Physicians and Lawmakers Promote Workforce Legislation A coalition of physicians, legislators, medical students, and residents gathered on the steps of the Capitol to support several key pieces of legislation that will address California's mounting issues regarding its physician workforce during the 2013 CMA Lobby Day. April 18, 2013 Advocacy, CMA, Politics and Medicine AB 565, physician workforce, AB 1176, Richard Pan, Steve Thompson Loan Repayment Program 0 0 Comment Read More »
California Heavily Affected by Looming Sequester Cuts The White House detailed how California and other states would be affected if a deal is not reached by March 1, 2013 to avoid automatic cuts under sequestration. The automatic cuts involve nearly $1 trillion in across-the-board reductions over a decade, including a 2% reduction to Medicare reimbursement rates. February 25, 2013 Medicare, News, Politics and Medicine Medicare cuts, sequester cuts, sequestration 0 0 Comment Read More »
New 2013 California Laws of Interest to Physicians The California Legislature had an active year passing many new laws affecting health care in 2013 to go into effect on January 1, 2013. In particular, the Legislature passed bills pertaining to public health, health care coverage, workers' compensation and scope of practice. Below is a list of the many significant new health laws of interest to physicians. January 14, 2013 Advocacy, CMA, Politics and Medicine AB 1083, Ab 137, AB 589, medical school scholarships, 2013 California laws, AB 1301 0 0 Comment Read More »
AMA Update on Medicare Payment Rates The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 was signed into law Jan. 2, 2013. The new law averts the 26.5% SGR cut for all of 2013 and the 2% sequester for the next two months. It also extends the work GPCI floor for a year. Today CMS released the attached announcement regarding updated 2013 Medicare payment amounts, claims processing, and reopening of the participation enrollment period. January 3, 2013 AMA, Medicare, News, Politics and Medicine SGR, American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, Fiscal Cliff, Medicare 0 0 Comment Read More »
Congress Stops Medicare Cuts for One Year as Part of Fiscal Cliff Legislation Congress on January 1 passed HR 8, the American Taxpayer Relief Act, narrowly averting the so-called "fiscal cliff." The bill includes a one-year Medicare fee-for-service physician payment freeze, meaning the 26.5 percent sustainable growth rate (SGR) cut has been averted, for now. The 2 percent sequestration cuts have also been deferred for two months. January 3, 2013 Medicare, News, Politics and Medicine HR 8 , medicare cuts, fiscal cliff, SGR 0 0 Comment Read More »
