CMA applauds Department of Managed Health Care announcement
CMA applauds the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) for their recent announcement, stating that they will require Anthem Blue Cross to pay health care provides the money that is owed to them for services performed, dating back to 2007. ( More info )

CMA responds to Governor Brown's 2012-13 budget
Budget would eliminate successful Healthy Families Program, transferring enrollees to Medi-Cal ( More info )

Medicare physicians to be served with 30 percent cut - Congress unable to pass short-term fix before end of year
Physicians taking Medicare patients will now be faced with a 27.4 percent cut in reimbursements, as Speaker Boehner announced that the House will go home without passing a short term fix. ( More info )

California Medical Association pushes back on Department of Health Care Services for retroactively collecting fees
The Department of Health Care Services has once again moved to balance the states budget on the backs of the poorest and most vulnerable Californians in their recent announcement that they would retroactively recoup Medi-Cal reimbursements paid to providers since June 1, 2011. ( More info )

California Medical Association calls upon Congress to stop the immediate Medicare cuts in the wake of the Deficit Committee failure
In response to the Joint Congressional Committee on Deficit Reductions decision to fold, James T. Hay, M.D., President of the California Medical Association, which represents 35,000 physicians throughout the state from all specialties and modes of practice, issued the following statement ( More info )

Provider groups file lawsuit against California Department of Health Care Services and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
CMA, the California Dental Association (CDA), the California Pharmacists Association (CPhA) and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) joined together to file a lawsuit against the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and the US Department of Health and Human Services. The suit is in response to CMSs recent approval of a ten percent reimbursement rate cut in Californias Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal. ( More info )

CMA blasts CMS for approving Medi-Cal rate cuts
In what will prove to be a huge roadblock for health care reform implementation in California, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have approved a state plan amendment (SPA) that will reduce Medi-Cal provider reimbursement rates by 10 percent. ( More info )

California Medical Association calls on Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to address access problem
CMA has submitted an official request to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), asking CMS to take corrective action to address Californias unacceptably low provider fee rates. ( More info )

Independent polling research proves Medi-Cal patients' access already compromised
A survey of California adults was recently conducted to measure their use of health care, attitudes toward their health coverage, and reactions to proposed health care policy changes. ( More info )

California Medical Association adopts official policy to legalize marijuana
Rescheduling of drug and legalization allows for more conclusive research. CMA has adopted official policy that recommends legalization and regulation of cannabis. ( More info )

CMA Young Physician Section joins with Anaheim Boys and Girls Club to feed homeless children in Orange County
Anaheim- The California Medical Association (CMA) Young Physician Section has paired up with the Boys and Girls Club and local hero Bruno Serato to feed hundreds of homeless children. ( More info )

California Medical Association applauds Governor Brown's commitment to public health
CMA applauds Governor Brown's decision to sign a number of bills into law that will greatly improve public health here in California. The members of the legislature who have worked to improve the public health and access to quality medical care for Californians should be celebrated. Governor Browns recognition of the importance of these bills will result in better care for patients across California ( More info )

Institute of Medicine releases second edition of Geographic Adjustment Factors in Medicare Payment
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) last week released the second edition of its study on the Medicare geographic payment formula. The latest report includes additional ideas for overhauling Medicares geographic payment system, which is used to adjust for geographic variation in costs when calculating payments for physicians and hospitals. The new recommendations, intended to supplement but not replace those released in June, focus on methods for setting the work adjustment, calculating the labor portion of the practice expense and using cost-share weights. The California Medical Association (CMA) thanks IOM for their rigorous analysis of these complex issues. ( More info )

Governor signs peer review bill into law
CMA applauds Governor Brown's signing of AB 655 (Hayashi). The bill works toward improving the peer review system. ( More info )

CMA and CPhA file suit against Department of Health Care Services
In what is a clear violation of law, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has repeatedly denied the California Medical Associations (CMA) and the California Pharmacists Associations (CPhA) requests for information regarding the states plan amendments that were submitted to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in June. On Friday, CMA and CPhA joined together and filed a suit against DHCS to obtain the information. ( More info )