OCMA is proud to recognize our incredible members who are leaders in medicine here in Orange County. This year, we want to spend time honoring our 2018 Physicians of Excellence and sharing more information on what makes them so excellent. Our staff spent some time interviewing honorees to bring you this series, and we hope you enjoy this series as we kick off the New Year!
Name: Eric Ball, M.D.
Twitter: @DrEricBall (personal) @socpa (practice)
This is the first year physicians need to report on quality measures under the new Quality Payment Program (QPP) from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Eligible professionals who fail to report in 2017 face a 4 percent payment penalty in 2019. But did you know that physicians only need to report on one quality measure for one patient during 2017 in order to avoid a payment penalty in 2019?
During the 2017 transition year, CMS will allow physicians to select one of three “pick your pace” participation options. Participating at any level in 2017 will ensure that you will not be hit with the 4 percent pay cut in 2019.
The most lenient participation option—reporting on one measure for one patient—allows physicians to avoid a penalty by "testing" the program to ensure that their systems are working and that they are prepared for broader implementation in 2018 and beyond.
The American Medical Association (AMA) has published a video, “One patient, one measure, no penalty: How to avoid a Medicare payment penalty with basic reporting,” with step-by-step instructions on how to report so physicians can avoid a negative 4 percent payment adjustment in 2019.
The California Medical Association (CMA) has also published a MACRA resource page at www.cmanet.org/macra to help physicians understand the new payment reforms and what they can do now to start preparing for the transition. Also available in the CMA MACRA resource center is an overview of MACRA, and a comprehensive list of tools, resources and information from CMA, the American Medical Association and CMS.
“This bill would significantly reduce Medicaid funding, which provides health coverage for more than 13 million Californians,” said CMA President Ruth Haskins, M.D. “A vote for this legislation is a vote to deteriorate public health in California – especially in areas like the Central Valley, where approximately half of the population relies on Medicaid for health care.” Patients without coverage seek more expensive care in overcrowded emergency rooms, passing costs on to states, counties, health care providers and taxpayers. These problems would be exacerbated by the reduction of subsidies currently provided to poor and middle class families. The Graham-Cassidy bill also allows states to do away with pre-existing condition protections and other essential health benefits that keep Americans healthy.
“Congress should engage with physicians and other medical experts on the front lines caring for patients to develop legislation that improves patient access to physicians, protects coverage for our most vulnerable populations and addresses affordability,” said Dr. Haskins.
Today, in the House of Representatives, Congressman Lou Correa honored the work of the Waste Not OC Coalition. His full speech can be read by clicking here.
For more information or to register, click here
From Voice of OC:
http://voiceofoc.org/2017/07/oc-supervisors-attempt-caloptima-takeover/
The California Medical Association (CMA) has heard from several physicians who have received unexpected termination notices from Anthem Blue Cross. The notices, which specify no cause for termination, appear directed only to physicians who refer to out-of-network ambulatory surgical centers. If you have recently received a similar termination notice from Anthem Blue Cross, CMA wants to hear from you. Please contact CMA's Reimbursement Helpline at (888) 401-5911 or economicservices@cmanet.org.
The California Medical Association’s (CMA) Board of Trustees is seeking applications or nominations for members interested and willing to serve on CMA's Standing Councils and Subcommittees for 2017-18. Appointments begin and expire at the conclusion of the House of Delegates, and current members eligible for reappointment must submit a new application for the 2017-18 term. The Committee on Nominations will also contact each Council/Subcommittee Chair for evaluation of their respective committee members, and Component Medical Societies may also inquire about a member’s performance. Please distribute this solicitation to any and all interested parties.
DEADLINE: June 13, 2017. Please submit to nominations@cmanet.org with a completed application form (PDF or Word), brief CV (less than five pages) and statement of interest. Attachments:
To ensure health plans and insurers do not game the system to pay artificially low reimbursement rates to physicians, we need all physicians to take action by contacting the health plan/insurance regulators to express the importance and potentially negative impacts of this law if not implemented correctly.