medicine ------------------------image------------------------------------- The fall issue of Sonoma Medicine features articles on death and dying: hospice alternatives to physician-assisted suicide; advance care planning; a "sufficient" length of (hospice) stay; and certification of death: whose responsibility? Other article topics include treating atrial fibrillation; Latino Health Forum Oct. 15; M.C. "Escherology"; Mystery Case diagnosis; a review of Helen Macdonald's H is for Hawk; SCMA Alliance's Health Careers Scholarship Fund; and an SCMA membership update. The print edition has been mailed; you can view the PDF online here. The text-only version of articles will be available at www.scma.org/Sonoma Medicine the week of Oct. 12. Call Susan Gumucio at 707-525-0102 to request print copies for you or your office. Alliance Holiday Giving Opportunities With the holidays fast approaching, the SCMA Alliance and Foundation would like to remind local physicians about two longstanding charitable projects. The Holiday Greeting Card, now in its 50th year, raises scholarship money for local students wishing to pursue medical careers. The scholarships, which are awarded by the SCMA and SCMA Alliance Health Careers Scholarship Committee, provide critical financial assistance at a time when community resources are fast depleting. Since the project began in 1965, scholarships have been awarded to more than 800 local students, including several who went on to become practicing physicians in Sonoma County. Click here to learn how you can make a donation. This year was a milestone for the Give-a-Gift Program and marked the largest number of computers donated so far. With the help of a very generous donor base, the Alliance was able to donate 30 computers to former foster youth attending Santa Rosa Junior College and Sonoma State University. The Alliance is currently accepting donations to the Give-a-Gift Program so that more deserving students can receive laptops to help achieve their educational goals. Visit www.scmaa.org and click Donate What is the Most Pressing Issue in your Medical Practice? Physicians and Office Managers, tell us what issue you are most concerned about right now (e.g. EHRs, reimbursements, Medi-Cal payments, patient vaccinations, paying staff, paperwork). Reply to scma@scma.org with your issue and a chance to win a $20 Starbucks gift card. Responses will be shared in the November News Briefs. SCMA has received the following pressing concerns from survey respondents: Unfair Contracting: 50% Staffing Issues: 17% EMR/EHR: 33% Applicants Welcome, new SCMA/CMA members! TPMG - 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403 Michele Fujimoto, MD, Surgery, Drexel Univ 2009 Michael Lasker, MD, Surgery, Univ Illinois 2009 Emily Porch, MD, Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Med Sch 2010 Samuel Schecter, MD, Surgery*, Univ Queenland 2006 TPMG - 3975 Old Redwood Hwy., Santa Rosa 95403 Lars Hansen, MD, Pediatrics*, Boston Univ TPMG - 3925 Old Redwood Hwy., Santa Rosa CA 95403 Sarah Wehrli, MD, Opthalmology, Univ Pennsylvania 2011 Northern California Medical Associates Anton Kushnaryov, MD, Otolaryngology, 1701 4th St. #120, Santa Rosa 95404, Univ Minnesota 2009 Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation Jeremy Mesches, MD, Family Medicine*, 131B Stony Cir. #1600, Santa Rosa 95401, New York Med Coll 1995 *board certified Top CMA Stories ICD-10 is here: CMA publishes new FAQ to help members survive the changeover After much debate and years of delay, the Oct. 1 implementation date for ICD-10 has finally arrived. While concerns remain about industry preparedness for this monumental transition, the full impact of the ICD-10 conversion will likely not be felt for several weeks or until the first payment remittances are received. In an effort to help practices navigate the transition, the California Medical Association (CMA) has published a new FAQ titled, "Surviving ICD-10: An FAQ for physician practices." This members-only resource is available free to CMA members at www.cmanet.org/icd10. Members of Congress urge HHS to pause meaningful use stage 3 Some changes in plan offerings for Covered California in 2016 Audit says state lab oversight is duplicative, should be eliminated Poll: Two-thirds of likely California voters support cigarette tax hike AMA offers resources to help physicians evaluate new payment model contracts Noridian Medicare announces web-based provider enrollment workshops CMA publishes the biweekly e-newsletter, CMA Alert, to keep its members up-to-date on critical issues affecting the practice of medicine in California. Click here to view the current issue. Practice Resources Updated payor profiles now available CMA's Center for Economic Services has published updated profiles on each of the major payors in California including Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, CIGNA, Health Net, United Healthcare, Medicare/Noridian and Medi-Cal. Each profile includes key information on health plan market penetration, a description of the plan's dispute resolution process and the name and contact numbers for medical directors, provider relations and other key contacts. Don't waste your time searching the internet for this information: members can download CMA's Payor Profiles free of charge. Patient resources on end-of-life decisions now available online CMA has developed a number of resources to help providers, patients and loved ones with making these important end-of-life decisions. Click here for more information. Medi-Cal providers: Are you ready for ICD-10? To help physicians prepare for the ICD-10 transition, the California Medical Association (CMA) has published: ICD-10 Transition Guide: What physicians need to know," which includes an ICD-10 transition preparation checklist. ICD-10 transition webpage (www.cmanet.org/icd10 ) includes important news articles, ICD-10 training opportunities and other ICD-10 transition information. Archived webinars CMA's archived webinars are free to SCMA members and staff. Nonmember fee: $99. For more information, contact CMA's member-help center, 800-786-4262 or memberservice@cmanet.org. May 13-15, 2016 Western Health Care Leadership Academy Save the date for the 2016 Western Health Care Leadership Academy, which will be held at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square from Friday, May 13, through Sunday, May 15. Click here for more information. CMA Practice Resources (CPR) is a free monthly e-bulletin from the California Medical Association's practice management experts. It focuses on critical payor and health care industry changes and how they directly impact the business of a physician practice. Each issue includes tips on reimbursement and contracting-related issues, along with information on the latest practice management news. View the current issue. Classifieds Share beautiful medical suite in Novato Share on Wednesday and Thursday only. ALL YOURS other weekdays and Saturday! Lovely reception area, furnished patient rooms, plenty of parking, and utilities included. Call 415-897-9800. SCMA members get free classifieds! SCMA members can place free classified ads in News Briefs or Sonoma Medicine. Cost for nonmember physicians and the general public is $1 per word. To place a classified ad, contact Susan Gumucio at susan@scma.org or 707-525-0102. About SCMA The Sonoma County Medical Association, a 501(c)(6) nonprofit association, supports local physicians and their efforts to enhance the health of the community. Founded in 1858, SCMA is affiliated with the California Medical Association and the American Medical Association. © 2015 SCMA, 2312 Bethards Dr. #6, Santa Rosa, CA 95405 October 13, 2015 SCMA News Briefs SCMA News Briefs 0 0 Comment Read More »
