In response to efforts by organized medicine, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that they will be increasing payments for audio-only telephone visits between Medicare beneficiaries and their physicians to match payments for similar office and outpatient visits. This would increase payments for these services from a range of about $14-$41 to […]
CAFP is calling on the Legislature and Governor to take immediate and long-term steps to bolster primary care practices and reform how we pay for primary care. In a letter to state leaders, CAFP detailed the financial threat faced by primary care practices throughout California and the need for private payers to emulate Medicare by […]
A key part of the work of Surgeon General Burke-Harris is the ACEs Aware initiative. Beginning January 1, 2020, DHCS will provide a $29/patient payment to Medi-Cal providers for screening their patients for ACEs. Eligible Medi-Cal providers who screen Medi-Cal patients for ACEs can receive payment as of January 1, 2020. Beginning on July 1, […]
The proponents of the initiative to weaken the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA) have announced they will move their ballot initiative to the November 2022 ballot, rather than have a vote on it this year. It’s unfortunate that California’s frontline health care professionals had to even concern themselves with an initiative put forth by […]
Governor Newsom this week announced guidance for resumption of non-Covid medical services. In the guidance he outlined factors for consideration before resuming service including; availability of testing, availability of personal protective equipment, facility and office standards, care prioritization and scheduling that allow for social distancing, and workforce availability. The guidance emphasized that considerations for practices […]
On April 30, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released an interim final rule making additional policy changes in response to COVID-19. Among several changes, and reflecting AAFP advocacy, CMS is increasing reimbursement for the telephonic E/M visits (CPT codes 99441-99443) to the same rate as regular, in-office E/M visits (99212-99214). This would […]
Governor Newsom recently released guidelines for reopening some physician practices for non-Covid care. Read more: Resuming California’s Deferred and Preventive Health Care To learn more about best practices for physicians who are looking to reopen non-Covid services, join the California Medical Association (CMA) for a webinar on Thursday, April 30 at 12:15pm. CAFP member Dr. […]
Two pieces caught our eyes this month. CCPD members Dr. Tom Bent and Dr. Kim Duir are happy to share them with you. Have you seen a video, read an article, watched a TED, heard a lecture that might be of interest to your colleagues? If so, please share your “Show and Tell” with us […]
Originally published in California Family Physician Magazine (Spring 2020) By Moazzum Bajwa, MD Every month, I take our resident physicians to local high schools as part of a pipeline program in health education and advocacy. We teach the students how to advocate effectively for healthy change in their communities. These teenagers find their voice in […]
