March 2010

• Famed medical educator Dr. John Saultz to speak in Santa Rosa on March 17
• Nominations needed for SCMA election
• Residency and family practice center moving to Fountaingrove
• Dr. Kubota named regional medical director for Partnership HealthPlan
• Physicians urged to call Congress to support repealing Medicare SGR formula
• Early-bird registration for CMA Leadership Academy closes March 9
• RSVPs needed for April 27 Legislative Day in Sacramento
• CMA coalition receives $31 Million EHR grant; EHR webinar on March 2
• PECOS enrollment policy delayed; CMA publishes enrollment guide
• Medicare participation status deadline is March 17
• PFMC grant deadline is April 1
• Healdsburg Hospital opens diagnostic center for women
• CMA announces 2010 webinar series
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Famed medical educator Dr. John Saultz to speak in Santa Rosa on March 17

Dr. John Saultz, author of the Textbook of Family Medicine and editor of the journal Family Medicine, will be in Santa Rosa on St. Patrick’s Day to deliver a free lecture on the future of primary care in Sonoma County. His speech begins at 6 p.m. in the Sonoma Community Room at Redwood Credit Union, 3033 Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa. A light dinner will be provided, but reservations are required. To RSVP, contact Rachel Pandolfi by March 12 at rachel@scma.org or 525-4375.

Dr. Saultz, chair of family medicine at Oregon Health & Science University, is the American Academy of Family Physicians visiting professor at the Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency. His presentation is sponsored by the California Academy of Family Physicians, Family Medicine Leadership Institute, Kaiser Permanente, Redwood Community Health Coalition, Redwood Credit Union, Sonoma County Medical Association, St. Joseph Health System, and Sutter Health. 

Nominations needed for SCMA election

In preparation for the upcoming SCMA election, all members are urged to submit nominations for leadership positions by March 19. Nominees must be SCMA members in good standing. Nominations are requested for the following positions:

·       SCMA president-elect

·       Individual SCMA board representatives from Santa Rosa (2) and West County (1)

·       Three CMA delegates

·       Three CMA alternate delegates

All positions require a three-year commitment, beginning July 1. Nominations can be e-mailed to cynthia@scma.org, faxed to 525-4328, or mailed to SCMA, 3033 Cleveland Ave. #104, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. Each nomination should include a brief statement about the nominee’s qualifications.

For more details, contact Cynthia Melody at cynthia@scma.org or 525-4359.

Residency and family practice center moving to Fountaingrove

The Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency and the Chanate Family Practice Center will be moving to Fountaingrove later this year, pending renovation of a 42,500 square foot building recently purchased by Santa Rosa Community Health Centers. The building, located at 3569 Round Barn Circle, will become the seventh facility managed by Santa Rosa Health, which serves more than 25,000 patients annually at the Southwest Community Health Center and other locations. An additional 10,000 patients are expected to use the Fountaingrove facility during the next few years.

“The future health of our community is on much more solid ground with the purchase of this building,” said Naomi Fuchs, CEO of Santa Rosa Health. Major contributors to the $2.1 million capital campaign for the building include the County of Sonoma, Kaiser Permanente, St. Joseph Health, Sutter Medical Center, the Finley Foundation, and Frank and Kathleen Mayhew. Funds from the capital campaign will be used to leverage $13.3 million in financing from the state.

Purchase of the Fountaingrove building caps 14 years of rapid growth for Santa Rosa Health, which was founded by Drs. Julio Porro, Roberto Azcarraga and other family medicine residents in 1996. What began as the Southwest Community Health Center in southwest Santa Rosa has since grown to encompass six other clinics and health centers throughout the city. Eighteen physicians now work full- or part-time for Santa Rosa Health. The 36 resident physicians in the Family Medicine Residency also work at Santa Rosa Health facilities.

Dr. Kubota named regional medical director for Partnership HealthPlan

Dr. Marshall Kubota, a Santa Rosa family physician well known for his work in public health, has been named regional medical director for Partnership HealthPlan in Sonoma County. In that part-time role, he will be responsible for the quality and appropriateness of medical care delivered by Partnership to the county’s approximately 50,000 Medi-Cal enrollees. He will continue to work at HIV clinics in Sonoma and Lake counties.

Dr. Kubota, a graduate of the Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency, rose to prominence during the 1980s for his pioneering work in providing HIV/AIDS care at a public health clinic in Guerneville. He subsequently became director of the residency and then medical director for the county’s public health clinical services.

Physicians urged to call Congress to support repealing Medicare SGR formula

Congress has been unable to resolve the Medicare sustainable growth rate (SGR) issue during the two-month extension that prevented a 21% cut from taking effect on Jan. 1.  At press time, the Senate was expected to extend current SGR payment levels an additional 30 days to prevent scheduled cuts from going into effect on Monday, March 1. This extension will be part of a larger package that addresses other expiring provisions that are considered “must pass” items, such as unemployment insurance and COBRA coverage. The House is expected to consider the package soon.

CMA is calling on all physicians to help repeal the SGR once and for all. Please contact Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Sen. Barbara Boxer and your local House Representative and urge them to:

·       Stop the 21% Physician Cut before March 1.

·       Repeal the Medicare SGR once and for all.

·       Restore stability to the Medicare program.

·       Protect access to doctors for seniors.

When contacting your representatives, give your name, specialty and practice location. Contact information:

·       Sen. Feinstein - Click Here or use the AMA’s grassroots hotline at 800-833-6354.

·       Sen. Boxer - Click Here or use the AMA’s grassroots hotline at 800-833-6354.

·       House Representative - Click Here or use AMA’s grassroots hotline at 800-833-6354.

In November, the House passed HR 3961, which repealed the current SGR as a pathway to improved reimbursement. The Senate, however, has not passed a bill to repeal the SGR, so Medicare payment problems remain unresolved.

CMA has prepared a flyer that you can use to get patients involved in the fight to protect Medicare. The flyer is available at scma.org/resources. 

Early-bird registration for CMA Leadership Academy closes March 9

Registration is now open for CMA's annual Health Care Leadership Academy, scheduled for April 9-11 in San Diego. This year's conference will assess the status and impact of federal health reform efforts, including provider payment incentives that may change the organizational forms of medical practice.

SCMA gets a group discount, so you can save $100 if you register with SCMA by March 9 rather than online. Early bird registration is $645 for members, $945 for nonmembers, and $295 for allied health professionals. Early-bird tuition for practice managers and other non-MD staff is $295 for CAMGMA members, $395 for nonmembers.

The 2010 Academy, approved for 18.25 hours of Category 1 CME credit, will feature three main breakout tracks: health information technology, leadership skills development, and practice management.

To register, contact Rachel Pandolfi at 525-4375 or rachel@scma.org.

RSVPs needed for April 27 Legislative Day in Sacramento

Local physicians interested in attending CMA’s free Legislative Leadership Conference in Sacramento on April 27 should RSVP by April 2. SCMA will be renting a van to travel to Sacramento, so reservations are requested.

The annual conference, which last year drew more than 400 physicians and CMA Alliance members, allows doctors to meet with legislators and express their views on pending health legislation. The conference also includes a morning session featuring speakers from across the political spectrum. This year’s presenters include Assembly Speaker John Perez, Speaker Emeritus Robert Herzberg, CMA President Dr. J. Brennan Cassidy, and CMA’s new CEO, Dustin Corcoran.

To RSVP, contact Rachel Pandolfi at 525-4375 or rachel@scma.org.

CMA coalition receives $31 Million EHR grant; EHR webinar on March 2

CMA, the California Primary Care Association, and the California Association of Public Hospitals & Health Systems have been awarded $31 million in federal grant money to help primary care providers implement electronic health records (EHRs). The grant will help make support services available throughout most of California, including Sonoma County.

The grant is one of many awarded nationwide as a result of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of February 2009. The HITECH act establishes both Regional Extension Centers (RECs) and Local Extension Centers (LECs) to provide education, outreach, and technical assistance to help primary care providers select, implement and achieve “meaningful use” of certified EHR technology. SCMA will be collaborating with the LEC for Sonoma County.

“This is an exciting opportunity for California physicians and the patients they serve,” said CMA President Dr. Brennan Cassidy. “There are many challenges physicians face in implementing EHRs. The Cal-REC services will be invaluable in helping physicians address these challenges and implement and use EHR systems.”

The REC funding is in addition to incentive payments that providers can receive for demonstrating “meaningful use” of EHRs. For more information on the incentive payments, join CMA for a members-only webinar on March 2 from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. The webinar will walk physicians through the proposed rule and offer practical tips for receiving incentive payments in 2011. Registration is free, but space is limited. To reserve your spot, click here or visit cmanet.org/calendar.

PECOS enrollment policy delayed; CMA publishes enrollment guide

With a nearly impossible April deadline looming, Medicare has delayed its PECOS enrollment policy until January 1, 2011.

Medicare physicians who have not updated their PECOS enrollment information in the past five years may need to fill out another application or risk facing payment problems for ordered or referred services. The new rules taking effect next January authorize Medicare to reject claims if an ordering or referring physician is not identified in Medicare’s PECOS enrollment system.

CMA and others in organized medicine pushed for a delay in implementing the new policy, which could negatively impact many physicians and other health care providers. If the rule were enforced today, thousands of otherwise acceptable Medicare claims could go unpaid merely because they were submitted by providers who enrolled in Medicare before the PECOS database was developed.

Because PECOS enrollment can be quite confusing, CMA has developed a step-by-step guide to walk physicians through the process, from determining if they are already in PECOS to accessing the Internet–based PECOS enrollment system. This guide is available in the members-only section of cmanet.org.

Medicare participation status deadline is March 17

Physicians have until March 17 to change their Medicare participation status for 2010. Physicians who have not already changed their status can still do so, and those who have already made changes can still retract them. It is possible, however, that Medicare will extend the participation deadline if Congress acts to postpone the 21% physician pay cut scheduled to take effect on March 1.

The effective date of any decision will ultimately be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2010. Participation decisions are binding for one year, unless you choose to opt out of Medicare entirely. Once you opt out, you cannot opt back in for two years.

Be aware that because changes in participation status are retroactive to Jan. 1, physicians who switch from “nonparticipating” to “participating” will have to refund to patients any balance billing collected between Jan. 1 and their new decision date.

For more information on physicians’ Medicare participation options, see CMA On-Call document #0151, “Medicare Participation (and Nonparticipation) Options.” On-Call documents are free to members in the members-only of cmanet.org. Nonmembers can purchase On-Call documents for $2 per page at cmanet.org/bookstore.

PFMC grant deadline is April 1

Nonprofit health organizations in Sonoma County are encouraged to apply for Community Grants from the Pacific Foundation for Medical Care. The grants, generally in the $10,000 range, are awarded twice a year by the nonprofit foundation to support local projects that enhance health services.

The application deadline for the next round of grants is April 1. For application materials, contact Kathy Pass at 525-4281 or kpass@rhs.org. For more information, visit www.pfmc.org.

Healdsburg Hospital opens diagnostic center for women

Healdsburg Hospital, in partnership with the Redwood Regional Medical Group, has opened a Women’s Diagnostic Center on the hospital campus. Services offered at the center include digital mammography and DXA scanning. 

CMA announces 2010 webinar series

Access valuable educational resources without taking time off from work or paying travel expenses!

CMA’s webinars are live, interactive, online educational events designed to provide members and their staff with access to industry experts for guidance on timely topics such as best practices for your practice, health information technology, and reimbursement, legal, and regulatory issues. And, as an added benefit to CMA members, each webinar is archived online for viewing at your leisure with links to the PowerPoint presentations and additional topic-related documents.

March webinars include:

·       3/2: Meaningful Use for Your EHR

·       3/3: Documentation – Medi-Cal Fraud and Abuse Series

·       3/10: Medicare – New Year, Fresh Start

·       3/18: HIPAA – How to Be Compliant with Recent Changes

To view the full webinar calendar, visit cmanet.org/calendar. 

APPLICANTS

Lucia Roncalli, MD, Family Medicine, 3320 Chanate Rd., Santa Rosa 95404, 547-2220, Fax 303-3318, American Univ Caribbean 2006

CLASSIFIEDS

Family Practice Physician Wanted
Sonoma County Indian Health Project (SCIHP) in Santa Rosa is seeking a full-time BC/BE Family Practice Physician to join our team. SCIHP is a comprehensive community care clinic located in the Northern Californian wine country. Candidates must currently hold a California Physician/Surgeon license. Inpatient care at the hospital required. For the right candidate we offer a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and an opportunity for loan repayment. For more information, please contact Bob Orr at 707-521-4654; or Bob.Orr@crihb.net. www.scihp.org.

Medical Billing/Reimbursement Specialist
Saving you time and money. Alleviating paperwork pain, aging A/R headaches. www.revenuerecoverynetwork.com

Medical Office Space
Small suite available for reasonable rent. Three exam rooms, southeast Santa Rosa. Call Connie, 707-525-0211.

How to submit a classified ad
To submit a classified ad for SCMA News Briefs or Sonoma Medicine, contact Nan Perrott at nperrott@rhscommunications.com or 707-525-4226. The cost is one dollar per word.

ABOUT SCMA

The Sonoma County Medical Association, a 501(c)(6) nonprofit association, supports local physicians and their efforts to enhance the health of the community. Founded in 1858, SCMA is affiliated with the California Medical Association and the American Medical Association.

© SCMA 2010
3033 Cleveland Ave. #104
Santa Rosa, CA 95403

TO UNSUBSCRIBE

You are receiving SCMA News Briefs because you are a physician or an affiliated medical professional in Sonoma County. If you wish to unsubscribe, contact Steve Osborn at sosborn@scma.org or 707-525-4325.

February 2010

• Physician directories set for delivery
• Sharing Our Hearts luncheon on Feb. 25
• CMA members split on stalled health care legislation
• Beginning April 5, Medicare may reject claims if physician is not in PECOS system
• Registration open for CMA Leadership Academy in San Diego
• CMA files lawsuit against governor over scope-of-practice laws
• Dustin Corcoran named chief executive of CMA
• HOSPITAL UPDATES
• DOCTORS IN THE NEWS
• APPLICANTS
• CLASSIFIEDS
• ABOUT SCMA
• TO UNSUBSCRIBE

Physician directories set for delivery

The annual Sonoma County Physician Directory published by SCMA is at the printer and will be delivered to all members later this month. The publication, now in its 53rd edition, includes complete specialty, certification, training and contact information for all SCMA members, along with basic specialty and contact information for nonmembers. Of particular note is the growing list of special medical interests, which are self-designated areas of expertise that are not ABMS or AOA specialties or subspecialties. An index of physicians by foreign languages spoken has also proved quite helpful.

Each SCMA member receives one free copy of the directory. Additional copies cost $30 for SCMA members, $40 for nonmember physicians and health care facilities, and $55 for the general public. To order, visit www.scma.org or contact Rachel Pandolfi at rachel@scma.org or 525-4375.

Sharing Our Hearts luncheon on Feb. 25

This year’s “Sharing Our Hearts” luncheon sponsored by the SCMA Alliance will be held at the Flamingo Hotel in Santa Rosa on Thursday, Feb. 25. The event benefits the Alliance’s efforts to improve health care access for residents of Sonoma County. The featured speaker is Karen Johnson, director of the Schulz Museum.

The theme of the luncheon is “A Step Back in Time,” and ticket prices have been rolled back accordingly, to a mere $40. To purchase tickets, visit www.scmaa.org or call Charlene Staples at 526-7877.

CMA members split on stalled health care legislation

While CMA member physicians are unified in their support for health reform, they are evenly split (44% to 44%) on whether they favor or oppose the health reform legislation that is currently stalled in Congress. That split was one of the main findings of a survey CMA sent to members in late January. Of the 407 members who responded, 97% indicated that they favor either incremental or fundamental health care reform over no reform.

For the preferred system of health care financing, nearly two-thirds of the respondents (66%) favored a mix of government and private payers over single-payer (19%) or a free market system without public insurance (13%).

In addition to unified support for the concept of health reform, CMA members showed support across all demographics for specific provisions of health reform legislation, including:

·       Protecting MICRA, California’s law limiting noneconomic damages in medical liability cases (94% favor).

·       Prohibiting insurance companies from denying health coverage because of pre-existing conditions or changes in health status (89% favor).

·       Providing tax credits and subsidies to low-income families and small employers so they can purchase health insurance (88% favor).

·       Expanding health insurance coverage to 95% of the uninsured (82% favor).

·       Providing funding to develop best practices and quality measures for health care providers (76%).

Throughout the health reform debate, CMA has relied on policy developed by the democratically elected CMA House of Delegates to formulate its position and priorities for health care reform. The poll was undertaken at the request of the House of Delegates to ensure that CMA members had an opportunity to voice their opinions and have an impact on health care reform legislation.

While health reform has been sidetracked by recent events, congressional leaders continue to debate the issue. CMA will use the results of this poll to represent the interests of California physicians in that debate.

Beginning April 5, Medicare may reject claims if physician is not in PECOS system

Medicare physicians who have not updated their enrollment information in the past five years may need to fill out another application or face payment problems for ordered or referred services. The new rules, which take effect April 5, authorize Medicare to reject claims if an ordering physician is not identified in Medicare’s PECOS enrollment system.

If you are not sure if you are already in the PECOS system, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has posted a list of all physicians enrolled in PECOS on cms.hhs.gov. Be aware that this is an enormous document, containing over 13,000 pages, and as such it will take time to download. To see if you are on the list, go to the search tool and enter your type 1 (individual) NPI number, or last name, and hit enter. If you do not appear on the list, you will need to revalidate your enrollment with Medicare.

If you determine that you need to submit a new enrollment form, you can do so online using the web-based PECOS system at pecos.cms.hhs.gov or by filling out the appropriate paper enrollment form(s) (CMS-855I and CMS-855R, if appropriate) and mailing the forms to Palmetto, which will enter your information into PECOS and process your enrollment application. If you enroll online, be sure to also mail to Palmetto the signed and dated Certification Statement within seven days.

SCMA member Dr. Peter Bretan serves on CMA’s Technical Advisory Committee for PECOS. For further information about PECOS from CMA, contact Michele Kelly at 213-226-0338 or mkelly@cmanet.org.

Registration open for CMA Leadership Academy in San Diego

Registration is now open for CMA's annual Health CareLeadership Academy, scheduled for April 9-11 in San Diego. This year'sconference will assess the status and impact of federal health reform efforts,including provider payment incentives that may change the organizational formsof medical practice.

The 2010 Academy, approved for 18.25 hours of Category 1 CMEcredit, will feature three main breakout tracks: health information technology,leadership skills development, and practice management.

SCMA gets a group discount, so you can save $100 if you registerwith SCMA by March 9 rather than online. Early bird registration is $645 formembers, $945 for nonmembers, and $295 for allied health professionals.Early-bird tuition for practice managers and other non-MD staff is $295 forCAMGMA members, $395 for nonmembers.

To register, contact Rachel Pandolfi at 525-4375 or rachel@scma.org.

CMA files lawsuit against governor over scope-of-practice laws

CMA and the California Society of Anesthesiologists havefiled a lawsuit asking a court to overturn a decision by Gov. Schwarzenegger toopt out of the federal requirement for physician supervision of anesthesia carefor Medicare patients. The governor's decision would enable hospitals to allownurses to administer anesthesia on Medicare patients without physiciansupervision.

Schwarzenegger in June 2009 requested and received anexemption from the federal Medicare requirement that physicians supervise nurseanesthetists. The exemption was requested without input from any professionalmedical organization and with disregard for state law that requires physiciansupervision of nurse anesthetists.

“If the governor had followed the law, he would have seenthat reducing the standards for anesthetists could have a detrimental impact onpatient safety,” says CMA President Brennan Cassidy, MD. “As doctors, our No. 1priority is the health and safety of our patients and that’s why the governoris taking a step in the wrong direction.”

Dustin Corcoran named chief executive of CMA

Dustin Corcoran, CMA's head lobbyist and senior vicepresident, has been named CEO of the association. He replaces Alfred Gilchrist,who resigned unexpectedly in January.

Corcoran joined CMA in 1998 as the membership coordinatorfor its political action committee. He soon began working as a lobbyist underthe late Steve Thompson, guiding bills related to access to care, emergencymedicine, hospitals, tobacco usage, public health and health care systemreform.

After Thompson’s death in 2004, Corcoran took over as CMA’shead lobbyist and went on to become senior vice president. Corcoran was namedthe "most effective lobbyist under 40" in 2005 by "Around theCapitol" and one of the most powerful political brokers in California in2009 by "Capitol Weekly."

HOSPITAL UPDATES

Sutter Medical Centerof Santa Rosa has been rated among the top 10% of hospitals in the nationfor cardiac surgery, earning five stars in a study by the independent ratingorganization HealthGrades. The study examined nearly 40 million Medicarehospitalization records in 5,000 hospitals from 2006 to 2008. HealthGrades alsogave Sutter Santa Rosa a five-star rating for valve replacement surgery andtreatment of heart failure, meaning that its mortality and complication ratesare significantly below the national average. An average rating is three stars.For procedures in which mortality was studied, there was a 52% lower chance ofdying in a five-star hospital than the national average.

Santa Rosa MemorialHospital has been designated a “Blue Distinction Center” by Blue Shield forits knee and hip replacements, one of only 33 hospitals in California toreceive the designation. The honor is based on a review of more than 500 kneeand hip replacements performed at Memorial from May 2008 to April 2009. Thereview determined that readmission rates for hip and knee replacements were3.6% and 2.9% respectively, far below the target threshold of 10%.

In other news from Memorial, the National Labor Relations Board announced that an administrative lawjudge would hold a hearing on Feb. 22 to resolve a dispute between the hospitaland the National Union of Healthcare Workers regarding the recent unionelection at the hospital. The outcome of the election has not been certified,pending the results of the hearing.

DOCTORS IN THE NEWS

Dr. Dave Schneider, afaculty physician at the Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency, has begunhosting “To Your Health,” a live medical show on the Internet. The show airs at3 p.m. on Fridays at www.BlogTalkRadio.com/DrDaveS.Schneider has hosted medical shows on several Sonoma County radio stationssince 2003.

Dr. Stanley Jacobs,a facial cosmetic surgeon in Healdsburg, has begun manufacturing a skin careproduct called Visco-Elastic Transforming Serum. Jacobs got the idea for theproduct from an ancient Egyptian papyrus that alluded to skin treatmentsinvolving bitter almonds. The product includes mandelic acid, a key ingredientof bitter almonds, along with resveratrol and other agents.

APPLICANTS

Sean Calandrella, MD,Family Medicine*, Sports Medicine*, 3900 Lakeville Hwy., Petaluma 94954,765-3960, Fax 765-3471, sean.o.calandrella@kp.org

Marlon DeCastro, MD,Internal Medicine*, 500 Doyle Park Dr. #303, Santa Rosa 95405, 303-8300, Fax303-8301, Univ Philippines 1997

Attila Mady, MD,Internal Medicine*, 1165 Montgomery Dr., Santa Rosa 95405, 543-2910, Fax544-5430, Columbia Univ 1992

James Riley, MD, FamilyMedicine*, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 393-4320, Fax 393-4234, NewYork Univ 1996

Anthony Sajewicz, MD,Diagnostic Radiology*, 121 Sotoyome St., Santa Rosa 95405, 546-4062, Fax525-4097, asajewicz@rrmginc.com, SUNY Syracuse 2001

* board certified

CLASSIFIEDS

Medical Office Space
Small suite available for reasonable rent. Three exam rooms, southeast Santa Rosa. Call Connie, 707-525-0211.

How to submit a classified ad
To submit a classified ad for SCMA News Briefs or Sonoma Medicine, contact Nan Perrott at nperrott@rhscommunications.com or 707-525-4226. The cost is one dollar per word.

ABOUT SCMA

The Sonoma County Medical Association, a 501(c)(6) nonprofitassociation, supports local physicians and their efforts to enhance the healthof the community. Founded in 1858, SCMA is affiliated with the CaliforniaMedical Association and the American Medical Association.

© SCMA 2010
3033 Cleveland Ave. #104
Santa Rosa, CA 95403

TO UNSUBSCRIBE

You are receiving SCMA News Briefs because you are aphysician or an affiliated medical professional in Sonoma County. If you wishto unsubscribe, contact Steve Osborn at sosborn@scma.orgor 707-525-4325.

January 2010

• URGENT: Physicians need to contact legislators to support Medicare GPCI fix
• Health Action needs primary care practices for learning collaborative by Jan. 22
• SCMA membership continues to increase; Directory to publish in February
• Latest issue of Sonoma Medicine examines The Aging Brain
• Public Health offers free H1N1 vaccinations in Santa Rosa on Jan. 23
• Center for Well-Being presents healthy eating classes at G&G Supermarket
• Office of Education seeks judges for Science Fair
• Hospital updates
• Congress at the brink of health reform
• Medicare switches from consultation codes to E&M codes; CMA offers billing guide
• Yosemite Institute for primary care physicians March 26-28
• Dr. George McClary dies
• APPLICANTS
• CLASSIFIEDS
• ABOUT SCMA
• TO UNSUBSCRIBE

URGENT: Physicians need to contact legislators to support Medicare GPCI fix

Congressional leaders are expected to merge the House and Senate health care reform bills into one final bill during the next three weeks. CMA has sent a delegation to Washington, DC, to lobby for improvements, but needs your help to preserve the House bill’s update of California’s Medicare payment localities, also known as the “GPCI fix.”

All physicians are urged to contact the senators and representatives listed below and tell them to update California’s Medicare Physician Payment Locality borders by supporting the California GPCI fix in the House bill. Please make all the calls or e-mails you can. If you have only a few minutes, the top priorities are Sen. Feinstein, Sen. Boxer, and Rep. Pelosi. Every call or e-mail counts!

When contacting senators or representatives, give your name, specialty, city and county, and urge the senator or representative to support the California GPCI fix in the House bill. The GPCI fix will improve access to care in 14 California counties, including Sonoma. (For a sample e-mail and more information on the GPCI fix, visit the “Resources” page at scma.org.) When contacting Speaker Pelosi, Rep. Stark and Rep. Waxman, please also thank them for fighting for California physicians on this issue.

·       Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Send an e-mail or use the AMA’s grassroots hotline at 800-833-6354.

·       Sen. Barbara Boxer. Send an e-mail or use the AMA’s grassroots hotline at 800-833-6354.

·       Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Send an e-mail or call 202-225-4965.

·       Rep. Henry Waxman. Send an e-mail or call 202-225-3976.

·       Rep Pete Stark. Send an e-mail or call 202-225-5065.

·       Rep. Mike Thompson. Send an e-mail or call 202-225-3311.

·       Rep. Lynn Woolsey. Send an e-mail or call 202-225-5161.

Final decisions are being made now. Please call today! Thank you!

Health Action needs primary care practices for learning collaborative by Jan. 22

By Bo Greaves, MD

Health Action of Sonoma County is organizing a learningcollaborative of 8-12 diverse primary care practices from March throughDecember this year. Each practice will be working on transforming how theiroffice operates, and on becoming a patient-centered medical home. Each practiceneeds to commit to making improvements, and to sharing their experiences withall in the collaborative.

We anticipate that each of these practices, throughout 2010,will make substantial movement toward the goal of becoming a patient-centeredmedical home (PCMH), with significant improvements in patient access, patientsafety, care coordination, and proven clinical quality. We also anticipatespreading this transformative process to other primary care practices in SonomaCounty over the next 2-3 years.

If you are up to thischallenge and ready to commit to active participation in the activitiesdescribed here, PLEASE let us know immediately. We can only acceptapplications to participate until Jan. 22. The application is quick and easy tocomplete—but remember the commitment will involve hard work! For applicationmaterials or questions, contact Pamela Moore at pmoore@rchc.netor 792-7900, Ext. 202. You may also contact me at GREAVEL@sutterhealth.org or408-2696.

The PCMH Collaborative will kick off on March 18-19 with aone-and-a-half-day learning session, with teams (clinician, office manager,back office staff) from each practice attending. At this session, all aspectsof the PCMH will be explored, as will relationship-centered care and thechronic-care model. In addition, some basic tools for rapid office improvementwill be taught. There will then be three half-day learning sessions, held everyother month, focusing on specific aspects of how to make this fundamentalchange in our practices. We will end in December with an all-day meeting toreview the progress of each practice and set the stage for continuing changeand for expansion to other practices.

In between each session, the teams from each practice willbe expected to carry out ongoing and continuous improvement projects, each oneaimed at moving them closer to the goal of becoming a patient-centered medicalhome.

Again, for application materials or questions, contactPamela Moore at pmoore@rchc.net or792-7900, Ext. 202, or Dr. Bo Greaves at GREAVEL@sutterhealth.org or408-2696.

SCMA membership continues to increase; Directory to publish in February

Despite all the turmoil in medicine locally and nationally,membership in SCMA continues to increase at a steady pace, growing 2% in thelast year. To help keep track of all those new physicians, SCMA will bepublishing the 2010 edition of its Sonoma County Physician Directory inFebruary. The directory, a standard reference book for local medical offices,includes photos and complete specialty, address and training information forSCMA members, along with an alphabetical listing of almost all localphysicians, various specialty indexes, and a guide to medical resources.

Each SCMA member receives one free copy of the directory.Additional copies cost $30 for members, $40 for nonmembers and health carefacilities, and $55 for all others. To order, visit scma.org/directory or contact RachelPandolfi at rachel@scma.org or 525-4375.

Latest issue of Sonoma Medicine examines The Aging Brain

The Winter 2010 of Sonoma Medicine, mailed to members last week, focuses on “The Aging Brain,” with articles by local physicians on new treatments for Parkinson’s, risk factors for dementia, biomarkers for Alzheimer’s, and a Santa Rosa “brain gym.” Departments include a travelogue from the Galapagos and an article about restoring a classic car, as well as poetry and book reviews.

Each SCMA member receives one free copy of the magazine. Additional copies can be purchased at Sawyer’s News or Copperfield’s Books in Santa Rosa  or Readers’ Books in Sonoma.

Public Health offers free H1N1 vaccinations in Santa Rosa on Jan. 23

The Public Health department will be holding a free H1N1vaccination clinic at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds from 2 to 7 p.m. onSaturday, Jan. 23. “H1N1 vaccine is widely available throughout the county, andvirtually everyone over the age of 6 months should get vaccinated,” said DeputyHealth Officer Dr. Mark Netherda. He recommended that patients should firstseek the vaccine from their medical providers or local pharmacies. Those whocan’t access the vaccines in these ways should attend the free vaccination clinic.

For up-to-date information on H1N1, visit sonoma-county.org/PublicHealthor call the Public Health Information Line at 565-4477.

Center for Well-Being presents healthy eating classes at G&G Supermarket

The Northern California Center for Well-Being will bepresenting a series of healthy eating classes at the G&G Supermarket inSanta Rosa during January. Topics includes “Cooking for Your Weight” (Jan. 13),“Lower Your Cholesterol” (Jan. 20), “Cooking for Diabetes” (Jan. 27) and “BabyFood by Hand” (Jan. 29). Local physicians are encouraged to tell their patientsabout these classes, which are offered for a nominal fee. Patients can registerby visiting gandgmarket.comor calling the Center for Well-Being at 575-6043. 

Office of Education seeks judges for Science Fair

The Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE) is seekingvolunteers to serve as judges for their annual Science Fair, scheduled forWednesday, Feb. 24, at the SCOE office on Skylane Blvd. in Santa Rosa. Eachyear, about 100 students in grades 6-12 exhibit scientific research projects atthe fair, where their work is evaluated by qualified judges.

Physicians interested in serving as judges should contactMike Roa at mroa@scoe.org or 522-3253, orJill Mcintyre at jmcintyre@scoe.org or524-2816. You can also download and submit a volunteer form by searching for“Science Fair” at scoe.org.Volunteering requires about a half day and includes an orientation session,breakfast and lunch. 

Hospital updates

·      SantaRosa Memorial Hospital marks its 60th anniversary this year. The hospitalopened Jan. 1, 1950, as a 90-bed facility with 93 employees and 70 doctors withprivileges. Twelve patients were admitted on opening day. The number of bedshas since increased to 278, the employees to 1,832, and the doctors withprivileges to 470. During 2009, the hospital logged more than 12,000 inpatientvisits and 170,000 outpatient visits. Its parent company, the St. Joseph HealthSystem, is the county’s largest private, nonprofit employer, with almost 2,400employees altogether.

·      SignatureHealth Care announced plans to open a 90-bed psychiatric hospital in SantaRosa by 2011. The hospital, which will be located in a Fulton Road facilitythat Memorial Hospital closed during 2008, is expected to serve the inpatientpsychiatric needs for several North Bay counties.

·      The PetalumaHealth Center will receive more than $9 million in federal funding toexpand its facilities. The expansion will allow the center to double itspatient capacity, from 14,000 to as many as 30,000.

·      HealdsburgDistrict Hospital will sponsor student rotations for Sonoma State’s newDirect Entry Masters of Science in Nursing (DEMSN) program. The new program isdesigned for students with a BA or higher degree in a field other than nursing.Graduates will receive an MSN degree.

Congress at the brink of health reform

After more than a year of debate, Congress is at the brinkof passing historic legislation to expand health care coverage to millions ofAmericans. The final legislation will contain a number of provisions that CMAhas been fighting to achieve for years, such as insurance industry reforms toprotect patients, measures to make coverage more affordable for low-incomefamilies, as much as $350 billion in physician payment fixes in Medicare andMedicaid, and increased funding for primary care, physician training, andwellness and prevention. Unfortunately, the legislation will also contain someprovisions that CMA opposes.

House and Senate leaders are meeting over the next few weeksto reconcile the remaining differences between the House and Senate reformbills. Despite these differences, CMA fully expects that the House-SenateConference Committee will have the votes to produce legislation that will passboth houses of Congress and be signed by the President as soon as the end ofJanuary.

Outstanding issues still remain that CMA believes must beaddressed if the legislation is to deliver on its promise of increased accessto care. Now is the last chance to improve the legislation on six criticalissues:

Repealing theMedicare Sustainable Growth Rate. The current formula would cut funding by40% in future years if left in place and would hurt senior citizens’ ability tofind a doctor to treat them. The viability of Medicare is crucial as millionsof baby boomers retire and enter the program.

Eliminating ormodifying the proposed Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), whichcould slash spending and coverage options for senior citizens with little inputfrom others.

Increasing Medicaid’slow reimbursement rates. As it is, patients covered by Medi-Cal oftenstruggle to find a doctor because rates are so low that only about one-third ofthe state’s physicians participate in the program. Both bills dramaticallyexpand eligibility, meaning up to 2 million more patients could enter Medi-Cal,further complicating access.

Updating the Medicarelocality system to reflect changes in practice costs.

Ensuring that any physicianquality reporting program is accurate, fair, and offers physicians anopportunity to correct mistakes in the data or process.

Ensuring patientshave the right to privately contract with Medicare physicians.

You can get more information and details in CMA’s letterto the House-Senate Conference Committee, which is available on CMA’s health reform webpage.

Medicare switches from consultation codes to E&M codes; CMA offers billing guide

Despite strenuous objections from CMA and others inorganized medicine, Medicare is no longer recognizing inpatient and outpatientconsultation codes. Effective Jan. 1, physicians must instead bill usingE&M codes from the Office and Other Outpatient Services, Initial HospitalCare, and Initial Nursing Facility sections of the 2010 CPT. While CMS hasincreased the work RVUs for new and established office visits, as well asinitial hospital and nursing facility visits, these changes may result insignificant losses for some practices.

The new policy—and the short notice—have already caused agreat deal of confusion as physicians and billing managers try to make sense ofthe new rules.

To help you understand what the switch means, CMA haspublished a 4-page billingguide that includes an overview of the issue, a code crosswalk, and linksto additional resources. The guide is available to CMA members only at cmanet.org. (You may also request a copy bycalling the CMA member help center at 800-786-4262.)

CMA members can get additional information and guidance onthis issue through a members-onlywebinar with Palmetto Medical Director Arthur Lurvey, MD. Dr. Lurvey willanswer physician questions and explain how to bill for these services in 2010and beyond. This one-hour webinar begins Wednesday, Jan. 20, at 12:15 pm.Registration is free, but space is limited, so reserve your space today.If you are unable to participate in the live webinar, it will be available foron-demand viewing beginning the following day.

Physicians who use a third-party billing service are urgedto call their vendors to make sure they are aware and prepared for the rulechange. Feel free to provide them with a copy of the CMA consult code crosswalkand billingguide.

CMA is also surveying major payors in California to find outwhich of them plan to follow Medicare’s lead and eliminate consults. Once wehave gathered this data, we will make it available to members.

For additional questions about the new rules, call the CMAmember help center at 800-786-4262 and ask to speak with a reimbursementspecialist.

Yosemite Institute for primary care physicians March 26-28

The 59th annual Postgraduate Institute for primary carephysicians will be held at the Yosemite Lodge in Yosemite National Park fromMarch 26 to 28. Tuition is $375 for physicians, $300 for allied healthprofessionals, and $100 for medical students, interns or residents. The eventqualifies for up to 16 hours of Category 1 credit. To register, visit fmms.org or call 559-224-4224.

Dr. George McClary dies

Dr. George McClary, a Santa Rosa family doctor with apassion for photographing fires, died in December at the age of 82. Originallyfrom Chicago, McClary opened a private practice in Santa Rosa in 1958 and soondistinguished himself among local firefighters by being among the first respondersto fire scenes. His photos were used for training by the Santa Rosa FireDepartment, which made him an honorary fire chief in 1971. During his longcareer, McClary was a staunch advocate for mental health, helping to found theSonoma County chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. He retired in1983.

APPLICANTS

Ronald Botelho, MD, Anesthesiology*, Pain Medicine, CardiacAnesthesiology, 3536 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa 95403, 523-0616, Fax 523-0616, bluedr.ron@gmail.com,UC San Diego 1982

M. Kathryn Brown, MD, Pediatrics*, 3925 Old Redwood Hwy., SantaRosa 95403, 566-5273, Fax 566-5292, Kathryn.M.Brown@kp.org, Univ Virginia 1993

Alicia Duenas, MD, Psychiatry*, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa95403, 571-3778, Fax 571-3799, Alicia.I.Duenas@kp.org, Univ Rochester 2004

Christopher Gaut, MD, Emergency Medicine, 401 Bicentennial Way,Santa Rosa 95403, 393-4800, Fax 393-4747, christoper.gaut@kp.org, UC Davis 1994

Anna Kogan, MD, Obstetrics & Gynecology, 500 Doyle Park Dr.#103, Santa Rosa 95405, 579-1102, Fax 579-1386, Rosalind Franklin Univ 2005

Kenneth Kurtz, MD, Allergy & Immunology*, Internal Medicine,401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 393-4133, Fax 393-4560,Kenneth.M.Kurtz@kp.org, UC San Diego 1991

Daniel Loube, MD, Pulmonary Disease*, Critical Care Medicine*,Sleep Medicine*, 1165 Montgomery Dr., Santa Rosa 95404, 543-2910, Fax 544-2389,daniel.loube@stjoe.org, George Washington Univ 1987

Katie Noyes, MD, Family Medicine, 3320 Chanate Rd., Santa Rosa95404, 547-2220, Fax 303-3318, Dartmouth Med Sch 2009

Daniel Santiago, MD, Family Medicine*, 144 Stony Point Rd., SantaRosa 95401, 521-4500, Fax 544-4626, daniel.santiago@crihb.net

Thomas Shragg, MD, Pulmonary Disease*, Critical Care Medicine*, 401Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 393-4610, Fax 393-4775, tshragg@pol.net, UCDavis 1975

Rami Turk, MD, Cardiovascular Disease, 3536 Mendocino Ave. #200,Santa Rosa 95403, 573-6166, Fax 573-6165, doctorturk@gmail.com, Emory Univ 2003

Jitesh Vasadia, MD, Cardiovascular Disease*, 401 Bicentennial Way,Santa Rosa 95403, 393-4006, Fax 393-4188, jitesh.v.vasadia@kp.org, Osmania MedColl 1997

Laura Westerling, MD, Dermatopathology*, 401 Bicentennial Way,Santa Rosa 95403, 393-4112, Fax 393-4871, laura.n.westerling@kp.org, UnivSouthern California 2003

Eric Williams, MD, Dermatology*, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa95403, 393-4112, Fax 393-4871, eric.a.williams@kp.org, Univ Southern California2003

Jill Young, MD, Pediatrics*, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa,393-2091, Fax 393-4556, jill.young@kp.org, Mayo Med Sch 1988

* board certified

CLASSIFIEDS

Medical Office Space
Small suite available for reasonable rent. Three exam rooms, southeastSanta Rosa. Call Connie, 707-525-0211.

Medical Office Space
Suite available. Perkins Medical Center, Sonoma. 1800+/- square ft.$2890/mo. 707-996-4519.

How to submit a classified ad
To submit a classified ad for SCMA News Briefs or Sonoma Medicine, contact NanPerrott at nperrott@rhscommunications.comor 707-525-4226. The cost is one dollar per word.

ABOUT SCMA

The Sonoma County Medical Association, a 501(c)(6) nonprofitassociation, supports local physicians and their efforts to enhance the healthof the community. Founded in 1858, SCMA is affiliated with the CaliforniaMedical Association and the American Medical Association.

© SCMA 2010
3033 Cleveland Ave. #104
Santa Rosa, CA 95403

TO UNSUBSCRIBE

You are receiving SCMA News Briefs because you are aphysician or an affiliated medical professional in Sonoma County. If you wishto unsubscribe, contact Steve Osborn at sosborn@scma.orgor 707-525-4325.

December 2009

• SCMA dinner attracts full house
• Flu Shot Saturday set for December 5th
• SCMA to assist with primary care survey
• PFMC awards nearly $25,000 to four North Bay projects
• Buildings dominate November medical news
• Three prominent local physicians die during November
• Blue Shield plans to publish physician ratings based on faulty data
• CMA opposes current version of Senate health reform bill
• House passes Medicare reform bill; Senate action pending
• Red Flag Rule delayed again; bill introduced to exempt physicians
• State rejects expanding scope of practice for nonphysicians
• APPLICANTS
• CLASSIFIEDS
• ABOUT SCMA
• TO UNSUBSCRIBE

SCMA dinner attracts full house

The banquet room at the Vintner’s Inn was completely full onWednesday evening, Dec. 2, as SCMA honored a quartet of baby-boomer doctors,along with the residency program that trained many of the attendees. SCMAPresident Dr. Richard Powers emceed the event with alacrity, easily holding theattention of more than 150 doctors, spouses and guests.

The first award, for Outstanding Contribution to theCommunity, went to Dr. Walter Mills. Presenter Dr. Bob Schulz praised Mills forhis kindness, compassion and energy in support of the residency program, theNorthern California Center for Well-Being and many other local projects. Millsresponded, “This award is about the past, but the future is what has meexcited.”

Jack Neureuter, CEO of Alliance Medical Center, presentedthe Outstanding Contribution to Sonoma County Medicine award to Dr. JeffSugarman, calling him “a combination of Peter Pan and the Pied Piper.”Neureuter said the dermatology clinic Sugarman established at Alliance hasbecome a model for specialty access throughout the county.

Former president Dr. Leonard Klay presented the OutstandingContribution to SCMA award to Dr. Brad Drexler, calling him “a man of ideas”who has championed anti-smoking legislation and Medicare reform. In hisacceptance speech, Drexler showed a flair for humor, offering two well-timedjokes.

Dr. Mark Sloan presented the Article of the Year award toDr. Mark Netherda for “Sonoma County’sLagging Immunization Rates,” which appeared in the Winter 2009 issue ofSonoma Medicine. Netherda urged the audience to stop being “polite nodders” inthe immunization debate and become stronger advocates for immunizing all theirpatients.

Dr. Rick Flinders concluded the evening by presenting theSpecial Award for Recognition of Achievement to the Santa Rosa Family MedicineResidency Consortium, a now-disbanded group that helped preserve the residency.He called the Consortium “an idea whose time had come, and then, like ashooting star, had gone again.”

Flu Shot Saturday set for December 5th

Flu Shot Saturday—which is targeted to low-income,underinsured and uninsured patients—will proceed as planned from 9 a.m. to noonon Saturday, Dec. 5. Both seasonal and H1N1 shots will be given, but the supplyis limited. Some people may be turned away, depending on availability ofvaccines. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Seasonal shots can be given to any individual over 6 monthsold, including pregnant women, but there are several priority groups forreceiving H1N1 vaccine.

The suggested donation is $10, but no one will be turnedaway due to inability to pay. The shots will be offered at locations throughoutthe county. For a complete list, visit www.sonoma-county.org/flu or call707-565-4477.

SCMA to assist with primary care survey

SCMA, which maintains an extensive database on all localphysicians, will be a key player in an upcoming survey of primary carecapacity, innovations and shortages. The survey is being conducted by thePrimary Care Workgroup, one of several groups formed by the Sonoma CountyDepartment of Health Services to improve community health for county residents.

The workgroup, chaired by Dr. Bo Greaves, will use the SCMAdatabase to contact primary care physicians regarding their practice capacityand the degree to which they have adopted patient-centered care innovations.The workgroup will also collect data required to designate any Primary CareHealth Professional Shortage Areas, which may be eligible for federal funding.

The survey results will be used to develop recommendationsfor ensuring primary care capacity and promoting patient-centered care. 

PFMC awards nearly $25,000 to four North Bay projects

The Pacific Foundation for Medical Care has awarded nearly$25,000 in grants to four North Bay health projects. The grants are given twicea year to support projects that enhance the availability or quality of healthservices in counties served by PFMC. The latest grants were given to:

·      SCMAHealth Careers Scholarship Committee to fund scholarships for studentspursuing medical careers.

·      NorthernCalifornia Center for Well-Being (Santa Rosa) for childhood obesityprevention programs.

·      SonomaCounty Academic Foundation for Excellence in Medicine (Santa Rosa) tosupport strategic planning and faculty development for the Santa Rosa FamilyMedicine Residency.

·      CoastalHealth Alliance (Pt. Reyes Station) to address risky behaviors among WestMarin youth.

The next deadline for PFMC grant applications is April 2,2010. Instructions on how to apply for the grants are posted on www.pfmc.org. PFMC, a nonprofit organizationdedicated to improving patient access to physicians, includes many SCMAphysicians in its provider network.

Buildings dominate November medical news

The ever-changing medical landscape in Sonoma County got afew more buildings in the foreground during November, even as the economicbackground continued its steady decline. Among the highlights:

·      The Veterans’Administration opened a 21,000 square foot outpatient clinic near theSonoma County airport. The facility, twice the size of the old VA clinic inSanta Rosa, includes more than a dozen exam and treatment rooms and will employup to 70 medical providers, including physicians, dentists and physicaltherapists. At least 5,000 local veterans are expected to use the new clinic.

·      Not to be outdone, the Southwest Community Health Center doubled the size of its clinic insouthwest Santa Rosa and signed an agreement to buy a 40,000 square foot officebuilding in the northeast corner of the city. The new facilities will allowSouthwest to increase its patient base from about 25,000 to nearly 35,000.

·      St.Joseph Health System bought a 60-bed convalescent facility across thestreet from Memorial Hospital. The hospital previously rented the building.Plans for the facility have yet to be announced.

·      Instead of a building, the Sutter Medical Foundation North Bay bought the seven-physicianDoyle Park Family Medicine group, whose offices are near Memorial. The purchaseswelled the ranks of local Sutter physicians to 85. The Doyle Park groupincludes Drs. Renee Armstrong, Laurie Cederburg, Kathy Horan, Naomi McAuliffe,Gary McLeod, Amy Shaw and Larry Slater.

·      KaiserPermanente and the Redwood CommunityHealth Coalition will be taking over responsibility for the Healthy Kidsprogram, which was previously administered by Sonoma County. The change wasprompted by decreased funding from the state and other sources. Healthy Kidsserves about 8,000 local uninsured children.

·      The KozelStroke Institute at Healdsburg Hospital received a Participation Award fromthe American Stroke Association for following specific guidelines in providingstroke care.

Three prominent local physicians die during November

Drs. John Shearer, Theodore Stashak and James West, all ofwhom had long careers in Sonoma County, died during November.

·      Dr.Shearer, a family physician in Petaluma for more than four decades, was apassionate advocate for health care reform. In “The Case for SinglePayer,” published in Sonoma Medicine in 2003, he wrote, “It is no longercredible to maintain that the current system works; it is also no longermeaningful to proceed with modifications of a system that has failed.” Amonghis many accomplishments, Dr. Shearer helped found the Children’s HealthcareAccess Coalition and volunteered at the Jewish Community Free Clinic. He was77.

·      At the opposite end of the political spectrum, Dr. Stashak was an ob-gyn in Santa Rosafrom 1949 to 1990. He was a staunch supporter of the John Birch Society andserved as president of the Sonoma County Taxpayers’ Association. He deliveredmore than 10,000 babies and worked for many years with Dr. Alexis Maximov.Stashak was an avid cowboy and hunter, owning both a cattle ranch in Santa Rosaand a hunting preserve in Cloverdale. He was 91.

·      Dr. Westwas a pediatrician in Petaluma for nearly 50 years. When he started hispractice in the 1950s, he was the first and only pediatrician in town. Heworked tirelessly during that era, even as he and his wife Gilly raised fivechildren of their own. In 1972, Dr. Jeana Levinthal joined his practice; theyworked together until both retired in 2004. West served on the board of BloodBank of the Redwoods and Petaluma Valley Hospital. He was 85.

Blue Shield plans to publish physician ratings based on faulty data

Despite concerns expressed by CMA and an advisory panel,Blue Shield plans to publish physician rankings based on faulty data from theCalifornia Physician Performance Initiative (CPPI). Over the past two years,CPPI has used claims data from private PPO patients from Anthem Blue Cross,Blue Shield, and United Healthcare to measure physicians on a set of qualitymeasures.

CMA has serious concerns with the validity and accuracy ofthe data that has been collected. Results of CPPI’s own reconsideration processin 2009 found significant inaccuracies, with 33% of physician scores beingoverturned.

Because the CPPI program relies solely on claims data, itfails to comprehensively document the care a patient receives or the reasonswhy a patient may not receive care. For example, one physician reported that hewas marked down for not recommending cervical cancer screening to patients whohad undergone hysterectomies.

Nonetheless, Blue Shield is planning to give digital “blueribbons” to physicians who scored in the top 50th percentile, and will possiblyreopen the reconsideration process for physicians who are interested inimproving their scores. Blue Shield plans to publish this information by theend of December.

CMA is working to dissuade Blue Shield from publishing the2009 CPPI results, and to fix the flaws in the CPPI data-gathering processbefore moving forward with the project.

CMA opposes current version of Senate health reform bill

CMA, which supports health reform legislation passed lastmonth by the House of Representatives, opposes the Senate health reform bill ascurrently written.

“There is no way health care reform can work if patientscan’t get access to a doctor,” said CMA President Dr. Brennan Cassidy. “TheSenate bill fails to fix major problems in Medicare and Medicaid, whichcurrently suffer from chronic underfunding that undermines access.”

Cassidy called for major improvements to both programs,including better funding. CMA is working with senators to draft amended legislationthat meets these goals.

“California’s physicians appreciate the support of senatorsand their sensitivity to critical issues affecting the well-being of patientsand the doctors serving them,” Cassidy said. “It’s essential that the Senate’sleadership adopt changes to help California and protect patients.”

House passes Medicare reform bill; Senate action pending

Last month, the House of Representatives passed the MedicarePhysician Payment Reform Act, which eliminates the Sustainable Growth Rate(SGR) formula that would have cut payments to physicians by 21% in 2010. Actionin the Senate is still pending.

After the House vote, AMA President Dr. James Rohack issueda statement saying, “The AMA urges the Senate to act quickly before the cutbegins on January 1. Fixing the Medicare physician payment formula once and forall is an essential element of comprehensive health reform. Congress needs tofulfill its current commitments as it considers expanding its obligations.Physicians must be assured of stable payments so they can continue to care forseniors, baby boomers and military families.”

Red Flag Rule delayed again; bill introduced to exempt physicians

For the third time, the Federal Trade Commission has delayedenforcement of the Red Flag Rule, which requires some physician practices todevelop and implement identity-theft detection and prevention programs. Therule is now scheduled to take effect next June.

Several factors appear to be causing the delays, includingobjections from organized medicine, accountants and attorneys. The American BarAssociation recently won a lawsuit in federal court holding that the Red FlagRule could not be applied to attorneys, a decision that may impact enforcementof the rule with physicians.

A bill (HR 3763) recently introduced in Congress wouldcreate an exemption for health organizations, including physician practices,with 20 or fewer employees.

State rejects expanding scope of practice for nonphysicians

The California Office of Administrative Law has rejectedregulations proposed by the state Department of Public Health that would haveexpanded the scope of practice of psychologists and potentially all otherhealth care practitioners working in licensed health care facilities.

CMA strongly opposed the regulations, which would haveweakened medical staff self-governance rights and could have been interpretedto allow unqualified health care professionals to carry out the duties of aphysician or surgeon.

The regulations would have allowed nonphysician practitionersto admit patients, perform medical examinations, place patients in restraints,complete medical records, coordinate care, and order transfers. The regulationswould also have circumvented the self-governance rights of medical staffs toestablish and enforce the rules, regulations, criteria and standards formedical staff membership and privileges.

APPLICANTS

Constance Earl, DO, Family Medicine, 3320 Chanate Rd., Santa Rosa 95404, 547-2220 Fax 303-3318, Univ New England 2007

Michelle Mertz, MD, Family Medicine, 3320 Chanate Rd., Santa Rosa 95404, 547-2220 Fax 303-3318, Univ Vermont 2006

Laura Norton, MD, Surgery, 121 Sotoyome St., Santa Rosa 95405, 525-6180 Fax 521-3854, lnorton@rrmginc.com, Indiana Univ 2002

David Siffring, MD, Diagnostic Radiology, 121 Sotoyome St., Santa Rosa 95405, 546-4062 Fax 525-4097, dsiffring@rrmginc.com, Hahnemann Univ 1999

Andrew Wagner, MD, Family Medicine*, 819 Longwood Ln., Sebastopol 95472, drandrewmd@sbcglobal.net, UC Irvine 1982

* board certified

CLASSIFIEDS

CorrectiveExercise/Lifestyle Coaching
I can help your patients make and keep realistic health resolutions. Ispecialize in individualized weight loss and strength and conditioning programsto improve function for life or sport. Located in Petaluma, I have coachedclients through pregnancy, rehabilitation, chronic pain and lifestyle changes.I offer a free in-depth functional assessment to physicians interested inmaking referrals. Michael Finn. 707-781-3466. Michael@finnfitusa.com

Guitar Lessons
Docs: Start a fun new you. Rock, folk, bluegrass, jazz acoustic guitarlessons with Tony. 707-527-7044.

Medical Office Space
Small suite available for reasonable rent. Three exam rooms, southeastSanta Rosa. Call Connie, 707-525-0211.

Medical Office Space
Suite available. Perkins Medical Center, Sonoma. 1800+/- square ft.$2890/mo. 707-996-4519.

How to submit a classified ad
To submit a classified ad for SCMA News Briefs or Sonoma Medicine, contact NanPerrott at nperrott@rhscommunications.comor 707-525-4226. The cost is one dollar per word.

ABOUT SCMA

The Sonoma County Medical Association, a 501(c)(6) nonprofitassociation, supports local physicians and their efforts to enhance the healthof the community. Founded in 1858, SCMA is affiliated with the CaliforniaMedical Association and the American Medical Association.

© SCMA 2009
3033 Cleveland Ave. #104
Santa Rosa, CA 95403

TO UNSUBSCRIBE

You are receiving SCMA News Briefs because you are aphysician or an affiliated medical professional in Sonoma County. If you wishto unsubscribe, contact Steve Osborn at sosborn@scma.orgor 707-525-4325.