San Francisco Medical Society Blog

SFMS Members Meet with Assemblymember Richard Pan, MD

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:53:59 GMT

On Wednesday, SFMS physicians met with pediatrician and State Assemblymember Richard Pan, MD to discuss the importance of physician representation in Sacramento.

Click here to view photos from the event.

10,000 Health Care Providers to Rally to Stop Medi-Cal Cuts at State Capitol

Mon, 13 May 2013 16:21:30 GMT

SFMS and CMA have joined an unprecedented coalition of physicians, dentists, health care workers and hospitals working to stop the 10% Medi-Cal reimbursement rate cut.

The We Care for California coalition was borne of an effort to build a strong coalition of diverse organizations fighting to ensure that California’s health care system doesn’t continue to get short changed. So often in the past, health care advocates have become divided in their efforts, so focused on individual organizational interests, that the collective strength is weakened. We Care for California intends to stand undivided in using the coalition’s collective influence in defense of health care.

The coalition’s first major effort is to ensure that two CMA-sponsored bills—SB 640 (Lara) and AB 900 (Alejo)—are passed by the Legislature and signed by Governor Brown. Both bills, sponsored by CMA, would stop the 10 percent Medi-Cal rate cut.

Join “We Care for California” Rally in Sacramento on Tuesday, June 4 from 1 pm to 2 pm

to call on State Legislators and the Governor to stop the $1 billion reduction in provider rates in the Medi-Cal program. SFMS/CMA physicians will stand with nurses, dentists, and other health care providers as well as patient and consumer groups to advocate for the support of SB 640 and AB 900.

This will be the largest health care gathering ever at the state Capitol, and will send a powerful message that we expect our elected leaders to stand up for quality care in California.

The goal is to bring 10,000 health care providers together from across the state participate.

Buses will be available to transport anyone who wants to participate from hospitals around the state to the Capitol building in Sacramento at no charge to the participant. If you are interested in attending the event, please register at www.wecareforca.org to reserve a seat on the bus nearest you.

Click here for detailed event and RSVP information.

Photos from the 145th SFMS Annual Dinner

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 15:25:14 GMT

More than 160 physicians, physicians-in-training, and supporters/partners of the SFMS celebrated 145 years of physician advocacy and camaraderie with the SFMS at our Annual Dinner.

Event highlights include the installation of Shannon Udovic-Constant, MD, a pediatrician at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco, as the 2013 SFMS President and the featured presentation from Catherine R. Lucey, MD, Professor of Medicine and Vice Dean for Education at the UCSF School of Medicine, on the Choosing Wisely Campaign.

SFMS would like to thank our members, sponsors, and special guests Senator Mark Leno, Assemblymember Phil Ting, Supervisor David Chiu, Supervisor Eric Mar, CMA President Paul Phinney, and Dr. Catherine Lucey for their support of this event and the medical society.

Click here to view more photos from the Annual Dinner.

SFMS/CMA and DHCS to Present Complimentary December Webinar About "Coordinated Care" Initiative

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 12:49:57 GMT

The California Department of Health Services (DHCS) and the SFMS/CMA are sponsoring a free webinar on the state’s new Coordinated Care Initiative (CCI) for dual eligibles—Californians eligible for both Medi-Cal and Medicare. The webinar takes place on December 19, 2012, from 12:15pm to 1:15 pm and is free for all physicians.

The Coordinated Care Initiative (CCI) was authorized by the Assembly in July 2012 in an effort to save money and better coordinate care for the state’s low-income seniors and persons with disabilities. The program begins with a three-year demonstration project that would see more than 75% of California’s dual eligible beneficiaries transition to managed care plans.

Although the project is still pending federal approval, DHCS plans to begin passively enrolling dual eligible patients residing in eight of California's largest counties beginning in 2013. Under the pilot program, patients will be enrolled in a managed care plan unless they actively opt out.

SFMS/CMA remains concerned over the breadth of this so-called pilot project and has urged CMS to require the state to scale it back. Any transition that involves 75% of all dual eligibles cannot be considered a pilot. In October, the CMA’s annual House of Delegates authored a resolution that calls on CMA to collect data from its membership regarding difficulties with the duals transition and, if difficulties are found to be widespread, report them to DHCS, the California Department of Managed Health Care and CMS.

Click here to register for the December 19 free webinar.

Action Alert: Protect Health Care and Contact Your Legislator Today!

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:33:20 GMT

Members of Congress have returned to Washington, DC for a Lame Duck Session to address the so-called “fiscal cliff” issues as well as the Medicare physician payment cuts. There is also a movement to cut the Medi-Cal physician payment rates to fund the fiscal cliff issues.

Given the enormity of the issues and the number of competing interests in Washington, it is imperative that Congress hear from physicians.

Before January 12, 2013, Congress must stop the Medicare payment cut of 26.5%, the Medicare Sequestration Budget Cut of 2%, and the proposed Medicaid cuts. SFMS/CMA is also asking Congress to include an update of the California Medicare geographic payment regions in the package.

Talking Points:

Stop the Medicare Physician Cuts of Nearly 30%
Do Not Cut Medi-Cal to fund the “fiscal cliff”
Update the Medicare payment regions
Protect access to Doctors

Click here to view a detailed talking point list, which can be shared with your Congress representative.

Click here to view a sample letter to members of Congress.

Please contact Senators Feinstein and Boxer and your Member of Congress today!

Call the AMA Grassroots Hotline (800) 833-6354. Enter your zip code to be automatically be connected to your Representative.

http://writerep.house.gov
www.boxer.senate.gov
www.feinstein.senate.gov.

Medi-Cal Requiring Physician Re-enrollment

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 11:51:53 GMT

The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) will soon be notifying physicians that they must re-enroll in Medi-Cal as one of the provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The ACA requires every state Medicaid program (Medi-Cal in California) to revalidate provider enrollment information at least every five years beginning January 2, 2013.

DHCS is currently working to identify an initial list of all physicians and other providers who will be required to revalidate. Notices of revalidation will be mailed beginning the second week of January 2013. Notices will be sent to business location on file with DHCS. Each notice will include information on which application(s) must be completed. Anyone receiving a notice must complete and return the requested form(s) and required attachments within 35 working days of the date of the notice. Failure to do so may result in payment delays.

Physicians, who have revalidated, updated, or submitted new applications to the Medicare program within the last 12 months (January 1 through December 31, 2012) will not be required to revalidate at this time. However, your Medicare enrollment information must match the information on file with the Medi-Cal program. If the information does not match, you will receive notice from DHCS requiring you to revalidate.

SFMS/CMA will be hosting two live webinar training courses with representatives from DHCS to walk attendees through the Medi-Cal enrollment process for both individual providers and groups. Also to be discussed will be program requirements and how to avoid common mistakes that can lead to delays, denials and exclusion from the Medi-Cal program. These extended-length webinars are free to members, and will be held November 15, 2012, and January 16, 2013, from 12:15 to 1:45 pm.

Click here for more information or to register for the complimentary webinar(s).

Help Shape the Future of SFMS. Cast Your Vote in the 2012 SFMS Election!

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 11:35:16 GMT

Please cast your ballot to elect SFMS officers, board, and delegation members to represent SFMS at CMA if you have not yet done so.

All physicians currently in practice, residents, and UCSF medical students who held current membership with the SFMS are eligible to vote. One ballot per member.

Simply click on the "VOTE" button to access your e-ballot, or go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2012SFMSElection.

The e-ballot should take no longer than 5 minutes to complete. All ballot information will be kept confidential.

Biographical sketches for each of the candidates are published in the October issue of San Francisco Medicine.

All completed ballot must be submitted electronically by 5 PM on November 13, 2012. Any ballot received thereafter is invalid. Election results will be posted on the SFMS blog by November 18, and subsequently published in San Francisco Medicine.

Questions? Please contact SFMS at (415) 561-0850 ext. 200 or email membership@sfms.org.

11/8: Addressing Childhood Obesity within the Asian Pacific Islander Community

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 12:34:30 GMT

Join SFMS and the CMA Foundation for a complimentary webinar on addressing childhood obesity within the Asian Pacific Islander community.

Multicultural Communications Between Patients & Clinicians – Addressing Childhood Obesity within the Asian Pacific Islander Community

Thursday, November 8
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm

Using a case presentation format, participants will be able to:

Identify how culture and ethnicity can influence Asian-American and Pacific-Island patients’ decision making related overweight and obesity;
Describe effective patient/provider communication techniques to help families understand behaviors they can take to help their child reach healthy weight/lifestyle/behaviors, particularly focusing on increasing healthy food choices; and,
Identify in which target areas (diet, physical activity) APIs are at greater risk for overweight and obesity.

The webinar will be led by

Ricky Y. Choi, MD, MPH, FAAP, Department Head of Pediatrics at Asian Health Services
Sophia Yen, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine

Raynald Samoa, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism at City of Hope

Click here to register for the webinar.

11/29: Complimentary Webinar on Cultural Competency

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 17:27:59 GMT

Join SFMS/CMA for our complimentary webinar on ethnic physicians and cultural competency.

California: A Physician Melting Pot
Wednesday, November 29
12:15 pm to 1:15 pm

Learn about the ethnic demographics of California's population and how they compare to those of physicians. This webinar will also present information regarding cultural competency and ethnic medical organizations.

To register for this webinar, please visit www.cmanet.org/events. Non-SFMS members are invited to join this webinar for $99.

Oppose SB 1528 -- Last Minute Legislation Threatening MICRA

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 10:46:08 GMT

Call Your Legislator to Oppose SB 1528

The trial attorneys are at it once again, trying to push through last minute legislation that would undermine the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act of 1975 (MICRA) and increase medical malpractice insurance rates.

They have introduced SB 1528, a bill that would artificially inflating economic medical expense damage awards in managed care cases. This bill would change the way medical expense economic damages are measured, allowing damages to be awarded without regard to the amount actually paid.

This, in turn, would increase medical malpractice premiums for physicians, many of whom would be forced to close shop thereby further limiting access to care for all Californians.

SB 1528 is under consideration on the Assembly Floor on this last day of the legislative session.

CALL NOW to urge your legislators to VOTE NO on SB 1528.

Please call (877) 362-8455 to be connected to your legislator. You will be asked to enter your zip code and select your legislators. Give your name, specialty and let them know that you are their constituent.

Make this call today to help preserve MICRA and keep professional liability insurance costs affordable ensure health care access for all.

Talking Points

SB 1528 will:

Result in vastly inflated economic damage awards for expenses the plaintiff never ha
Erode the foundation of MICRA by artificially inflating medical expense damage awards
Line the pockets of trial attorneys at the expense of the medical community
Further harm California's already limited access to health care

Click here for a 1-page floor alert on SB 1528 produced by CMA's Government Relations.

SFMS/CMA is working to preserve MICRA. Click here for a copy of the letter CMA sent to the Chair of the Assembly Judiciary Committee Bob Wieckowski opposing SB 1528.

A message from SFMS President-Elect: 2012 SFMS General Meeting

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 15:18:27 GMT

SFMS President-Elect and Membership Committee Chair Shannon Udovic-Constant, MD discusses the top 3 reasons for members to attend the September 10 General Meeting.

Click here for event details and RSVP information.

Why We Walk; Join SFMS for the Golden Gate Walk on September 15

Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:54:07 GMT

By Peter Curran, MD, SFMS President. Adapted from the President's Message in the July/August 2012 issue of San Francisco Medicine.

Your San Francisco Medical Society is sponsoring the American Heart Association Heart Walk in Golden Gate Park on September 15. The executive committee of the SFMS Board voted unanimously to sponsor a booth at the event to showcase organized medicine's commitment to local health improvement efforts. Volunteers and survivors representing several local hospitals will walk a scenic three-mile course in Golden Gate Park to raise awareness for fighting heart disease. An additional benefit of supporting the walk is the message it gives the community about physicians' resolve in advocating for health in our own neighborhoods. Much appreciation for the work of Dr. Shannon Udovic-Constant, Ms. Jessica Kuo, and the membership committee at SFMS in organizing this and other community-related activities.

Community service is not new to organized medicine in California. The SFMS membership has pioneers in local community advocacy. The San Francisco Free Clinic, founded in 1994 by SFMS members Tricia Hellman Gibbs, MD, and Richard Gibbs, MD, was awarded the Public Health Heroes Award for Health Care Delivery in 2006 for its service in providing medical care to the uninsured “working poor” in San Francisco. In addition to providing a vital service to the community, the clinic has given primary care training to young physicians and students from several medical schools, including UCSF. Similarly, SFMS member Marcus Conant, MD, one of the first physicians to diagnose and treat AIDS patients in 1981, founded the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and, later, the Conant Foundation, which expanded AIDS awareness to the legislative arena on behalf of patients. Adam Schickedanz, MD, a UCSF pediatric resident, started the Financial Fitness Program at San Francisco General, which provides crucial financial information and services to underserved patients with needs that go beyond health issues. Schickedanz’s program was awarded a $10,000 grant by the SFMS and the San-Cop Foundation and continues to grow.

At a time when organized medicine is struggling to remain relevant in the midst of health care delivery reform, perhaps it is simplistic to think that participating in a local Heart Walk will change medicine’s fortunes or even grow membership within SFMS. But public health and advocacy, which remain tenets of our mission at SFMS, are relevant regardless of the political climate of the times if they are done with conviction in support of the greater community benefit.

That is why we walk. Please lace up your walking shoes and join me on September 15 in Golden Gate Park. Training recommended but not required.

Click here for more information about SFMS' participation of the Golden Gate Heart Walk and ways you can get involved.

8/1: Complimentary Coding Webinar

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 11:47:17 GMT

Join SFMS/CMA for our complimentary coding webinar with Arthur Lurvey, MD of Palmetto GBA.

Coding for Medical Necessity

Wednesday, August 1

12:15 pm to 1:15 pm

Medicare and private payers all recognize medical necessity as a deciding factor for claims payment and it is important that all practices know the rules. This webinar will discuss applying the rules to your patient encounters, medical decision making and medical necessity, the importance of diagnosis coding, coverage determination policies, using an electronic health record, how to respond to requests for records, and how to appeal if you disagree with decisions from outside reviewers.

To register for this webinar, please visit www.cmanet.org/events. Non-SFMS members are invited to join this webinar for $99.

Ensure Your Practice is Prepared for New Workers' Comp eBilling Requirements

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 16:35:24 GMT

On October 18, 2012, payors in California will be required to accept workers’ compensation claims electronically. California is one of the first states in the country to require payors to accept electronic billing (e-billing) of workers’ compensation claims.

While e-billing is currently optional for physicians, the California Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) has adopted new regulations for standardized paper billing forms and e-billing standards, which encourage both workers’ compensation insurers and medical providers to transition to e-billing. The DWC website contains information on the updated regulations, a frequently asked questions summary and a link to the “Electronic Medical Billing and Payment Companion Guide 2012.”

SFMS/CMA have partnered with the California Orthopedic Association, American Medical Association, and the California Department of Industrial Relations to a offer a four-part California e-billing webinar training program presented by DWC, Jopari Solutions, and other industry experts. The four webinars are as follows:

Registration for this series of webinars is free to SFMS physician members and their staff. For more information or to register for these or any CMA webinar, please click on the individual webinar names above or visit www.cmanet.org/events.

Physicians Input Needed for CALHIPSO Data Analytics/EHR Program; Stipends Available

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 16:15:06 GMT

All SFMS physician members are invited to participate in a focus group regarding CalHIPSO’s (SFMS/CMA’s non-profit partner to provide assistance in EHR adoption for physicians) development of a Data Analytics Pilot Project. The new CALHIPSO project is intended to offer physicians, medical groups, and other health care organizations the ability to extract and analyze their own electronic health information in whatever manner may be desired for the purposes of quality assurance/improvement. To ensure that this project reflects the needs and desires of physicians, CALHIPSO is seeking feedback from physicians through participation in an in-person or a webinar-based focus group. Please see below for available times.

Goals

Gain an understanding of the challenges clinical and operational leaders face in making timely, accurate operations and business decisions
Develop an understanding of your perspectives on various clinical analytics tools if any
Understand how you and your organization currently collect and utilize clinical and business intelligence-related information if at all
Understand how you would relatively prioritize clinical analytics areas
Determine the qualities you most desire or require in a clinical analytics

Focus Group Dates/Times

Each session requires a commitment to attend for two hours, either in person or via a webinar as follows:

IN-PERSON: Monday, July 31, 5:30 – 7:30 pm, at ACCMA headquarters in Oakland
WEBINAR**: Tuesday, July 31, 12:00 – 2 pm
WEBINAR**: Thursday, August 2, 5:30 – 7:30 pm

**Participants in the webinar must have access to a phone line and computer with high speed internet.

Compensation

Participants in the webinar focus groups will receive a $150 stipend. Participants in the in-person focus group will receive $250.

Registration

Please note advance registration is required to participate in the focus groups.

Supreme Court Decision: What’s Next?

Tue, 03 Jul 2012 12:17:36 GMT

Join SFMS/CMA for our complimentary webinar on the Supreme Court health care reform ruling.

Supreme Court Decision: What’s Next?

Thursday, July 5, 2012

12:15 pm to 1:15 pm

This webinar will provide a recap of the Supreme Court decision regarding the Affordable Care Act from both the legal and policy perspectives, as well as an update on what will happen next. CMA staff specializing in government relations, medical and regulatory policy, and legal affairs will present information the ACA as it stands, and what can be done to improve it.

To register for this webinar, please visit www.cmanet.org/events.

Young Physician Networking Event a Success!

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 14:15:06 GMT

Residents, fellows, and physicians participated in SFMS’ Young Physician Networking Mixer at UCSF on Friday. Residents and fellows new to the area were able to meet local physicians to expand their professional network and share experiences.

Click here to view photos from this event.

SFMS will continue to networking events for our members. Please check the SFMS blog or follow SFMS on Twitter (@SFMedSociety) for event details.

SFMS would like to thank MIEC for their support of the Young Physician Networking Mixer. MIEC is a not-for-profit, physician-owned medical professional liability insurance company. SFMS was one of the six Northern California county medical societies that helped found MIEC in 1975 when commercial carriers withdrew from the medical malpractice insurance market.

Prop 29's Edgy Video Attacks Big Tobacco’s Lies

Wed, 23 May 2012 11:56:59 GMT

The Yes on Proposition 29 campaign continues to receive a “digital boost” with the release of a new tongue-in-cheek ad campaign.

The video exposes the deceitful campaign being waged by Big Tobacco against the June 5 initiative that will raise the price of a pack of cigarettes by one dollar. This extra dollar will only be paid by those who purchase tobacco products. If you don’t smoke, you don’t pay. The extra dollar will fund life-saving research, keep kids from smoking and help smokers quit.

The edgy and compelling video challenges voters to look critically at Big Tobacco and its quest to defeat an initiative that is supported by SFMS, California Medical Association, American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, and the American Heart Association.

Prop 29, an initiative on the June 5 primary ballot, will raise the cost of a pack of cigarettes by one dollar and dedicate those new funds to cancer and other tobacco-related disease research and smoking cessation efforts. Written by the American Cancer Society in California, the American Heart Association, Western States Affiliate and the American Lung Association in California, Prop 29 is supported by the Lance Armstrong Foundation and doctors, scientists and researchers throughout California. Research shows that raising the cost of cigarettes by one dollar a pack will save 104,000 lives and stop 228,000 kids from smoking.

California to help health providers secure Medicaid incentive payments for demonstrating meaningful use.

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:04:22 GMT

California has set a goal of having 10,000 eligible health care providers by June receive Medicaid incentive payments for demonstrating meaningful use of certified electronic health records, according to a CMS blog post published recently by National Coordinator for Health IT Farzad Mostashari and CMS Acting Administrator Marilyn Tavenner.

Under the 2009 federal economic stimulus package, health care providers who demonstrate meaningful use of certified electronic health record systems can qualify for Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments.

Nationwide Goals
In the blog post, Mostashari and Tavenner wrote that they have set a goal of helping 100,000 health care providers qualify for Medicare or Medicaid incentive payments this year.

As of February, more than 59,000 eligible health care professionals and more than 2,000 hospitals had received Medicare or Medicaid incentive payments, they noted.

States’ Progress
Mostashari and Tavenner wrote that many states, including California, “are partnering with local stakeholder organizations to make sure providers get the help and encouragement to achieve ‘meaningful use’ and assistance with overcoming any barriers that are blocking their progress”.

EHR Assistance
SFMS is partnering with Regional and Local Extension Centers to provide assistance with EHR adoption and implementation. REC and LEC support and serve health care providers to help them quickly become adept and meaningful users of EHRs. The target audience of RECs is primary care clinicians, but many RECs offer assistance to specialists, as well. If you need assistance as you look into transitioning to EHRs and participating in the CMS EHR Incentive Programs, consider contacting:

California Health Information Partnership and Services Organization (CalHIPSO)
www.calhipso.org
(888) 589-4897

Lumetra, San Francisco Local Extension Center
www.lumetrasolutions.com
(415) 677-2081

4/17 Legislative Lobby Day: Meet California Legislators and Gain Leadership Development Skills

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 16:56:07 GMT

All SFMS members are invited to participate in the 2012 CMA Legislative Leadership Conference/Lobby Day.

Join more than 400 physicians, residents, and medical students from across California as they convene in Sacramento to lobby their legislative leaders as champions for medicine and their patients.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

9:30 am to 5 pm

Sacramento Convention Center

The morning includes speeches from a number of key legislative leaders, including lunchtime keynote speaker California Governor Jerry Brown. Other exciting speakers include:

California Attorney General Kamala Harris
Former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez
Former Senate Republican Leader Jim Brulte
Los Angeles Times political reporter Anthony York

Click here for a flyer with more information. A tentative agenda can be viewed here.

Please note this is a member-only event, and registration fee is waived for all SFMS members. To register, please contact info@sfms.org or (415) 561-0850.

Hotel Details

CMA has secured a discounted rate of $159/night for members at the Sheraton Grand Sacramento for 2012. Online reservation instructions are available here. Reservations can also be made by calling (800) 325-3535 or (916) 447-1700 – ask for the California Medical Association corporate rate.