Building a National Movement for Health Workforce Well-Being

OCTOBER NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

National Plan for Health Workforce Well-Being

The capacity and well-being of the U.S. health workforce has been under threat for years by an epidemic of burnout, and two years of the COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated this issue. Now at least 40% of nurses, 20% of physicians, and more than 25% of state and local public health department employees are considering leaving their professions. Recognizing the devastating impact this could have on the U.S. health system, the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) Action Collaborative on Clinician Well-Being and Resilience recently launched the National Plan for Health Workforce Well-Being.

Incoming CMA President Donaldo Hernandez, MD Addresses HOD

Santa Cruz internist and hospitalist Donaldo M. Hernandez MD, FACP, was installed this weekend as the 154^th president of the California Medical Association. At the CMA House of Delegates in Los Angeles, he addressed the 500+ physicians and other stakeholders in attendance, telling them that the foundational principle that “equity = access” must be the compass that guides us forward.

“As we emerge from the mire that was the pandemic, I think it’s clear that we cannot go back to the system that existed before the world shut down,” says Dr. Hernandez. “Business as usual left too many behind, left too many gaps, and left too many of us asking, ‘Is this what I signed up for?’”

Dr. Hernandez has long been a tenacious agent for change, and as president his goal is to position CMA at the forefront of change and innovation.

Top 4 Burning Questions Doctors ask Health Care Attorneys

Doctors are feeling overly worn down and out of control, and the risks that face their practice are real. It contributes to burnout and apathy, as it’s hard enough to keep track of the changing landscape of clinical medicine. Now you have to become a financial, employment, and legal whiz? It’s a lot. Health care is full of complexity, and it often takes a team of people to help you navigate the waters. But you’re likely to ask your lawyer fewer questions by understanding you have a voice in contract negotiations, developing a compliance plan, thinking through your employee relationships, and brushing up on HIPAA.

CMA Webinar to Look at the Future of Primary Care in California. The California Quality Collaborative (CQC), an arm of the Purchaser Business Group on Health, and the Integrated Healthcare Association (IHA) have convened a coalition of six large commercial health care payors to work together through the California Advanced Primary Care Initiative to enable primary care practices to transform to a high-performing, value-based care model that reduces costs and improves quality and equity. The payors currently participating are Aetna, Aledade, Blue Shield of California, Health Net, Oscar and UnitedHealthcare.

High Quality of Pediatric Care Provided by Medi-Cal Physicians on Central Coast.

CenCal Health received high marks in two respected professional health care assessments. The national Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®), and the state-wide report on Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®). The findings in both annual audits concluded that CenCal Health and its providers delivered exceptional care to child members, as well as members that are new mothers and members with diabetes.

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Welcome to the CCMA, Dr. Emily Fonda!

Dr. Emily Fonda was recently named CenCal's new Chief Medical Officer as of June 13, 2022. Dr. Fonda was previously the CMO at CalOptima, a public health plan in Orange County, California, where she served since 2013 starting as a Medical Director.

FEATURED MEMBER BENEFIT

Reimbursement Assistance

CMA’s Center for Economic Services (CES) is charged with providing one-on-one practice management assistance to physician members and their staff. Over the past 12 years, CES successfully recouped more than $33 million from payors on behalf of our physician members.

Call CMA’s reimbursement helpline today and they will arm you with the knowledge you need to identify and fight unfair payment practices.

Reimbursement Helpline: (888) 401-5911
Access to CMA’s practice management experts is a members-only benefit.

MEMBERSHIP

Join the CCMA Today!

When you join the California Medical Association and Central Coast Medical Association, you join nearly 50,000 members statewide who are actively protecting the practice of medicine and defending public health. Join today to start receiving your benefits.

SIGN UP AT:
cmadocs.org/join • or call 800.786.4262