April 2012 CMA needs survey responses by April 6 for urgent legislative issueRegister now for April 25 practice management seminarSCMA Wine & Cheese Reception set for May 30Dr. Stephen Steady nominated as SCMA President-ElectGet your Sonoma County Physician Directory today!Gov. Brown to speak at CMA Legislative Day on April 17Dueling surveys give high marks to Sonoma CountyDocBookMD expands to other North Bay medical societiesDinner and auction to benefit the Jewish Community Free ClinicSonoma Medicine is finalist for prestigious awardPEOPLERESOURCESAPPLICANTSCLASSIFIEDSABOUT SCMACMA needs survey responses by April 6 for urgent legislative issue CMA is in the midst of a legislative struggle with representatives of Blue Cross and Blue Shield about what criteria physicians consider before signing a contract to be in a payor's network. The plan representatives are successfully asserting a false claim about what drives physicians to contract. CMA needs your help to refute this false claim. Please share your contracting experience by responding to a brief, 3-question survey at www.surveymonkey.com/s/2N3RCLH. The survey results will be crucial in helping CMA pass legislation to protect physician and patient interests. It is critical that you respond no later than Friday, April 6. For questions, contact CMA’s reimbursement help line at 888-401-5911 or jblack@cmanet.org. Register now for April 25 practice management seminar Right now is a great time to sign up for an important practice management seminar on Wednesday, April 25. Cosponsored by the California and Sonoma County medical associations, the 5-hour seminar consists of two parts: "Know Your Rights" and "Medicare 2012 & Beyond." Topics include appeal rights, Medicare audits and preparing for ICD-10. Presented by the CMA Center for Economic Services, the seminar will be held at the Fountaingrove Inn in Santa Rosa. Lunch will be provided. Cost is $55 for SCMA members and $105 for nonmembers. To register, fax the flyer below to SCMA at 707-525-4328 or contact Rachel Pandolfi at 707-525-4375 or rachel@scma.org. April 25 Medicare seminar flyer SCMA Wine & Cheese Reception set for May 30 The annual SCMA Wine & Cheese Reception will be held at the William Selyem Winery in Healdsburg on Wednesday evening, May 30. All Sonoma County physicians and their spouse or guest are invited to attend. The reception, now in its 12th year, has become increasingly popular because of its relaxed, collegial atmosphere. Please join your colleagues for informal conversation and a sampling of fine wines. There’s no charge for SCMA members and their spouse or guest, but RSVPs are required--the winery has a gated entrance. The charge for nonmembers is $55 per person. To RSVP, contact Rachel Pandolfi at 707-525-4375 or rachel@scma.org. Visit www.williamsselyem.com for directions and information about their wines. Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase the wines being poured. See the flyer below for more details. Wine & Cheese flyerDr. Stephen Steady nominated as SCMA President-Elect SCMA’s president, Dr. Jeff Sugarman, and the incoming president, Dr. Walt Mills, announce that Dr. Stephen Steady, a Petaluma gastroenterologist, has been nominated as SCMA President-Elect. Others nominated to the SCMA Board of Directors are Drs. Ed Chang (treasurer), Francesca Manfredi (secretary), Rachel Mayorga (North County district), Peter Brett and Phyllis “Jackie” Senter (Santa Rosa district), Ed Chang (The Permanente Medical Group), and three nominees for the CMA delegation: Drs. Leonard Klay, Catherine Gutfreund, and Phyllis “Jackie” Senter. SCMA members will receive ballots in May via postal mail. For more information, contact Cynthia Melody at cmelody@scma.org or 525-4375. Get your Sonoma County Physician Directory today! The 2012 Sonoma County Physician Directory is now available for sale. This exhaustive reference book gives contact and specialty information for almost every doctor currently practicing in Sonoma County, along with detailed photographic listings for SCMA members and a useful listing of medical resources. The familiar spiral-bound book, which features a colorful cover by local artist Barbara Greensweig, is heavily used by local medical offices. Each SCMA member receives one free copy of the directory. Extra copies cost $30 for SCMA members, $40 for nonmember physicians and health care facilities, and $55 for the general public. To order by phone with a credit card, contact Rachel Pandolfi at 707-525-4375 or rachel@scma.org. You can also purchase online at www.scma.org/directory, or you can fax or mail the order form below. Sonoma County Physician Directory order formGov. Brown to speak at CMA Legislative Day on April 17 Gov. Jerry Brown will be the keynote speaker for CMA’s annual Legislative Leadership Conference, to be held in Sacramento on April 17. Hundreds of physicians from around the state are expected to attend the free all-day conference. The morning session includes speeches from Brown and other key legislative leaders. In the afternoon, attendees will go to the Capitol to meet with legislators on health care issues. Physicians interested in attending the conference should contact Cynthia Melody at 707-525-4375 or cynthia@scma.org. Dueling surveys give high marks to Sonoma County Two recent surveys give high but variant grades to the health system in Sonoma County. A survey published in March by the Commonwealth Fund ranked the county sixth out of more than 300 systems nationwide. The county got high marks for low infant mortality rates, preventive care and percent of residents with insurance. It was one of only three communities in the survey to have less than four deaths per 1,000 live births. The report, available at www.commonwealthfund.org, compares key statistics from representative communities across the nation. In contrast, a report published in early April by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ranked Sonoma 12th out of 56 counties evaluated in California. The county got high marks for longevity and quality of life but was downgraded for high rates of smoking and drinking. The report is available at www.countyhealthrankings.org. One of the more interesting findings is that 38% of the restaurants in Sonoma County are fast-food establishments, less than the 49% state average. Local health leaders attributed the county’s high rankings to the Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency and the countywide network of health centers, along with other factors that promote primary and preventive care. DocBookMD expands to other North Bay medical societies SCMA members can now use the DocBookMD mobile app to send HIPAA-compliant messages to their colleagues throughout the North Bay. The new, regional version includes medical society members in Marin, Napa, Solano, Mendocino and Lake counties. Getting started with DocBookMD is simplicity itself. Just follow the instructions below. 1. Download the free DocBookMD app from the iTunes App Store or Android Market to your iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch or Android phone. 2. Click on Register. 3. Enter your email address. 4. Enter your state (CA) and county (Sonoma). 5. Enter your CMA/SCMA ID number. (Call 707-525-4375 if you need your number.) 6. Create a password. 7. Answer sponsor questions. 8. Complete the HIPAA compliance agreement. That’s it! Once you’re registered, you can send messages, images and more to your medical society colleagues throughout the North Bay. For more details, visit www.DocBookMD.com. DocBookMD is supplied at no charge to SCMA members thanks to the sponsorship of NORCAL Mutual. Dinner and auction to benefit the Jewish Community Free Clinic Local physicians and guests are invited to attend the Spirit of Hippocrates Dinner and Auction, which will benefit the Jewish Community Free Clinic. Set for Sunday afternoon, June 10, at the French Garden Restaurant in Sebastopol, the dinner features a sumptuous three-course meal and an array of local wines. The silent auction includes offerings from some of Sonoma County’s finest restaurants, wineries and spas. The event is being held in memory of Dr. John Shearer, a former medical director of the clinic who passed away in 2009. Tickets are $100 per person. To purchase, contact the clinic at events.jcfc@gmail.com or 707-585-7780. Sonoma Medicine is finalist for prestigious award Sonoma Medicine is a finalist for a Maggie award from the Western Publishing Association. This annual competition draws entries from all over the western United States, including many well-known magazines, from Motor Trend to Mother Jones. Sonoma Medicine is one of six finalists in the “quarterly magazines under 50,000 circulation” category. The winner will be announced on April 27.PEOPLE Dr. Lynn Silver Chalfin, a director in the New York City Department of Health, is the new Public Health Officer for Sonoma County. In her previous position, she led several well-publicized policy initiatives, such as the city’s trans-fat ban, the nation’s first calorie labeling law, and the National Salt Reduction Initiative. A graduate of UC Santa Barbara and Johns Hopkins University, Silver Chalfin is married to another physician, Dr. Donald Silver Chalfin. She will begin working part-time for Sonoma County in April and is scheduled to begin full-time work in August. The interim Public Health Officer, Dr. Mark Netherda, will resume his previous position of Deputy Health Officer. Dr. Catherine Gutfreund, a past president of SCMA, has received the Sonoma Family Physician of the Year award from the California Academy of Family Physicians. The award was presented in March at the Excellence in Primary Care conference in Santa Rosa. Gutfreund is a family physician at Kaiser Santa Rosa, where she serves as chief of integrative medicine. Her award was presented by the guest speaker, Dr. Ted Epperly, a past president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Misty Zelk, a pediatrician and internist, has joined the Palm Drive Hospital Medical Group in Sebastopol.RESOURCES Several CMA webinars, many for CEU credit, are scheduled for 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. on select dates in April. To register, visit www.cmanet.org/events/register/login. The webinars are free for CMA members; cost for nonmembers is $99. The schedule appears below. * Managing upset and/or difficult patients - April 4 * Medicare: Top 10 claim and documentation errors - April 11 * Best practices for managing your accounts receivable - April 18 * California’s public health insurance programs - April 23 * 2012 legislative update - April 25 In recognition of the two-year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, CMA has launched Reform Essentials, a regular newsletter designed to provide readers with the latest developments in California’s implementation of federal health care reform. The publication is available at www.cmanet.org/resource-library. Future installments of the newsletter will include updates from California's Health Benefit Exchange Board, information on essential health benefits, and other topics related to the Affordable Care Act.APPLICANTS Jack Nadler, MD, Family Medicine*, 3900 Lakeville Hwy., Petaluma 94954, 765-3960, Fax 765-3507, jnadlermd@pol.net, Univ Southern California 1996 * board certifiedCLASSIFIEDS Office space Small suite for lease. Reception, 3 rooms, Summerfield Rd., Santa Rosa. Contact Connie, 707-525-0211. 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 Erika Goodwin at erika@scma.org or 707-548-6491.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. © 2012 SCMA, 2901 Cleveland Ave. #202, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 April 1, 2012 SCMA News Briefs April 2012 0 0 Comment Read More »
March 2012 RSVP now for March 7 primary care conference in Santa RosaSanta Rosa practice management seminar rescheduled to April 25Nominations still needed for SCMA electionDistrict X Trustee ReportDoctors invited to attend Legislative Day in Sacramento on April 17Sonoma Medicine wins top award in publications competitionDocBookMD: Free smartphone app for SCMA membersCMA endorses $1 a pack tax on cigarettesCMA sponsors bill to ban sugary sports drinks in schoolsCongress kicks SGR down the roadPEOPLEMEDICAL FACILITIESRESOURCESAPPLICANTSCLASSIFIEDSABOUT SCMARSVP now for March 7 primary care conference in Santa Rosa Right now is the best time to RSVP for the March 7 Excellence in Primary Care Conference in Santa Rosa. This free conference is open to all local physicians and will be held at the Vista Family Health Center, 3569 Round Barn Circle, from 6 to 8 p.m. The featured speaker is Dr. Ted Epperley, a nationally recognized advocate for family medicine. To RSVP, contact Cecilia Awayan at the California Academy of Family Physicians at cafp@familydocs.org or 415-345-8667. A complimentary light dinner will be served. For more details, see the flyer below. Excellence in Primary Care Conference flyerSanta Rosa practice management seminar rescheduled to April 25 Next month’s practice management seminar in Santa Rosa has been rescheduled to April 25. The seminar, which runs from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. consists of two parts. “Know Your Rights” covers claim submission deadlines, time limits, appeal rights and related topics. “Medicare 2012 & Beyond” covers the new physician fee schedule, medical review audits and ICD-10. Presented by the CMA Center for Economic Services, the seminar will be held at the Fountaingrove Inn in Santa Ros. Lunch will be provided. Cost is $55 for SCMA members and $105 for nonmembers. To register, fax the flyer below to SCMA at 707-525-4328 or contact Rachel Pandolfi at 707-525-4375 or rachel@scma.org. April 25 Medicare seminar flyerNominations still needed for SCMA election In preparation for the upcoming SCMA election, all members are urged to submit nominations for leadership positions by March 14. Nominees must be SCMA members in good standing. Nominations are requested for the following positions: • SCMA president-elect • SCMA board representatives from North County (1), Petaluma/Rohnert Park (1), and Santa Rosa (2) • CMA delegates (2) • CMA alternate delegates (2) All positions require a three-year commitment, beginning July 1. Nominations can be emailed to cynthia@scma.org, faxed to 525-4328, or mailed to SCMA, 2901 Cleveland Ave. #202, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. Each nomination should include a brief statement about the nominee’s qualifications. For more details, contact Cynthia Melody at cynthia@scma.org or 525-4375. District X Trustee Report James Bronk, MD Your two CMA District X trustees (Mark David, MD, and myself) attended the recent CMA board of directors meeting in Pasadena. As is typical for the first board meeting after a CMA House of Delegates, there were few reports from the actions of the House. We’ll see more activity on that front as the year progresses. Of interest to all of us was the report from the board’s own Membership Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) established during the House for the “express purpose of examining the existential crisis which is threatening the vitality and relevance of organized medicine in California.” While an “existential crisis” may make one think of existentialism, in this case it is far more mundane and yet very relevant: the declining membership in CMA. From what we were told, this TAC threw out any preconceived notions and discussed dozens of ideas for increasing membership in CMA. Fourteen of these the board adopted at the January meeting. Several have already been implemented in District X, which again finds itself leading by excellent example. Kudos to the county leadership and especially to our stellar medical executives. The potential for large change is in the final recommendation, number 14. That recommendation establishes a Governance TAC to further examine CMA governance, including the role of the House. For those of us who have served for many years, this may seem like “deja vu all over again.” I hope this new Governance TAC will be more successful than “re-engineering” or other previous membership TACs in making reasonable, forward-thinking proposals for the House to debate. What should CMA look like in 10 or 20 years, both in how it governs itself and what it does for its members and society? This is the principal existential question I think the Governance TAC should address. We shall see. Doctors invited to attend Legislative Day in Sacramento on April 17 California Attorney General Kamala Harris will be the keynote speaker for CMA’s annual Legislative Leadership Conference, to be held in Sacramento on April 17. Hundreds of physicians from around the state are expected to attend the free all-day conference. The morning session includes speeches from Harris and other key legislative leaders. In the afternoon, attendees will go to the Capitol to meet with legislators on health care issues. Physicians interested in attending the conference should contact Cynthia Melody at 707-525-4375 or cynthia@scma.org. Sonoma Medicine wins top award in publications competition Sonoma Medicine recently won a first-place award in a publications competition sponsored by the Northern California chapters of the Society for Technical Communication, the world’s largest organization of technical writers and designers. Beating out dozens of entries from Autodesk, Oracle and other high-tech giants, the magazine earned high praise from the judges, who noted that it “provides a great read in any medical waiting room,” and that it has “a professional yet friendly feel.” On the strength of its first-place award, the magazine has been entered into the international STC competition, to be held in Chicago in May. DocBookMD: Free smartphone app for SCMA members DocBookMD--a smartphone application that offers on-demand messaging, multi-media collaboration and fast look-up of your colleagues--is absolutely free for SCMA members. The application, designed by physicians for physicians, will help you save time and prevent delays at point of care. DocBookMD is a secure, HIPAA-compliant app for your iPhone, iPad or Android device. For details on downloading your free copy, visit docbookmd.com/med_socs/sonoma. One of the key features of DocBookMD is the ability to send and receive high-resolution images, including X-rays, EKGs, or photos. All messaging is secure and fully HIPAA compliant. Not a member? The SCMA website at www.scma.org has details on DocBookMD and other member benefits, as well as an online application form.CMA endorses $1 a pack tax on cigarettes CMA has endorsed Proposition 29, a ballot initiative that will tax cigarettes by $1 a pack. “The goals of Prop 29 are in lockstep with CMA’s core mission,” said CMA President Dr. James Hay. “This initiative will provide vital funding to make advances in prevention, detection and treatment of cancer, heart disease and other smoking-related illnesses--all goals California doctors fully support.” Prop 29, an initiative on the June 5 primary ballot, will raise the cost of a pack of cigarettes and dedicate those new funds to cancer research and smoking cessation efforts. It was written by California affiliates of the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, and the American Lung Association.CMA sponsors bill to ban sugary sports drinks in schools CMA is sponsoring AB 1746, a bill that will close a loophole that allows sports drinks to be sold on middle and high school campuses. Sodas are already banned, but sports drinks, which contain replacement electrolytes as well as high-fructose corn syrup and other calorie-laden sweeteners, are not. All sugar-sweetened drinks are currently prohibited on elementary school campuses. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, sports drinks may be useful when large quantities of fluids are lost through sweating on a daily basis by those who perform continuous exercise for more than 60 minutes. However, the USDA concludes that there is no need to substitute sports drinks for water as a primary form of fluid replacement. The current school day does not include the kind of rigorous activity that warrants ready access to sports drinks.Congress kicks SGR down the road In mid-February, Congress struck a $20 billion deal on the sustainable growth rate (SGR) that protected physicians from the 27% Medicare rate cut that had been slated to go into effect this month. Instead of using money available with the drawdown of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, funds for the deal will come from cuts to a prevention program established under the Affordable Care Act, combined with reducing funding for hospitals with bad debt, along with reduced Hurricane Katrina Medicaid funding. CMA and other physician groups criticized the deal. “Congress had the opportunity to end the SGR and bring stability to Medicare. Instead they kicked the can down the road,” said CMA President Dr. James Hay.PEOPLE Dr. Lynn Mortenson, a family physician, has been named assistant physician in chief for health promotion for Kaiser Santa Rosa and Rohnert Park. A longtime member of SCMA, Mortenson has been Kaiser’s chief of patient and health education since 2007, a role she will maintain in her new post. She will also partner with Dr. Mike Ismail to lead physician wellness programs at local Kaiser facilities.MEDICAL FACILITIES To help meet the health care needs of more than 750 employees and their families, natural frozen-food maker Amy’s Kitchen has opened a medical clinic across the street from its plant in southwest Santa Rosa. The clinic is staffed by a nurse and a family physician, Dr. Bruce Heller. For a $5 copay, the clinic offers physical exams, immunizations and management of chronic conditions for the company’s employees and family members. Dory Escobar, director of community benefit for St. Joseph Health System - Sonoma County, was invited to attend a recent White House conference titled “Improving Health Outcomes through Faith-Based and Community Partnerships.” At the conference, community benefit leaders from across the country shared best practices on how health systems can improve outreach. RESOURCES The Institute for Medical Quality is sponsoring a training program for physician leaders on Coronado Island from March 8 to 10. Participants will explore solutions and creative approaches to resolving problems encountered in leading a medical staff. To register, visit www.imq.org or contact Leslie Iacopi at 415-882-5167 or liacopi@imq.org. The 19th annual HIV/AIDS Review will be held at the Hilton Hotel in Santa Rosa on Saturday, March 24, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. State and local HIV/AIDS experts will cover current issues in HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, hepatitis C, and other topics. The conference, worth 5 hours of Category 1 credit, costs just $45. To register, call 707-527-6223. CMA is hosting two webinars this month. Managing Difficult Employees and Reducing Conflict in the Practice, scheduled for 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. on March 7, teaches the secrets of how to lead, coach and manage difficult employees; set practice values; and reduce conflict in the practice. HIPAA Update 2012, scheduled for 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. on March 21, provides instruction on how to achieve compliance with new HIPAA rules and relevant California privacy laws. To register for either seminar, visit www.cmanet.org/events. CMA members who need reimbursement assistance can call CMA’s reimbursement helpline at 888-401-5911 or send an email to economicservices@cmanet.org. Practice management experts at CMA helped members recoup more than $2.7 million from insurance companies during 2010. Primary care physicians who are transitioning to electronic health records can get assistance from CalHIPSO, a nonprofit organization that offers technical advice, access to vendors, educational webinars, reduced pricing on software, and many other benefits. Interested physicians should visit www.CalHIPSO.org or contact Kent Waldsmith at kent@calhipso.org or 510-285-5745.APPLICANTS Martha Cueto-Salas, MD, Pediatrics*, Public Health, 1456 Professional Dr. #403, Petaluma 94954, 769-7770 ,Fax 769-7782, westpetaluma@sbcglobal.net, Greater National Univ San Marcos 1990 * = board certified italics = special medical interestCLASSIFIEDS Office space Small suite for lease. Reception, 3 rooms, Summerfield Rd., Santa Rosa. Contact Connie, 707-525-0211. 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 Erika Goodwin at erika@scma.org or 707-548-6491.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. © 2012 SCMA, 2901 Cleveland Ave. #202, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 March 1, 2012 SCMA News Briefs March 2012 0 0 Comment Read More »
February 2012 Influential family physician to speak in Santa Rosa on March 7Nominations needed for SCMA electionTake the CMA survey about Medicare audits by Feb. 3Enroll now for important Medicare seminar in Santa RosaUnspent military funds could be used to repeal the Medicare SGR formulaPhysicians invited to meet legislative candidatesBlue Cross ordered to pay money owed to doctors, dating back to 2007Blue Shield begins recontracting with physicians across stateStill time to get free EHR assistance from CalHIPSOPhysicians needed for statewide Clinical Laboratory Advisory CommitteePEOPLERESOURCESAPPLICANTSCLASSIFIEDSABOUT SCMAInfluential family physician to speak in Santa Rosa on March 7 Dr. Ted Epperley, a nationally recognized advocate for family medicine, will speak at the 6th annual Excellence in Primary Care Conference in Santa Rosa on March 7. The conference, to be held at the Vista Family Health Center from 6 to 8 p.m., will include a complimentary light dinner and presentation of the Sonoma County Family Physician of the Year award. The address is 3569 Round Barn Circle. See the flyer below for more details. Excellence in Primary Care Conference flyer A strong advocate of healthcare reform, Epperley has met repeatedly with President Obama and has just published a new book, “Staring into the Soul of America: Why We Struggle with Healthcare for All.” He is CEO of the Family Medicine Residency of Idaho, a clinical professor of family medicine at the University of Washington, and a past president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. The conference is open to all local physicians and is cosponsored by several local health organizations, including SCMA. To RSVP, contact Cecilia Awayan at the California Academy of Family Physicians at cafp@familydocs.org or 415-345-8667. Nominations needed for SCMA election In preparation for the upcoming SCMA election, all members are urged to submit nominations for leadership positions by March 14. Nominees must be SCMA members in good standing. Nominations are requested for the following positions: • SCMA president-elect • SCMA board representatives from North County (1), Petaluma/Rohnert Park (1), and Santa Rosa (2) • CMA delegates (2) • CMA alternate delegates (2) All positions require a three-year commitment, beginning July 1. Nominations can be emailed to cynthia@scma.org, faxed to 525-4328, or mailed to SCMA, 2901 Cleveland Ave. #202, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. Each nomination should include a brief statement about the nominee’s qualifications. For more details, contact Cynthia Melody at cynthia@scma.org or 525-4375. Take the CMA survey about Medicare audits by Feb. 3 Physicians throughout California are urged to complete a brief survey from CMA about how repeated Medicare audit requests are affecting their practices. Palmetto, the Medicare administrator contractor for California, has been sending multiple requests for medical records to physician offices and is delaying payment to physicians for claims associated with the records. If your office has received requests for medical records from Palmetto, please complete the survey at www.surveymonkey.com/s/Medicare_Audits. The results will assist CMA in its negotiations with Medicare. The deadline is Feb. 3. Enroll now for important Medicare seminar in Santa Rosa Physicians and office staff are encouraged to attend “Medicare 2012 & Beyond: Know Your Rights,” a 6-hour seminar scheduled for April 18 at the Fountaingrove Inn in Santa Rosa. The seminar, which runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., is cosponsored by SCMA and CMA. Topics include the Medicare physician fee schedule, 2012 updates and reminders, medical review audits, and preparing for ICD-10. The presenter is Michele Kelly, associate director of the CMA Center for Economic Services. Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. Cost is $55 for SCMA members and $105 for nonmembers. To register, fax the flyer below to SCMA at 707-525-4328 or contact Rachel Pandolfi at 707-525-4375 or rachel@scma.org. April 18 Medicare Seminar flyerUnspent military funds could be used to repeal the Medicare SGR formula Now that Congress is back in session, one of the first orders of business is to address the looming 27% cuts in Medicare payments to physicians. The cuts have been delayed until March 1 in the hopes that some kind of compromise can be found. One such possibility is a plan recently floated by House Democrats to use unspent military funding from early troop withdrawals in Iraq and Afghanistan to repeal the Medicare SGR payment formula. That idea and others will be considered by a House-Senate conference committee that includes two strong physician advocates from California: Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Los Angeles) and Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles). CMA, AMA and many other medical associations have united to push for the House Democrats’ plan, which could cover the $300 billion cost of eliminating the SGR formula. The AARP has joined in as well, launching a campaign with the message, “Medicare patients could lose access to the doctors they know and trust in just a few weeks.” CMA continues to urge physicians to call Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer and ask them to protect access to care in California by using unspent military funds to repeal the Medicare SGR. Let them know that the SGR cuts must be stopped before the March 1 deadline. Call the AMA Grassroots Hotline at 800-833-6354, plug in your zip code, and you will automatically be connected to your senator.Physicians invited to meet legislative candidates With the election year in full swing, SCMA is arranging for interviews with local candidates for the U.S. Congress and the California Assembly. Dates and locations have yet to be established, but if you are interested in attending, please contact SCMA Executive Director Cynthia Melody at cmelody@scma.org or 707-525-4375.Blue Cross ordered to pay money owed to doctors, dating back to 2007 The California Department of Managed Health Care has ordered Anthem Blue Cross to pay physicians money owed to them, with interest, for services provided dating back to 2007. The action is a result of Anthem’s refusal to remediate physicians and other providers following a financial claims audit that identified errors in payment of medical claims. CMA President Dr. James Hay applauded the DMHC order. “We provide necessary care to our patients based on the assumption that the health plans will promptly and accurately reimburse us for services rendered,” he said. “Anthem Blue Cross’s refusal to pay for a mistake on their end puts an undue burden on those of us who provide care.” In 2008, DMHC launched claims audits of the seven largest health plans in California due to a growing pattern of complaints regarding late and inaccurate payments and inappropriate claim denials. These audits found claims payment violations above the threshold allowed under California law at all seven health plans. In response to the audits, DMHC required the plans to pay providers the money they were owed and to demonstrate improvements to claims processes to prevent future errors. In addition, each plan entered into settlement agreements to pay administrative fines. To date, six of the seven plans have undertaken remediation efforts, but Anthem has refused to pay for claims violations uncovered in the audit. The company has to send DMHC a corrective action plan this month to identify the claims that were not correctly paid and pay the providers as prescribed by law.Blue Shield begins recontracting with physicians across state Blue Shield is in the process of recontracting with physicians across California and has begun mailing notices to physicians in selected counties, including several in the North Bay. The company explained that they have not recontracted with physicians in over a decade, and that they will be offering various tiered networks in anticipation of California’s health insurance exchange, a key feature of the federal health reform law. The initial mailing will go to physicians in Marin, Napa and Lake counties, with others to follow later. Physicians are under no obligation to participate in any of these products, and there are no fee schedule changes at this time, other than for Medicare lines of business. The cover letter asks that physicians review, sign and return the new agreement to Blue Shield by Feb. 17, but the company has assured CMA that failure to return the new agreement will not affect a physician’s participation status. To assist physicians, CMA has completed an analysis of the new Blue Shield contract, available to members at www.cmanet.org/ces. Physicians are encouraged to review and understand the legal and practical implications of the contract. For additional information, see CMA’s contracting toolkit, “Taking Charge: Steps to Evaluating Relationships and Preparing for Negotiations,” also available at www.cmanet.org/ces. Physicians with concerns about the new contract should contact Blue Shield Provider Services at 800-258-3091 or CMA’s reimbursement helpline at 888-401-5911 or economicservices@cmanet.org.Still time to get free EHR assistance from CalHIPSO Primary care physicians who are transitioning to electronic health records have until Feb. 29 to sign up for free assistance from CalHIPSO, a nonprofit organization that offers technical advice, access to vendors, educational webinars, reduced pricing on software, and many other benefits. Free CalHIPSO enrollment is available to primary care physicians in small private practices, community health centers, rural health clinics or certain hospital ambulatory care clinics. Primary care physicians in other types of practice settings can enroll in CalHIPSO for just $150. Interested physicians should visit www.CalHIPSO.org or contact Kent Waldsmith at kent@calhipso.org or 510-285-5745.Physicians needed for statewide Clinical Laboratory Advisory Committee CMA is soliciting nominations of physicians to serve on the Clinical Laboratory Technology Advisory Committee (CLTAC), which advises the California Department of Public Health on matters related to clinical laboratories. CMA is specifically seeking nominations for physicians who are engaged in office-based laboratory testing. The CLTAC is a multidisciplinary committee comprised of 22 representatives from various interest groups related to clinical laboratories. Interested candidates are invited to submit a statement of interest and a current CV demonstrating their qualifications and background to Kimberly Henning by email to khenning@cmanet.org or by fax to 916-444-5689. The deadline is Feb. 17.PEOPLE Dr. Jorge Gonzalez, medical director of emergency services at Palm Drive Hospital, has been selected as the hospital’s chief of staff for 2012. Other new officers include radiologist Dr. Ingo Rencken, the chief of staff-elect, and pediatrician/internist Dr. Misty Zelk, the secretary-treasurer. Dr. Peter Brett, a medical oncologist who specializes in treating melanoma, has joined the Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation and opened an office at 4702 Hoen Ave. in Santa Rosa. He previously worked for the Redwood Regional Medical Group. Sebastopol urologist Dr. Peter Bretan recently participated in a medical mission to the Philippines organized by the Philippine Medical Society of Northern California. A team of 12 surgeons from several specialties completed 140 surgeries and saw 23,000 patients.RESOURCES CMA is hosting two webinars this month. Key Financial Ratios To Increase Profitability, scheduled for 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. on Feb. 1, teaches critical skills for analyzing profit/loss statements for overhead expense, accounts receivable and staffing ratios, and how to access specialty comparison norms for benchmarking. HIPAA Risk Analysis for Meaningful Use, scheduled for 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. on Feb. 15, provides detailed instruction on the steps needed to complete a HIPAA risk analysis, a key element in qualifying for electronic health record funding. To register for either seminar, visit www.cmanet.org/events. The 19th annual HIV/AIDS Review will be held at the Hilton Hotel in Santa Rosa on Saturday, March 24, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. State and local HIV/AIDS experts will cover current issues in HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, hepatitis C, and other topics. The conference, worth 5 hours of Category 1 credit, costs just $45. To register, call 707-527-6223. The Institute for Medical Quality is sponsoring a training program for physician leaders on Coronado Island from March 8 to 10. Participants will explore solutions and creative approaches to resolving problems encountered in leading a medical staff. To register, visit www.imq.org or contact Leslie Iacopi at 415-882-5167 or liacopi@imq.org. The American Medical Association has made several new resources available to physicians. The Practice Management Center at www.ama-assn.org/go/pmconline educational tutorials available at www.ama-cmeonline.com can help physicians better implement health information technology. Finally, a Team Up To Stay Healthy brochure available at www.ama-assn.org/resources can help seniors receive preventive services covered by Medicare. offers easy access to tools and guidance for enhancing the operation of a medical practice. Three APPLICANTS Danny Arzanipour, MD, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation*, 500 Doyle Park Dr. #G04, Santa Rosa 95405, 303-8307, Fax 303-8362, danarz@gmail.com, UC Los Angeles 2004 Mounir Belcadi, MD, Psychiatry, 1335 N. Dutton Ave., Santa Rosa 95401, 579-8703, Fax 579-8755, Mounir.belcadi@stjoe.org, Mohammed Univ 1997 Benjamin Fritz, MD, Nephrology*, 2301 Circadian Way #A, Santa Rosa 95407, 526-2027, Fax 526-2096, 126 North Orchard Ave., Ukiah 95482, nephdocs@sonic.net, Stanford Univ 1997 Jon Jackson, MD, Psychiatry*, 1335 N. Dutton Ave., Santa Rosa 95401, 579-8703, Fax 579-8755, jon.jackson@stjoe.org, Loma Linda Univ 1980 Jessica Les, MD, Family Medicine, 3569 Round Barn Cir. #200, Santa Rosa 95403, 583-8806, Fax 583-8808, jessicatelela@gmail.com, Stanford Univ 2009 Mendy Maccabee, MD, Otolaryngology*, Allergy & Immunology*, 500 Doyle Park Dr. #106A, Santa Rosa 95405, 303-8357, Fax 303-8358, mendy.maccabee@stjoe.org, Univ Washington 1998 Elpidio Mariano, MD, Surgery*, 106 Lynch Creek Way #9B, Petaluma 94954, 763-1575, Fax 763-9172, elpidio.mariano@stjoe.org, Univ Santo Tomas 1971 Andrew Min, MD, Pediatrics, Pediatric Hospitalist, 500 Doyle Park Dr. #100, Santa Rosa 95405, 544-6090, Fax 544-2389, Columbia Univ 2006 Aimee Newman, MD, Pediatrics*, 5900 State Farm Dr., Rohnert Park 94928, 206-3044, Fax 206-3041, aimee.r.newman@kp.org, UC San Diego 2006 Ruth Ochoa, MD, Emergency Medicine*, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 393-4800, Fax 393-4741, ruth.x.ochoa@kp.org, Stanford Univ 2005 Mahmoud Rashidi, MD, Neurological Surgery*, Adult & Pediatric Neurosurgery, 95 Montgomery Dr. #118, Santa Rosa 95404, 545-7175, Fax 545-7938, sirmahmoudrashidi@gmail.com, Kerman Univ 1991 David Russell, MD, Surgery*, Trauma Critical Care, 500 Doyle Park Dr. #G04, Santa Rosa 95405, 303-8360, Fax 303-8361, davejrussell@gmail.com, Albany Med Coll 2003 Melissa Strange, DO, Pediatrics, Pediatric Hospitalist, 500 Doyle Park Dr. #100, Santa Rosa 95405, 544-6090, Fax 544-2389, melissa.strange@stjoe.org Nicholas Strange, DO, Family Medicine, 24 West El Rose Dr., Petaluma 94952, 763-9891, Fax 762-2311, nicholas.strange@stjoe.org Suegee Tamar-Mattis, DO, Family Medicine, 144 Stony Point Rd., Santa Rosa 95401, 521-4500, Fax 544-4626, suegeetm@yahoo.com, Touro Univ 2006 Cesar Veluz, MD, Surgery, Thoracic Surgery, Vascular Surgery, 106 Lynch Creek Way #9B, Petaluma 94954, 763-1575, Fax 763-9172, cesar.veluz@stjoe.org, Univ Philippines 1971 Michael Yang, MD, Pain Medicine*, Anesthesiology*, 728 Mendocino Ave. , Santa Rosa 95401, 623-9803, Fax 843-3257, summitpainalliance@gmail.com, UC San Francisco 2004 * = board certified; italics = special medical interestCLASSIFIEDS Office space Small suite for lease. Reception, 3 rooms, Summerfield Rd., Santa Rosa. Contact Connie, 707-525-0211. 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 Erika Goodwin at erika@scma.org or 707-548-6491.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. © 2012 SCMA, 2901 Cleveland Ave. #202, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 February 1, 2012 SCMA News Briefs February 2012 0 0 Comment Read More »
January 2012 Sonoma Medicine now available in on-line PDF formatCalHIPSO extends free enrollment deadline to Feb. 29Pay your SCMA dues by Jan. 15 and get a 5% discountNew low-income health plan scheduled for Sonoma CountyCDC seeking nominations for breast cancer advisory committeeOpen House for new neurosurgeon on Jan. 30Photos of SCMA Awards Dinner posted onlinePEOPLEMEDICAL FACILITIESRESOURCESAPPLICANTSCLASSIFIEDSABOUT SCMASonoma Medicine now available in on-line PDF format Sonoma Medicine magazine, which is mailed to every physician in Sonoma County, is now available in a handy PDF format suitable for on-screen reading. The on-line PDF, which includes the cover and all the graphics from the printed edition, can be viewed on the SCMA home page at www.scma.org. A text-only HTML version is still posted in the magazine section of the website at www.scma.org/magazine. The just-published Winter 2012 issue offers a variety of perspectives on the physician-hospital relationship, ranging from doctors in private practice who are considering hospital affiliation to those who already work full-time as hospitalists. Two other articles examine physician vs. hospital ownership of ambulatory surgery centers. Authors for this special issue include Drs. Rick Flinders, Sanjay Dhar, Allan Hill, Rachel Marek, Michael Lustberg and Michael Lazar. The departments in the new issue explore topics as diverse as breast cancer centers, experimental aircraft and a medical mission to Nepal. Photos from the recent SCMA Awards Dinner are included as well. SCMA members interested in contributing an article to the magazine should contact the editor, Steve Osborn, at sosborn@scma.org or 707-525-0101. CalHIPSO extends free enrollment deadline to Feb. 29 The free enrollment deadline for CalHIPSO, which provides assistance for primary care physicians who are transitioning to electronic health records, has been extended to Feb. 29. The nonprofit organization offers technical assistance, access to vendors, educational webinars, reduced pricing on software, and many other benefits. Free CalHIPSO enrollment is available to primary care physicians in small private practices, community health centers, rural health clinics or certain hospital ambulatory care clinics. Primary care physicians in other types of practice settings can enroll in CalHIPSO for just $150. Interested physicians should visit www.CalHIPSO.org or contact Kent Waldsmith at kent@calhipso.org or 510-285-5745. Pay your SCMA dues by Jan. 15 and get a 5% discount SCMA members who pay their 2012 dues by Jan. 15 get a 5% discount. To qualify for the discount, dues must be received in the SCMA office by Jan. 15, not just postmarked by that date. Dues invoices were mailed last fall. If you need a copy, contact Rachel Pandolfi at 707-525-4375 or rachel@scma.org. New low-income health plan scheduled for Sonoma County Path2Health, a new low-income health plan affiliated with the statewide County Medical Services Program (CMSP), is scheduled to begin in Sonoma County this month. The new plan provides no-cost coverage to adults who are at or below 100% of the federal poverty level, or about $10,890 annually for a single person. CMSP is a longstanding program that serves about 60,000 low-income adults in 34 mostly rural California counties. About 30,000 more adults are expected to enroll in Path2Health by the end of next year. Path2Health coverage generally parallels the CMSP plan and includes primary care, hospital care, pharmacy services, and limited dental and vision care. Path2Health will be administered by Anthem Blue Cross. Physicians interested in providing services to Path2Health patients need to join the Anthem Blue Cross network. Complete details are available at www.mypath2health.org. CDC seeking nominations for breast cancer advisory committee The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is seeking nominations for physicians interested in serving on its Advisory Committee for Breast Cancer in Young Women. The committee advises the CDC and other government agencies about developing, implementing and evaluating evidence-based activities designed to prevent breast cancer in young women and promote early detection. The committee meets twice a year, usually in Atlanta, and each meeting last about 3 days. Interested physicians should email a statement of interest, a current resume and a 150-word biography to SCMA Executive Director Cynthia Melody by Monday, Jan. 9. Her email is cmelody@scma.org, and her phone is 707-525-4375.Open House for new neurosurgeon on Jan. 30 Mahmoud Rashidi, MD, a neurosurgeon who is establishing an office in Santa Rosa, will be holding an open house at the California Institute of Neuroscience & Spine from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 30. The address is 95 Montgomery Dr., Suite 118.Photos of SCMA Awards Dinner posted online Photos of last month’s SCMA Awards Dinner have been posted on photographer Sara Wilbur’s website at sarawilburphotography.zenfolio.com/p234748443. The password (all lower case) is scma2011. The site includes almost 100 photos, both of award winners and other attendees. Prints in various sizes are available for a nominal charge.PEOPLE Four local physicians and three newcomers have joined the Annadel Medical Group, an organization affiliated with the St. Joseph Health System that now includes more than 40 physicians. The local recruits include two longtime surgeons at Petaluma Valley Hospital, Dr. Elipidio Mariano and Dr. Cesar Veluz, as well as two psychiatrists from North Bay Psychiatric Associates, Dr. Mounir Belcadi and Dr. Jon Jackson. The newcomers are Dr. Nicholas Strange, a family physician, Dr. Melissa Strange, a pediatric hospitalist, and Dr. David Russell, a trauma surgeon.MEDICAL FACILITIES After a months-long consideration of proposals from five corporate suitors, Palm Drive Hospital has agreed to affiliate with Marin General Hospital, which has already entered into an affiliation agreement with Sonoma Valley Hospital. The resulting three-hospital network is expected to lower individual facility costs by consolidating lab, pharmacy and radiology services, as well as accounting and other administrative departments. Affiliation will also bring the Prima Medical Foundation into Sebastopol, a move that is expected to help with physician recruitment and retention. The Brookwood Health Center is the latest addition to a rapidly expanding network of community health facilities in Santa Rosa. The new center, located in the recently closed Brookwood Homeless Shelter at the corner of Brookwood and Sonoma avenues, will target both homeless residents and others who have struggled to get care, according to medical director Dr. Michael Kozart. The center will be funded by an annual grant of $650,000 from the federal government, as well as a $300,000 start-up grant from the county. More than 3,000 people are expected to receive services at the center each year. OffSiteCare, a Sebastopol telemedicine company, has expanded its reach to seven Northern California hospitals by establishing a centralized hub in San Francisco. Physicians at the hub will serve as nighttime hospitalists for the facilities and will also offer 24/7 emergency room specialty consults. “We’ve created a cost-effective model that will give rural hospitals access to key medical services that used to be beyond their physical and economic reach,” said Dr. Jim Gude, a Sebastopol pulmonologist who founded OffSiteCare in 2007. Hospitals served by the San Francisco hub include Palm Drive, Healdsburg and five more in Mendocino, Lake and Humboldt counties.RESOURCES CMA is hosting a webinar on Medicare E&M audits from 12:15 to 2 p.m. on Jan. 25. The session will cover E&M documentation recommendations in light of electronic health records, forms and pre-printed sheets. Examples from recent Medicare audits will be presented, and attendees will learn how to select the proper level of E&M coding based on CPT guidelines and other considerations. The webinar, which includes 1 CEU credit, is free to CMA members; nonmembers pay $99. To register, visit www.cmanet.org/events or call 800-786-4262. Another CMA webinar, Key Financial Ratios to Increase Profitability, will be held from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. on Feb. 1. The workshop will teach critical skills in analyzing the practice profit/loss statement for overhead expense, accounts receivable and staffing ratios, and how to access specialty comparison norms for benchmarking. The webinar, which includes 1 CEU credit, is free to CMA members; nonmembers pay $99. To register, visit www.cmanet.org/events or call 800-786-4262. The 19th annual HIV/AIDS Review will be held at the Hilton Hotel from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 24. This educational seminar and luncheon is for physicians, midlevel practitioners and pharmacists who provide care to people with HIV/AIDS. For details, call 707-527-6223. CMA Practice Resources is a free email bulletin for full of tips and tools to help CMA members and their office staff improve practice efficiency and viability. To subscribe, visit the Publications page at www.cmanet.org.APPLICANTS Michael Yang, MD, Anesthesiology*, Pain Medicine*, 728 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa 95401, 623-9803, Fax 843-3257, summitpainalliance@gmail.com, UC San Francisco 2004 * board certifiedCLASSIFIEDS Anesthesiologist needed for infertility clinic Must be credentialed, carry malpractice insurance and meet accepted standards. Interested candidates must be available to meet our IVF schedule two weeks per month including some weekends (as established by the practice). The individual must be willing to block out all other obligations until 1 p.m. each day to staff the IVF procedures scheduled during those weeks. Procedure weeks are determined in October for the entire calendar year. Please contact info@afamd.com with inquiries and or to submit your CV for consideration. Family practice physician wanted The Sonoma County Indian Health Project (SCIHP) in Santa Rosa is seeking a full-time BC/BE family practice physician to join our team. Obstetrics required. M-F operation with rotating nights and weekend calls. SCIHP is a comprehensive community care facility. We offer a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and an opportunity for loan repayment. For more information, please contact Bob Orr at 707-521-4654 or bob.orr@scihp.org. Office space Small suite for lease. Reception, 3 rooms, Summerfield Rd., Santa Rosa. Contact Connie, 707-525-0211. Shred-It On-site guaranteed service. Office console provided. Stay compliant. Free consultation. Contact Marie Anderson at 707-829-8668 or marie.anderson@shredit.com. 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 Erika Goodwin at erika@scma.org or 707-548-6491.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. © 2012 SCMA, 2901 Cleveland Ave. #202, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 January 1, 2012 SCMA News Briefs January 2012 0 0 Comment Read More »
