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CalHealthCares Loan Repayment Program: Open Application (January 18 to March 3, 2023)

CalHealthCares administers loan repayment on educational debt for California physicians and dentists who provide care to Medi-Cal patients, which represent one-third of Californians and half of the state’s children. Eligible physicians can apply for up to $300,000 in loan repayment in exchange for a five-year service obligation. Eligible dentists can apply for a loan repayment up to $300,000 in exchange for a five-year service obligation or a Practice Support Grant up to $300,000 in exchange for a ten-year service obligation. CalHealthCares commits $340 million voter-approved, state tobacco tax revenues from Proposition ...

Big Provisions in $1.7 Trillion Omnibus: What Doctors Should Know

In enacting the 4,000-plus page, end-of-the-year spending package, Washington politicians failed to stop the entirety of scheduled Medicare pay cuts, which will come at a financially precarious time for physician practices left reeling in the COVID-19 pandemic’s third year. Because of that, physicians will face a 2% cut in Medicare payment in 2023, and 2024 will bring at least a 1.25% cut. Nevertheless, the $1.7 trillion bill signed by President Joe Biden does include a number of important AMA-supported provisions that physicians should know about. Among other things, the omnibus bill ...

Save the Date for CMA’s Legislative Advocacy Day, April 19 in Sacramento

Event: CMA Legislative Advocacy Day  Date: April 19  Registration: Free The California Medical Association (CMA) will host its 49th annual Legislative Advocacy Day in Sacramento on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with legislators on priority healthcare issues. The meetings will be scheduled and coordinated by local county medical societies. Santa Clara County Medical Association (SCCMA) members can contact Emily at emily@sccma.org or (408) 998 - 8850 x3011 for inquiries.  This unique event is free of charge to all CMA physician members, residents and medical students. Plan to join your colleagues as they prepare ...

California Senate’s New Health Chair to Prioritize Mental Health and Homelessness

Article by Rachel Bluth of California Healthline  California state Sen. Susan Talamantes Eggman, a Stockton Democrat who was instrumental in passing Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature mental health care legislation last year, has been appointed to lead the Senate’s influential health committee, a change that promises a more urgent focus on expanding mental health services and moving homeless people into housing and treatment. Eggman, a licensed social worker, co-authored the novel law that allows families, clinicians, first responders, and others to petition a judge to mandate government-funded treatment and services for people ...

Physicians react to Congress’ vote to cut Medicare payments by 2.5% in 2023

The United States Congress passed their year-end omnibus legislation last week, which includes a Medicare physician payment cut of 2.5% in 2023. Physicians had been staring down cuts as much as 8.5%, but a nationwide advocacy campaign by the American Medical Association, California Medical Association (CMA) and more than 150 organizations representing over 1 million physicians helped stave off many of the reductions. However, physicians who care for Medicare patients and CMA are very concerned about how the cut will impact patient access to care. “Congress’ plan to cut Medicare demonstrates a lack of understanding ...