December 2011 SCMA Awards Dinner attracts full houseCalHIPSO can help with transition to electronic health recordsStill time to update your Sonoma County Physician Directory listingPay your SCMA dues by Jan. 15 and get a 5% discountWanted: Vintage Doctor’s BagsWhat the demise of the Super Committee means to California physiciansCMA files lawsuit over Medi-Cal reimbursement cutsCMA recoups almost $3 million for members in 2011PEOPLEMEDICAL FACILITIESRESOURCESAPPLICANTSCLASSIFIEDSABOUT SCMASCMA Awards Dinner attracts full house More than 140 SCMA members, spouses and guests crowded into the Vintner’s Inn in Santa Rosa on Dec. 1 to honor several physicians and community organizations for their remarkable accomplishments. The evening began with a lively social hour that featured demonstrations of DocBookMD, a new SCMA member benefit that lets physicians send secure messages and images via their smartphones. Several other vendors were present as well, including NORCAL Mutual Insurance, which sponsored the event. Before dinner, special recognition was given to Tricia Hunstock for her presidency of both the SCMA Alliance and the CMA Alliance. Dr. Jessica Les also received the Article of the Year award for “View from the Gurney,” which appeared in the fall issue of Sonoma Medicine. The crowd then turned its attention to the food and to spirited conversations around each table. One of those conversations was referenced by Dr. Kirk Pappas in his after-dinner acceptance speech for the Outstanding Contribution to SCMA award. “During dinner,” he said, “SCMA President Dr. Jeff Sugarman and I got into an excellent and heated debate, but we agreed and disagreed with civility and respect, a testimony to how we work together in SCMA.” Pappas contrasted this local cooperation with the lack of collaboration in Sacramento and Washington that he said is “paralyzing not just medicine and health care but our entire nation’s economy and future.” He noted the absence of physician voices in the ongoing debate on health care reform and urged those present to become more active leaders. Awards were also presented to Drs. Allan Bernstein and Enrique González-Mendez, and to Operation Access. Bernstein, a Sebastopol neurologist, received the Outstanding Contribution to the Community award for his groundbreaking work in headache management and research, and for his efforts to improved specialty access for the uninsured. González-Mendez received the Outstanding Contribution to Sonoma County Medicine award for his contributions to the Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency and his service to the local Latino community, including his leadership of the Latino Health Forum. The evening concluded with special recognition of Operation Access, which helps low-income, uninsured patients receive surgical and specialty care. Volunteers Dr. Richard Auld, Dr. Henry Flores, Dr. David Quenelle and Marlene Russell, RN, were honored for their service to the program. A photographic review of the dinner will be published in the Winter 2012 issue of Sonoma Medicine. CalHIPSO can help with transition to electronic health records Free or low-cost assistance for primary care physicians who are transitioning to electronic health records is available from the nonprofit California Health Information Partnership and Services Organization (CalHIPSO). The organization can provide technical assistance, access to vendors, educational webinars, reduced pricing on software, and many other benefits. Free CalHIPSO enrollment is available until Dec. 31 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. The free enrollment will only be offered until all slots are filled, so time is of the essence. Still time to update your Sonoma County Physician Directory listing SCMA is still accepting updates for the 2012 Sonoma County Physician Directory. The directory features photographs and detailed listings for all SCMA members, including their specialty(s), special medical interest and medical training. Basic information for nonmember physicians is included as well. To update your listing, return the directory verification form to SCMA by Dec. 31. If you need a copy of the form, contact Rachel Pandolfi at 707-525-4375 or rachel@scma.org. 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 earlier this fall. If you need a copy, contact Rachel Pandolfi at 707-525-4375 or rachel@scma.org. Wanted: Vintage Doctor’s Bags SCMA is seeking vintage doctor’s bags to donate to local medical students. Physicians who have unneeded bags in good condition should contact Cynthia Melody at 707-525-4375 or cmelody@scma.org. If possible, please provide a brief history of your medical training, specialty(s), and when and where you practiced. SCMA will create a Doctor’s Bag Biography to keep with the bag and will make it available to medical students from Sonoma County.What the demise of the Super Committee means to California physicians The Joint Congressional Committee on Deficit Reduction (the Super Committee) declared defeat on Nov. 21, producing no consensus on a package to increase revenues or reduce spending by $1.2 trillion--including an opportunity to reduce the deficit by repealing the flawed Medicare sustainable growth rate (SGR) payment formula. Addressing the SGR would have reduced government spending and protected access to health care for seniors. As a result, the 27% Medicare SGR payment cut still looms on Jan. 1. The scope of the next SGR intervention will come into better focus when Congress returns from its Thanksgiving break. Legislators have a number of significant items of unfinished business that will require action before the Christmas holidays, which means there will be a legislative vehicle to address the SGR. Organized medicine will be urging Congress to stop the Medicare SGR cuts for as long a period as possible. However, given the rancorous environment, it is unlikely that it will stop the cuts for more than a year or two. Physicians are urged to keep calling, writing and meeting with their senators and representatives to stop the 27% SGR cuts before Jan. 1. Use the AMA Grassroots Hotline at 800-833-6354. After you enter your zip code, you will be automatically connected to your representative or senator. CMA files lawsuit over Medi-Cal reimbursement cuts CMA and several other professional associations have filed a lawsuit against the California Department of Health Care Services and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in response to the recent approval of a 10% reimbursement rate cut for Medi-Cal providers. “Medi-Cal patients are already having a tough time getting access to care,” said CMA President Dr. James Hay. “The approved cuts are irresponsible and will only put the health of California’s most vulnerable population further at risk. The federal government has made a terrible mistake in approving the cuts, especially in the face of health care reform. We simply cannot treat more patients with fewer resources.” California’s Medi-Cal rates are already almost the lowest in the nation. Currently, half the doctors in the state cannot afford to participate in the program. An independent study recently commissioned by CMA found that 49% of Medi-Cal patients are unable to get health care when they need it. Physicians should contact CMA if you, your clinic or medical group can no longer afford to treat Medi-Cal patients, cannot find specialists who take Medi-Cal patients, or would otherwise be negatively impacted by the recent cuts that California made to the Medi-Cal program. Contact Michelle Rubalcava at 916-551-2543 or mrubalcava@cmanet.org.CMA recoups almost $3 million for members in 2011 For the second year in a row, CMA’s Center for Economic Services has recouped more than $2.7 million from payors on behalf of CMA members. So far this year, the center has fielded almost 2,400 calls about billing and contracting issues from more than 1,200 different physician practices. “Our goal is to empower practices by providing them self-help tools and teaching them how to be effective advocates for physicians and patients,” said Francisco Silva, CMA general counsel and vice president. “When the process fails, however, we’re always ready to intervene with the payor or regulator on the member’s behalf.” Founded in 1999, the center provides members with one-on-one assistance for billing, contracting and payment problems that may arise. With more than 125 years of combined medical practice operations experience, staff helps members with issues ranging from underpayment or denials by payors to assisting with contract analysis during negotiations. The center also provides members with access to CMA Practice Resources, a regular bulletin offering tips for improving practice efficiency and viability. To sign up for a free subscription, visit the CMA website at www.cmanet.org/newsletters. To contact the center’s reimbursement helpline, call 888-401-5911 or write to economicservices@cmanet.org. For practical tools, newsletters and other online assistance, visit www.cmanet.org/ces.PEOPLE Veteran family physician Dr. John Canova, who has practiced in Sebastopol since 1985, is one of two local residents appointed in November to the Palm Drive Hospital board of directors. The other appointment went to Mark Inman, former president of Taylor Maid Farms. The hospital has been much in the news of late, with significant board changes and a possible affiliation deal with Marin General Hospital. Family physician Dr. Francesca Manfredi has joined the Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation. Her new office is located at 510 Doyle Park Drive in Santa Rosa. A graduate of the Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency, she previously worked at the Sonoma County Indian Health Project. Dr. Kevin Hamann and Dr. Aimee Newman, both pediatricians, have relocated from Kaiser Santa Rosa to Kaiser’s new pediatrics department in Rohnert Park. They will join several other departments in the facility at 5900 State Farm Dr., including family medicine, occupational medicine and physical therapy.MEDICAL FACILITIES The Petaluma Health Center has received a $150,000 grant from Kaiser Permanente to fund quality improvement initiatives, such as establishing patient-centered medical homes, improving access to primary care, and increasing colon cancer screening for older patients. In addition, the Redwood Community Health Coalition received a $300,000 grant from Kaiser to implement the Prevent Heart Attacks and Strokes Everyday (PHASE) program, an effort to reduce heart attacks and strokes among high-risk patients.RESOURCES A CMA webinar, Medicare 2012: Final Rules, is scheduled for 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 7. Michele Kelly from CMA’s Center for Economic Services will cover the final 2012 Physician Fee Schedule changes and other changes that physicians and their staff should be aware of. The webinar, which offers 1 CEU credit, is free for CMA members and their staff; nonmembers pay $99. To register, visit www.cmanet.org/events, which also includes an archive of past webinars. The Physicians’ and Dentists’ Confidential Assistance Line is a 24-hour confidential phone line service for physicians, dentists and their family members who request help with problems of alcoholism, drug dependence or mental illness within their families. The service is free and will not result in any form of disciplinary action or referral to any disciplinary body. The phone number is 650-756-7787. For more information, visit hwww.cmanet.org/resources/confidential-assistance.APPLICANTS Ji Chae, MD, Internal Medicine*, Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism*, 3559 Round Barn Blvd., Santa Rosa 95403, 571-3933, Fax 571-4858, Jiy.chae@gmail.com, New York Univ 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 classified ads! 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. © 2011 SCMA, 2901 Cleveland Ave. #202, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 December 1, 2011 SCMA News Briefs December 2011 0 0 Comment Read More »
November 2011 Last chance to register for Nov. 2 practice management workshopRSVP now for Dec. 1 Awards DinnerMembers urged to donate to health careers scholarship fundDocBookMD offers improved communications for SCMA physiciansMedPAC: Repeal SGR but freeze or cut physician payCMA urges legalization and regulation of medical cannabisCMA House targets hospital foundations, brand-name drugs and moreWant more state and national news? Read CMA AlertPEOPLEMEDICAL FACILITIESRESOURCESAPPLICANTSCLASSIFIEDSABOUT SCMALast chance to register for Nov. 2 practice management workshop Time is running out to register for a Nov. 2 practice management workshop cosponsored by SCMA and the California Medical Association. The workshop, scheduled for noon to 2 p.m. at the Fountaingrove Inn in Santa Rosa, will be conducted by Frank Navarro, associate director of the CMA Center for Economic Services. Topics include finding and keeping qualified staff, controlling costs, and understanding your revenue stream. Cost is just $45 for SCMA members; nonmembers pay $95. To register, print the form attached below and fax to SCMA at 707-525-4328. You can also register by phone with a credit card by calling Rachel Pandolfi at 707-525-4375, or you can throw caution to the winds and register at the door. Practice Management Workshop registration form RSVP now for Dec. 1 Awards Dinner Now is the time to RSVP for the annual SCMA Awards Dinner, which runs from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1. The event will be held at the Vintner’s Inn, 4350 Barnes Rd., Santa Rosa. Tickets are free for SCMA members; spouses, guests and nonmembers are $50 each. To RSVP, or to purchase tickets, contact Rachel Pandolfi at 707-525-4375 or rachel@scma.org. Mail orders can be sent to SCMA, 2901 Cleveland Ave. #202, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. Please indicate dinner choice: either “duet” (salmon and short ribs) or vegetable cannelloni. The event begins with a social hour from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by dinner and the awards presentations. Outstanding Contribution awards will be presented to Drs. Allan Bernstein, Enrique González-Mendez and Kirk Pappas, and Dr. Jessica Les will receive the Article of the Year award for “View from the Gurney,” which appeared in the Fall 2011 issue of Sonoma Medicine. Tricia Hunstock will also be recognized for her work as president of the CMA Alliance. Operation Access, which provides outpatient surgeries to uninsured patients, will not only receive an award from SCMA, but will also honor several local volunteers, including Drs. Richard Auld, David Quenelle and Henry Flores, along with Marlene Russell, RN. For more details, see the flyer attached below. SCMA Awards Dinner flyer Members urged to donate to health careers scholarship fund A dozen local students pursuing medical careers received more than $27,000 in scholarships from SCMA and the SCMA Alliance this year, thanks to the annual Holiday Greeting Card project and a matching grant from PFMC. “It is wonderful feeling to know that my community back home supports me and my pursuit of a medical career,” wrote Taylor Manton, currently attending medical school at USC. “The financial strains of medical school hang heavy on every student’s mind, but your scholarship helped ease that stress for me and allowed me to focus on my education.” SCMA members will soon be receiving a letter from the SCMA Alliance asking for donations to next year’s scholarship fund. Donations received by Dec. 3 will be acknowledged in the Holiday Greeting Card and can be made by mail or by visiting the SCMA Alliance website at www.scmaa.org. The program has given scholarships to local students since the 1960s, and several former recipients are currently practicing medicine in Sonoma County.DocBookMD offers improved communications for SCMA physicians Communication between physicians can be inefficient at times, and patient care can be delayed, resulting in frustration for everyone. These frustrations, however, may be short-lived. Two physicians from Texas have created a tool to help solve these communication delays: DocBookMD--a smartphone app that is free for SCMA members. “We wanted to change the way physicians communicate. We wanted to make it easier, more efficient, and more secure,” said orthopedic surgeon and DocBookMD cofounder Dr. Tim Gueramy. “We created a program that allows physicians to talk to one another with new technology.” DocBookMD is a physicians-only iPhone and Android app that allows physicians to: * Send HIPAA-compliant text messages and photos * Assign an urgency setting to outgoing text messages * Search a local pharmacy directory * Search the SCMA directory and sort by specialty “DocBookMD allows you to look up another doctor at the point of care,” Gueramy explained. “You can then either call the physician or send a text message with room numbers, medical record numbers, even pictures of wounds and x-rays. And all of this is sent securely and in a way that meets HIPAA requirements.” SCMA members can download their free copy of DocBookMD by visiting docbookmd.com/med_socs/sonoma. 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.MedPAC: Repeal SGR but freeze or cut physician pay The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), which advises Congress on Medicare payment policy, has recommended repealing Medicare’s sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula, but to offset the cost of repeal by freezing or cutting physician rates for the next 10 years. Under MedPAC’s plan, primary care physician payments from Medicare would be frozen at current levels for 10 years, and specialists would see their pay cut by 5.9% a year over the next three years, followed by a seven-year freeze. The plan would avert the 29% physician pay cut that the SGR formula mandates on Jan. 1. CMA strongly opposes MedPAC’s plan, arguing that a long-term payment freeze in an era of 6% average annual practice cost increases essentially equates to a significant payment cut. The association will continue to work with the AMA and others in organized medicine on a permanent repeal of the SGR. CMA is urging physicians to tell Congress that repealing the SGR not only ensures patients can see a doctor when they need one, but also makes economic sense. A package of Medicare SGR materials--including an advocacy kit, a patient poster and a sample letter to Congress--has been posted at www.scma.org/resources.CMA urges legalization and regulation of medical cannabis CMA has adopted official policy recommending legalization and regulation of medical cannabis (marijuana). The decision was based on a CMA white paper concluding that physicians should have access to better research, which is not possible under current drug policy. (To read the white paper, visit www.scma.org/resources.) “CMA may be the first organization of its kind to take this position,” said CMA President Dr. James Hay, “but we won’t be the last. This was a carefully considered, deliberative decision made exclusively on medical and scientific grounds. As physicians, we need to have a better understanding about the benefits and risks of medicinal cannabis so that we can provide the best care possible to our patients.” CMA’s Board of Trustees adopted the policy without objection at its Oct. 14 meeting in Anaheim. The federal government currently lists cannabis as a Schedule I drug, which restricts research on the substance. Part of the policy adopted by CMA emphasizes that the drug should be rescheduled in addition to being legalized. Physicians, who are currently only allowed to “recommend” medical cannabis, have been stuck in an uncomfortable position since California decriminalized the drug in 2006. “California has decriminalized marijuana, yet it’s still illegal on a federal level,” said Dr. Hay. “That puts physicians in an incredibly difficult legal position, since we’re the ones ultimately recommending the drug.”CMA House targets hospital foundations, brand-name drugs and more Physicians at the annual CMA House of Delegates meeting in October adopted a number of resolutions that will determine CMA policy during the coming year. The resolutions ask CMA to: * Advocate for stronger regulatory enforcement of California’s ban on the corporate practice of medicine, such as hospital foundation ownership of medical groups. * Oppose the profit-motivated removal of generic medications from the market in favor of more expensive brand-name products. * Advocate for expanding the J-1 Visa program beyond 30 slots. Visa waivers should be granted for six years initially, and preference should be given to physicians serving in rural and underserved areas. * Support allowing eligible uninsured patients to enroll in public health programs at the time they receive care.Want more state and national news? Read CMA Alert For more state and national news stories, physicians are encouraged to read CMA Alert, a biweekly electronic newsletter published by the California Medical Association. The newsletter is posted at www.cmanet.org/cma-alert. CMA members can receive a free email subscription by clicking the Subscribe link.PEOPLE Dr. Hilary Bartels has been appointed chief of emergency medicine at Kaiser Santa Rosa, where she has worked since 1990. She attended Case Western Reserve University medical school and completed her residency in emergency medicine at Harbors-UCLA Medical Center. An accomplished athlete, she has earned many awards for cycling, running and swimming.MEDICAL FACILITIES Palm Drive Hospital, the only local hospital without a larger helpmate, has received partnership proposals from Adventist Health, Marin General Hospital, St. Joseph Health System, Catholic Healthcare West and HealthTech. A hospital committee advised by Drs. Greg Rosa, Richard Powers and Michael Bollinger is evaluating the proposals and is expected to make a recommendation by December. Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa and Sutter Medical Group of the Redwoods may soon be seeing more Medicare patients, thanks to a new Medicare Advantage plan targeted to about 80,000 Medicare beneficiaries in Sonoma County. The plan, a joint venture between UnitedHealthcare and Sutter Health, will offer patients access to both the hospital and the medical group, which includes more than 600 physicians. Enrollment opened on Oct. 15 and closes on Dec. 7.RESOURCES CMA webinars for November are listed below. The webinars are free for CMA members. Nonmembers pay $99. To register, visit www.cmanet.org/events. * Electronic Health Records Update (12:15 p.m., Nov. 2). The latest news on the Medicare and Medi-Cal EHR programs. * EHR Meaningful Use (12:15 and 6:15 p.m., Nov. 9). How to qualify for EHR incentive payments. * Top 10 Ways To Save Your Practice Money (12:15 and 6:15 p.m., Nov. 16). How to curb expenses and improve revenue. Marsh, the insurance broker endorsed by CMA, is offering a high deductible health plan/health savings account that offers lower rates than other types of health insurance. In 2012, for example, individuals can contribute at least $3,100 (or $6,250 for family coverage) to the tax-deductible account and access the funds without penalty for health-related expenses. For more details, contact Marsh at 800-842-3761 or visit www.MarshAffinity.com.APPLICANTS William Carroll, MD, Internal Medicine*, Geriatric Medicine*, 3536 Mendocino Ave. , Santa Rosa 95403, 546-2180, Fax 546-2188, carrollpb@comcast.net, Indiana Univ 1982 Hana Clark, DO, Family Medicine, 3569 Round Barn Cir., Santa Rosa 95403, 303-3600, Fax 303-3611, clarkhm@sutterhealth.org, Arizona Coll Osteo Med 2011 Steven Gelber, MD, Internal Medicine*, 5900 State Farm Dr., Rohnert Park 94928, 206-3044, Fax 206-3041, steven.i.gelber@kp.org, UC San Francisco 2008 Gilberto Palacios, MD, Internal Medicine, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 393-4269, Fax 393-4556, gilbertopalacios@yahoo.com, UC San Francisco 2008 Rajesh Ranadive, MD, Internal Medicine*, 141 Lynch Creek Way #C, Petaluma 94954, 763-0802, Fax 763-0803, Ross Univ 1999 Rajina Ranadive, MD, Internal Medicine*, 141 Lynch Creek Way #C, Petaluma 94954, 763-0802, Fax 763-0803, Ross Univ 1999 Marco Zolezzi, MD, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation*, Acupuncture, 525 E. Cotati Ave. #230, Cotati 94931, 794-0316, Fax 794-0388, marcozolezzi@yahoo.com, Autonomous Univ 1982 * board certifiedCLASSIFIEDS Medical director/staff physician wanted Sonoma Valley Community Health Center is seeking a family practice physician for the Medical Director/Staff Physician position. This position provides medical supervision and direction to the Health Center’s clinical services, as well as direct patient care. Must work collaboratively and be willing to support and back-up the mid-level clinicians, and provide call coverage through group call services for peds and family practice. We are looking for an innovator, a change manager and a demonstrated leader. Must have a current CA physician’s license. Call 707-939-6075 to learn more about the position. Website: www.svchc.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 classified ads! 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. © 2011 SCMA, 2901 Cleveland Ave. #202, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 November 1, 2011 SCMA News Briefs November 2011 0 0 Comment Read More »
October 2011 TAKE ACTION! Urge Congress to repeal the Medicare SGR formula!TAKE ACTION! Urge Congress to repeal the Medicare SGR formula! On Jan. 1, physicians face a 30% Medicare payment cut because of the flawed SGR (sustainable growth rate) payment formula. Physicians need to contact Congress now to urge repeal of the SGR formula. Time is short. Congress has appointed a Deficit Committee to develop $1.5 trillion in spending cuts or revenue increases by Thanksgiving--and Medicare is one of their main targets. The Deficit Committee may be the last chance to repeal the SGR once and for all. Please write or call your representatives and senators today and urge them to repeal the SGR formula. In addition, ask them to co-sign a Dear Colleague letter from Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-PA) to the Deficit Committee arguing for repeal of the SGR. Also ask them to stop further cuts in the Medi-Cal program. The sample letter attached below can be sent via email to the following members of Congress, using the “contact” buttons on their websites--or you can simply call them. You can also send the sample letter via regular mail to their district office, using the address listed on their website. · Rep. Lynn Woolsey: woolsey.house.gov or 707-542-7182 · Rep. Mike Thompson: mikethompson.house.gov or 707-226-9898 · Sen. Barbara Boxer: boxer.senate.gov or 510-286-8537 · Sen. Dianne Feinstein: feinstein.senate.gov or 415-393-0707 Sample letter urging repeal of SGR When contacting your representatives, stress the key points listed below: · Repeal the Medicare SGR in the Deficit Committee legislation. · Stop further Medi-Cal physician payment cuts. · Cosign the Medicare SGR Dear Colleague letter from Rep. Schwartz. Also ask your patients to contact Congress via the AMA Hotline at 888-434-6200. A Patient Poster is attached below, along with an Advocacy Kit with more details about repealing the SGR formula. Patient Poster and Advocacy Kit For further questions or comments, contact Elizabeth McNeil, CMA vice president for federal government relations, at emcneil@cmanet.org. October 6, 2011 SCMA News Briefs October 2011 0 0 Comment Read More »
October 2011 Drs. Bernstein, Gonzalez-Mendez and Pappas to receive SCMA awardsPractice management workshop in Santa Rosa on Nov. 2DocBookMD: Free smartphone app for SCMA membersDirectory verification forms are now dueWelcome new members at SCMA and Alliance OktoberfestStill time to register for Latino Health ForumPhysicians invited to Smartphone SalonHealthy employers can get iWORKwell certificationPEOPLEMEDICAL FACILITIESRESOURCESAPPLICANTSCLASSIFIEDSABOUT SCMADrs. Bernstein, Gonzalez-Mendez and Pappas to receive SCMA awards Three prominent local physicians will receive Outstanding Contribution awards at the annual SCMA Awards Dinner in December. The awards will be presented to: • Dr. Allan Bernstein, a Sebastopol neurologist, for Outstanding Contribution to the Community. • Dr. Enrique Gonzalez-Mendez, a Santa Rosa family physician, for Outstanding Contribution to Sonoma County Medicine. • Dr. Kirk Pappas, a Santa Rosa physiatrist, for Outstanding Contribution to SCMA. In addition, Operation Access, which provides free outpatient surgeries to the uninsured, will receive a Recognition of Achievement award. The Article of the Year award will also be presented, but the winner has yet to be determined. All local physicians are invited to the Awards Dinner, which runs from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1. The event will be held at the Vintner’s Inn, 4350 Barnes Rd., Santa Rosa. Tickets are free for SCMA members; spouses, guests and nonmembers are $50 each. The evening begins with a social hour at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and the awards presentation. Dinner choices include “duet” (salmon and short ribs) or vegetable cannelloni. To RSVP, or to purchase tickets, contact Rachel Pandolfi at 707-525-4375 or rachel@scma.org. Mail orders can be sent to SCMA, 2901 Cleveland Ave. #202, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. Please indicate dinner choice. For more details, click on the link below. SCMA Awards Dinner flyer Practice management workshop in Santa Rosa on Nov. 2 SCMA and the California Medical Association are cosponsoring “What Every Physician Needs To Know About Their Practice,” a two-hour workshop for physicians, administrators and office managers. The workshop--which runs from noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 2, at the Fountaingrove Inn in Santa Rosa--will be conducted by Frank Navarro, associate director of the CMA Center for Economic Services. Topics include finding and keeping qualified staff, controlling costs, and understanding your revenue stream. Cost is just $45 for SCMA members; nonmembers pay $95. To register, print the form attached below and fax to SCMA at 707-525-4328. You can also register by phone with a credit card by calling Rachel Pandolfi at 707-525-4375. Registration deadline is Oct. 28. Practice Management Workshop registration form 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. Directory verification forms are now due Verification forms, which doctors can use to update or approve their 2012 Sonoma County Physician Directory listing, were mailed to all local physicians this summer and are now due back at SCMA. If you haven’t returned your form yet, please do so ASAP. If you need a copy of the form, contact Rachel Pandolfi at rachel@scma.org or 707-525-4375. The 2012 directory, a standard reference guide used at medical offices throughout the county, will feature photographs and detailed listings for all SCMA members, including their specialty(s), special medical interest and medical training. Limited information for nonmember physicians will be included as well. If you’re a nonmember and want a more detailed listing, you can apply online for SCMA membership at www.scma.org/join.asp. Welcome new members at SCMA and Alliance Oktoberfest An Oktoberfest welcome party for new SCMA members will be held at the Wild Oak Saddle Club in Santa Rosa on Saturday evening, Oct. 22. The event, sponsored by the SCMA Alliance, features authentic German beer, food, music and dancing. Cost is just $55 per person. To purchase tickets, visit www.scmaa.org or contact Christine Beakes at chrisbeakes@msn.com or 707-799-0125.Still time to register for Latino Health Forum A few spots are still available for the annual Latino Health Forum, to be held at the Flamingo Hotel in Santa Rosa on Oct. 13. This year’s forum, titled “Raising Healthy Children,” features keynote speeches by the president of the California Primary Care Association and the director of the childhood weight assessment program at UCSF. Workshop topics include childhood mental health, cultural sensitivity, diabetes and oral health. The registration fee is $100. To register, visit www.latinohealthforum.org.Physicians invited to Smartphone Salon Local physicians of any specialty interested in learning more about how to best use smartphones (iPhones, iPads, Androids) in clinical practice are invited to a Medical Smartphone Salon in Santa Rosa on Thursday evening, Oct. 27. The salon is an informal gathering in a physician’s home from 6 to 8:30 p.m., with light appetizers and wine served. Participants generally cluster into small groups around topics of interest, with demonstration of new apps and tips by Dr. Rachel Friedman and Dr. Danielle Oryn (medical director of HIT at Redwood Community Health Network). Just got your new device and need some help getting started? A “beginner’s corner” for doctors new to smartphones will also be available. To RSVP and receive the location, contact Dr. Friedman at rscfriedman@gmail.com.Healthy employers can get iWORKwell certification Medical offices of all sizes are encouraged to apply for iWORKwell certification, which recognizes employers who develop and implement employee wellness programs. Many larger local employers--including Kaiser Permanente, Santa Rosa Community Health Centers and the St. Joseph Health System--have already been certified, but small employers are eligible as well. Santa Rosa and Rohnert Park Oral Surgery, for example, has obtained certification. Toni Bonelli, office manager for the oral surgery group, noted that small businesses have the most to gain from worksite wellness efforts. “Since making a conscious effort to raise the wellness awareness for our employees,” she said, “we have experienced nearly 0% absenteeism.” To obtain iWORKwell certification, visit www.sonomaedb.org/wellness and complete the online application. Depending on the extent of their worksite wellness efforts, employers will receive bronze, silver or gold certification, along with certificates and a listing on the Worksite Wellness webpage.PEOPLE Dr. Ben Brown, director of family medicine at the Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency, received a Physician Leader award from the Northern California Center for Well-Being at its annual benefit in September. Mike Cohill, CEO of the Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation, will become the regional president of Sutter Health West Bay on Jan. 1. He will succeed Dr. Martin Brotman, who will continue to lead Sutter’s education, research and philanthropy efforts. The West Bay region that Cohill will oversee extends from San Francisco to Lake County and includes CPMC, Novato Community Hospital, Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa, Sutter Lakeside Hospital, and several outpatient facilities. The region has about 8,000 employees and 1,700 affiliated physicians and ancillary providers.MEDICAL FACILITIES Signature Healthcare Services plans to open an acute psychiatric care hospital in Santa Rosa in early 2012. The company, which operates psychiatric centers nationwide, purchased the Fulton Road facility from St. Joseph Health System in 2009 and is expanding the capacity to 95 beds. The yet-to-be-named hospital will be the only inpatient psychiatric facility in Sonoma County and is expected to employ about 300 people. The Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency has received a $154,000 grant as part of a $2.6 million statewide effort to increase the number of primary care physicians in California. The grant, from the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, is intended to counteract a projected shortage of primary care physicians in the next few years. A proposed settlement to a festering lawsuit over Sutter’s new Santa Rosa hospital has been rejected by both Sutter Health and the county of Sonoma. The settlement, proposed by healthcare districts representing Healdsburg and Palm Drive hospitals, would have created a payment mechanism for uncompensated care and addressed several other issues related to the new hospital. In the absence of a settlement, the lawsuit will proceed to a district court in San Francisco later this fall. Petaluma Valley Hospital was the only local facility to earn a spot on the Joint Commission’s annual list of top-performing hospitals. The list, which included more than 400 hospitals nationwide, recognized Petaluma Valley for its use of evidence-based clinical processes to improve care for heart attacks, pneumonia and other patient conditions. The St. Joseph Mobile Health Clinic, which delivers primary care services to uninsured and underinsured patients throughout Sonoma County, celebrated its 20th anniversary in September. During the past two decades, the clinic has provided care to more than 30,000 patients.RESOURCES CMA is sponsoring several webinars during October. The webinars are free for CMA members; nonmembers pay $99 each. Topics and dates for October include: • “Providing extraordinary customer service,” Oct. 5, 12:15 p.m. • “ICD-10,” Oct. 12, 12:15 and 6:15 p.m. • “HIPAA 5010 transactions,” Oct. 18, 12:15 p.m. • “EOB analysis: successful claims appeal,” Oct. 19, 12:15 p.m. • “Increasing practice profitability,” Oct. 26, 12:15 and 6:15 p.m. To register, visit www.cmanet.org/events. UCSF is sponsoring a Biomedicine Roundtable at the Mission Bay Conference Center in San Francisco on Oct. 10. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and includes a free lunch. Speakers will discuss new biologic and biosimilar therapies. To RSVP, contact Jenny Dudikoff at jenny@gcwest.com or 916-329-7403. A free cardiovascular health symposium will be held at the Vintners Inn in Santa Rosa on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 22. The event begins at 1 p.m. with four hours of presentations (and CME credits) on cardiovascular issues, followed by a complimentary dinner from 5:30 to 7 p.m. RSVP by Oct. 14 to Kathy Ficco at kathy.ficco@stjoe.org or 707-547-4652.APPLICANTS Luz Aguilera, MD, Obstetrics & Gynecology, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 393-4135, Fax 393-4337, laguilera.obgyn@gmail.com, UC Los Angeles 2007 Eric Bava, MD, Orthopaedic Surgery, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 393-4822, Fax 393-4559, ericbava@gmail.com, Univ Southern California 2004 Vincent Chow, MD, Orthopaedic Surgery*, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 393-4822, Fax 393-4559, vincent.e.chow@kp.org, Univ Miami 2006 Marcia Luisi, MD, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation*, 990 Sonoma Ave. #3, Santa Rosa 95404, 546-5487, Fax 546-5488, muluisi@sonic.net, Med Coll Wisconsin 1983 David Maccabee, MD, Surgery, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 393-4160, Fax 393-4557, maccabee@gorge.net, UC Davis 1996 Mary Puttmann-Kostecka, MD, Family Medicine, 3569 Round Barn Cir., Santa Rosa 95403, 303-3600, Fax 303-3611, puttmam@sutterhealth.org, Georgetown Univ 2010 Barbara Sinclair, MD, Family Medicine*, 15000 Arnold Dr., Eldridge 95431, 938-6000, Fax 938-6940, barbarasinclairmd@msn.com, Univ Texas 1991, * 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. Medical director/staff physician wanted Sonoma Valley Community Health Center is seeking a family practice physician for the Medical Director/Staff Physician position. This position provides medical supervision and direction to the Health Center’s clinical services, as well as direct patient care. Must work collaboratively and be willing to support and back-up the mid-level clinicians, and provide call coverage through group call services for peds and family practice. We are looking for an innovator, a change manager and a demonstrated leader. Must have a current CA physician’s license. Call 707-939-6075 to learn more about the position. Website: www.svchc.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 classified ads! 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. © 2011 SCMA, 2901 Cleveland Ave. #202, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 October 1, 2011 SCMA News Briefs October 2011 0 0 Comment Read More »
