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 ... January 27, 2023 Advocacy, AMA, Health Net, Healthcare, legislation, Physician Workforce 0 0 Comment Read More »
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 ... January 23, 2023 Advocacy, CMA, Healthcare, Leadership, legislation Leg Day, Legislative Advocacy 0 0 Comment Read More »
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 ... January 9, 2023 General, legislation, Medi-Cal, Mental Health, Patient Care, Public Health Health Care Reform, Homelessness 0 0 Comment Read More »
Senate Must Act Now on Medicare Payment Cuts It’s coming down to the wire. As Congress continues to fight over a number of year-end priorities, time is running out to address the looming Medicare payment cuts that, if not reversed, would have devastating consequences for Medicare patients and our health care system. Tell your Senators to act NOW to protect America’s Medicare patients. On January 1, 2022 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will drastically reduce payments for certain health care providers. If Congress does not act to stop these cuts before the end of the year, it ... December 8, 2021 Advocacy, legislation, Medicare Congress, Cuts, Medicare, Senate 0 0 Comment Read More »
House passes 'right to try' drug bill The House passed “right to try” legislation on experimental drugs largely along party lines Wednesday, sending a bill backed by President Trump to the Senate. Last week, House Republican leaders put the bill on the floor under suspension of the rules. Democrats objected, expressing safety concerns over how the measure would bypass the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and it fell short of the necessary two-thirds support it needed. Read More March 22, 2018 legislation, Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »