BULLETIN ALAMEDA-CONTRA COSTA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Serving East Bay physicians since 1860
July | Aug | Sept | 2023
The Times They Are A-Changin’ By Edmon Soliman, MD, FACP ACCMA President
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ou might have noticed that this issue of the ACCMA Bulletin looks a little different. Members are busier than ever and need concise and easily digestible information, so the ACCMA Council has directed our staff to make the ACCMA Bulletin more like, well, a bulletin. You can expect a high-level overview of the most important issues that ACCMA and CMA are focused on and how they affect you, delivered to your mailbox on a quarterly basis. If something catches your eye, scan the QR code on page 2 to find a more detailed article on our ACCMA Bulletin webpage. As part of our efforts to revitalize our communications, we are updating our website and utilizing a new email platform that will provide higher quality content to you on a less frequent basis. Members will receive a monthly e-newsletter and a monthly listing of upcoming events. Additionally, independent practice physicians will receive a biweekly newsletter focused solely on practice management news.
In bittersweet news, the ACCMA will be moving our offices on October 1st after over 60 years in our current location. Our current building in Oakland once housed the Blood Bank of the ACCMA, and the American Red Cross took ownership of the building in 1997 when they assumed control of the blood bank. Red Cross recently decided to relocate the blood bank to San Leandro and sell the building. Our need for physical space has diminished significantly and the state of the current building in Oakland leaves much to be desired. Our staff was able to negotiate favorable terms to vacate our current space and secured a new office space about 10 minutes away in Lafayette. While many things are changing, some things remain steadfast. ACCMA and CMA exist to organize and empower physicians to lead and improve the practice of medicine for the betterment of your patients and our community. Year after year, the issues, the way we communicate with our members, and the spaces where we do our work may change, but we will always be here to serve you, our members, and to support your ability to provide exceptional care to your patients.
TELL CONGRESS TO FIX MEDICARE NOW Physicians are the only providers whose Medicare payments do not automatically receive an annual inflationary update. Timely access to care for patients has become more challenging, particularly in rural or traditionally underserved and marginalized patient communities. Please contact your members of Congress by visiting accma. org/Bulletin to support H.R. 2474, legislation that would reform this flawed system and provide annual inflationary updates.
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2024 PHYSICIAN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM – REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
The Physician Leadership Program allows physicians to build upon their clinical leadership experience by honing skills like communicating a vision, motivating colleagues, negotiating, and collaborating across silos. ACCMA members are offered the chance to apply for the ACCMA Scholarship and attend free of charge. Apply by Friday, November 17 to secure your seat now!
THE ACCMA 155TH ANNUAL MEETING
YOUR NEWLY APPOINTED ALAMEDA COUNTY SUPERVISOR
Our members met with newly appointed Alameda County Supervisor, Elisa Márquez, on Monday, July 31st to discuss our ACCMA health care priorities and Supervisor Márquez’s priorities. Supervisor Márquez represents District 2, which encompasses the communities of Hayward, Union City, Newark, and portions of Fremont. Read more about the meeting by scanning the QR code at the bottom of this page.
Join us on Friday, November 3rd for a lively reception and formal dinner featuring a special presentation from former world surfing champion, Shaun Thomson, who will join us to share how you can reshape your life through the power of “I Will” and activate internal strength to combat despair. Celebrate the installation of our 2024 ACCMA President, Albert Brooks, MD. All proceeds from the event support local UCSF-UC Berkeley JMP medical students.
TRAVEL TO COSTA RICA WITH FELLOW PHYSICIANS
The ACCMA is offering an opportunity for our members to travel to Costa Rica next summer, June 2024. Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime! This is a private tour and spots are limited so we encourage you to sign up early.
PRACTICAL STRATEGIES TO REDUCE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN
The ACCMA hosted a collaborative conference in June for Bay Area physicians to share best practices and discover strategies to reduce the administrative hassles of daily medical practice. Visit our website for the event recording and re-cap written by ACCMA member and guest speaker Dr. Irene Lo to find tools you can immediately apply to your organization.
128 YEARS OF HISTORY: ACCMA’S EARLY FEMALE LEADERS
In the year 1900, female physicians constituted about 5% of the total physician population in the U.S. Those odds didn’t stop three remarkable female physicians in Alameda County from rising to leadership positions in the Alameda County Medical Association. Read the full article by scanning the QR code below.
PRACTICE TRANSFORMATION FUNDING
DHCS announced a one-time $700 million provider practice transformation program to advance health equity by investing in upstream care models. Funds will be allocated in three phases: Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan, primary care for practice infrastructure, and statewide provider learning.
To find more information or to view full articles on any of these topics, scan the QR code, visit accma.org/Bulletin, or contact us at accma@accma.org or (510) 654-5383.
ALAMEDA-CONTRA COSTA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION BULLETIN
INTERNATIONAL OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY
On August 31, we remembered the many lives lost to overdose in our community and beyond. Visit our website to find a podcast featuring Christine Soran, MD, Medical Director of The OBIC – the oldest buprenorphine clinic in the country. In under one hour, you can learn all about getting started with buprenorphine treatment and more. CME is available and the podcast counts toward the 8-hour training required by the DEA for prescribing controlled substances.
FIXING THE PHYSICIAN SHORTAGE
The AMA is advocating for HR 2389, which aims to provide 14,000 new Medicare-supported GME physician residency training positions over 7 years. GME positions have been capped since 1997 yet medical school enrollment has increased. This bill would allow thousands of medical students to finish their training and open the physician pipeline to address the serious shortages. Out of 31 industrialized nations, the U.S. ranks 27th in number of physicians per capita.
THE NEW PATH FORWARD FOR OPIOID PRESCRIBING
The Medical Board’s new opioid prescribing guidelines empower physicians to rely on clinical judgment and patient relationships when prescribing opioids for pain management. Instead of treating opioids as a “last resort” in pain management, physicians are encouraged to weigh the benefits and risks of opioid treatment on a case-by-case basis. Find ACCMA's summary of the updated guidelines on our website as well as a link to the full guidelines from the Medical Board of California.
INCREASING PHYSICIAN REIMBURSEMENT
The historic renewal of the MCO tax will bring billions in funding for Medi-Cal that will substantially raise reimbursement rates for Medi-Cal physicians. In phase 1, beginning January 1, 2024, you can expect provider rate increases for primary care, obstetric, and non-specialty mental health services. With the changes come changes to CPT codes, which DHCS recently released and will take effect in phase 1.
MEDI-CAL MANAGED CARE TRANSITION
The Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan transition starts in January 2024. Understand and prepare for this transition that will affect 1.2 million Medi-Cal patients by watching CMA’s recorded webinar or downloading the slides available at accma.org/Bulletin
SUMMER MEET-UP & FUTURE FUN EVENTS
ACCMA members gathered at McKay’s in Downtown Pleasanton in August to enjoy the warm summer evening and chat over food and drinks. These fun events have no agenda, simply stop by and say hi to new and old friends alike. We hope you will join us for the next event on Saturday, November 18 for a matinee movie showing at the Orinda Theatre. More details to come.
RECORDED WEBINAR: OPTIMIZING THE ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD
In this recorded webinar, you will learn different approaches to EHR optimization, including innovations that significantly reduce documentation burden and in-basket overwhelm. David Butler, MD, a physician technology executive with over 20 years of experience in implementing digital solutions in healthcare, shares his knowledge and tips that you can use today.
CALLING ALL PHYSICIAN MENTORS
ACCMA is recruiting members to mentor UCSF-UC Berkeley JMP medical students. If you are interested in becoming a mentor and sharing your expertise with our future physicians, please visit our website for more information or contact us at accma@accma.org.
ADVERTISING WITH ACCMA
Did you know that members can post classified ads online free of charge for 2 months? Take advantage of this benefit by contacting the ACCMA. Check out the current ads online now.
IN MEMORIAM
We regret to inform you of the passing of the following ACCMA members: Doctors Louis Wong, Arthur Klatsky, Robert Nicholson, and Robert Blue. We thank and honor them for their contributions to our community and the practice of medicine. You can find their obituaries on our website.
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Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley addresses ACCMA members at social event in Pleasanton.
accma@accma.org | (510) 654-5383
JULY | AUG | SEPT | 2023
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UPCOMING EVENTS & MEETINGS MORAL INJURY IN MEDICINE | READING & DISCUSSION GROUP Wednesday, October 4 at 6 pm Virtual
WORKING EFFECTIVELY WITH THE TEAM YOU HAVE Saturday, October 7 at 8:30 am to 1 pm Lafayette Library
BIGGEST ISSUES REPORTED BY ACCMA MEMBERS IN ANNUAL SURVEY Tuesday, October 10 at 6 pm Hybrid | 3697 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Lafayette
EMPOWERING PHYSICIANS: NAVIGATING ABORTION ACCESS IN CALIFORNIA AND BEYOND Wednesday, October 11 at 6 pm Hybrid | 3697 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Lafayette
UNDERSTANDING & PROVIDING GENDERAFFIRMING CARE Thursday, October 19 at 6 pm Hybrid | 3697 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Lafayette
CMA HOUSE OF DELEGATES
Friday, October 20 to Sunday, October 22 Los Angeles Major Topics: Consumer Health Technology/AI, Office of Health Care Affordability, & Climate Change
ACCMA 155TH ANNUAL MEETING Friday, November 3 The Claremont Club & Spa
MEDICAL STUDENT-MENTORSHIP MIXER Tuesday, November 15 at 5:30 pm Golden Bear Center, UC Berkeley
ACCMA MOVIE OUTING
Saturday, November 18 at 11:00 am Orinda Theatre
CALAIM: UNDERSTANDING THE PHYSICIAN ROLE Tuesday, December 5 at 6 pm Hybrid | 3697 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Lafayette
BAY AREA PHYSICIAN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM Kicking off Saturday, January 20 ACCMA Offices, 3697 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Lafayette