March 2017 Download PDF Here NEWS AMA says American Health Care Act is Critically Flawed What regulations limit your ability to serve your patients? Tell CMA now! Save the Date: CMA Legislative Advocacy Day In Landmark Victory, Court Strikes Down NRA-Backed Gag Rule on Doctors Discussing Guns CMS Awards Approximately $100 Million to Help Small Practices Succeed in the Quality Payment Program Modernization of the AMA Code of Ethics Spotlight Your Practice and Expand Your Referral Base with an Updated Member Profile PRACTICE RESOURCES NEWS AMA says American Health Care Act is Critically Flawed In a letter to congressional leaders, the American Medical Association (AMA) outlined provisions of the American Health Care Act that would have an adverse impact on patients and the health of the nation. Largely due to the decline in health insurance coverage the bill would likely cause, the AMA is unable to support the AHCA as drafted. Read more. What regulations limit your ability to serve your patients? Tell CMA now! President Donald Trump has issued an Executive Order requiring agencies to eliminate two regulations for every one they issue. The Administration has also created task forces "charged with calling out those rules that eliminate jobs or inhibit job creation; that are outdated, unnecessary or ineffective; or that impose costs in excess of benefits." More from Bloomberg:: "Within 90 days, they must provide a report to agency heads, identifying specific regulations that are ripe for repeal, replacement or modification. They are charged with calling out those rules that eliminate jobs or inhibit job creation; that are outdated, unnecessary or ineffective; or that impose costs in excess of benefits. The task forces are specifically directed to seek input from those affected by regulations, including small businesses; consumers; nongovernmental organizations; trade associations; and state, local and tribal governments." Physicians are no strangers to burdensome regulations, and we know not all regulations are created equal. Some regulations protect public health, while others are outdated or hurt doctors’ ability to expand their medical practice to serve more patients, especially those from low-income and underserved communities. Let's focus on the latter – what regulations would you like to see eliminated because they limit your ability to serve your patients? Send your thoughts to communications@cmanet.org – we’ll include the best comments in an updated article in the next CMA Newswire. Save the Date: CMA Legislative Advocacy Day April 18, 2017 Sheraton Grand, Sacramento The California Medical Association (CMA) will host its 43rd annual Legislative Advocacy Day on April 18, 2017. Join MMS at the State Capitol to learn about legislative issues affecting medicine, foster relationships with state legislators, and gain hands on experience in the practical aspects of physician advocacy. MMS members will have the opportunity to meet with legislators. All meetings with legislators will be scheduled and coordinated by MMS. ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Please note this is a member-only event, and registration fee is waived for all MMS members. To register, please contact Erin Henke at ehenke@sfms.org or (415) 561-0850 extension 268. In Landmark Victory, Court Strikes Down NRA-Backed Gag Rule on Doctors Discussing Guns A federal appeals court struck down an NRA-backed Florida law that restricted doctors from talking to their patients about the risks of guns. The decision by the full panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Atlanta is a victory for the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence and Ropes & Gray, who brought the lawsuit on behalf of doctors who believed the law violated their First Amendment rights. Read more. CMS Awards Approximately $100 Million to Help Small Practices Succeed in the Quality Payment Program CMS awarded approximately $20 million to 11 organizations for the first year of a five-year program to provide on-the-ground training and education about the Quality Payment Program for clinicians in individual or small group practices. CMS intends to invest up to an additional $80 million over the remaining four years. Read more. Modernization of the AMA Code of Ethics In 1847, the American Medical Association created the world’s first national code of ethics for physicians. On June 13, 2016, the first comprehensive update of the AMA Code of Medical Ethics in more than 50 years was adopted at the annual meeting of the American Medical Association (AMA). By so doing, physician delegates attending the meeting, who represent every state and nearly every specialty, publicly professed to uphold the values that are the underpinning of the ethical practice of medicine in service to patients and the public. Click here for the newest edition of the AMA Code of Medical Ethics Click here to read more Spotlight Your Practice and Expand Your Referral Base with an Updated Member Profile With the MMS print directory and online Physician Finder, physician members have the opportunity to promote their practices with customizable individual web profiles and connect with a larger patient and referral base. All updates must be received by March 31, 2017. Please contact marinmedicalsociety@sfms.org or (415) 561-0850. PRACTICE RESOURCES & CME Opioid Safety in California: Having Difficult Conversations with Patients and with Colleagues The February CHCF Update: Opioid Safety in California offers three tools in a challenging area — having difficult conversations about opioid safety with patients and with colleagues. Clinicians may struggle with how to say no — with compassion — to patients who are suffering and believe that opioids will help their pain. Dr. Roneet Lev and the California American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) developed a script (PDF) to help emergency physicians discuss opioid safety with their patients. The San Diego Prescription Drug Abuse Task Force developed a script for pharmacists to consider when calling providers to verify a potentially unsafe prescription. Partnership HealthPlan created a toolkit (PDF) to help clinicians with the hard work of tapering patients on high opioid doses to safer regimens, which includes scripts and motivational interviewing techniques. UPCOMING EVENTS Coalition for Compassionate Care of California Palliative Care Summit 3/13-3/14 Hyatt Regency, Sacramento American Medical Women's Association Annual Meeting 3/30-4/2 Embassy Suites SFO Waterfront 2017 Physician Regional Spring Symposium 4/1 Hyatt Vineyard Creek Hotel and Spa, Santa Rosa CMA Legislative Advocacy Day 4/18 Sheraton Grand, Sacrament 24th Annual HIV/AIDS Review 4/29 Finley Community Center, Person Auditorium, Santa Rosa Click here to register Western Health Care Leadership Academy 5/5 - 5/7 MMarriott Marquis San Diego Marina UPCOMING WEBINARS Cannabis in Medicine: A Review of Policy and Scientific Evidence Mar 15, 12:15pm - 1:15pm CMA Legislative Advocacy Day Webinar Training Mar 29, 7:00pm - 8:00pm About MMS The Marin Medical Society, a 501(c)(6) nonprofit association, supports local physicians and their efforts to enhance the health of the community. Founded in 1898, MMS is affiliated with the California Medical Association and the American Medical Association. © 2017 MMS, PO Box 246, Corte Madera, CA 94976 March 9, 2017 MMS News Briefs MMS News Briefs 2017 0 0 Comment Read More »