DEADLINE: HIPAA Compliant Video Communications Tools for Telehealth by August 10, 2023 When the COVID-19 public health emergency expired on May 11, 2023, the U.S. Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced the end of flexibilities that allowed physicians to utilize remote communication technologies for telehealth services that did not fully comply with HIPAA rules. OCR provided a 90-calendar day transition period for covered health care providers to come into compliance with the HIPAA rules for telehealth. The transition period will expire at 11:59 p.m. on August 9, 2023, at which time physicians will be expected to utilize only HIPAA-compliant communication ... July 27, 2023 CMA, COVID19, General, Healthcare, Insurance, legislation, Patient Care, Public Health HIPAA, telehealth, virtual appointments 0 0 Comment Read More »
2024 Medicare Physician Payment Schedule is Out The CY 2023 Medicare Physician Payment Schedule Final Rule updates payment policies and rates as well as other provisions for services offered on or after Jan. 1, 2023, under the Medicare Physician Payment Schedule. The AMA provides final rule summary (PDF) of the 2023 Medicare Physician Payment Schedule and Quality Payment Program (QPP). In addition, CMS has released the CY 2024 Medicare Physician Payment Schedule Proposed Rule, including key proposals that impact Medicare physician payment and the Quality Payment Program (QPP). Key proposals include a predicted 3.36% reduction in the ... July 27, 2023 AMA, General, Healthcare, Insurance, legislation, Medicare, Patient Care, Public Health payment schedule 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Hosting Webinar on Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan Transition At the end of 2022, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) reached an agreement with five commercial managed care plans (MCP) to deliver Medi-Cal services in 21 counties across the state starting in January 2024. As a result, approximately 1.2 million Medi-Cal patients will be required to transition to a new a new health plan, and in some counties Medi-Cal patients will have the ability to select from more than one plan. DHCS recently updated its 2024 MCP Transition Policy Guide to include a table that lists Medi-Cal managed care plan changes ... July 24, 2023 Advocacy, CMA, General, Healthcare, Insurance, legislation, Medi-Cal, Patient Care DHCS, managed care, medi-cal, webinar 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 »
Insulin to Cost $30 as California Secures Contract to Combat Diabetes California will cut patients’ cost for insulin by 90% to $30, regardless of their insurance plan, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Saturday. The state has a contract with non-profit generic-drug company Civica to obtain insulin, a hormone used for treating diabetes. When the new, cheaper drug will become available is not clear: Civica and the state Health and Human Services Agency are working to identify a manufacturing facility in California, according to the governor’s announcement. Patients who pay cash for insulin will save $2,000 and $4,000 a year, Newsom’s office said, citing “egregious ... March 20, 2023 Healthcare, Insurance, legislation, Patient Care Insulin 0 0 Comment Read More »
