HHS Delays ICD-10 Coding to October 2014 The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) postponed the use of ICD-10 diagnostic codes until October 1, 2014. The 1-year delay comes in response to complaints by organized medicine about the administrative burden of converting to ICD-10. August 27, 2012 Advocacy, AMA, HIPAA health plan identifier codes, HPID, ICD-10 delay, ICD-10 0 0 Comment Read More »
SFMS-Sponsored School Vaccine Bill Passes Legislature The California Senate passed AB 2109, a bill that would require a parent or guardian seeking a personal belief exemption from school immunization requirements to first obtain a document signed by a licensed health care practitioner. AB 2109 was sponsored by SFMS and the CMA, and was authored by Assemblymember Richard Pan, MD. August 23, 2012 Advocacy, CMA, Public Health immunization, AB 2109, Richard Pan, vaccination 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMS Releases 2013 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule; Proposes Fee Increases for Primary Care, Projects 27% SGR Cut The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule for 2013. CMS projects a 27% reduction in the Medicare FFS payment rate due to the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula unless Congress acts before January 1, 2013 to stop the cut. July 10, 2012 Advocacy, Medicare, News, Payment 2013 Physician Fee Schedule, Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule, SGR 0 0 Comment Read More »
Elimination of Healthy Families Severely Impact Children’s Access to Care Among a series of budget cuts to help California Gov. Jerry Brown close that state's budget deficit is a cut to a health care program for 880,000 low-income kids, who will be shifted to Medi-Cal after the state shutters its "Healthy Families" program. SFMS/CMA has joined together with over 40 organizations in opposition of the proposal because of the ramifications it would have on California’s most vulnerable children. June 22, 2012 Advocacy, CMA, Medi Cal California state budget cuts, Medi-Cal, Healthy Families 0 0 Comment Read More »
Coalition of Health Care Organizations Issues Joint Letter Opposing Governor's Dual Eligible Proposal In an open letter to members of the California State Legislature, nearly twenty organizations representing a wide variety of health care stakeholders urged their representatives to oppose Governor Brown’s dual eligible proposal. The proposal would move patients eligible for both Medicare and Medi-Cal into a Medi-Cal Managed Care program, ultimately disrupting care and harming patients. June 13, 2012 Advocacy, CMA, Medi Cal dual eligibles 0 0 Comment Read More »
