Santa Clara County to Expand Substance Use Treatment, Distribute Naloxone with Opiod Settlement Money With opioid overdoses rising, Santa Clara County is expanding substance abuse support at schools, distributing more naloxone and fentanyl testing strips and boosting youth inpatient treatment using money from a settlement with opioid distributors. Students hold boxes of Narcan at Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, Calif., on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) In 2014, Santa Clara County became the first jurisdiction to file a lawsuit against major opioid manufacturers for their roles in creating a nationwide opioid epidemic. In July 2021, opioid manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and three ... June 15, 2023 General, Healthcare, Mental Health, Patient Care, Public Health Opioid Treatment, Substance Abuse, treatment 0 0 Comment Read More »
Annual Call for CMA Award Applications and Nominations The California Medical Association (CMA) is seeking nominations for its annual awards. These awards are presented in conjunction with the annual meeting of the House of Delegates in October. Each award recognizes special contributions to an aspect of CMA membership and/or the practice of medicine. The deadline for all submissions is Friday, June 30, 2023. COMPASSIONATE SERVICE AWARD This award best illustrates the association’s commitment to community and charity care. Nomination eligibility: Active physicians or physician organizations who have demonstrated a history of providing charity or donated care to communities within the state of ... June 7, 2023 Advocacy, CMA, General, Healthcare, Leadership, Mental Health, Patient Care, Physician Wellness, Public Health awards, membership, nominations, rural physician 0 0 Comment Read More »
Medication Management: Save Time by Simplifying Your Prescribing and Refill Process Introduction Chronic conditions that require long-term medication therapy affect more than 133 million Americans.1 More than half of all Americans take four prescription medications each day and get their prescriptions from several health care providers.2 75% of patients also regularly take at least one over-the-counter (OTC) medication.2 Managing the care of patients who take multiple medications creates a conundrum for the already overburdened clinician: During a brief visit, how do you reconcile all medications, ensure that patients are taking them as prescribed, and fill or refill medications efficiently? This module details STEPS you ... June 6, 2023 Drug Prescribing/Dispensing, General, Healthcare, Patient Care AMA Steps Forward, improved patient care, improving medication adherence, saving time and money 0 0 Comment Read More »
HEALTH UPDATE: PREVENT MPOX TRANSMISSION IN SUMMER 2023 While cases of mpox (formerly called monkeypox) have declined in Santa Clara County and the United States, the outbreak is not over. Recently, Chicago has reported 23 mpox cases since April 2023. As noted in a health alert from Chicago, which reported the first 12 confirmed and one probable cases from this cluster, nine out the first 13 (69%) cases were fully vaccinated. For the nine out of 13 cases for which travel history was available, four had traveled recently (three traveled within the US, one traveled out of the country). None ... May 22, 2023 Advocacy, General, Healthcare, Patient Care, Public Health CDC Guidelines, JYNNEOS, MPOX, STI Prevention, STI Treatment, vaccination 0 0 Comment Read More »
REMINDER: Write Your Congress Person Today! The California Medical Association is urging physicians to contact their Members of Congress today and encourage them to sign a “Dear Colleague” letter that urges the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to promptly finalize its proposed prior authorization rules and hold big insurance companies accountable for the undue burden their policies put on physicians and patients. The deadline to sign is May 19, 2023. Last year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Improving Seniors' Access to Timely Care Act; bipartisan legislation with over 300 cosponsors requiring Medicare Advantage plans ... May 16, 2023 Advocacy, CMA, Drug Prescribing/Dispensing, Healthcare, Insurance, legislation, Patient Care prior authorization 0 0 Comment Read More »
